How To Marry A Billionaire: A BWWM Billionaire Romance (7 page)

“Okay. It’ll take me an hour or so to get home.”

“Okay. I’ll keep him as comfortable as possible.”

Colton crossed the room while redoing his tie. He stood in front of her, concern etched into his brow.

“If you can get him into a bath, do it. That might take the edge off of the fever.”

“Fever?” Colton said.

She could no longer hide her son. Hopefully, it would not affect his contract. She was willing to sign with his company. It would bring a better life for her and Derek. It had to. Ellyn disconnected and wouldn’t make eye contact with Colton. She had lied to him.

“Who has a fever?”

She took a deep breath and let hit out noisily. “My son.”

“You have a son. That must be tough to juggle with school.”

That’s his reaction? It must be tough to juggle with school? “I’m not in school. I lied to you.”

He took a step back. She’d screwed this up already. “What do you do then?”

“I’m a waitress.”

His face screwed up. “Why did you lie?”

“Because, oh, I don’t even know now,” Ellyn said. She brushed past him. “Let me get this blouse off so I can get home.”

He grabbed her arm and she braced for his anger. “Keep the blouse. It looks so good on you. Get your things and we’ll get my driver to take you home. You’ll get there faster.”

She looked up at him. Was he for real? “You aren’t mad?”

“No, Ellyn. I’m not.” He shrugged. “It doesn’t change anything.”

She sighed. Okay, maybe she could handle this. She grabbed her purse and her coat. He helped her with it, then he pulled out his phone.

***

Colton remained surprised by the turn of events but he wasn’t mad at her. She had a good reason for telling him a story. He’d find that out later.

“I need my driver.”

“He’ll be around in ten minutes, Mr. Hamilton,” the receptionist said.

“Thanks.”

Colton led her to the elevator. She was clearly flustered, her movements jerky.

“How will I ever repay you, Colton?” Ellyn said.

“There’s no need. Let’s just get you home to your sick son.”

“You’re coming with me?”

“Of course.”

She looked around the elevator as if expecting something to jump out at her. “Uh, well, I’d rather just go myself. Your driver knows the way.”

“Let me help, Ellyn. I don’t mind. I want to do this.”

“What can you do? He probably needs to go to the hospital,” she said. Worry carved lines in her face. He wanted to smooth out those lines. He wanted to make it all better for her, make it all go away. He could do that by being with her or by hiring her. Could he do both? He didn’t know.

The elevator door opened onto the lobby. Ellyn rushed out with Colton behind her.

“It’s chilly out. Wait inside, Ellyn,” he said.

She nodded. “I’m just worried.”

“Can’t Shalia take him to the hospital?”

“She can’t drive and I can’t ask her to take my sick kid on the bus.”

He put his hands on her arms then rubbed. “It’ll be okay.”

“I hope so, but you don’t really know.”

“No, I don’t really know, but I can do my best to make it happen,” he said.

She looked up at him. “I can wait by myself if you have work to do.”

He shook his head. “I’m going with you.”

“I’d rather you didn’t.”

“Why?”

She bit her lip. “Uh, I’d just rather you didn’t.”

“Once you sign the contract, I’m going to know your address, Ellyn. You’re signing the contract right?”

“Yes, I am, Colton. I’m going to sign the contract,” she said.

He wanted to jump for joy. “Good, that can wait until we get your son fixed up.”

“There is no ‘we’ Colton. This is all on me.”

“Where is his father?”

She smiled sardonically. “That’s a whole other story.”

“Okay, enough revelations for today. The driver will be here any minute.”

Ellyn paced and he wished he could take her into his arms. He wanted to protect her from things like this. He wanted her to know she wasn’t alone. Being a benevolent employer, he did his best to help his employees when they were in trouble. She wasn’t his yet, but that didn’t matter. He had a heart and a wallet to back it up.

His phone rang. Marcia. “Hello.”

“Boss, did you sign those papers?”

“I did that yesterday and didn’t give them back to you. They are on my desk.”

“You coming back to the office?”

“I don’t think so. Feel free to leave early if you want,” he said.

“I’ve got a half hour of work then I’ll leave,” she said.

He disconnected. Ellyn was still pacing. Finally, the driver arrived. Colton ushered Ellyn into the back of the vehicle.

“Let’s take Miss Johnson home, Paul.”

His driver looked from Ellyn back to Colton. “Is that okay, Miss?”

So his driver was more concerned about Ellyn? How chivalrous of him.

“It’s fine, Paul,” she said then stared out the window.

She clearly didn’t want him to come. She fidgeted and looked out the window during the whole trip. The traffic in midtown was especially hairy. At one point Paul said, “I’m trying me best to get us out of here, but I think there are some roads closed.”

“I appreciate all of your efforts, Paul,” Ellyn said.

She drummed her fingers on her leg. Colton took a hold of that hand with his. “We’ll get there.”

She nodded then continued looking out the window.

“I mean it, Ellyn. We’ll sort it out. I’m here to help,” Colton said.

She smiled, but she didn’t look as if she believed him. He wished she could see into his heart. She’d understand that she was part of his company now and that was akin to being part of his family. He wouldn’t let her down.

“I’m guessing others have let you down,” he said. “I’m not going to.”

“It’s okay, Colton. I’m used to it.”

His heart broke as his anger rose. Not anger at her but anger at those men who had let her down in the past. He had so much work to make up for them. He was more than willing to restore her faith in men and humanity in general, whatever it took. Finally, they were heading out of Manhattan. Then, he knew why she hadn’t wanted him to know where she lived. They were heading for the Bronx. If he could tell, not the nicest part either. All of her misgivings about him fell into place. He’d bet she was a single mother raised by a single mother.

Well, at least she as going to sign his contract and get herself out of this hole.

“You sure you want to see this?” she said.

“I don’t care where you live, Ellyn. I only care about your future,” he said. “And I can offer you a much better one than your past.”

*

Ellyn cringed as Paul pulled up to her apartment building. She saw it through Colton’s eyes and it looked even more dilapidated. This was why she hid it from him.

“Just drop me by the front door, Paul,” Ellyn said.

The sooner this car was out of the neighborhood, the safer Colton would be.

“Circle the block or something, Paul. I’m getting out with Miss Johnson. We may need you.”

“Why?”

“Because I’m here to help,” he said. “Please don’t be too proud to accept it.”

She was too proud. And independent. He was just helping her. He wasn’t doing anything wrong. Derek would benefit, she had to remember that. She sighed, “Okay.”

Colton followed her out and up the rickety steps to her third floor apartment. To his credit, he wasn’t out of breath when they reached her place. Ellyn opened the door to find Derek curled in a ball on the couch. Shalia looked wide-eyed at her.

“He hasn’t moved and he refused to take a bath,” she said.

She gasped when she saw Colton.

“I’ll take it from here, Shalia. Thanks for calling me,” Ellyn said.

Shalia grabbed her purse then left. Ellyn sat down next to her son. She stroked his head. He was on fire.

“Come on, Derek. We need to get you into the tub.”

“No,” he said, his voice weaker than she ever heard it.

“Let’s get him to the doctor’s,” Colton said.

“I don’t have a doctor. We use the emergency room,” Ellyn said.

He had no idea. He couldn’t. He had money and health insurance.

“Then we’ll take him to the hospital,” Colton said. “Get his coat.”

He squatted down in front of Derek.

“Derek, this is Mr. Hamilton,” Ellyn said. She wasn’t sure what to call him.

“I’m going to be your mother’s boss in a way. Right now, I need you to get your coat on and let me carry you outside. Would that be okay?” Colton said.

He didn’t touch her son, he just looked at him. Derek glanced at her then back to Colton. He then nodded. Ellyn helped him with his jacket. Colton then lifted the boy as if he were precious cargo and carried him out of the apartment.

“I’m sure he can walk,” Ellyn said.

“He’s very warm, so I doubt it,” Colton said. “He’s pretty light. Don’t worry about it.”

But she did worry about it. She worried that Derek might latch onto this male who  could be a father figure. He so desperately needed one. How long would Colton be in her life? Until she wasn’t useful to his company? She would still sign the contract, but she knew she’d have to put away a lot of money for that eventual day when she couldn’t model anymore. Because of Derek, she had to think like that. She had to plan for the worst-case scenario. That was a big part of being a parent. You had to be prepared.

Derek had his head on Colton’s shoulder as they walked down the steps. His eyes were closed and Ellyn hadn’t seen him this lethargic, ever. He was really sick. She had no idea how she was going to pay for this visit but she’d figure it out eventually. The hospital would take payments. She’d just paid off their last visit.

Colton stopped on the last step. “It’s okay, Ellyn. Don’t worry.”

She smiled at him, but there was no mirth behind it. Colton stepped out onto the sidewalk and his driver was at the end of the block. He stopped the car and hopped out to open the door for his boss. Colton slid into the car, settling Derek next to him. Ellyn climbed in with her son between them.

“Thank you,” she said.

He reached across and squeezed her hand. “I haven’t done anything yet.”

Derek was snuggled up against Colton. Ellyn kept her hand on his side as Paul took them to the hospital. He then dropped them off at the emergency department. Colton carried Derek in and his help warmed Ellyn’s heart. She couldn’t carry her son anymore. She didn’t know how she would have gotten him here without Colton’s help.

“You have your insurance card?” the receptionist asked.

Of course, that was the first thing they worried about. Were they getting paid?

“No, I don’t have insurance.”

The receptionist frowned as if she’d just eaten a pickle. “Have a seat. Someone will see you in a few minutes.”

Colton put Derek down on a chair. “I’ll be right back.”

Ellyn watched as he strode to the desk. He pulled out his wallet. She couldn’t leave Derek there but she didn’t want Colton to pay for this. Damn. He handed the woman his credit card. She handed it back to him a few minutes later. A part of Ellyn was humiliated by the transaction. She couldn’t even pay for her son’s medical care. How awful a mother was she? Colton came back, but didn’t comment on what he did.

“You didn’t have to do that,” she said.

“Do what?”

“Give her your credit card.”

“Yes, I did. You can pay me back when you’re working.” He waved a hand. “It’s nothing.”

***

Colton had hoped she hadn’t seen what he did. He knew that Derek would go to the bottom of the list because he didn’t have insurance. He’d be seen, but it could be hours. It was only money, but he figured he could feel that way because he had it, a lot of it. Ellyn would eventually, when her career took off.

“You’re still going to sign me?”

He turned to her. “Of course. Nothing’s changed, Ellyn.” He brushed a hair from her face. “I still want you. Professionally and personally.”

She blinked but her gaze didn’t leave his. “Really? I lied to you.”

“You were embarrassed.”

She sat back in the chair, her arms crossed. “Well, if I’m coming clean, here goes. Shalia and I snuck into Doug’s party.”

Colton laughed. It came out deep and full. “Really? How?”

“We stole glasses from the kitchen then filled them with ginger ale to mimic champagne. We told the guy at the door that we’d stepped out for a cigarette and got lost. Our dates had our invites.”

“I’ll have to warn Doug about that.”

Her eyes widened. “You will?”

“I won’t let on how I know.”

She put a hand on her mouth. “I won’t be able to look him in the eye.”