5. Hiring A Billionaire
1496 Words
~RICHARD’S POV~
The moment the woman opened her mouth and called me Barista Richard Moore, my heart nearly stopped.
I froze.
Damn it.
I shouldn’t have come to her rescue. I should have walked away.
I came to see my daughter, nothing more. I hadn’t seen her since I returned from Canada yesterday.
But the second I saw Grace, standing there, cornered like prey while those two snakes, Zach and Flora, circled her like she was some carcass for them to feast on, all logic flew out the window.
But this isn’t the right time to reveal who I really am.
Last night, behind the wheel of a taxi, I experienced something I haven’t felt in what feels like forever—something real.
A genuine connection.
For once, I’m just a regular guy, not a billionaire weighed down by empty respect and affection bought by money.
I liked that feeling. I want more of it.
So, for now, the mask stays on.
I caught Henry’s eye from across the courtyard and gave him a subtle wink.
He understood immediately, stepping forward, polished and professional like the shark he is.
“Hello, Mrs. Brown,” Henry said, flashing that polite, rehearsed corporate smile as he took Mrs. Brown’s stretched hand with practiced charm.
“I’m Henry, Barista Richard Moore’s executive assistant. Actually, Mr. Moore wasn’t able to attend today’s event, so he sent me instead to visit his daughter and, of course, extend his support for the academy.”
Mrs. Brown blinked, flustered as she glanced between Henry and me, visibly confused.
“Oh, I see. My apologies. I thought this fine young man was Mr. Moore himself. Well, you know, we’ve never really seen him before. He keeps such a low profile, always overseas, never in the media. I simply assumed…”
Before she could finish, Henry cut her off, smiling all teeth and charm.
“I understand you, Mrs. Brown. My boss has always been a low-key person.”
I slid my hand off Grace’s waist slowly, steadying her gently as she adjusted her gown.
“Richard Moore? Him?” She chuckled. “Absolutely not. He’s just… a taxi driver.”
I smiled quietly, watching her try to regain her footing.
She shot me a glare. “Why are you even here? Are you stalking me now?” she whispered.
I leaned in, lowering my voice. “Stalking? Hardly. I was worried… we were together last night and this morning you vanished.”
Her cheeks flushed a deep shade of red, but before she could open her mouth, Zach’s obnoxious voice cut through the courtyard like a siren.
“Seriously!”
His jaw clenched so tight I thought he’d snap his teeth in half. His eyes burned with jealousy, like he was about to combust right there.
“Last night? Really, Grace?” His tone oozed jealousy.
“We just divorced yesterday, and you’re already sleeping with a taxi driver? Wow. That’s desperation, even for you.”
Flora joined in with her cruel, high-pitched laugh.
“Just look at her. Stooping so low to throw herself at a taxi driver. Divorce must really hit harder than we thought.”
My fists balled at my sides. God, I wanted to wipe that smug grin off his damn face.
But not yet.
Grace stiffened beside me, her hands clenched into tight fists, but her chin stayed high like the queen she is.
“And what I do with my life is none of your business, Zach. We’re divorced, remember? I can sleep with whoever the hell I want. Even your father.”
I blinked, letting out a low whistle under my breath.
Wow. That’s sassy.
Zach’s face turned a deeper shade of crimson. He looked like he might explode on the spot, his jaw grinding as his fists curled by his sides.
Mrs. Brown, horrified, quickly stepped between them, her face pale.
“Ladies, gentlemen, please. Not in front of the children.”
I pulled out my phone and sent a quick message to Henry:
Distract Mrs. Brown and prepare a taxi outside as fast as you can. Make it look like it’s been there all along. And tell my daughter I’ll see her later.
Henry’s phone buzzed. He glanced at it quickly, his expression flickering slightly, before slipping the phone back into his pocket.
“Mrs. Brown, may we continue inside? I’d love to say hello to Mr. Moore’s daughter then we can discuss the school’s funding.”
Mrs. Brown’s face brightened like she’d won a lottery ticket.
“Oh, that would be lovely. After you, Mr. Henry.”
They disappeared into the building.
Grace turned to Zach, her smile bitter and cold.
“I came to say goodbye to Rachel. Because we both know the kind of father you are, Zach. You wouldn’t have shown up here if Flora hadn’t dragged you.”
Zach smirked. “Got the newsletter, Grace. I came because I’m a responsible father.”
“Responsible father,” Grace snorted.
“You? You have never even set foot in this school until now. Flora’s back, and now you suddenly want to play daddy of the year? Spare me the bullshit.”
“Enough,” Zach barked. “Take your lowlife driver and leave. Go act like trash somewhere else, you’re embarrassing me!.”
Grace opened her mouth, but Rachel’s cry sliced through the tension.
Tears streamed down the girl’s face as she jerked her hand from Flora, sobbing, “Leave me, you’re not my mommy! I want my mommy!”
She ran straight into Grace’s arms, clinging to her like her life depended on it.
Flora’s face twisted in rage and she rushed forward to snatched the girl away from Grace.
“You witch! You’ve bewitched my daughter, you manipulative—”
“Bewitched?” Grace barked back, her voice sharp and raw.
“I raised her while you were out doing God knows what. I’m the only mother she’s ever known, Flora. You don’t get to rewrite that.”
Furious, Flora lunged at Grace, her hand raised to slap her. I caught her wrist mid-air, squeezing harder than necessary.
“What the hell are you doing?” I hissed through gritted teeth. “Trying to hit her in front of me? You must be insane!”
I shoved her back, enough to send her stumbling into Zach’s chest.
Zach caught her, glaring daggers at me. “How dare you push my wife—”
“How about you both learn some basic respect?” I cut him off, my tone lethal. “For your daughter. For Grace. For yourselves.”
Zach blinked, thrown off by my authority and the coldness in my voice.
Flora fumed, dragging Rachel away as the girl screamed for Grace. They stormed off, Zach trailing behind, spitting curses like the coward he is.
When they were gone, the tension thinned but didn’t disappear. Grace wiped her face, trying to act like she wasn’t breaking inside.
“You’re looking sharp today, taxi man,” she muttered, eyeing my suit.
I shrugged. “Had an interview this morning. Trying to land a better job, you know? Can’t be driving taxis forever,” I lied smoothly.
She rolled her eyes. “Oh, right. Then decided to stalk me afterward?”
I chuckled. “I wouldn’t call it stalking. I was worried about you. You left without saying goodbye.”
She went silent.
We walked toward the school gate, and Henry, always a step ahead, had arranged the taxi to wait outside.
Door unlocked and engine running.
Damn, that guy definitely earned himself a raise.
We climbed into the front seats.
Silence stretched between us, thick like smoke, before I finally broke it.
“Why did you have to leave me like that ?” I asked quietly. “Is it that you don’t want to see me again?”
She stared out the window, face hard as stone, but her voice cracked just slightly.
“I’m not ready for… whatever this is, okay? I just got out of something ugly. I can’t afford to fall into another mess. Not now.”
I nodded, forcing my face to stay neutral, even though her words hit like a punch to the gut.
First woman I’d ever looked at since Chloe’s death, and she wanted nothing but a one-night stand.
It hurt more than I could admit.
She turned to face me fully now, her expression softer, but still guarded.
“But for now… I do need your help.”
I arched a brow, gripping the steering tightly.
“What kind of help?”
“You know I lost everything. I don’t even have a car anymore. My darling ex took it all. And my lovely stepmother won’t even let me touch any of the family cars. So……”
She exhaled, brushing a strand of hair from her face.
“Congrats, taxi man. I just hired you as my personal driver.”
- Writer
