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“She did enjoy it though.”I smile. “Then it was worth it.”“I’m glad you appear to have had a good time.” Her eyes twinkle.I glance at the house. “I wasn’t going to tell Mum. I don’t want her to think she’s holding me back.”“She thinks that anyway, sweetie.”“Yeah, but it’s going to be worse if she thinks I’ve met someone.”“Have you? Met someone?”I hesitate. “No. It was just a… fling, I guess.”“But you’re about to text him?”“He asked me to let him know I got home safely, that’s all.”“Right.”I give her a wry look. “He’s a nice guy. But I live nine hours away.”Her smile fades. “Yeah, I know. I’m so sorry. I should do more…”“Oh God, June, no, don’t say that. Christ, you have a full-time job, and a husband and four teenagers at home. You already do more than enough. This is why I didn’t want to say anything. I’m not looking for things to change. I’m happy with the way things are. I just wanted…” My brain fills in the blanks. A gorgeous guy to go down on me. Who’d take my virgin
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“Yes, like the one Stephen Hawking used?”“Yeah. I know this sounds arrogant, but the software is miles better than anything on the market at the moment. It’s called MOTHER.”“Like in Alien?”“Yeah,” he says softly, and I think he’s smiling. “I’ve been working with my cousin, who runs an AI company.”“Titus, right? Charlie had read about him.”“Yeah, that’s right. The predictive text component is especially advanced, and it’s going to make a real difference for people with speech difficulties. In November, we discussed which company we wanted to employ to make the speech synthesizer. Saxon and I wanted one company, and Craig was super-enthusiastic about another. In the end, I went with the company I liked. Then we discovered that he’d talked to a reporter and told them we’d sold to the company he recommended, Sunrise.”“Shit, really?”“I confronted him. He said Sunrise had offered double what Genica, the company I wanted, had offered. When I said it didn’t matter, that I wasn’t going
Last Updated : 2024-03-21One Night Stand With The Billionaire Boss 34
KipIt’s Friday the twenty-third of December, and the last day we’re officially open at Kingpinz for several weeks. The girls in the office have put up a Christmas tree a few weeks ago, and they’ve decorated their desks with tinsel and other festive ornaments. The guys haven’t bothered, as usual, and mostly complain about all the fuss while secretly enjoying the atmosphere. All morning the secretaries have been organizing our Christmas party. There’s going to be a Secret Santa, and the caterers we’ve hired are just finishing setting up the food and drink in the boardroom.I’m at my desk, signing some letters that Marion’s left me, when there’s a knock at my door, and Saxon walks in. My eyebrows rise. He’s wearing a pair of antlers and a big round nose that’s flashing red.“Guess which reindeer I am,” he says.I lean back and lift my glasses onto my hair. “Wanker?”He laughs, takes off the nose, and sits in front of my desk. “Just trying to get in the mood.”“What’s up?”“I wondered if
Last Updated : 2024-04-01One Night Stand With The Billionaire Boss 35
A few hours later, I slip out of the building and walk to my car.The party will continue for a few hours yet, but I’m not in the mood for festivities. Saxon has already left anyway, keen to return to his girl. We’ve left Damon there being the life and soul of the party. Hopefully he’ll stay sober enough to steer clear of the young secretaries who are all fluttering their eyelashes at him.I haven’t drunk any alcohol, so I get in my Merc and head out to Oriental Bay, where Renée Garnier apparently lives, and where I’m assuming Craig is now staying. I’m not sure what I’m going to say to him yet. I just know that I need to talk to him.It takes me about fifteen minutes to get there. While I drive, I play one of Alice’s podcasts. She’s interviewing a Kiwi author of a series of fantasy novels, an older guy, and it’s a great interview, with him chuckling constantly as she teases him and makes him laugh. I listen to her husky voice and imagine her singing that Joss Stone song to me in bed,
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I look down at her. “And don’t talk to me like I’m one of your subs. What you do in the privacy of your own home is your business, and so is his marriage. But you bring it into the office, it makes it my business. Did you target him on purpose? Because you wanted the software for yourself?”She shrugs. “I was willing to pay a small fortune for the software. Still am.”Disgusted, I look back at Craig.She grabs my arm. “Don’t you turn away from me.”I look at her hand where she’s holding my arm. Then I lift my gaze to hers. She glares at me, refusing to back down, eyes blazing. I wait. Eventually, after about twenty seconds, she slowly lowers her hand and drops her eyes.Lips curving up a little, I turn away from her, back to Craig.Now that I understand what’s going on here, I think I have an insight into his problems with Chloe. Craig obviously enjoys being dominated, and Chloe is too quiet and gentle to take on that role, which was probably why he was so cruel to her when he left.“
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AliceKip finally messages me just after eight p.m.Just finished the podcast, he says.I’m in the living room, watching a movie with Mum and Charlie, curled up in one of the armchairs. Smiling, I text him back.What did you think?Kip:Loved it. Thought you really brought her out of herself. She seemed very shy.Me:She was. Nobody remains shy with me for long though!Kip:You’re a very easy person to be with.Me:Sorry did you just call me easy?Kip:LOL no!Me:I did sleep with you the first day I met you.Kip:You were also a virgin. I’d hardly call that easy.Me:Good point.“Are you texting Kip?” Charlie asks.I put my phone down, blushing. “No.”“You are,” Mum says. “You’re smiling.”“I smile all the time.”“It’s your bashful smile,” Charlie says. “That’s how you looked at him that morning after he kissed you.”Mum smiles. I know Charlie told her that Kip and I spent the night together. Mum hasn’t mentioned it to me yet. I think she’s aware I don’t want that conversation—not because I’m
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The next morning, I help Mum get dressed and do her hair for her, and then Charlie offers to take her for a walk to the shops while I get to work. The two of them head out, and I make myself a coffee, then take it into the studio.At least today I’m typing, not speaking, but I’m still nervous. My success with Wonderland so far has surprised me, and it seems to be getting bigger. I didn’t expect it at all. I’ve always loved reading, but it was only when I was confined to the house when Mum fell ill that I started to write reviews and share them online. I was totally surprised when I started to get feedback, and even more surprised when I emailed a well-known Kiwi author that I loved to ask whether I could interview her, and she said yes. That was the start of Wonderland, and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it ever since.I bring up Reddit, and the IamA subreddit, get myself ready and comfortable, introduce myself with the bio I’ve prepared as it strikes ten, then wait for any questions.I
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KipI pick up my iPad and take it and my phone through to the board room. Technically, the office is closed for Christmas, but Helen, our head of HR, has called a meeting to discuss the situation with Craig. She’s in her forties, with short dark hair, and she exhibits a calmness even in heated situations that I’ve always appreciated.Damon and Marama are also present.“’Bout time,” Damon says as I walk in.I give him the finger.“Both mature and professional,” he states, and the two women snicker.“Where’s Saxon?” Helen asks as I take the seat next to her.“I didn’t mention this to him,” I advise. “I’m trying to keep as much of this off his desk as I can.”“Okay,” she says, and smiles.“Still no sign of Craig’s resignation?” Damon asks.I shake my head regretfully. “I guess it’s time to fire him.”Helen leans on the table and clears her throat. “Technically, Kip, he’s done nothing wrong.”I go still. “What?”“Legally, I mean. Morally, he’s been a wanker—talking to the reporter was une
Last Updated : 2024-04-01
Latest chapter
One Night Stand With The Billionaire Boss Epilogue
June 21st (two months later)KipIt’s the winter solstice, exactly six months after I met Alice, and Mum and Dad’s house is full of people who’ve come to celebrate the renewal of Saxon and Catie’s vows and their baby-naming ceremony. Saxon sprung a wedding on her after Christmas while they were on holiday, because he wanted to marry her but knew she’d be overwhelmed by having to say her vows in front of lots of people. However, six months have gone by now, and she’s settled down a lot, to the extent that when he suggested they combine a naming ceremony with a vow renewal ceremony, she jumped at the idea.Dad’s twin brother, Brandon, and my aunt, Jenny, are chatting to Mum and Alice’s mum. Penny has been spending a lot of time with Mum, and I’m so pleased that they genuinely seem to get on well. Penny’s holding one of Catie’s twins and Mum’s holding the other, and the two of them are clearly enjoying themselves.Kennedy’s helping Catie get ready. Her husband, Jackson, with baby Eddie, i
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He holds out a hand to me. “Let’s go outside.”Meekly, my head whirling, I let him pull me up and lead me out into the garden. It’s dark now, and a couple of moths are fluttering around the kitchen window, but there’s enough light for us to see each other clearly, and it’s not cold.Still standing, he turns me to face him. “What do you think?” he asks.“I don’t know what to say. I… I’m ashamed Mum feels that Charlie and I didn’t listen to her. She’s right of course. I was determined to make the sacrifice because I thought it was what I should do. But she is still my mother, and she deserves to have a say in it.”I look down at where he’s holding my hands. “But it’s not easy. It would be a huge change for her to move, and I know that change is one thing she really struggles with. When anything big happens, it always makes her unwell.”“That’s fair enough, but we’d make sure we did it in small steps so it didn’t become too overwhelming.” He lifts my hands and kisses my fingers. “Whateve
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I glance at Charlie, a little ashamed. She looks back at me, her lips twisting.“I don’t think it occurred to either of you to ask me what I want,” Mum says. “And every time I tried to talk about it, you shut me down.”I stare at her, horrified. Is that true? I suppose it is. She did try to say she wanted to find a solution that would mean neither of us would have to give up the men in our lives, but we both steamrollered over her, insisting we weren’t going to cave.“When I talked to Kip, though,” Mum continues, “he said, ‘What do you want?’ I was so touched I nearly cried.”I glance at him, but he’s looking at her, his lips curving up behind his fingers.Mum looks at me. “As I said, I appreciate everything you’ve done for me. But I’m not going to let either of you pass up on the chance of happiness with the man of your dreams for me. Alice!” She snaps as I open my mouth. “Please!”I close my mouth again, shocked at her sharp tone.“I know that over the years you’ve had to step up an
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AliceI’m absolutely shattered.Charlie’s revelation yesterday threw all three of us into a whirlwind of heightened emotions, and it’s been very difficult to stop them spinning us around.Mum went to bed early last night, exhausted from the whole thing, and the two of us stayed up until very late, checking on her from time to time, both frightened of leaving her alone.“We have to sort this,” Charlie told me at one point, long after the sun had set. “We can’t keep doing this to her.”“I know that,” I snapped. But I couldn’t see a way clear through the thick forest of our problems.In the end, both of us were so tired and irritable and upset that we decided to sleep on it and talk again the next day.I lay awake for about an hour, thinking about Kip, missing him, and feeling miserable, and fighting with myself because he’s my best friend, and I wanted to call him and talk it over with him, and I couldn’t. Eventually I crashed out, slept too long, and I’ve woken with a headache, grouchy
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I sigh. “Shit.”“Yeah. She was so happy, and I just couldn’t bring myself to say it. I kept thinking about the baby, and I knew I had to try and make a go of my marriage for the baby’s sake. So I stayed. I told Renée I couldn’t see her again. She texted me occasionally, but we didn’t meet up. I tried, I really did. But Chloe had morning sickness for the first few months, and after that she just didn’t want sex—she said it felt weird while she was pregnant. And then the baby was born, and even a few months after, she still wasn’t interested. I tried to be understanding, and accept she was tired and probably sore, but… I know it makes me a terrible person, but I just kept thinking about how Renée wanted me, and how good she made me feel… And then one day she contacted me again and asked to see me. And I’m only human, Kip. I was lonely, and I know it sounds pathetic and childish and makes me an arsehole, but I was angry with Chloe for not wanting me, and for not taking my needs into acco
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KipAfter my long phone call with Penny, I send a text to Sam, the pilot of the Knight Sky, then take my laptop out onto the deck and spend half an hour browsing and jotting down some notes until the doorbell goes. I answer it to find Craig standing there. To my relief, there’s no sign of Renée. I’m tempted to say, ‘So she let you out on your own, then?’ but I manage to restrain myself.“Jesus,” he says, staring at my eye, “what happened to you?”“Don’t ask,” I reply wryly. “Come in.” I stand back and let him pass, close the door, and follow him down the steps. “You want a coffee?”He shrugs. “Okay.”I take it as a sign that he’s planning to stay at least long enough to have a drink, and turn on the machine. “Thanks for coming,” I say as I start the espresso pouring. “I wasn’t sure you’d agree to it.” I glance at him. “Was Renée okay with you coming?” I’m genuinely curious, as I was convinced she’d arrive with him.He sits on one of the barstools and scratches at a mark on the counter.
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He puts his arm around her. “It’s amazing,” he says softly. “Thank you.” The last ounce of resentment has vanished from his eyes.“They’re lovely gifts,” Mum tells me. “Well done.”One of the babies—Liam, I think, because he’s wearing red—stirs in the cot, waving his tiny fists in the air.“Can I pick him up?” I ask, and Catie wipes her eyes and nods..“Of course.”I lift the baby out and walk beneath the umbrella so he doesn’t have the sun in his eyes.“Hey, little fella,” I murmur, and he looks up at me with his big blue eyes. He smells sweet, of milk and talcum powder, and when I stroke his cheek with a finger, he grabs it and tries to suck it. I chuckle and look at Saxon, who’s watching me with a smile.I feel a huge swell of relief. It’s the first step to putting things right with the people I love, and it feels damn good.I just hope I can do something similar with Craig and Alice.*I stay for another hour, drinking my coffee and chatting to my family. Then, just before midday,
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KipI read it several times, then send it.It’s time to head over to my parents’ house. Dad bought each of us a breathalyzer when we were younger so we could make sure we weren’t over the limit after a few drinks. I haven’t used it for a while as I don’t tend to drink at all when I’m driving, but I take it out of the cupboard and blow into it, relieved to find I’m well under.Taking the presents with me, I get into the Merc and head out into the sunny morning.When I pull up at the house, Saxon’s Aston is already there, gleaming in the sunshine. I pick up the parcels and make my way inside, my stomach fluttering. It’s been a long time since I’ve had the need to apologize for bad behavior.As I pass the kitchen I see Mum there, talking to Pamela as they load a tray with cups of coffee. They both look over as I stop and walk in. Pamela gives a wry smile, and Mum gives me a look that says, ‘What am I going to do with you?’“Morning,” I say, going up to Mum, leaving the parcels on the cou
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KipI vomit twice more in the night, but luckily Damon’s there to help me stumble to the bathroom, and to encourage me to drink more water. So when I eventually wake up for real, I feel a tad fragile, but not half as bad as I might have done if he hadn’t been there.I check the time—07:14. The sun is up, flooding the room with pale yellow light. The sky is such a light blue that it’s almost white.The bed next to me is empty, and I can’t hear Damon upstairs.Still no message or calls from Alice, but there are a few others waiting for me. The first is from Damon.Hey bro, I left around two a.m. once you stopped throwing up. Take the Panadol and drink the orange juice, then go apologize to Saxon and Catie and I’m sure you’ll feel better. DThe second is from my father.I’d like to see you here at eleven a.m., kiddo. Make sure you’re not over the limit. Dad xHe hasn’t called me kiddo for years. It’s obviously a reflection of my behavior last night.The third and fourth are from Saxon. The
