Billionaires Dollar Series

“The others are outside,” he tells me. “Let me introduce you.”

We step out onto the patio and the bubbling conversation between the guests stills. Four pairs of eyes turn to me.

“Hello,” I say, giving a little wave, my gaze moving across each of the guests in turn. My stomach sinks as I take in the familiar faces. He hasn’t just invited a few friends-he’s invited some of the city’s most famous.

There’s Cole Porter, whose face is regularly in the news for some building project or another. His sister is here too. I’d once seen her on a morning talk show discussing fall fashion trends. She’s looking at me curiously now, impeccably dressed.

By her side… oh. The man is vaguely familiar in an almost threatening way. Dark hair and dark eyes narrow in on me.

But Ethan just stops by the table like this group of people is nothing out of the ordinary for him, because of course it isn’t. He fits right in.

“This is Bella Simmons,” he says. “She’s my neighbor’s niece, living next door over the summer.”

I nod obediently as my stupid, stupid lie is repeated in front of the city’s elite. “That’s me,” I add another nail to the coffin.

“Bella, meet Cole, Skye, Nick and Blair.” He gestures in turn, as if I don’t already know.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” the short brunette says-Skye. She’s the only one I’ve never seen before. “Come on over, have a seat.”

I do, sinking down in the chair next to her. “It’s lovely to meet all of you.”

“So you’re Ethan’s new neighbor?” Cole says. He looks exactly like he does in the newspapers. Somehow that makes it easier to respond, as if I’m talking to the image of him rather than the man himself.

“Yes, at least for the summer.”

Ethan takes the chair opposite me, handing me a glass of wine. “Bella’s a PhD student,” he adds. “In systems engineering.”

Blair gives me a wide smile. With her golden hair and socialite status, I feel like I’ve been hit by the sun. “Engineering? That’s very impressive,” she says. “I’m pretty sure I failed math in high school.”

“You did,” her brother supplies. “I remember.”

Nick drapes an arm behind her chair. “You’ve done fine without it,” he says. “Ethan, thanks for finally inviting us ’round.”

“I figured I had to pay back eventually,” Ethan says. “Lord knows I’ve eaten enough meals at yours.”

“We haven’t been keeping score,” Skye says.

“Yes we have,” Cole interjects. “This is nice, but you’re still in the red.”

Faced with their banter and obvious familiarity, some of my nerves lessen. The wine helps-as does Skye’s soft questions at my side. Turns out she’s an author, but she wasn’t famous or influential at all before she married Cole. Her kind smile tells me she understands that they can all be a bit… well, intimidating.

“Ethan’s such a great guy,” she tells me in an aside during dessert. “But I’m sure you’ve already figured that out.”

I nod, swallowing the delicious bite of tiramisu I’d just taken. Across the table, Ethan’s eyes glance toward us.

“I have,” I say carefully.

“So are his daughters. Evie is a few years older than our son, but I hope they’ll be playmates one day.” Her smile warms. “He’s very smart, too.”

“Your son?”

“No, Ethan.” Skye laughs, glancing briefly at her husband, consumed in some discussion with the others. “Although Isaac rolled over onto his tummy the other day, quite early too, at three-and-a-half months. Cole is convinced that means he’s a genius in the making.”

The obvious fondness in her voice makes me smile. “I’m sure he is, with parents like you.”

“Do you want kids?”

I nod. “One day, yes.”

“Ethan,” Skye says, involving him in our conversation. “How about you? Do you want to have more kids?”

Oh no. Has she assumed Ethan and I are…?

Ethan takes a sip of his wine, the picture of ease. “Maybe,” he says. “Although at the moment it’s a very distant priority, I have to say.”

“Understandable,” she says.

“I stepped on Legos just yesterday and vowed never again. But who knows?”

“Who knows indeed,” Cole adds, showing that he’s been listening to the whole conversation. A look passes between him and Nick. “Not to mention a man like you isn’t made for single life.”

I watch, wide-eyed, as Ethan lets out a groan. “Not this again. Not in my own house, damn it.”

Nick raises his hands. “We won’t.”

“Even if we’re all thinking it,” Blair adds.

“But we won’t,” Nick says again, more firmly.

A smile breaks across my face. So they’ve been pestering him about his single-hood for a while? “If it makes you feel any better,” I tell Ethan, “I’m told the same thing by most of my friends too.”

Blair’s eyes go round. “How perfect.”

“Are they equally annoying?” Ethan asks me, ignoring the others.

I respond in kind, focusing only on him. “More, I think. They don’t know when to stop.”

“Oh, neither do we,” Cole says. A second later, someone slaps him on the shoulder-I hear the sound and the muffled ow.

Ethan’s eyes blaze and his smile is private, one that ignores the people around us. It sends a shiver down my spine. “Interesting,” he murmurs.

I look down at my dessert and try to hide the blush on my cheeks. It’s always been the thing to give me away, like a giant, heat-infused billboard. Look! Bella cares!

Cole and Skye leave shortly after that. “We can’t be away from Isaac for too long,” they say, almost in unison. Blair and Nick decide it’s time to head out too, Blair mentioning something about an early morning as she kisses Ethan on the cheek.

“It was so nice to meet you,” Blair tells me, giving me a hug. “I’m already looking forward to the next time.”

And then they’re all gone, leaving so quickly that I don’t have the time to follow them out the front door. “Wow,” I say, leaning against a wall in the hallway. “Were they in a rush?”This is property © NôvelDrama.Org.