The Daring Billionaire’s Wife by Lypstical

Liam

My family will be thrilled to learn of the decision I've come to just after talking to Aileen. She's quite the beauty from a distance. I could see it before I even approached her at the counter.

Who would've thought that coming to Jasmine Junction, one of the smallest and simplest bars in town, would result in something like this?

Looking at her this close after telling her I now know who I'm going to make my wife, she pulls her facial muscles in confusion and her hazel eyes go round. Others would look ridiculous, but in her case, it's the complete opposite. "Uh...why are you telling me this?" she asks, looking away.

"It's important that you're the first to know." I lean back, realizing I've been too close for too long.

"I'm not sure how this is any of my business."

She still doesn't get it and I understand. Eventually, she will.

My family has been on my neck for as long as I can remember in the hopes that I settle down. This is it. I finally found someone who won't drop down to her knees and be willing to do whatever I want just because of who I am. Thinking back to Aileen's reaction when I introduced myself, it still hurts my ego. Not once have I ever felt this way. Meeting someone who knows nothing about my family is quite strange but at the same time, I'm glad it's happened this way.

The quality of the jean jacket and white loose dress she has on, told me what I needed to know about her social status before I even uttered my first word to her and even with that, I just had to talk to her.

I glance at Josh and Stephanie, both of them gesturing to me to return to them, but I'm not yet done with Aileen. In fact, I'm just getting started.

"Do you live far from here?" I ask, wishing I could trace her curves with my eyes. At least I can see her long legs. Her feet could use a pedicure, but that's not the most important thing right now.

"I'm staying at a motel," she says, not sounding too proud of it.

"And where are you from?"

"Oakbrook Village."

It's no surprise to me that she's a small town girl.

"That's quite far from here. Do those from Oakbrook Village not know who I am?" I ask.

She chuckles in disbelief. "Are you still stuck on that?"

It's only after I've said it out loud that I realize how obvious I'm making it that it still bothers me.

"For how long are you in town?" I change the subject.

She huffs, gulping down the whiskey in her glass. "Honestly, I don't know. It feels like I came to New York for nothing."

There she goes again, making it clear to me that there's something deeper going on. I tried to get her to open up before, but it didn't work quite as well. Having been with all types of women, I've come to learn what works and what doesn't when it comes to those who have something personal to share. I guess it just didn't work on her.

She hunches over, tracing her thumb along the edges of her glass with her lips pressed together. Part of me wishes I met her at a time when she wasn't going through whatever this is about. What could be so frustrating that she can't hide it? With that in mind, I don't even bother to ask any further questions.

I signal to the bartender to come over and he hurries, speaking with the utmost respect to me.

"Pour her another drink."

"Of course, Mr Richards."

As he walks away, she raises her eyebrows in disbelief. "What do you think you're doing?"

"Relax. The bill is on me. Besides, I don't have to pay if I don't want to."

"What do you mean?"

Once again, the fact that she knows absolutely nothing amuses me.

"I own this place."

Her eyes widen. "You really own Jasmine Junction?"

Just as I'm about to respond, a message notification catches my attention and I take out my phone, reading the text from Stephanie.

"HOW MUCH LONGER WILL YOU WASTE TIME OVER THERE WITH HER?"

I sigh, looking back at her and she crosses her arms with a glare. It's always been this way with Stephanie, ever since we were kids. Having grown up with her, I would've thought I'd be used to her impatience by now, but it's not the case. Only because I have some news to share with them, I decide to return to them.

Leaning towards Aileen, I say, "I'm still around and so are you. Just in case you have plans of leaving, I'll see you out."

She sighs. "Are you always so persuasive?"

"Remember what I told you, that which not even my friends at that table know about?"

"Yeah, what about it?"

"I'll see you around."

And with that, I turn around, making my way back to my table with Josh almost getting out of his seat so he can follow me and ask what's going on.

As soon as I take my seat, Stephanie gently slams the palms of her hands on the table. "You're finally back. What were you thinking by going over there?"

I don't even have the chance to respond as Josh hits my shoulder with a gentle fist.

"Dude, I thought you were kidding when you said you wanted to go over there and talk to her."

I look back at the counter, biting my bottom lip as the bartender serves Aileen more drinks.

"Her name is Aileen." My lips curve into a smile.

"Now that's a beautiful name." Josh raises his eyebrows while stroking his chin.

"Yeah, fit for someone as gorgeous as she is."

Stephanie's chair squeaks loudly as she abruptly rises to her feet. "I need to go to the ladies' room. Liam, we came here to celebrate the

l.ne

continued success of Project £25

and you thought this was a good

time to get laid?"

I cross my legs, looking up at an upset Stephanie as I say, "While those were initially my intentions with Aileen, you're wrong."

"Oh, yeah?" She sneers, taking a sip from her glass while still standing in place.

"Yes, I'm going to marry Aileen."

She spits out her whiskey on the table, dropping back in her seat as she coughs a few times.

"What did you just say?" Josh asks.

"You heard me." I glance at the counter again.

"Are you crazy?" He scoffs.

"For how long have I wondered if

there was a lady in this world whoet

didn't know who I was? I finally found her and to be honest, it hurt my ego but it's refreshing."

"And that's the reason you're going to marry her?" Stephanie narrows her eyes at me.

"That's not the only reason. She's so simple, yet gorgeous."

She forces a chuckle. "She's low class and you don't know her."

"But I will. It's not like I'm marrying her tomorrow."

Fuming, Stephanie storms off to the ladies' room, her hand over her mouth as she keeps her head low.

"Dude, did you really have to do this now?" Josh shakes his head in disbelief.

"Do what?"

"The announcement you just made!"

"Anything wrong with it?"

"Couldn't you have chosen some other time to do it?"

"Look, even if I told you guys next week or next month, what makes you think Stephanie's reaction would've been any different?"

He nods in understanding. "You're

right about that. Truth be told, it's e

crazy that it took one conversation with Aileen for you to come to this decision."

"I don't need all the time in the world to know that this is what I want."

"How many times have you made reckless decisions? Remember that one time you got Charlotte in trouble when it shouldn't have happened?"

"Hey, my sister was just in the wrong place. That's it. I feel it in my heart that I'm not being reckless."

"So, you're just going to walk up to your family and shock them with this news?"

"Of course I am. This is what they've been waiting for. They've set me up on so many dates before and you know how those turned out."

"Now that I think about it, it definitely must feel great not having someone tell you all about yourself and the achievements of the Richards." "Exactly."

"Wait," he leans towards me, "aren't you fucking-"

"It's now a thing of the past," I cut him off.

"Just like that? Wasn't it only two weeks ago that you were fucking-"

"It doesn't matter anymore."

He shakes his head in disbelief. "Do you really mean to tell me your playboy days are over?"