Romance: The Billionaire's Proposal by Emily Cooper Read Free Book Online Page A

cat when you’ve started feeding it.
    Only he was a lot more handsome… and a lot more annoying.
    “I’m surprised to see you here,” he says as he takes another sip from his glass.
    “I could say the same thing about you. You don’t seem all that charitable, even if you do have very deep pockets and could help a lot of people,” I say, then finish off my champagne and grab another glass from a passing waiter.
    “A lot of charities have benefitted from donations from my company.”
    I raise my brow. “That’s surprising. I didn’t think it would be your thing.”
    He chuckles. “Why, because I like to create properties that will generate an income? That doesn’t mean I’m not a charitable person. It just means that I like to make money—and lots of it.”
    I sigh. “Believe it or not, Mr. Billionaire, everything is not always about money.”
    He laughs. Hard. “Everything is about money—everything! Money makes the world go round. Why do you think people kill for it, steal for it, or work for it? Because you can’t survive in this world without it.”
    I place my champagne flute down. “Money may make the world go round, but some things are bigger than it. It isn’t always everything. At least not the way that you’re trying to make it.”
    “You’re really upset about that land development project, aren’t you? I still stand by my statement that I’ve put forward the better option. I’ll be creating jobs for lots of people and be solving a major parking issue around here. I think that outweighs anything that you’re trying to do.”
    “And I won’t be creating some jobs with the nursing home and the library?”
    “Not as many.”
    “Even still, it’s a lot better than what you’re proposing! I know that most of those warehouses are basically run by machines so you won’t be creating that many jobs yourself!”
    I look around and see that people are staring at us.
    I’m immediately embarrassed—I hadn’t realized that the conversation had gotten so loud.
    This is a charity event, not a debate.
    I should’ve known better, but something about this sensual man really works me up.
    It’s like he’s so cocky and smart that it’s annoying. I can’t believe he got me so fired up that I actually disturbed the event.
    Men.
    I look around at all of the eyes and quietly leave the museum. I hand the valet my ticket and he retrieves my car. I look back to make sure that no one’s coming after me, hop into my car, and speed off.
    Tonight was a disaster.
    All I want to do is go home, get in my bed, and forget this night ever happened.
    I will apologize to the people at the homeless shelter in the morning and make sure to give them a sizeable donation from my company.
    It was the least I could do after ruining their fundraiser.
     
     
     
     
     

Alexander
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

 
     
     
     
     
    Tara is going to be the death of me.
    I can’t believe I allowed her to get under my skin like that.
    I don’t even want the property that bad, but when she assumed that I’m not a charitable person, I really took offense because it was so far from the truth.
    I donate to hospitals all the time, am very active in the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and I throw a lot of money at the homeless shelters.
    She could say what she wanted to, but that was just who I was.
    It doesn’t get published a lot because I want my charity to be just that: charity. I don’t want the fame that comes with it.
    No one needs to know what I did because it really was none of their business.
    I notice Mark, the head of the event, coming toward me, and I know that he has something to say about what just happened.
    I knew this because along with being the founder of the homeless shelter, he also was my best friend for my entire life. He has always been there for me.
    When my mother died, I was ten years old. Even at that early age, Mark was there for me. He was always very charitable and he listened to all my