Read Online The Billionaire by Jordan Silver - Free Book Online Page A

up to her ears as I tried for a nibble there too.
    "Now behave yourself so I can feed us, you tired
my old self out with your shopping."
    "Me? That was all your fault. I was finished two hours before you were ready to leave you kept finding
stuff for me to try on."
    She's right too. I'd had a blast watching her try on
new outfits her eyes widening as each pile grew and bigger and bigger. And that
was just the beginning.
    I'd also introduced her to another form of shopping,
where someone else got to model the clothing while we got to sit and sip on
champagne or in her case sparking cider and nibble on foie gras on toast points which I enjoyed and Blossom
turned up her nose at. We'll have to work on her palette.
    For all our complaining we'd both enjoyed ourselves,
she was now the proud owner of a complete wardrobe that would be the envy of
any teen princess.
    She'd gotten her ears pierced at my insistence when I
caught her staring at earrings in a shop window. She was now sporting a pair of
Tiffany's two-carat diamond studs, which her fingers kept gravitating towards
repeatedly.
    I opened the French doors that lead off the breakfast
nook onto the patio where I had the grill already heating just waiting for the
fish.
    I'd skewered some fresh pineapple rolled in sugar to
grill as well, a nice accompaniment to the fish. When I'd asked Ashley what she
wanted for dinner her first choice had been McDonald's of all things. I'd
squashed that out the box but after she'd explained that she'd never had one of
America's favorite fast food burgers, I'd almost cried for her.
    Immediately I'd shifted my plans for the weekend,
Saturday was going to be dedicated to her only. Whatever she wanted to do, but
there was definitely a Big Mac for lunch in her future.
    I hope I survive it I haven't eaten one of those things
since I was a teen. Mom wasn't too big on fast food either, though it wasn’t
for the same reasons as her dick of a father. At least we were allowed one
every once in a while, we just weren't allowed to make a habit of it, which was
as it should be.
    "I know; I'll set the table." She broke my
inner ramblings with that announcement as she jumped down off the counter.
    "Already done baby, just relax, there's nothing
for you to do."
    I could tell she was nervous, probably not accustomed
to sitting idly by while someone else did all the work, took care of her. I
wondered what her evenings had been like at home. Did he make her wait on him
hand and foot? Was she even allowed to watch television? Come to think of it,
there hadn't been one in her room, and I can't imagine she wanted to spend her
free time in a room with him unless she absolutely had to. Put it away Gideon
she’s here now and she can watch all the mindless drivel that teens seemed to
like on the tube anytime she likes.
    I lit the tapered candles in their silver holders in
the middle of the table when dinner was ready.
    She blushed as I seated her and I couldn't help
kissing her heated cheek. Such a delight my little Blossom.
    "I hope you like it."
    "I don't think I've ever eaten so much salmon
before I met you."
    "Do you like fish, it's good for you."
    "I think so I mean I've fried lots of it when dad
would go fishing with Mr. Stark..." Her voice tapered off at the mention
of her father.
    Taking her hand I gave it a squeeze, rubbing my thumb
back and forth across her palm. I pulled her to me for a kiss. If it's the last
thing I do I'm going to wipe that desolate look from her face for good. I'll be
damned if he'll cause her any more sorrow or heartache.
    "You hanging in there baby?" She nodded her head before taking a bite of her fish.
    "This is good Gideon, I like it."
    "Good I'm glad."
    We enjoyed the rest of our meal over much lighter
conversation. I asked about school and what these tests she was taking this
week were all about.
    I wasn't surprised to learn that she was in the top
one percentile of her class, which she told me was unknown to her father.
    She'd taken