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Chapter 20: The New Arrangement
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2022-06-23 14:04:48Related chapters
The Billionaire's Runaway Bride Chapter 21: The Rules
The next day, Emily did not have to wait long for a call from her friend and soon to be fake boyfriend.She meant to call him as soon as she finished breakfast, but her phone rang at 9 am. "Have you forgiven me yet?" Byron's smooth voice caressed her ear."Yes," she replied, "and I want to do the fake dating.""You do?" his voice suddenly lost some of its professional lustre, and he sounded vulnerable for a moment. "Let's talk it over. I'll pick you up for lunch at Mangiamo."The Italian restaurant was bustling with glamorous couples and smartly dressed professionals. Amadeo, the same middle-aged man who had served them the last time they were here, appeared even happier to see Byron. Once again he had a hug for his employer and a warm greeting for Emily.She was bewildered by how close Byron was to his staff, despite all the articles she had read about his ruthlessness and how he crushed all companies that stood in his way. Maybe he truly cared about the people who worked for h
Last Updated : 2022-06-23The Billionaire's Runaway Bride Chapter 22: Champagne
Another server arrived, bringing their pizzas. After chatting with him politely, Emily tried to take a bite of the steaming melted cheese, but she did not let the delicate flavors distract her too much. "You wanted to make it up to me... What do you have in mind?" she asked."It's a surprise," Byron said, "I'd like to show you something. We can go there after lunch, if you're not busy.""I'm not busy at all," she said. Fortunately she didn't have to teach any classes this day, and it would have been otherwise another boring, rainy afternoon. But as they left the restaurant the rain cleared up, and a shy ray of sunshine peeked through the low, grey blanket of clouds. They walked along the busy downtown street, and Emily couldn't help noticing all the women checking out her fake boyfriend. It provided a certain superficial enjoyment, even if it wasn't a real relationship. In a way, she liked being friends with him better than a love relationship. Friendship had a certain stabilit
Last Updated : 2022-06-23The Billionaire's Runaway Bride Chapter 23: The Expert
Emily told Byron about her friend's relationship problem. It was a good partnership overall, but Pam and her boyfriend Mike had fallen into the boredom of routine, where nothing exciting happened."So how do I fit into the picture?" Byron asked, raising one dark eyebrow."Originally, I was going to talk to Mike," Emily explained, "but it just occurred to me, maybe he should get another guy's perspective. And you're really good at keeping things exciting with your handwritten letters and champagne in the middle of the afternoon. You could give him some advice.""But he doesn't even know me," Byron objected, "Why would he take advice from someone who's practically a stranger?""It'll be okay, I'll introduce you."Maybe it was the champagne talking, but Emily felt blissfully happy, and she wanted her best friend to be happy too. "I know it might not be easy," she said decisively, "but we have to try."Emily arranged to meet Mike after work the next day at a downtown cafe with a
Last Updated : 2022-06-23The Billionaire's Runaway Bride Chapter 24: Surprise Visits Are the Best
A few of days later, Emily got a phone call from an excited Pam who told her Mike had received a job offer from one of Byron's subsidiary companies. Not only was the atmosphere more relaxed at his new job, but he was also paid double the salary of his previous position."This new boyfriend of yours is a real sweetie," Pam said, "hang onto him.""Wait a minute," Emily said, "Mike promised not to tell!""He didn't," Pam stated, "but I had my suspicions. I traced the ownership of the company, and then I made him confess everything.""I hope you didn't use any naughty methods to extract the confession," Emily hinted."Let's just say there was a break in the routine," Pam replied. "And I owe it all to you. Seriously, you're the best friend ever!"Emily was still glowing as she set off for lunch with Byron later that day. Not only was she happy for her friend, but she was proud of herself and of Byron for having arranged the intervention and pulled it off with such spectacular results.
Last Updated : 2022-06-23The Billionaire's Runaway Bride Chapter 25: The Photo
When her family arrived on the scene, the restaurant got a new infusion of energy. Their excitement to see Emily and take in the beautiful views was palpable. It was not only Emily's parents but her younger brother Nick who had made the trip. "Hi pooky," her mom exclaimed, embarrassing her from the get-go with the childish nickname. Then she went over to Byron. "I'm Chiara, Emily's mom, as you probably know.""Uh... mom, this is my boyfriend Byron," Emily said. They had agreed to maintain the fake relationship with everyone to ensure the perfect secrecy of their plan. "In the old country they call me Giovanni," her dad jumped in, "but here everyone calls me Johnny."Everyone was talking at once, hugging, and ordering lots of coffee."Emily didn't tell us about you," her dad said as they sat down at the table. "She did mention she was seeing someone," he mom corrected, "but it was very vague. Emily can be so secretive!""It's hard to judge the timing in a relationship," Byro
Last Updated : 2022-06-23The Billionaire's Runaway Bride Chapter 26: The Gold Digger
Emily's life developed a pleasant rhythm over the next few days. She often had dinner with Byron at his place. She even felt comfortable enough to sleep over at the penthouse in one of the guest bedrooms. The bed was so soft and comfy, Emily couldn't resist coming back night after night. She even had her own bathroom there so no awkwardness could occur. She felt completely spoiled.In the mornings and afternoons she saw her family and showed them around the city, and in the evenings she taught painting.It all came literally crashing down one day when Emily was getting ready for work after spending the night in Byron's suite. She was brushing her hair in her private bathroom when a loud crashing noise startled her. Then she heard Byron yelling out a curse, his voice filled with frustration. Rupert barked from somewhere in the living room, just as alarmed as she was.Emily rushed over to the room that served as Byron's home office. When she opened the door and found shards of plaster
Last Updated : 2022-06-23The Billionaire's Runaway Bride Chapter 27: The Fallout
On her way home, Emily bought a pair of sunglasses to disguise herself. The gold digger story stared at her from the front page of the Chronicle on every newspaper stand she passed. When she got home, she collapsed onto the bed, exhausted by the stress brought on by the media scandal. It didn't feel like a very long nap, but she fell into a deep sleep. A knock on the door startled her, and she got up feeling completely groggy.A short blond woman in round glasses stood in the hallway, looking grave and determined. It was her neighbor Claire, the mother of her very first art student. "I saw the article," Claire said, "and I've come to tell you that I can't have my daughter take classes from you anymore.""It's not what you think," Emily began, but she knew it would be useless to protest."I don't think Riley saw the article," Claire said, "but I can't risk her seeing stuff like this and then wondering what a gold digger is. She's too young for this!"Emily could hardly look at t
Last Updated : 2022-06-23The Billionaire's Runaway Bride Chapter 28: It's a Long Journey
It's a Long JourneyEmily was awakened when someone opened the blinds in her bedroom. The scorching brightness of the morning sun was more than she could handle even though her eyes were still closed."No," she protested, her voice barely working, "It's too early."She had stayed up late into the night to write the article defending her reputation, and now all she wanted to do was sleep."It's seven thirty already," Byron's voice announced cheerfully. He usually didn't enter the guest bedroom when she stayed over, and they would meet up first thing in the morning at the breakfast table, but then Emily remembered he had a trip in mind.She squinted against the light and beheld Byron looking freshly shaved and energized like some god in the golden rays of the sun."All you need to do is get dressed, and then I'll throw you in the car," he said."That sounds fun," she grumbled.He snickered evilly and left the room.Despite her tiredness, Emily liked the idea of getting out of th
Last Updated : 2022-06-23
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The Billionaire's Runaway Bride Chapter 169: The First Chapter
Emily felt such a strong current of desire running throughout her frame. It was always the most overwhelming sensation, being engulfed in the torrent of his kisses. It was one of those times when she was reminded how fierce and powerful her love for him really was. Sometimes day-to-day life interfered and made her forget that there was a man by her side who would do anything for her. When he showed how much he loved her, whether it was with grand gestures and romantic trips or simply the way he kissed her, it felt like the rebirth of a love that was too beautiful for words.Holding him in her arms and knowing how much he desired her nearly made her faint every time. It enchanted every single cell of her being, making the rest of the world a mere blur compared to the hot passion coursing through her body."I love you," she murmured as they rested in the sumptuous bed. "Thanks for always being there for me.""You don't have to thank me," he said, gazing back at her with a look fi
The Billionaire's Runaway Bride Chapter 168: Chopping Wood
A few days later, Emily woke up to a grey and rainy day, but she was eager to get out of bed. It was the day of their trip. Byron was already up, pulling a tight t-shirt over his muscular torso. He looked way too awake for the earliness of the hour."Today's dress code: motorcycle gear," he said, eyes shining eagerly."It's a road trip?" Emily exclaimed."Yes indeed!"They could have flown anywhere in the world on their private jet, but for some reason Emily was more excited about a trip to the nearby mountains, just like they had always done. It reminded her of the early days of their relationship when they swiftly fell in love, and she had fallen in love with everything about this landscape too. And in some ways, not that much had changed."It's going to be a rugged journey," Byron said, "but don't worry, I've prepared some amenities at our destination.""What is that supposed to mean?" she asked."You don't need to pack too much stuff, just your basic clothes."They left t
The Billionaire's Runaway Bride Chapter 167: Choices
Byron poured a lot of funds into the construction of the wave pool, and a few months later, it was built and ready for use.The building looked sleek and contemporary on the outside, while inside it was a warm oasis away from the autumn chill.Mandy swam and frolicked in the waves with her friends, stopping only to sip a bit of juice, then she was back in the water for more splashing. The high ceiling allowed natural light to come in through its numerous skylights, giving the space the ambience of a warm beach. The wave pool was definitely a hit. Emily and Byron watched the kids, lounging on deck chairs by the water."It's not quite as relaxing as a real beach, but it'll do," Byron said as the echoes of children's voices bounced around the vast space. Ripples of sunlight reflected off the water and played over his face."The kids don't seem to care if it's relaxing or not," Emily said, observing them race each other in the waves. "But as long as they're happy…""Do you think Man
The Billionaire's Runaway Bride Chapter 166: Making Waves
"Can I do it when I'm six?" Mandy asked, not letting go of the idea of being on television."No," Emily said firmly."Can I do it when I'm seven?""No.""Ten?""Maybe." Emily hoped the whole discussion would be forgotten after that many years. She never wanted her child on a so-called talent show which was probably rigged anyway.Luckily, Mandy was distracted by her friend, and the two girls went to play outside."She's so talented," Katie said, "You should take her to a music academy. I'll bet she's going to be a sensation."Emily shook her head. "She's way too young. Please don't get excited. I know it seems like showing her talent to the world is a good thing, but too many child stars have started out on brilliant careers only to burn out as teenagers. I definitely don't want that for Mandy.""You're right, Talent Quest is a bit of a freak show," Katie said, "but don't you want her to at least learn as much as she can to reach her full potential?""She's got all the time i
The Billionaire's Runaway Bride Chapter 165: Big Purchases
Byron took a long breath. "Okay, don't be mad at me but… I bought Charmers. And now every single branch of Charmers will carry your brand of clothing.""Byron, you promised me you wouldn't do that!" Emily was so disappointed she was hardly even tempted by the creamy pasta."I promised I wouldn't destroy them," he said, a sly smile playing about his lips, "and I don't intend to. I've even kept Simone around, though in a slightly less senior role. She couldn't be induced to resign. The woman is very stubborn, but I know you don't like us to make enemies…""So you took over the company she was running, and you don't think she'd be mad?""Not as mad as I was when you told me she dropped your products," Byron retorted, "But believe it or not she's actually okay with the takeover. Charmers were struggling financially anyway. Believe me, I did them a favor.""Well you didn't do me a favor," Emily retorted. "I didn't want you to get involved.""But—""I'm capable of solving my own probl
The Billionaire's Runaway Bride Chapter 164: Not so Lucky
"I pet a big white dog!" Mandy announced when they got home.The dogs spun around the new arrivals in a furry whirlwind, and Emily was relieved to be with her four-legged friends. She was glad she hadn't brought them to work that day to be despised by Simone."That's good," Byron said, greeting Mandy and Emily with kisses."I was not so lucky," Emily said."Mommy didn't have time to play with doggie," Mandy said sadly."And on top of that, I lost a really big client…" Emily added. She took off her shoes and collapsed on the living room couch."Lady said the 'f word'," Mandy recalled. Byron raised his eyebrows. "I know I'm not allowed to say it," Mandy continued, "but she didn't know that.""What the heck happened over there?" Byron asked."Ugh! I can't even go into right now," Emily lay back on the couch and closed her eyes, trying to shut out the stress of the day. "Simone made me so mad.""Lady was silly," Mandy said."Yes, she was very silly," Emily confirmed.Byron s
The Billionaire's Runaway Bride Chapter 163: The Meeting
Emily was in a playful mood the next morning. She didn't want to get out of bed, even though she had an important meeting. The date night had ended in a rather passionate episode. Mandy was already asleep by the time they got back home, and they made the most of their time. It was not exactly rare for them to have alone time, but maybe it didn't happen as often as before."You're very giggly," Byron noted. "I thought you'd be tired after last night."He was a bit sleepy but didn't mind indulging her desires when she kissed his face and body all over."Thanks for helping me feel relaxed when I should be nervous," Emily said as she got up to get dressed. "Simone Cather is coming in for a meeting today. I've never worked with her before, but I hear she can be difficult. I'm going to bring Mandy with me to win her over with cuteness."Simone had just taken over leadership of Charmers, the biggest fashion retail store in the country. Emily had a good relationship with the previous CEO
The Billionaire's Runaway Bride Chapter 162: Doing "Fairly Well"
Emily was able to run some errands while Sylvia gave Mandy her first piano lesson. She was glad to have a bit of time to shop, and Sylvia insisted on not having anyone interfere in her tutelage anyway. Emily wondered how Sylvia would cope being left alone with her granddaughter. She had been out a couple of hours, and she hoped they hadn't killed each other.Contrary to her expectations, the house was quiet when she entered. Sylvia and Mandy were deep in conversation over tea and cookies."Mommy! Mommy!" Mandy ran over to greet her."How was your lesson?" Emily asked."I learned to play piano!""She did fairly well," Sylvia said. This sounded like high praise from someone who was more used to criticizing.Mandy sat down at the piano with very good posture to show Emily what she'd learned. She played Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star. It was a simple piece that most kids started with, but Emily was amazed that Mandy played it so flawlessly. She kept up a steady rhythmic accompanimen
The Billionaire's Runaway Bride Chapter 161: Cave Explorer
Unschooling was a little harder to commit to than Emily had imagined. She knew that there were plenty of learning opportunities for Mandy at home, but sometimes work demands, or just wanting a bit of time to herself made her reluctant to teach the kid.It was early September, and the unschooling had been going on for a week. Emily was working on her sketches in her home office while Mandy watched an educational program in the cinema room. It didn't seem like too much time had passed, but when Emily looked up from her sketch, the house felt unusually quiet. She went into the cinema room and saw that Mandy must have finished her program and dutifully turned the screen off. She was an amazingly responsible child in some respects."Mandy!" Emily called, "Where are you, Mandikins?"An eerie silence filled the large house. Emily checked all the rooms, but her daughter was nowhere to be found. Surely she wouldn't have gone outside all by herself? For a chilling moment, she thought the
