Billionaire Alpha 1(5)

"I'm fine. I just wish someone would have told me. She said I tried to   sleep with you last night. I feel like a total ass." She forced a laugh,   the memory of the night before pushing its way across her aching  skull.  She would never let him know that she remembered every moment of  it,  but the loneliness at his denial and the hour of crying herself to  sleep  was still very real as she stared at him.         

     



 

"It's no big deal. A month ago I would have fallen over myself to get   you in bed." He laughed and the goofy sound caused her to smile.

He wasn't at all someone that she'd normally sleep with or try and start   a real relationship with. The need to share her celebration with him   had pushed her to want something more, but it would have ended as the   sun came up. It was for the best.

"Enough of this. Congratulations." She reached up and straightened the   lapel of his robe before turning and sliding into line as they were   instructed to do.

She waited her turn, her mind wandering to the conversation her mother   had hopefully had with Kent and how it might have gone. Would he be   thrilled that she'd finally said yes to marriage? How soon would they   tie the knot? Would he offer to help her with her master's? She'd be   more than thankful for a loan, if nothing else. A grant from him would   be blissful, but anything to keep pushing her forward would be a break   in her rather painful cycle of poverty.

She glanced at her mother and hopefully soon-to-be-stepfather and waved,   smiling as she slipped onto the stage as the announcers called out her   name. The moment was almost surreal, the hope it planted in her   blossoming as she took her diploma and shook the Dean's hand.

"Great job, Bethany. Look forward to seeing you in the MBA program." He   smiled and she simply nodded, turning her head for the flashing light  of  the cameras. Her head protested at the attention, the dull ache  still  remaining from her night of almost fun.

She walked down to join her classmates in the hard-backed chairs, the   energy palatable in the air. Their speaker had asked to go after the   names were read, which was odd, but she was degreed and couldn't care   less about what came next. Sinking down into her seat, her mind numbed   at the monotone voice of their valedictorian, the message surely on   success and their ability to do anything they wanted to do.

She scoffed internally, wanting nothing more than a cheeseburger, sex and a nap. In that order.



*



"We're so proud of you, sweetheart. Let's go grab some lunch. Kent made us a reservation at a restaurant here in town."

Her mother pulled her into a hug as she stood before Bethany, who was   smiling with a sense of relief sitting lightly on her. It was done. The   graduation was over and she held her diploma in her hand.

"Quite the accomplishment, Bethany. Your mom tells me that you used   grants and a work study to make your way through your bachelors?"

She nodded and moved back, wrapping an arm around her mom's shoulders as   they walked to the car. Various friends called out to her, and she   responded in between talking with Kent and her mother.

"Yes. I was very lucky not to have to apply for loans during the last   four years. A lot of my friends are leaving today with forty to eighty   thousand dollars hanging over their heads. I can't imagine."

"Debt is the devil for sure." He smiled and held the car door open for   her as she got in the back. He opened the door for her mother as Bethany   relaxed against the new-smelling leather of his Lexus. She didn't know   much about Kent, but what she had seen, she liked quite a bit.

He was classy and old school, always holding the door open and shaking   hands with people. His smile was warm and kind, his eyes dark and full   of mystery. He would take some getting used to, as the only man in   Bethany's mother's life had been her weasel of a father. Her mom had   just about written off men for good until her older sister, Bethany's   aunt Patty, introduced her to Kent.

"Hungry, girls?" Kent turned and looked over at Bethany, his right arm extending to hold hands with her mom.

A smile touched Bethany's mouth as she nodded. How nice would it be to find someone like him to take care of her mom?

How nice would it be to find someone like him to take care of her? She   scoffed internally and engaged in the surface-level conversation they   had as they drove to the restaurant.

Bethany sat up as the car pulled to the front of the large building, a   valet rushing to open her and her mother's doors. She got out and her   mom looked over at her as Kent spoke with another valet.

"Kent's paying, so get whatever you want, baby. This is your day." She   smiled and held out her left hand, a large engagement ring on her   finger.         

     



 

"Oh my God, Mom. He had the ring already?"

"He sure did, and I said yes. We'll get married on the beach in Jamaica   in three weeks. We just want you and his two boys to come with us. You   can each bring someone if you want, and if not, just come and we'll  have  some family fun."

Bethany stood there, her mouth half hanging open as Kent walked around the car and put an arm around her mother.

"I see your mom told you the good news."

"She sure did. Congratulations! How exciting."

He smiled and moved them toward the restaurant. "It's given me a whole   new outlook on life. But today is about you. We'll talk about the   wedding next week. We want you to come spend the week with us, meet the   boys and such."

"Of course. I'd love to."





Chapter 4





At first she was hesitant to order anything off the menu, the prices   ridiculous for a simple graduation meal. Her mom ordered a salad for   herself and Bethany followed suit, but the bread bowl was calling her   name. She waited until Kent reached out and took a piece, offering it to   her next.

"So, Mom tells me that you're an accountant as well?" Bethany passed the   bread to her mom, her eyes on the newest member of her soon-to-be   family.

"I have a degree in accounting and a doctorate in law. It's a passion of   mine, but my company is actually an accounting firm, which is  something  I wanted to talk with you about." He smiled and looked over  at  Bethany's mother as if asking permission for something. Her mom  smiled  shyly and he reached over and took her hand under the table.

"Oh, yeah? That's great news. I'd love to talk accounting with you, just   don't tell anyone how nerdy I really am. I keep that locked down most   days." She smiled as her mother chided her.

Kent smirked and sat back, the look on his face giving her peace.

"Your mother tells me that you're headed into your master's program in a month and are looking for some financial assistance."

She wasn't quite sure how to respond. His statement was completely true,   and yet she felt like a beggar admitting that she couldn't pay her own   way. She glanced toward her mom, whose eyes seem to press her toward  the  message of honesty and transparency.

"Yes. My grants only cover a third of my expenses and getting a job is   my next step. I don't mind getting a job, but most firms would require   me to work full-time. I could work somewhere non-accounting that's part   time, but I wouldn't make nearly enough money to live off of."

Kent was nothing like she expected for a billionaire. Her mother might   be aware of her new fiancé's wealth, but Bethany doubted it. She'd done   her own research, though, and knew that McKenzie and Bryant Accounting,   LLC was a cash cow. If Kent wasn't worth at least thirty billion   dollars, Bethany would be surprised. Still, he was far too   down-to-earth, far from what she expected a billionaire to act like.   They were supposed to be greedy and self-serving, manipulative and   spoiled.

Maybe he was exactly that and they had yet to see it. Only time would tell.

"What about this-" He paused and sat up to the table, his eyes filled   with something like excitement. "I'll pick up the tab for the funds that   you're lacking and you come work at M&B's three days a week in the   morning or afternoon, whatever your schedule allows you to commit to   us."

Bethany sat in shock for a minute, his offer way more than generous. She   looked at her mom, who was beaming like they'd won the lottery, and in  a  way, she guessed they had.

The smile on Kent's handsome face caused Bethany's lips to lift and she nodded before she realized what she was doing.

"Deal. Would I be working for you?"

"No, your new brother, Damon. Smart as a whip, but you'll love him. The   two of you have a tremendous amount in common. He's brilliant and   driven, hardworking and very devoted to success."