Daddy’s Billionaire Investor: Age Gap Instalove Short Romance (Billionaires) Read online

  Daddy's Billionaire Investor

  Age Gap Instalove Romance

  By Haley Travis

  Copyright 2021 Haley Travis. All rights reserved. Edited by Rosemary Stewart. Cover Design by Lexie Renard.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted or duplicated in any form whatsoever without express written permission of the author. This book is intended for sale to adults. All main characters are over 18. This is a work of fiction. Any similarities to actual people or specific locations or details is completely coincidental, or intended fictitiously.

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  ***

  CONTENTS

  Chapter 1 ~ Olive

  Chapter 2 ~ Reed

  Chapter 3 ~ Olive

  Chapter 4 ~ Reed

  Chapter 5 ~ Olive

  Chapter 6 ~ Reed

  Chapter 7 ~ Olive

  Chapter 8 ~ Reed

  Chapter 9 ~ Olive

  Chapter 10 ~ Reed

  Chapter 11 ~ Olive

  Chapter 12 ~ Reed

  Chapter 13 ~ Olive

  Chapter 14 ~ Reed

  Chapter 15 ~ Olive

  Epilogue One ~ Reed

  Epilogue Two ~ Olive

  Other Books

  Chapter 1

  _____

  Olive

  Staring at the pile of clothes strewn across my bed, my sigh sounded overly dramatic, even to me.

  Many women have the problem of not having the perfect thing to wear to important events. But this wasn’t a date or a job interview. This was for my dad.

  He didn’t ask for favors very often. Most of the time he was so busy I didn’t see much of him except on Sundays. Even on Saturdays he usually played golf with colleagues.

  I wasn’t positive what Dad and his company even did. “Miller Integration” did something with merging different software across various platforms for…I’ve never been into computers, so the rest of it was practically gibberish.

  Bottom line, he employed over a hundred people, and they were growing, and had just moved into beautiful new offices.

  And I had to be there at the opening party, looking like a respectable twenty-year-old girl with a bright and shiny future.

  Which I was. I just happened to look more like a bohemian hippie type.

  Oh God. I had absolutely nothing to wear.

  I grabbed my phone. “Julia, I need your help.”

  “You always do,” my best friend laughed.

  “Seriously, what does the daughter of a CEO wear to her dad’s work party if she wants to look respectable?”

  Her bright peal of laughter was so loud I had to hold the phone a foot from my ear. “Olive, since when do you care about looking respectable?”

  I sighed again, flopping across the bed. “Remember I told you about the investor in Dad’s company, who swoops in, dumps some money and advice, then disappears again?”

  “I remember. You’ve never met him. You call him Imaginary Larry.”

  “Imaginary Reed.”

  “Whatever. Who cares what he thinks of you, as long as he likes your dad? “

  “I know, but they’re putting in a daycare since they’re expanding so quickly. The family company vibe and all.”

  “Olive, I know you’re a bit…childlike sometimes, but–”

  “Shut up, you,” I laughed. “Dad has to look like a family guy. And since it’s just me…”

  “I get it. I’m sorry.”

  “Thanks.” I swallowed hard, trying to put my mother’s passing out of my mind. I was only fourteen when the car accident happened, which forced me to grow up quickly.

  Julia said that’s why I was having a second childhood at the start of my twenties. “So, seriously – what does a young woman wear to a corporate event? I don’t have a suit.”

  “Well, it’s a party, but it’s an office party. So not too formal. Maybe a plain dark dress?”

  “Julia. You’ve seen my wardrobe.”

  She giggled. “Yeah. No offense, but you tend to look like a carnival exploded.”

  “An artsy renaissance fair, maybe,” I agreed. Looking around, every single piece of clothing was brightly colored, pastel, or wildly patterned.

  “Okay, let’s go with whatever you’ve got,” she said, snapping into work mode. Julia was a receptionist at a law office. “I’m picturing the female lawyers on a casual day.”

  “Perfect.”

  “Crisp black slacks and a dark jewel toned blouse.”

  “You know I don’t have anything like that.”

  “Almost. Those nice dark pants you wore to Sebastian’s poetry reading last year.”

  She was a genius. “Oh, yeah!” Digging in a bottom drawer, I pulled them out. “Thanks.”

  “You wore them with a chunky blush pink sweater, and it looked very pretty.”

  “Awesome.”

  “Add simple jewelry, and put the front half of your hair up. And don’t forget to smile at everyone and make small talk about light subjects only. And don’t fidget with your hair.”

  “You’re the best. Thanks.”

  An hour later, I was practically chanting her advice in order to keep myself calm. Looking around the sleek minimalist office space, I really didn’t belong here. It wasn’t the sort of place where you could just sit on the floor, which I preferred.

  I wasn’t used to large groups of people, plus it was awkward since I didn’t know many people’s names.

  Yet everybody knew who I was.

  The CEO’s kid.

  Even though I’d finished two years of local college and had a part-time job, everyone still saw me as a little girl.

  Pasting on my brightest smile, I rolled my shoulders back and with an effort stopped twirling my hair.

  Dad was talking to someone just around the corner, and as he came into view, I was momentarily startled. Dad is nearly six feet tall, so the other man must have been six foot four. His crisp black suit would be a bit formal for this occasion if it were worn by anyone else.

  On him, it looked like a second skin. As if he never wore anything else.

  “Olive,” Dad said, tucking me under his arm for a half hug. “I’d like you to meet Reed.”

  The man gave me a smile that sent prickling heat straight up my thighs. He was incredibly handsome, in an unexpected way. He was clearly wealthy and refined, and the rugged tan and scruff of beard was a beautiful juxtaposition.

  He was sexy. Deeply, bone-rattlingly, unnervingly sexy.

  “This is my daughter Olive, of course,” Dad said. “How funny that two of the most important people in my world have never met.”

  I pulled my hand away from where I was twirling my hair. “I thought you were imaginary,” I blurted.

  His deep laugh was rich and warm. “Lovely to finally meet you, Olive.”

  He extended his hand, but I was already on the way, my arms wrapping around his neck to give him a giant hug.

  I couldn’t help it. I had to feel his energy.

  He didn’t return the hug with a polite, slightly surprised embrace, but with a slow, seductive movement of his palms along my back that told me he was feeling this strange, unearthly pull as well.

  We wanted each other. It was primal and raw and the sort of real feeling I’d always craved. I just didn’t know what it meant.

  Chapter 2

  _____

 
Reed

  With major investments in over twenty-five companies, I was used to the meet and greets, the office openings, the holiday parties. They were boring but necessary.

  Yet in the back of my mind, I’d had an odd prickling sensation about this event all day.

  I’d even worn my one non-gray or black tie, for no known reason. The midnight blue strip of silk only came out a few times a year, on the days I usually closed billion dollar deals.

  Or, it seemed, on the day I met the most beautiful girl in the world.

  I shouldn’t be holding her. She was probably just being friendly. But the way my palms tightened against the base of her spine was possessive. Hungry. The scent of her papaya shampoo made my knees feel unsteady.

  She jumped back, giving me a chance to examine that pretty oval face, the wide pale green eyes, those perfect, kissable lips.

  “I’m sorry,” she stammered. “I know people are supposed to shake hands, but I just…it’s an energy thing.”

  Luckily, her dad didn’t notice her flustered blush, her dilated pupils, the way her breath hitched. She was attracted to me. And I was already completely infatuated with her.

  “Wonderful to meet you, Olive. Bruce mentioned that you studied massage. Are you going to become a physical therapist, or kinesiologist?”

  She shook her head, the lovely blonde halo of waves swishing around her shoulders. She was like some sort of forest sprite. With her tiny daisy earrings, and charm bracelets, she was clearly a bit of a hippie.

  They say opposites attract, but this was so much more.

  “Not really,” she said, grinning. “You practically have to be a doctor for that. I like giving therapeutic massage.”

  Her smile was so radiant I completely forgot we were at a work function. She was the only person in the room to me.

  “I work at a place downtown called Healing Hands,” she continued. “When people are stressed or overworked, they come in for a fifteen minute back, neck, and shoulder massage. I can turn a person’s whole day around through the power of my hands.”

  She lifted her hands up, and I noticed her short, mauve nails.

  “Olive is a healer,” Bruce said proudly. “She always seems to know what people need.” He winked. “Like right now, she knows…”

  She rolled her eyes dramatically, grinning from ear to ear. “I’m not psychic, Dad. Anyway, it doesn’t take a mind reader to know that you want a whiskey with two ice cubes.”

  “That’s my girl.”

  Olive turned to me and cocked her head. “You drink whiskey sometimes, but not today. I’m thinking...vodka on ice with lime?”

  My mouth fell open. “How did you do that?”

  “I dunno,” she laughed. “I’ve never done it before.” She dashed away to the large meeting table that had become the bar and catering station.

  “She’s absolutely enchanting,” I said to Bruce. “So she’s finished school?”

  “Yes. Two years of college. Now she wants to work for a little while, then maybe travel a bit.”

  That meant she was at least twenty, which was a relief. My life wasn’t really set up to have a girlfriend, but that was about to change.

  Olive returned and handed us our cocktails.

  “Wait, where’s yours?” I asked.

  “I’m not twenty-one for another month, and someone…” she gave her dad a hilarious glare, “is strict about that.”

  I’d known Bruce for years, and he’d always been completely straight-laced and businesslike. A lot like me.

  Watching him joke around with his daughter was interesting. He had lost his wife, but he was still a family man at heart. It was beautiful to see.

  However, It was also a stark reminder that even though I’m at least five years younger than Bruce, we were worlds apart in some ways. He had a stable home life, and just one company to worry about. I had several giant houses around the world, but no one to share them with.

  “Hey, Reed, I have to go talk to Marla for a second, then I’ll introduce you to the new coders we just hired.”

  He whispered something in Olive’s ear as he walked away that left her barely able to hold back another eye roll.

  As soon as he was out of earshot, I asked, “What did he say?”

  Olive exhaled dramatically. I loved how playful she was. “He told me to be the chatty version of my normal.”

  I chuckled, sipping my drink. “What does that mean?”

  Those luscious lips pressed together in a firm line. “Sometimes I find it hard to be in crowds, so I get really quiet. But you’re obviously very important, so I’m supposed to entertain you.”

  Her left hand was twirling one of her long blonde waves restlessly, then she snatched her hand away.

  I reached over to twirl it for her a few times. “Is that better?”

  “Thank you,” she giggled. “I’m sorry, it’s a nervous tic.”

  “Do I make you nervous, Olive?”

  She looked up at me as we stepped closer. Those gleaming eyes looked up at me with complete honesty. “You make me nervous in a way nobody ever has before,” she whispered.

  “I don’t want to make you nervous at all, beautiful. Tell me what I can do to make you comfortable.”

  Her smile lifted just a pinch higher on one side. “We could sit on the floor. That always helps me feel grounded.”

  I vaguely recalled something from an article in one of those boring in-flight magazines I’d skimmed on a recent business trip.

  “If I really make you nervous, shouldn’t I take you to a park so we can sit on the grass? Isn’t there something about connecting to the earth that calms people down?”

  “How did you know that?” She looked impressed.

  “Maybe I know some things without knowing how, too.” I winked, reaching out to twirl her hair again. I tore my hand away as Bruce headed in our direction. I finished my drink, then set it aside.

  “Lovely to meet you, Olive. Looking forward to seeing you again soon.”

  This time she reached out to shake my hand. Her soft little fingers in mine sent tornadoes of lust spiraling up my spine.

  There was something magical about this girl. She was going to be good for me. And as soon as I could figure out a way to make it happen without ruining an important business relationship, she was going to be my girlfriend.

  Deep in that place in our guts where we know things instinctively, I already knew that she was mine. My heart was going to belong to her forever.

  Chapter 3

  _____

  Olive

  I loved working part time, spending my mornings reading, meditating, and taking care of the house, even if Dad joked about me being the perfect fifties housewife too often.

  Cleaning and cooking were a different form of meditation to me. A cleansing of the living space. Hmm. Maybe I’d been reading too many of those websites that got a bit too ‘woo-woo’ even for me.

  Walking into Healing Hands, I was glad my workplace was filled with people who were very well-balanced.

  I stashed my sweater and purse, and my boss James handed me the afternoon’s appointment sheet. There were plenty of regulars on the list, and a few names I didn’t recognize. My last appointment of the day was simply the initials “RB’.

  I pinned my hair up in a clip and scrubbed my hands. Then I cleaned everything in my massage room, lit a few candles, and dimmed the lights.

  I always wanted to make the atmosphere as different from the rest of the world as possible. A sanctuary.

  My clients came and went all afternoon, as I found myself with a constant smile. Watching people slump in stressed, and leave practically floating, was always incredibly satisfying to me.

  Before I knew it, I was down to the last appointment of the day.

  “Hello, Olive.”

  I spun toward the smoky voice behind me. “Reed?”

  “I saw the way your eyes lit up when you mentioned where you worked. I have constant tension in my neck and shoulders, so
I’m placing myself in the hands of a professional.”

  He removed his jacket and hung it over the chair in the corner. Then he eyed the massage bench suspiciously.

  “You kneel on it, and place your face in the headrest,” I explained.

  “All right. Shirt on or off?”

  I tried to feel my feet on the ground to distract myself from the quick flush of my cheeks. “That’s up to you,” I said in my most professional tone. “I can work through the fabric if you like. But if you want me to use massage oil…”