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Chapter 28 : The Long Way Around
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Billionaire Daddy's Little Artist Chapter 29 : Mothers and Daughters
*Lily*When I entered my apartment, I saw that Grace had sent over a batch of new art supplies and a manilla envelope with my typed name on the front. I ripped it open immediately, worrying it might be from Victoria, but it was a contract for my services with LiVo Technologies that included a monthly stipend for living expenses, supplies, and $5,000 in addition to my paid rent.I only had to produce a total of four paintings per quarter, an unbelievably low quota for what I was used to creating. There was a quick note from Grace asking me to sign and return the document if I found the terms acceptable. The terms were amazingly generous. I’d be a fool not to sign.My trip to the MET with William inspired me to paint my subsequent work using oil paints. Like a child with a new present, I opened numerous canvases that varied in sizes and textures.William also got me thinking about how I missed attending classes. It was probably too late for summer school, but I would have to look
Billionaire Daddy's Little Artist Chapter 30 : Lies and Deceit
*William*Eva popped into my office an hour into my workday, asking if I had a second. Despite our confrontation before, when I’d told her to stay out of my love life, I enjoyed seeing her in the office. It had been a long-standing hope of mine for Eva to work alongside me. It must have been some primal desire for me to ensure my legacy. I fought the idea that one day when I retired, I’d have to sell the company. Sure, I knew my family and their future generations would be taken care of, but to pass it down to my heirs in a way that my father, and his father before him, had—“Sure, come in, come in. You know you don’t have to knock.”“I just wanted to run a few ideas by you,” she said. “I think we should get moving on your social media campaign. As soon as this deal with White Out happens, we need to blast it from the rooftops.”“Okay. I thought we should keep the name too,” I said. “Definitely, everyone knows and loves it—William Shaw to run White Out.” She moved her han
Billionaire Daddy's Little Artist Chapter 31 : Did He Believe Her Lies?
*Lily*The call with Victoria stirred up emotions about my own mother I hadn’t felt in years. I ended the telephone call with her abruptly. Her tone remained kind and questioning when I thanked her for the offer, but I wanted to concentrate on my creations—which was true. There was no mention of William, our relationship, or our arrangement.The contract I signed and returned to Grace gave me the security I needed to keep working, confident in my abilities. Once again, I decided to throw myself into my work to take my mind off my personal life.Patrick and Adam lived in the DUMBO section of Brooklyn. DUMBO stood for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass. It was known for its delectable eateries, gourmet pizza, and high-end boutique stores. When I’d first arrived in the city, I’d taken a walking tour of the celebrated bridge, where I learned about the extraordinary structure and how it contributed to the city’s expansion. Walking across the Manhattan Bridge provided some of
Billionaire Daddy's Little Artist Chapter 32 : Trading Coffee and Insults
*Lily*The late morning sunlight slanted through the coffee shop windows and bounced onto the oak floor. I sat at a table beside a red brick wall and bookshelf with more knick-knacks on it than actual books. I ordered two vanilla lattes with skim oat milk, Eva’s favorite. I knew she would keep me waiting; she kept me waiting when we were friends. Now that I was her proposed enemy, dating her father, the wait could be up to thirty minutes. Rude as she could be, it was important to me to attempt a reconciliation, no matter what kind of a long shot it might be.Just as I was about to leave, around 10:35, Eva strolled past the window, wearing her stiletto heels, long blonde hair extensions, and a slim-fitting gray suit with a black turtleneck underneath. She looked ever the young business executive.I pushed my judgemental thoughts away and tried to smile when she sat across from me. I moved the coffee in her direction. She sniffed, then took a drink. “It’s cold.”“Well, it was
Billionaire Daddy's Little Artist Chapter 33 : Eyes Wide Open
*William*Wooing the twenty-eight-year-old tech prodigy Zac Rudrick was no easy task. He liked to drink heavily and go clubbing, something I had outgrown years ago, especially since clubs today played techno beats, that made me want to bang my head against the bar. The night before, Zac, Steven, and our west coast man Sean Fahey stayed out until four in the morning, hopping from bar to strip club and nightclub and then back to my hotel bar.I had planned to make Fahey the new CEO. Zak, however, showed an interest in staying on, mainly when I expounded Eva’s new app. Zak wanted to meet with her and combine the social and dating element with gaming. I explained that the app was Eva’s baby and that he should come to New York and discuss it with her.I didn’t know if I liked the idea of Eva getting cozy with Zak. I had seen his eccentric side at the strip clubs and worried he might make a play for her. I knew Eva was no innocent, but I had a different sort of man in mind for her, and
Billionaire Daddy's Little Artist Chapter 34 : A Lack of Conviction
*Lily*I went to bed yesterday with a fever and chills. My throat ached, and my eyes and head hurt. I felt much better this morning physically after sleeping over ten hours but emotionally was a different story. My coffee date with Eva and conversations with my mom and William depleted me. Not to mention the TV piece that depicted me as some loose party girl.When I started to make coffee, my cell phone rang again. It had been running off the hook. On the counter was the new unopened phone William had couriered over. I hated to admit I might be forced to use it if the harassment didn’t stop.It was my mom. “Hi, Mom.” I didn’t have it in me to listen to any more of her chastising, but I wanted to hear her voice. “Lily, I got my painting from you and absolutely love it,” she said. “You know I love carousels, and this is so beautiful!”My heart expanded for a moment as a slow smile swept my face. “Thanks, Mom. I’m so glad you like it. Happy birthday!”“I miss you so much, dar
Billionaire Daddy's Little Artist Chapter 35 : Scandal, Sorrow, and Shame
*Lily*I wrapped my long sweater tightly around my body, afraid of who I’d see on the other side. I hadn’t seen any reporters lurking around outside the condo. They still didn’t have my address as far as I knew. I was surprised that Eva hadn’t leaked that too.During my earlier outings, I did have a few double takes from onlookers, but this was Manhattan, and New Yorkers had better things to do than gawk at someone who may or may not be from a quick entertainment news clip. Back home, however, would have been a different story. To hear it from my mother, we were as famous as the Kardashians.I looked into the peephole and it was William. I opened the door and ran into his arms.He draped his arms around me and kissed the top of my head. “I’m here. I couldn’t stay away.”We walked to the couch, and he held me. “Can I get you anything?” I asked.“No, no. I’m fine,” he said. “Let’s sit.”We sat on the sofa together. “So, do you know who’s behind the pictures?” I asked. Wi
Billionaire Daddy's Little Artist Chapter 36 : When It All Goes Up in Flames
*Lily*I slept late and awoke to kisses from George, Adam and Patrick’s sheepdog mutt. They asked me to walk him if I could, so I slipped on my tennis shoes. When I got his leash, he wagged his tail like windshield wipers in full force.Somehow I felt safe in the small Brooklyn enclave. I passed the small neighborhood grocery onto the park where I had painted the carousel just a few days earlier. Oh, how my life had changed since that day. I avoided William’s calls and his texts asking me to please call him. I just wasn’t ready to reopen the wound.The boys understood. After I’d told them that I wasn’t sure I’d be staying with William, they urged me to take some time to think about it before doing anything rash. I needed time to explore our relationship and think about whether I could even handle it. I knew that Eva and Victoria would always be in our lives, and that fact alone was pushing me away from him. For the first time, I’d had serious doubts about whether we had a futu
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