Ruthless Heir (Ruthless Billionaires #5)

Chapter 5

Chapter Five

Harper

“ Asher Le Blanche, age thirty, net worth $15 billion, one of the heirs to Le Blanche Global, a multi-billion dollar investment and hedge fund company ,” Beth reads from the laptop screen using her best newsreader voice. “ Asher Le Blanche’s keen insight and ability to anticipate market trends have consistently delivered outsize returns for his clients, earning him a reputation as a financial prodigy . And this is the guy you don’t want to ask for help?”

Beth tosses her long black hair over her shoulders and throws me an incredulous glare. She looks even more like a Disney princess with her blue eyes saucer-wide and her ruby-red lips pressed in displeasure. She could easily be a dark-haired Ariel or Rapunzel.

“We’re not talking about this again.” I shake my head at her and continue folding my clothes.

We’re in my bedroom packing. She’s been here for the last two hours trying to convince me to ask Asher for the money I need to pay off Vito.

“I’m trying to make you see sense.” Beth stands and places her hands on her slender hips, assuming her Miss-know-it-all persona. “The man is a billionaire.”

“I know . And I am seeing sense. My answer is still the same. No, I’m not going to ask him.”

While the idea seems like a no-brainer if you know someone whose net worth is fifteen freaking billion dollars, it’s not an option for me. There are some lines in life you don’t cross. I already crossed one with Asher Le Blanche. I won’t cross another.

That said, if Asher helped me pay the debt the worries of what Vito will do to me would cease to exist. I just can’t bring myself to ask for that kind of help.

“It’s bad enough I’m going to live at his place.” I exhale slowly, trying to keep my nerves from taking over again.

“Why is that so bad?”

“You know why. Living with Asher is going to be awkward as hell.”

“Yes, but at least you know him. It’s not as bad as staying with someone you don’t know.”

“Sure, but given all that’s happened I feel so uncomfortable. The money situation just makes it worse.” The questions Asher asked the other night told me he knew I was still in trouble.

“What about his parents? I’m sure they’d lend you the money. Weren’t both your parents college best friends?”

They were. That’s how we all came to know each other. My mother was friends with Asher’s mom and my father was friends with his father. So I have the close family relationship from both sides.

“I haven’t seen Asher’s parents in years. I can’t just show up on their door step and ask them for money. I would be so embarrassed, especially since I didn’t exactly stay in touch with them as much as I could have.”

Asher’s parents were very supportive after my father died and my stepmother took everything. I know they helped out a lot financially and even got us a lawyer.

We lost touch when they started traveling more and I got wrapped up in my own world with its overwhelming problems.

“My life is a state of shit right now and I don’t want to make anybody’s impression of me worse than it already is,” I add, feeling like a loser again.

I’ve been on edge since Vito’s call the other night and I’ve barely been able to hold myself together.

Josh could tell something was wrong with me when he saw me the next day. Thankfully, he thought I was worrying about moving in with Asher. I made him none the wiser.

Beth walks toward me, takes the jumper I was folding out of my hands and places it on the desk. “Come, you need to sit.”

She ushers me over to the chair by the window, sits me down and moves the curtains aside to let in some air.

“I have to sort this out myself, Beth.” I lean forward, resting my elbows on my knees.

“How are you going to do that? You can’t find twenty grand in four weeks.” She lowers her voice. Josh is here and he’s been checking on me almost every hour. “You know I’d help you if I could.”

“You’ve helped me more than enough. I wouldn’t want you to help me again. I still owe you.” Beth gave me five thousand dollars to pay some of the loan repayments after Nick went to prison.

“I’d still help you out. And no, you don’t owe me. It was a gift.”

“Thanks. That means everything to me.” I sigh, sounding like I haven’t taken a breath in a hundred years. “I was thinking that maybe if I got a job, I could get a loan.”

That’s plan A. If that doesn’t work the only option I’ll have is plan B— running . I don’t want to run because running means death. I don’t have to wonder if Vito would kill me. I know he will.

“Getting a loan isn’t that simple.” Beth bites the inside of her lip and cocks her head. “Banks aren’t always willing to give you a loan just because you have a job. You’d also need to have had the job for a certain length of time.”

“Yes but I can try. I have to try. And at least I have two grand from Josh. Maybe if I can make that up to ten Vito will allow me some more time to pay the rest.”

“From what you told me that call didn’t sound like he’d be willing to do anything of the sort.”

“Beth, you’re not helping.”

“ Yes, I am. You need to listen to me because this is serious shit.”

“As if I don’t know that.” I glare back at her. She really is not helping by telling me things I already know or giving me bad options. “Telling me to ask Asher for the money is not my idea of finding a solution. He picked me up from jail, Beth . Jail. Do you know how embarrassed I was? And he paid my bail and everything else.”

The determination on her face loosens. Thank God. She’s like a dog with a bone when she gets one of her bright ideas.

“And he knew about Nick.”

“Asher mentioned Nick?”

“Yes. It was only left for him to call me an idiot airhead. He thinks I’m completely incompetent because that’s exactly how I look. Then there’s Josh. I’m like a sponge soaking up all his reserves and a burden on him.”

“Don’t say that.”

“It’s true. I’m not being hard on myself. I’m being realistic. It’s time I take my life in hand and straighten it out myself without begging people for help or draining my brother.”

Josh shouldn’t have to tell me that the money he has is for him and Lisa. I know he didn’t mean anything by what he said but I still feel bad for pushing him to put up that kind of boundary between us. He was right to say it.

“Okay, maybe we can figure something out. I can ask around and see what I come up with.”

“Thanks, Beth.”

“Don’t thank me yet. Just remember most of the people I know are a little on the wild side. I wouldn’t even get mixed up with some of them for certain things.”

She gave me the same answer when I asked if I could stay with any of her friends. When she narrowed my options down to either stay with a drug dealer who had a spare room because his roommate was on the run, or a guy she thought might be a pimp I realized staying with Asher was definitely the better option.

“Anything you can do will be appreciated.”

“Alright. Give me a few days.”

“Thanks. And thank you for everything else. You’ve been there for me a lot.”

She grabs a chair and pulls it closer so she can sit next to me. “You know I’ll always be there when you need me.”

Beth has always been a good friend to me. We met when we were five and have been friends ever since.

“I know. I’ll always be there for you, too. I’m just not sure how useful I am. Only one of us has saved the other’s life throughout our friendship.”

She smirks. “That’s not entirely true. Remember the waterpark trip in fifth grade? You came after me when I went on the adult slide and ended up in the deep end of the pool.”

I roll my eyes at her. “That’s not the same thing.”

“I couldn’t swim.”

“Neither could I.”

“But we were together. I would have been terrified if I’d been on my own. I still maintain that clinging together and flapping around in the water together, saved us from drowning.”

I don’t know how but I burst out laughing. It’s been so long since I laughed it feels strange to me. “You are so crazy.”

“The point is we save each other when we need to.” Beth nods.

“You have your head screwed on though. I don’t.”

“I beg to differ. I’m the one who didn’t go to college, had the type of boyfriends you couldn’t take home to meet anyone, and I’m the one who knows all the unsavory characters of this world, as my father put it.”

“Yet you have a successful beauty salon, an apartment of your own, and the guys you date don’t try to screw you over. Trust me, you have your head screwed on. I still remember being terrified that night when Nick killed those people.”

Her smile fades. “Don’t think about that.”

“It’s still fresh in my mind. It was only eight months ago. My entire world changed and I don’t know how to fix it. All I was supposed to worry about was playing my violin.”

“You just hit a bump in life’s road.” Her smile returns but it’s softer and sadder. “My grandma used to say that when that happens it’s because the universe wants to set you on the right path and that’s the only way it can do it.”

“Well, I hit one hell of a bump. I’m not sure how the universe is going to direct me to the right path.”

“Wallowing in your sorrows is not going to help. Let’s get you moved into Asher’s and figure out everything else.”

I nod, liking that idea. My brain can’t handle anything more this week.

“How are you feeling about him? Asher. You haven’t said anything about him.” She speaks in a cautious tone.

“There’s nothing to talk about.”

“Are you still pretending you don’t remember what happened between you?” She gives me a poignant but curious stare.

Beth is the only person who knows that secret of mine and I’m going to keep it that way. “Nothing happened between us. That was all on me.”

“Yeah, but?—”

“Beth, don’t. I’m over it and I’m over him.” Annoyingly, although I say that with ease, in my heart I don’t fully believe it.

“I just wanted to check how you were feeling about him.”

“I’m fine. I mean. I’m… fine with those parts. It is what it is and I’m okay with that.”

“Okay. I guess there’s enough to worry about. How about we finish packing and I take you out to dinner? It’s been a while since we’ve hung out together in New York. We could go to that pizzeria you liked last time. The hot waiter we both used to ogle is now the owner.” Mischief lights up her eyes.

“Good for him.” Everyone seems to be doing better than me. “And yeah, let’s go there.”

“I think we could both do with some giant chocolate shakes and cheesecake.”

“Sounds good.” I could do with the break.

I guess I should make use of the comforts I have today because I’ll be moving to Asher’s house tomorrow. I can’t imagine what it’s going to be like living under the same roof as him, right under his scrutiny.

My breath catches in my throat as I step out of the car and stare at the mansion before me.

It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. The Hamptons have a reputation but this—this is beyond anything I imagined.

The beachfront mansion with its sleek, contemporary design features towering columns and expansive stone walls that seem to go on forever. Each detail is exquisite with the kind of luxury you’d see on a TV show showcasing the rich and the famous.

Josh walks around the car and leans into my shoulder. “The house is something else, isn’t it?”

“I can’t believe Asher lives here.”

“Told you he had space.” Josh smiles back at me.

I glance up at him. “Yeah, enough to fit a small country.”

“Something like that.”

The last place he had— where I offered myself to him —was an apartment. A penthouse near the city suitable for a bachelor pad.

This feels like a home.

“Come on, I’ll take you in.”

“Is he here?”

“No, he had to work. His assistant will show you around and take care of you. Asher will be back by dinnertime.”

Well, at least I have a few hours to get used to the place without him.

I follow Josh through the massive double doors and into a foyer that looks like we just stepped into another world.

Cool marble covers the floor and hand-painted murals run along the walls. This place is a masterpiece. And I guess it shows just how grown up Asher is.

We move further inside and into the living room, where an elderly lady with a bouffant meets us. She has dark-rimmed glasses and a Cruella Deville look about her that makes it difficult to imagine her ever smiling.

“Hi, Olga,” Josh greets her.

Olga . Yes, that name definitely suits her. I can’t think of another that would.

“Hello, there,” she responds in an accented voice that sounds Eastern European. Maybe Polish or Russian.

“This is my sister, Harper. Harper, this is Olga, Asher’s assistant.”

“Pleased to meet you.” Olga extends her hand to me and I shake it.

“It’s nice to meet you, too.”

“I will get you something to eat then show you around when you’re ready.” Her tone is very professional. I can see why she’s Asher’s assistant. I imagine he must be extremely busy to be worth billions.

“Thank you. I’d love that,” I tell her.

“Very well. I’ll get Fred to unload your things and take them up to your room and leave you to say goodbye to your brother. Come and find me in the kitchen when you’re done.” She points to a hallway to the left of us.

“I will.”

“Thanks, Olga,” Josh says with a curt tip of his head.

To my surprise she gives Josh a thin smile.

I watch her leave then I turn back to Josh, feeling my heart grow in my chest with the weight of saying goodbye to him. With the exception of the last few days we haven’t seen each other since before Christmas when the shit went down with Nick. Josh flew to L.A. and was with me for the entire month.

Saying goodbye to him now feels like back then but worse.

“You’re going to be okay, kid.” He gives me a playful punch on my shoulder.

Although I’ve been willing myself not to cry, a tear rolls down my cheek. “Thanks for everything. I’m so sorry I wrecked your plans with Lisa and?—”

“It’s okay. We’re past that. I want to hear good things when I see you again.”

I nod, hoping good things could really happen. It’s been a while since I had anything of the sort and right now the forecast doesn’t look good. “I’ll be okay. Good luck for tomorrow but you know Lisa will say yes, right?”

“Believe me, if I didn’t know I wouldn’t be proposing.” He laughs. “She’ll be happy then I’ll be gone for nine months and virtually uncontactable. That’s not exactly how I planned to start our engagement.”

“But it will be okay. Lisa will be even more excited to see you when you get back.”

“I hope so.”

I met Lisa a few times and she’s exactly the kind of woman I hoped Josh would find.

“You can call her if you want.” Josh smiles with hope in his eyes. “You know she’d love to hear from you.”

“Sure. I’ll call her. Be careful, Josh. I always worry about you.”

“You know I’ll be fine. I was born to be in the Navy. It sounds weird but I love going on the sub missions. It’s like being in a whole other world.”

“It is a whole other world.” I chuckle.

His smile fades and his shoulders sag. “I gotta go now, Harper. Are you feeling okay?”

Bless his heart. He can see that I’m not okay. “Yes.”

“Need anything else before I dash?”

“Just a hug from my big brother.”

“I have plenty of those.” He smiles wide and I take a mental picture of the way he looks so I can keep it in my heart.

We hug and I savor the safety I feel from being with my only family member who I know will always take care of me. I hope that one day I can return the favor. And I hope like hell that nothing bad happens to either of us and this isn’t the last time we’ll hug.

When we pull apart he plants a kiss on my forehead and ruffles the top of my hair like he used to when I was little.

He dips his head and leaves, and I stand there until I hear the front door close then the car driving away.

I’m alone now, thrust into a new situation. And from the looks of it a whole new world.

I gaze around the living room and take in the French Proven?al décor and wrought iron chandeliers hanging above me. Everything is so beautiful and elegant I feel out of place just being here.

This is the first time I’ve been to the Hamptons, and I never thought I would be living in the home of one of its top-tier billionaires.

Asher only just turned thirty. Who knows where he’ll be in a few years? I guess that’s what happens when you’re born with the right kind of wealth.

Pulling in a deep breath, I steel my mind and prep it to venture down this new path. Then, like Alice going down the rabbit hole, I follow the marbled hallway to a state-of-the-art kitchen that’s bigger than my last apartment.

Olga is in there talking to a younger woman who looks to be the same age as me. The woman gives me a welcoming smile that makes me feel more at ease.

Olga introduces her as Kimberley, the head chef. Again, I’m impressed and I wonder who and what else I’ll come across today.

After I eat a delicious meal of gourmet sandwiches on the terrace, Olga gives me the tour. By the end of it I decide that it doesn’t feel right to call this place a mere house.

With its eight bedrooms, three living rooms, function halls, dining room, Beauty and the Beast style library, and garages, this place feels more like a palace. Or a manor at least. Like one of those English countryside manors with a moor and a lake.

The only real difference here is that Asher has private beach access and the woodlands. He has the best of both worlds, and I feel like I’m in a dream.

My bedroom is certainly the finest room I’ve ever stayed in in my life, and I’m almost too afraid I’ll mess it up.

There’s a queen-size bed that looks like something designed for a princess, a walk-in wardrobe, shelves galore, and a boudoir dressing table.

Nick made me feel like I was less than human. No wonder I feel like I don’t belong here. Because I don’t.

As nice as this all is, when I sort out the loan I have to get my own place. Campus housing or not—and I have a feeling it will be the latter.

I don’t know how life is at NYU but back at UCLA those who get turned down for campus housing don’t often get placed later, so they have to find somewhere near campus.

My problem is I applied way too late, so I’m not at all surprised.

The day wears on. I don't have that many things to unpack so I’m all set up within an hour.

Beth comes by to see me and she’s as besotted with the place as I am. We spend the rest of the day on the beach, then she leaves at nightfall.

At eight thirty I make my way down to the dining room with butterflies flapping around in my stomach.

Asher is home. Olga told me to come down for dinner at this time and I heard his car when he arrived.

When I reach the dining room door I breathe deeply to calm myself, then I take that step inside as if I’m about to start the first day of the rest of my life.

My breath catches when I see him. He’s standing at the head of the table talking to Olga.

Dressed in a suit like last time, he looks as handsome as ever. Except today he has a five o’clock shadow that gives him a sexier, rugged edge.

Still, he looks like his net worth—powerful, important, wealthy.

And here’s me in my yoga pants and off-the-shoulder jumper looking completely underdressed for something as simple as dinner.

Oh, well. I can’t do anything about that now.

What was that mantra I saw on America’s Next Top Model ?

Walk like you own the world even if you’re wearing a paper bag.

I try and do my best.

As I walk in he looks my way with those bright blue eyes and God help me, those old feelings resurface. Then I realize they never actually left.