Finding Mrs Billionaire

Chapter 2

“Good morning. You have to leave now.” Tristan coldly told Amelia as she opened her eyes. It was barely daylight. She struggled out of bed and looked at the time on her watch on the nightstand.

“But it’s just 5 am, I thought we would be able to be together today and celebrate your birthday.” She exclaimed.

He smiled icily and looked directly at her.

“I have a lot of things to do today and spending the day with you was not one of them,” he replied.

She could barely contain her disappointment when she heard those words. Once again, Tristan had dismissed her coldly without a care for her feelings for him. She looked at him and promised herself she would never again allow herself to be spoken to like that.

She wore her clothes quickly and turned towards the door. She turned around at the door and had one last word for him.

“Tristan, this will be the last time you see me in your house. I love you with all of me, but you have treated me badly. I believe I am better than this.” With that, she opened the door and walked out.

“Morning Ms. Amelia” Carlton, Tristan’s valet calmly remarked.

“Hello Carlton, how do you get along working on such a cold piece of work?” she huffed as she waited for the elevator to take her to the garage.

Carlton smiled without responding. It was not his place to speak about his boss’s private life. Carlton Boughs had been with the Wartons since he came back from his tour in Iraq. He had not been able to secure any meaningful employment after his return, despite how much he had tried. It was his grandfather who had called him in and given him a letter to give to Mr. William Warton, the current chair of Wartons Industries. He hadn’t read the letter but only realized the importance of the letter when he handed it over to his secretary while seated in his plush waiting room and was immediately ushered into the senior Wartons office.

Having a seat, he gestured at one of the seats in his expansive office. Carlton sunk into the chair and looked around the office. The rich, brown mahogany desk which had barely anything on it. He looked out the windows at the skyline of the city. His attention was drawn back to the man at the table.

“So Randall sent you to me? Do you happen to know that Randall saved my life during the war?” he remarked, looking at the young man seated in front of him. He buzzed his secretary and informed her that he would be in this meeting for an hour and should in no way be disturbed.

He began to ask him various questions. In no time, they were both laughing at the memories of their various ways of serving their country in the army.

“I like you, Carlton, and I have a job for you. I want you to work with my son, Tristan, as his valet.” He spoke, looking at him intently. He continued," You would be reporting to me even though you would be working with him. He studied the young man before him.

William believed he was a good judge of character and the man before him was someone he was sure he could trust.

He responded candidly, “I am very grateful for the opportunity, but before I say yes, I would like to find out what a valet does?”

This was met with loud raucous laughter.

“You are an honest man, Carlton. A lot of people would not have had the good sense to tell the truth in that kind of situation. You would be my eyes and ears around my son. You would serve as his driver and bodyguard and generally help him around the house.”

The two men continued to talk.

Mr. Warton's secretary buzzed him after an hour and with that, the meeting was over.

With a handshake, he began his role as Tristan’s valet.

That was over fifteen years ago, and he had pretty much become a member of the family. He smiled at the recollection.

The intercom buzzed; Tristan’s face showed on the display screen.

“Hello Carlton, are you there?”

“Good morning Tristan, Yes I am here. Are you ready to head to the office?”

“Yes, I am ready. I would like to drop by my parents' on our way to the office. I have been invited for a birthday breakfast and Dad says he has an important announcement to share with me. Do you have any idea what that is about?”

“Ok, Tristan. I don’t think Dad would share that information with me.” He answered, grinning from ear to ear. It was a shared joke between the two of them. Tristan always said that Carlton was Dad's favorite unadopted son.

The Mercedes-Maybach S600 pulled into the driveway of the Wartons' mansion. Carlton opened the door and gestured to the top balcony where his mum was standing. She was doing her early morning meditations and exercise. She waved excitedly at Tristan. Tristan waved back with as much enthusiasm. His mum was his confidante and he always wondered how her sunny disposition clashed with his father’s gruff and ruff demeanor. But then again, opposites attract, he thought to himself.

He settled in at the dining table to wait for his folks. He let his mind wander. He thought about Amelia, the lady he had spent the night with. He wondered what would have made her think that their relationship, if you can call it that, was anything more than a fling. She was a good lay, but there was no way he could have anything serious with her. He allowed his mind to drift to all the ladies he had been with. Of course, he believed that a lot of them were with him because he was wealthy. That could be the only reason. That and the fact that he didn’t believe in all this love nonsense. Never have, never will. He had everything that he ever needed and there was no way he would allow any woman to hinder his freedom.

His Mum walked in.

Elaine was always immaculately dressed, even when at home. She wore a floral dress and had a big smile on her face. Tristan could hardly remember a time his mum had been upset. She was a beautiful woman with a hint of silver in her hair.

“How are you, Tristan? Happy Birthday to you my son”. She walked into the dining area and handed him a small wrapped box even as she gave him a warm hug.

He picked up the box and began to tear the wrapping paper.

“Thanks, Mum, this is a lovely surprise.” He said as he took out a gift box. He looked up at Elaine with a puzzled look on his face. Opening the box was a gold ring inlaid with black pearl and diamond stones.

Tristan laughed as he took the ring out and looked at it.

“It’s quite beautiful, but I don’t understand this gift. It looks like a wedding ring and I never said I was getting hitched anytime soon.”

“That ring belongs to your mother and your grandmother before her. It’s a family heirloom, and it is meant for the future Mrs. Warton who should be here before your next birthday.” His father’s voice boomed across the hall as he walked in to join his wife and son.