The Unknown Billionaire (Captured by Love Book 6) by Miranda P. Charles Read Free Book Online Page A

plastered on his face, not having an instant response to that. Whatever good things Marilyn’s mother had said about him might have been negated by what they’d just witnessed. He wouldn’t be surprised if the Grants hated attracting attention in a public place, and there he’d been, devouring their daughter’s mouth in one of their favourite restaurants. What timing.
    A server arranged two extra places on their table, giving him time to get back his bearings—and swallow his disappointment. No more heart-to-heart talk or sweet kisses with Marilyn tonight in this place.
    Time crawled for Jarryd as he fielded question after question from Barry. If it hadn’t been for Marilyn and Alice interjecting with some light-hearted comments every so often, this dinner would simply have been an inquisition. In a way, he didn’t mind. It wasn’t everyday he got someone of Barry Grant’s calibre talking business matters with him.
    “What do you do to get new business?” Barry asked next.
    “Currently, I’m lucky enough to have a steady stream coming from my list of contacts from my previous company, and also from referrals from my current clients. But I’m about to work with a marketing consultant to help me with branding and to also help me tap into the cold market.”
    “Can’t rest on your laurels,” Barry said, nodding. “And how’s cash flow for you? From what you’ve said, you would have had to put in extra capital to feed your growth. Monthly obligations like interest repayments and wages could kill your momentum if your cash inflow is dry for a period of time.”
    “I do have to watch it carefully,” he said simply.
    Things were a lot better now after he’d decided to use the five million dollars Margaret had deposited in Westbourne Constructions’ account without his consent a month before she passed away. He hadn’t wanted to touch it at first, but Margaret had said to consider it as her investment in his company. Accepting that gift, which was separate from his inheritance, seemed to be the only way he could thank her for the love she’d shown him in the one year they’d gotten to know each other.
    Marilyn started talking about the charity events she’d been organising for the Christmas season. To Jarryd’s relief, Barry had stopped giving him the third degree to discuss Marilyn’s plans.
    Phew.
    *****
    “ Please let me get this,” Jarryd said, pulling out his credit card from his wallet and holding it up for Hector to take.
    “No,” Barry said definitively, handing his black Amex to Hector, who grabbed it without hesitation.
    Jarryd suppressed his sigh. At the very least, he wanted to pay for his and Marilyn’s dinner considering this had turned out to be their reconciliation date. But now wasn’t the time to get into a competition with Barry over who was the boss.
    “How about we give you a lift home, Marilyn?” Barry said. “Your place is out of Jarryd’s way. It’s easier for us.”
    “I don’t mind driving her home, sir,” he said quickly.
    “It’s late,” Barry said with a dismissive gesture. “Saves you from going over the bridge only to come back again.”
    Jarryd glanced at Marilyn, who was frowning at her dad. She wasn’t happy either, but she was staying quiet.
    He felt like saying that he and Marilyn were mature adults who didn’t need their parents chauffeuring them around, but he decided to follow Marilyn’s lead and not argue further.
    Was Barry trying to ensure that Jarryd didn’t get any more time with Marilyn tonight? Jarryd hoped he was mistaken in his assumption that Barry didn’t like him. It wasn’t anything Marilyn’s dad had said, but a vibe the man had been exuding.
    Barry finished paying for their dinner and they all walked out of the restaurant. The Grants’ Bentley was hard to miss, parked in a spot marked Authorised Vehicles Only . They stopped beside it.
    “Well, it was a lovely dinner, wasn’t it?” Alice said.
    “It was,” Jarryd