Alpha Billionaire Series
Hot Mess Chapter 18

NICK

A few days later...

"Ishould have hired a stylist for you," Isaac complained.

"Why?"

I slapped my hands together, distributing hair gel. I ran my fingers through my hair. That semi-tousled, carefree look took more preparation than slicking my hair back. And even though my hair was now short on the sides, I wanted that rakish unkempt look on top. Isaac looked me up and down. "I guess you'll do."

"It's a Christmas party. Not an industry event. There is no red carpet. And you aren't going to get me into an ugly Christmas sweater, no matter how ironic. I think everybody is using that word wrong anyway."

"You aren't going to impress anyone, that's for certain."

"I'm not interested in impressing anyone tonight. I want to go; enjoy the company of people I know. You know, experience some holiday cheer." I stepped into my closet, more like a small room, and pulled a pair of socks from the sock drawer. "Speaking of holidays, your mother sent you a Christmas card."

"How do you know?" I groaned as I sat. Mother never sent me anything without expecting something in return.

"I opened your mail. I open all of your mail. She's in the Caymans. Spotted a, and I'm quoting here, 'darling little beach house."

"Let me guess, she thinks it would be the perfect Christmas present for her, and did she include the agent's contact information?" Isaac chuckled.

I stood and contemplated my shoe choice.

"For someone who looks like they dress out of a rucksack, you do fuss a lot." Isaac crossed the room, grabbed a pair of well-worn Doc Martens, and handed them to me. "Yes, your mother wants you to buy her another beach house." "So did I?"

"What, buy her a beach house? Yes, of course, you did. Had the keys attached to a big red and green bow to make it festive. Now if Kayla was as easy as your mother."

I shot Isaac a glare. Kayla was nothing like my mother. I didn't want her to be. "What the f**k is that supposed to mean?"

Isaac rolled his eyes. "You are too easy to tease, I swear. Kayla is still at the hotel."

"I thought I was getting her an apartment?"

He shook his head. "She doesn't like any of them. She's completely appalled at the cost of rent for what she gets. She is convinced you are being ripped off. I mean, you are. Rent is out of control."

"If she isn't in an apartment. Don't tell me she's still at the hotel?"

"Has been all week."

"And you've just let her go apartment hunting on her own?"

"Kayla is subversive."

"What is that supposed to mean?" I chuckled.

"Oh, she wants you to think she is all demure and sweet. 'This is so overwhelming Isaac. But she is on top of her game. I think she is a secret financial genius or something. Shrewd and confident in her negotiations." "I agree. She acts all shy but is actually hot and s*xy."

Isaac laughed. "You have it bad. I knew you liked her."

"Yeah, I like her. The real question is, does the studio? Or are they going to force their choice on me?"

He had his phone out and was sending someone a quick text.

"Isaac?"

"Yeah, Kayla wanted to know if her outfit for tonight's party was okay. I didn't send over a stylist, so she was concerned. Apparently, I texted her that it was casual. I was just covering your a*s, as usual." He put his phone down.

"When exactly did I text her about a party tonight?"

I grimaced. "Yesterday."

"You are allowed to text her directly, you know. Now she thinks this is an official appearance and not some kind of date."

"Hey, you're the one who keeps telling me this is a business arrangement, that she doesn't want there to be anything nonprofessional between us," I held up my hands in frustration.

"And what do you want there to be between the two of you?"

It was my turn to stare at him as if he had done something wrong, said something idiotic, missed the f*****g elephant in the room. I thought it was so obvious what I wanted that I was a walking joke. "Well?" he asked.

"You are just trying to put me on the spot. Kayla is beautiful and charming, and funny. Whatever there is between us, professional or not, I want there to be more. Whatever I have with her will never be enough. But I'm playing by the rules, at least for now. When she is more comfortable around me, I can ease up and make my intentions more obvious."

"That explains all the preening. You want to impress her."

I shrugged.

"She doesn't know you as well as I do. So right now, I can say with all certainty, you already impress her. The two of you are ridiculous. You might as well pass notes back and forth. 'Check the box if you like me." "Maybe I would if I didn't feel under pressure from the studio."

"Nick, look, the studio said to get someone to appear with, so people think you have a significant other. They want you partnered up and not out there looking like you are playing the field. You need to be seen with Kayla at more than one event to establish a 'relationship""- he made finger air quotes around the relationship- "no one is saying you can't actually have a relationship with her. You are both adults. Maybe what you really need to do is sit down and have a real conversation with her."

"We have had real conversations," I countered. We had some very nice real conversations. With her in my arms on the airplane, we talked about how she needed to watch Lions of Medea so she could keep up with all the references people made around me. With her by my side at the charity dinner, we spoke about her interest in helping to clear plastics from the oceans. We didn't do small talk, no chit-chat about the weather, no gossip.

"I mean about the two of you specifically. Are you really dating or fake dating for the sake of the studio?"

"This is all for the studio," I pointed out.

"I'm aware, but is your libido? If you were only doing it for the studio, why did you insist on Kayla? You could have been aligned with any number of starlets. And before you say something about them being too young, you do realize she's like fourteen years younger than you?"

I started to choke on my own spit. "She's what? She doesn't act like it. I thought she was closer to thirty."

"Does she look thirty to you?"

I had to think about it for a minute. I didn't really think about how old she looked, just that she had appeared before me as a goddess, and I hadn't been able to get her out of my mind ever since.

I shook my head. "I guess I hadn't paid attention. But she's here for a job. I need to keep myself in check."

Isaac gave me one of those trademarked judgmental looks of his.

"Okay, I kissed her the other night. She was so beautiful and happy. I kissed her and hated myself for it."

"That bad of a kisser, are you?"

"Asshole." I strode out of my walk-in and headed toward the kitchen. Isaac followed. I wasn't angry at him, but at myself.

"I crossed a boundary. I keep crossing it. I'm supposed to maintain a professional distance with her, but I can't."

"Before you beat yourself up about it, replace out what she wants. How many movies rely on some plot point that could all be cleared up with a conversation?"

I scoffed. "Too many."

"So don't be one of them. You are seeing her tonight. After whatever this party is, take her out to the beach and talk. I mean really talk."

I knew what he meant. "You do the beach too?"

"Doesn't everyone? It's dark, it's quiet. No one else is there to listen in as you expose your soul to the other person. Confessions of love do best in the dark so they can't see your face if they break your heart." "And break-ups in public in hopes they don't cause a scene."

He patted me on the shoulders.

"Ain't that the truth. Do you need a driver for tonight or are you driving?"

"If I'm taking her out to the beach, I think I should take the GTO. That one always fits the bill."

I needed to throw some extra blankets in the back. We could sit on the hood and stare out and the moon reflecting on the waves. I could wrap a blanket around us and pull her into my arms. It sounded pretty perfect.

"Vintage convertible clothes that looked like you picked them up thrifting. You really are trying to appeal to her middle-class, midwestern aesthetic, aren't you? Like you're some kind of down-to-earth wholesome kid who just happened to make it big in Hollywood on your charm and good looks alone."

I growled. "I did get this far on my charm and good looks." I didn't buy my way into any studio or drop names or money to get attention.

"Sure, but you didn't have to worry about rent money along the way, did you?"

I narrowed my gaze at him. He knew my financial background was a touchy subject that I liked to keep as quiet as possible. And I trusted him, which didn't mean I wasn't going to glare at him.

"When it gets out who your family is, Hollywood and the paps will explode with rumors and conspiracy theories."

"And that's why it won't get out," I grumbled.

"They won't hear it from me. Now if you are picking Kayla up you had better text her that you are headed over. By the way, she looks fabulous."

"Hey, aren't you going to show me the picture she sent?"

"Why would I do that? It will ruin the surprise."

Isaac was right. When she stepped out of the hotel to climb into my car, she looked amazing.