The Billionaire(5)

"That's about it for now."

"And if I don't agree?"

"Oh Cliff, you do not want to play hardball with me. There're so many  things to choose from, where should I start? Should I start with the  alienation of your daughter by letting her in on some of your more  hostile feelings towards her? You really should be careful what you say  when out drinking with the boys. Should I tell her of your plans for her  when she finishes school? Looks like I came along just in time. On  second thoughts, I don't think I can leave her here alone with you after  all."

"Listen here you, if you..."

"I'm not interested in your threats Cliff, just know this. If you do  anything to harm her, I will fucking bury you. I have some compassion  for the lost of your wife, but your treatment of your daughter in the  years following border on criminal. Your neighbors might see it as over  protectiveness while I see it as fucking abuse, and of one who is so  undeserving of such. You've stifled every impulse..."

"Why should she live and be happy when my Dana is gone because of her?  Dana was sunshine and light and that fucking brat and her fucking  whining robbed me of my life."

In that moment he came dangerously close to bleeding. I clenched my  fists and prayed for patience. It wouldn't do to strangle my Blossom's  one remaining parent in their living room the first time we met. The man  had raised an amazing creature, how could he be such a dick?

"You really are pathetic, I came here hoping the reports were wrong for  her sake, that there was some redeeming quality to be found, but you  have none. Just remember what I said, mess with her, I'll mess with you.  One more thing, when she asks you about this later you will give her  your support one hundred percent or there will be hell to pay."

I turned for the door, I'd said all I came to say after-all and if I  spent one more second in his presence I might knock his teeth down his  neck. How could he look at that beautiful girl and see anything less  than a gift? Whatever, his reign of terror was over. Whatever hell he'd  put her through because of his misguided misplacement of guilt ends now.  Come tomorrow one little girls' life was going to change drastically  and all for the better. I couldn't wait to introduce her to my world, to  watch her grow up and Blossom into the beautiful being I know she is.

Of course I'm going to keep an eye on her father, any man who could hold  a grudge against an innocent child for so long couldn't be all there. I  knew though that she loved him, it would be hard to get her to see what  he really was without breaking her heart, which I am not going to do.  Even if I have to protect her from the truth of what he is I will. As  long as he doesn't fuck with me and mine.

Where I've learned that the first part of her existence was...less than  pleasant, I planned to make sure she enjoyed all the good that my money  could buy. Everything else I'd have to see to, and after meeting that  man face to face I was sure it wouldn't be long before I found a way to  get her out from under him. Stupid fuck, how could he not love my girl?  His fucking loss I will make up for everything he denied her in life.

Outside on the sidewalk I inhaled some much needed fresh air. The man  left a bad taste in my mouth. I couldn't imagine my girl dealing with  that shit day in and day out.                       
       
           



       

I think maybe I'll pick her up from school, give her the good news.  Maybe I'll start taking her to my office after school starting today.  Why wait? I looked back at the little house she shared with that ogre  and was suddenly struck by a thought. Since meeting my Blossom I've been  acting totally out of the ordinary, what was one more thing?

I picked up my car phone as soon as I was seated. "Agnes please, it's Gideon Thorpe."

"Gideon so nice to hear from you, what can I do for you?"

"I need to look at mansions sometime today."





Chapter 5



Gideon



I spent the better part of the morning looking at homes with Ashley in  mind. That meeting with her father had done more than left a bad taste  in my mouth, it had left me feeling unsettled like there was something I  was missing. It was one thing to get reports and guess at what they  meant behind the scenes and quite another to see the reality first hand.  I didn't know exactly what the fuck I had walked into here but my gut  was telling me to get my shit together. I'm a very possessive beast by  nature and in all my dealings, all my acquisitions to date, none had  ever come close to her. In one moment I had seen her and been ensnared  now she consumes my every fucking thought. She's little more than a baby  and she had that kind of power over one of the most powerful men in the  city. Life truly is stranger than fiction.

This was a delicate situation no doubt. I will have to tread carefully  but some way some how I was getting her away from him. It was by the  third house viewing that I had the idea that maybe I should bring my  Blossom along with me on this house hunt. It was for her after all and  she should have some say, in fact she should have all the say. I'd  gotten the feeling from her cold fish of a dad that she didn't have much  of a say in anything in her life so far. All of that was about to  change.

"Listen Agnes I think I might've jumped the gun on this one." Ever the  professional she didn't bat a lash at the thought of losing a sale.  Though I'm sure as a businessman who understands that time is money the  prospect of losing such a lucrative deal after spending hours going from  place to place couldn't be too palatable. "There's someone else who  needs to be here, I've seen some places that I really like but I think  we'll reschedule for a time when she can be here to make the final  choice."

"Of course Mr. Thorpe I understand; and will you be needing me to  reschedule or will you choose a time and place?" We headed back to our  cars while I looked back over my shoulder at this last place, not bad,  not bad at all. I could see her in a place like this. "Why don't I give  you a call when it's convenient?" She nodded her assent and I split off  and headed for the limo to head back to the office. I had a lot of work  on my desk to take care of, some of it I'd left unattended because I'd  been too preoccupied. Now that I'd start the ball rolling I could relax  and breathe a little easier. Soon I will start my courtship, fuck I've  never courted anyone in my life. Too fucking jaded even at a young age.  I'm sure I'd figure it out. With her it seems all I have to do is go  with the gut. And my gut was telling me to spoil the fuck out of her.





At lunchtime I made my excuses and headed for her tree, today I will be bringing her lunch.

I didn't even want to think about why she hadn't been eating anything  the last time I saw her. If I found out his neglect went farther than  just being careless with her feelings, like he was abusing her in any  way, I will put a fucking hurting on him the likes of which this town  has never seen. I clenched my fists at the thought of her being hurt.  Put it away Gideon don't go borrowing trouble.

I watched her for a few seconds before exiting the car, so beautiful, so  innocent. It was amazing that she could be this, after dealing with  what she must've been dealing with behind closed doors her whole life.

She looked around as if sensing my eyes on her and it made me smile.  Yes, I wanted her as attuned to me as I was becoming to her.

I climbed out of the car after telling my driver to stay seated. In my  hands were her lunch and a bunch of flowers. They were a chaotic blend  of beauty in shapes and color that reminded me of her. No boring roses  for my girl, they weren't exotic enough, her lips alone called for more.

"Gideon..."

She jumped off the table where she'd been sitting reading one of her  classics and ran to me. She did this as if she had been doing it for a  long time, so natural. On her face was the widest, brightest smile and  it went right through me. Damn she packed a punch.

I caught her to me and kissed her brow while running my hand softly through her hair.                       
       
           



       

"Hello beautiful, I've come to share lunch with you."

She blushed; I wasn't sure if it was because of my attention, or because  I had figured out that her piece of shit father hadn't sent her to  school with lunch or any way to get something to eat.

I let it go for now, there will be plenty of time for that later right  now I wanted my complete focus on her. I wanted to see her smile again.  Her face does amazing things when she smiles, not to mention what it  does to me.

I'd gotten us Caesar salads with grilled salmon, fresh fruit salad and water to drink.