Billionaire Alpha

Will You Marry Him?

Bethany

"Mom, will you marry Kent?" Bethany let the question hang in the air as her mom reached for a fluffy white roll sitting in the basket between them.

"What?" Her mom pulled her hand back like she'd been burned.

The older woman was a perfect replica of Bethany. Long, silky chestnut hair, full lips, and green eyes. She looked completely innocent and well-kept, and yet she’d been through more hell than anyone could possibly imagine. She and Bethany both.

"I know it's a lot to ask, but when you told me that he proposed a few weeks ago, you seemed really happy. I don’t know why you just didn’t say yes right then.”

“It’s complicated, Bethany.”

“I know, Mom. But I also know that you’re just holding back because you’re letting everything that happened with Dad scare you away from the one thing that could make you truly happy. You and Kent have been dating for six months, and he's crazy about you."

"Why do you care if Kent and I get married right now?"

"I had an appointment with my adviser today, and there isn't enough funding for me to get through the first year of my master’s program." She held up her hand as her mother started to protest. "I know you don't understand the need for a master’s, but I'm telling you that I need it. I want financial freedom, and ever since Daddy left all those years ago, we've had anything but that. I want a chance to be free from this, Mom."

Her mom visibly flinched, reaching and taking the bread and then picking at it, her gaze filled with concern. They had been through far too much together over Bethany's twenty-two years not to be straightforward with one another. Her mom loved Kent, and Bethany knew they would get married eventually, so the request wasn't too far-fetched, just perhaps a little selfish in its timing.

"And you think me marrying Kent will take care of your finances?"

"I'm praying that you'll mention my situation. I'm not asking for a handout but a loan. I'll pay it back once I'm working for an accounting firm downtown, Mom. There is no way I'm not going to get a great job next year. I just need some help now."

"I wish I could help you, but I don't have anything put away." Her mom's eyes diverted toward the table as the waiter walked up, a smile on his mouth.

"Hi, ladies. You ready to order?"

Bethany's mom sat up, pulling her menu up as she motioned for Bethany to place her order. Bethany picked up the menu and looked at the prices, not caring a bit what items were attached to them. They were broke and shouldn't even be at the small cafe. Money was the bane of her existence, and coveting it anytime soon seemed like a lofty goal.

"I'll take a cup of tomato soup and a water, please?"

"Not very hungry today?" He smiled and took her menu, winking at her as she smiled back.

"Nope. Big breakfast."

Her mother ordered as Bethany reached for a roll. Her stomach softly protested, the deep burn of hunger an old friend. She hadn't had a big breakfast or any breakfast at all. Every penny she had went to books and supplies for school. She ate once a day and sometimes not even that unless her roommate brought home leftovers. She'd have given anything to order a cheeseburger with fries and a Coke, but life wasn't that giving.

The waiter moved away, and Bethany shoved the rest of the roll in her mouth, the soft white bread melting in her mouth. Worry covered her mother's features as she pushed the basket toward her.

"Are you not eating again?"

Bethany finished chewing the roll, her thoughts far from the conversation at the table as she enjoyed the flavors rolling across her tongue. She ate out every once in a while, but it was usually on a date, and that always ended with some random horny guy demanding s*x. Disgusting.

"I have to spend what little money I get from my grants on a place to live and books, Mom. Food is a luxury."

"Baby, you shouldn't starve yourself."

"What options do I have?" Bethany laughed, the sound falling flat.

"Take a semester off and come back home with me." Her mom crossed her arms over her chest, an eyebrow raising as Bethany reached for another roll and picked up the small cup of butter, dipping the bread in it without concern for her actions.

"I can't take off from school, Mom, and I don't have a car that runs very well. One more year of this, and I'll be able to finally take care of myself."

"I don't like that you're not eating."

"I don't like it either, but you're as broke as I am."

"I'll ask Kent to give me some money for you."

"No." Bethany leaned forward, her mouth pursed into a tight line. She didn't want handouts from someone who wasn't connected to her family intimately, and even though a loan was an option, it was the last option on her list. She needed Kent to move into the position of being her stepfather, and then it would make sense to get financial help from him.

"Yes."

"No, Mom. Just stop messing around and get married. You're going to get married anyway. He loves you, and you love him."

"What would being married to him change?"

"I would be his daughter, Mom. I would finally have a dad, and maybe, just maybe, he would see my struggle and offer to help me." Tears burned her eyes, and she picked up her napkin, wiping at them quickly. Being emotional or weak hadn't gotten her anywhere in life, and it certainly wouldn't do her any favors now.

"Oh, honey. I'm so sorry I don't have more to give you. If only I'd been a stronger woman when your dad put us through all that shit."

"I don't want to talk about this." Bethany dropped the napkin in her lap, her emotions pressing hard against the confines of her chest. "I have one more year of school and need help. You're going to marry Kent anyway. I'm just asking that you move it up and do it in the next month, Mom. Please."

Her mom bit at her lip, looking up and thanking the server as he put their lunch down in front of them. Bethany constrained herself as the steam rose up from the small cup before her. She could have ordered more, but she knew her mom was broke and struggling as well. The older woman in front of her hid her own suffering, and internal strife as well as Bethany did. No one knew how much they'd been through and how they continued to persevere.

"Let's pray over our food." Her mom bowed her head and prayed, Bethany closing her eyes and listening to her mom ask God for the millionth time to help them. He’d seemed to turn a blind eye or deaf ear to them for all the years Bethany could remember, but six months ago he had delivered Kent into her mom's life.

Kent owned several companies and had been a widower for ten years. He was older than her mom and had two sons, one a complete loser and the other the center of his enterprise in the heart of downtown Dallas. Bethany had yet to meet either of them, but she liked Kent and knew he would treat her mother like a princess.

If only the woman could get past being hurt and used by Bethany's father, giving love another chance and opening up a world of possibilities for them both.

"Kent would be thrilled to hear I'm ready to move forward, I guess." Her mom's words lit a spark of hope in Bethany’s chest as she looked up.

"He loves you, Mom. He's told you that a million times."

"I know, and I love him too. I'm just a little worried about fitting into his world. I come from the wrong side of the tracks, Bethany. His friends and work associates are going to see beneath my layers of makeup and call me out as the phony I am."

"You're not a phony. You're the most real person I know, Mom." Bethany reached around her soup to touch her mom's arm, concern pulling her brow together. "You just need to be yourself and not anyone else. You can't change for someone, or you'll end up hating who you've become."

"How did you get so wise?" Her mom winked at her, patted her hand and picked up her spoon, taking a tentative sip of her own soup.

"So, you'll think about it? I'm on a short leash, and I'll start looking for jobs this afternoon, but I need help quickly."

"Wait until Monday for the job thing. You're graduating tomorrow, and I want you to just enjoy the accomplishment." She put her spoon down and picked up the last piece of bread, tearing it in half and handing the larger piece to Bethany. "I'm so proud of you."

"Thanks, Mom. I’m sorry to bother you with this. If I could figure it out on my own, I would.”

“We will always have each other. I’ll talk to Kent tonight about everything. When he proposed a few weeks back, I wanted to say yes, but I just haven't been able to move around my past. He's so much better than I am." Her mom shrugged, heaviness sitting on her pretty features.

Bethany reached up and pulled her long locks into a messy bun before scoffing at her mother.

"He's not better than you. He's had a different path, Mom. His life is a different story. I'm just glad that your path crossed with his. He's going to be great for you. He thinks you hung the moon."

"He is a great guy." Blush touched her mother's cheeks, and Bethany laughed softly, romance a lofty thought in her world.

Bethany had seen the same guy, Jake, a few times, but he was horribly proper and far too feminine for her tastes. He was easy to get along with and a great study partner, but as far as physical attraction—nothing.

"Is Kent coming with you to my graduation tomorrow?"

"He sure is. I invited Damon and Matthew, his boys, but they both have something to do. I was hoping for you to meet Matthew. He's a sad soul with far too many demons to fight, but a pure heart lies in his chest."

"And what about the other boy, Damon?"

"Honestly, he's an ass. He's the typical rich boy, and he has far too much control of Kent's company and ten women around him at all times. I hate to even say this, but he sometimes disgusts me." Her mother's face twisted as if she’d bit into a lemon. Bethany laughed and leaned over, tasting her cooling soup.

"Money corrupts. I'm surprised Kent is as good of a guy as he is. He has more money than God."

Her mom laughed and took one more sip of her soup before pushing it across the table to Bethany, the small cup still more than half-full. Bethany pulled it toward her, working hard not to lift her cup to her lips and drink the thick tomato soup.

"Get yourself a sandwich or something. I have a little bit of money in the bank." Her mother turned as if trying to get the waiter's attention.

Bethany reached over and patted the table in front of her. "I'm good. I'll eat this and be stuffed. We'll make it through this; we will. Tomorrow will be a great day, and if your conversation goes well with Kent, then maybe my luck will change for good." She pinched off a piece of the bread and popped it in her mouth. "You sure I'm not pushing you to do something you didn't want to do?"

"Have you ever known me to do something I didn't want to do?" Her mother smirked as the waiter stopped by with the bill.

"They must have higher-paying customers waiting on our seats." Bethany looked over to the large crowd gathering at the door.

"Pretty soon that will be us, baby. Hang in there, and I'll work to change our situation."

"You do love him, right?"

"I do, but not as much as I love you."

Bethany chuckled and turned her attention to her food, mumbling into the small cup, “I love you too.”