Imperfect Match (Elixir Bachelor Billionaires #1)

“No, Daisy Price, I’m not interested in your ex or any other man, and I’d rather not have this conversation ever again. But when my assistant burns faceless pictures of a man’s junk in a public trash can with her friends, I have to be a little concerned. What if the media thinks it’s me in those pictures?” His icy-blue eyes narrow on me as my stomach drops.

“W-what?”

I’m lost for words. Could that happen? Absolutely. But instead of worrying about Charles and my potentially ruined reputation, I’m wondering just how different his pictures would be. I’m sure there’s a pretty “decent” package hiding behind those gray XL boxers.

Before my eyes can drift up to his groin, Charles clears his throat. His amused grin makes my cheeks flush. It’s as if he knows what I’m thinking.

I take out my phone from the pocket of my jacket, unlock it, and cringe at the sight of yet another text from Jax. I don’t even bother looking at it and place my phone into Charles’ waiting hands before flopping down on a chair.

Every trace of amusement drops from his face, and his fingers swipe the screen. His jaw tightens as he places the phone onto the table after initiating an outgoing call.

“Charles, what the heck? I don’t want to talk to Jax.” I jolt in my seat, my hands going to hit the end call button, but they’re stopped in midair by his.

“And you won’t have to,” he grinds out, moments before Jax’s voice fills the air.

“Daisy, is that you, babe? Finally! Thank God you contacted me. I knew you could only resist my charm for so long. You, my sex-crazed nymph—”

Before I can scream at Jax to shut the fuck up, Charles leans forward. “You better stop right there.” His voice is sterner than I’ve ever heard it. It has the strength to silence a room full of people, and my ex is no exception.

When Jax finally finds his voice, it sounds irritated and whiny. “Who the hell are you?”

“None of your fucking business. But if I catch you contacting Daisy again, those nude pics you’re so proud of will be plastered all over town, and this time your face will be on them.”

“How…how do you know about my messages?” There’s shock and even underlying fear in his words.

“Remember what I said—you in those pink briefs on every damn billboard in this town.”

With a decisive click, Charles ends the call. He circles the desk, and when he perches back on his chair, he’s once again the same composed person who rarely loses control.

There’s no doubt in my mind that what just happened was a rarity. And I don’t know how I feel about it—flattered, embarrassed, shocked, or maybe a cocktail of all those emotions.

“Thanks, but you didn’t have to do that. I could have handled Jax,” I say.

His gaze flickers to my face. “I never questioned your ability to handle him. But only a sexist man sends pictures of his junk to his ex. I wouldn’t be surprised if he causes a scene when it finally gets to his thick brain that you’re not taking him back. That’s the intention, right? Or…” His voice trails off, lower than usual.

“Absolutely not. Jax and I are over. We’ve been over for a long time. This just makes it official. I’m a proudly single girl.”

I might be much more distracted by Jax than I thought. Why else would the emotions on Charles’ face look like relief at hearing my single status unless I’m hallucinating?

Before I can read further into the foreign expression on my boss’ face, he averts his gaze.

With a key from his wallet, he unlocks the confidential top drawer of his desk. There are very few things in Charles’ world that are off-limits to me, and this drawer is one of them.

Am I curious? Absolutely.

Do I have my suspicions? Certainly.

Anything from baseball cards to porn could be hiding in there. He’s a man, after all, even if this town likes to think otherwise.

But today, he pulls out a pink Post-it notepad and pushes it toward me across the table. “If we’re done sorting personal affairs, let’s get down to some actual work.”

5

ORDER FOR A BARBIE BRIDE

CHARLES

As the car pulls into the family estate, my fists clench. It’s been ingrained in me since childhood that I’m destined to be the next leader of the Hawthorne name. Not accepting my fate was never an option for me, and I never questioned my destiny, which was set in stone before my birth. This estate is my heritage, a legacy passed down through generations.