The Billionaire’s Fan (The Whispering Oaks Society)

Chapter 19

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Jordyn

Asher and I were in Empire Bay for the past few days, but I had to go back home for some important tasks, and Asher insisted on joining me.

Normally, with relationships that I am in, I need breaks. I need the time for myself. But strangely, with this relationship with Asher, I want more. I don’t want to be a part from him. It’s possibly because of knowing that he’s going to be going back on tour soon. And then at that, we will have to resort to video calls. Or who’s to say that we will last past that?

A thought that I hate co-mingling with my happy thoughts.

So, I’m milking as much time as I can right now with him.

We enter my house, and I turn on the lights and open the window blinds. Asher carries his bag to the bedroom, then re-emerges a moment later.

“How long until you need to be back at work?” he asks.

“I don’t have a set time, but I do want to get payroll completed as soon as possible and make sure I check in with everyone.”

“Remind me again, what you do there?” he asks.

“A bit of everything. But think of me as the general manager.”

“What does Evelyn and Tom do?” he asks.

“My parents? Mainly focus on the expansion stuff, business stuff, and makings sure we keep the lights on.” I explain.

“Well, let’s get you to work. I’m starving.” He winks at me.

Twenty minutes later, we pull up to Pie Squared in my car. The first thing that I noticed is that the parking lot is packed. The side streets are full, and there’s a new makeshift outdoor patio with full tables and shade.

“What the devil?” I turn off the ignition and lean back in the driver’s seat.

“What?” he looks at me, then the surrounding area.

“Business has picked up and nobody told me about this.” I pull my phone out and dial my father, placing the call on speaker.

“Hey Jo-Jo.” Dad greets me.

“Dad? Has something happened at Pie Squared that I should know about? Is there some hot special or?”

“Well, I think it has to do with that lovely fella that you’re dating.”

“Hi, Tom.” Ashed checks in.

“Is that him? Well, hello there. Looks like your fans like pizza.”

“Honestly, sir. Who doesn’t? I’m craving some right now if only your daughter would go inside.”

“Are we permitted with the outdoor dining?” I ask.

“We are. I just never got around to doing anything about it. That’s all temporary until we get builders out there next week.”

“Oh, okay. Well, looks like I should get inside then.”

“You’ll notice that we have two extra hands today. Pete got sick, and I needed to make sure we had someone and enough coverage.”

“Thanks for the heads up. I’ll be home for the next few days, so I’ll make sure everything looks good.”

“Thanks love. And hope to see you later, Asher.”

“Later Tom.”

I look at the windows and can barely make out silhouettes inside. I reach for the door, but Asher stops me.

“Shit.” He says under his breath.

“What?”

“Cameras.” He points to the street.

I crane my neck and see at least a dozen photogs leaning against cars on the street.

“Oh. Well, this is part of dating you, right?” I push my shoulders back and say with a smile.

“Let me get the door for you.” Asher opens the door and I watch as he rounds the back and comes to my door. I turn and note that the photographers have also seen this and start motioning to one another, pulling the camera up to their eyes and turning their lenses to capture our every move.

Asher opens the door and I place my hand in his. We thread fingers and begin walking to the front door.

“Dip me,” I tell him.

“What?” he looks at me with confusion.

“Dip me. Let’s give them a good photo.”

“You don’t have to do that. Let’s just walk inside. We really don’t need to give them a show every time they’re around.”

“I know that. Just dip me, okay?”

“You’re crazy, you know that, right?”

We stop in front, and I look up. We’re positioned perfectly in front of the sign.

“Okay, now, dip me and kiss me.”

He does as I ask, lingering with the kiss, then pulls me up. We’re laughing, and just before we walk inside, I turn and wave.

Everyone inside is silent as the door shuts behind us. Heads are turned, eyes are wide, and mouths are agape.

I didn’t think about what we would do as soon as we got inside.

“Let’s head to the back,” I tell him.

“No. I’ll walk around. It’s the least I can do. They’re here because of us.”

“Asher, they’re here because of you.”

“Yeah, but you are a part of me now, so they’re here because of us.”

I shake my head, and we head to the front. There’s an open seat at the end of the bar and Asher takes a seat. He turns to the woman and her child beside him and smiles. They exchange some words and I turn to go about my business.

I check in on the kitchen and some of the wait staff. I introduce myself to the two new employees, then head back out front. I instruct our counter staff to take Asher’s order, and to treat him like anyone else, letting him know that there will be no charge. I grab the front register’s binder and head to the back office.

I spend the next hour making sure timecards are up to date and approved, then head back to the front. Asher has moved from his spot and is now in the dining area, taking photos with a group of teens. I grab a slice of his pizza from where he was sitting and take a bite while watching him work the crowd.

Eventually, he makes his way back to his pizza and takes his seat. I’m standing on the opposite side of the counter grinning at him.

“What?” he asks, taking a bite.

“It’s just fun seeing you in your element.”

“I enjoy meeting people. It’s one reason why I became a performer.”

“Not just because of all the hot groupies?” I tease.

“Absolutely not.”

“How long have you been doing this?”

“Eating pizza? Or Knights Honor?”

“Knights Honor.” I roll my eyes.

“I don’t think I can remember a time when I wasn’t.”

“Want to come in back, get a reprieve, and eat the rest of your pizza in peace?”

“That depends.”

“On what?”

“Will you sit on my lap while you work?”

“Pervert.”

“Hey, I gotta keep my girl on her toes. Lead the way, pretty lady.” He grabs the rest of his pizza and his beer, then follows me to the back office.

“I just have another hour’s worth of work, then we can go.” I tell him, “Here’s the remote to the TV, if you wanted to turn it on.”

“You mean you don’t want me to just sit here and stare at you?”

“I mean, you do what you want.” I shrug.

“You don’t want to know where my mind is going with that statement.”

“I see what you did here,” Asher says, walking into the backyard, his phone in one hand and two beers in the other as he comes and sits beside me.

“What are you talking about?” I pull one of the beers from his hand.

He turns his phone around, and it’s the photos from today.

“I still don’t know what you’re talking about, but those are cute.”

“You did some marketing here.”

I play dumb and give him a confused look. “Huh?”

“We are strategically placed underneath the Pie Squared sign. That’s free business promotion, well done.”

I smile, knowing exactly what he was talking about.

“Are you using me to get more business?”

“Negative. I’m using you for your bedroom skills.” I laugh.