Melody Anne's Billionaire Universe: The Billionaire Stands Alone (Kindle Worlds Novella) (Mackay Destiny Book 6) Read online

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  The Billionaire Stands Alone

  MacKay Destiny Book 6

  By

  Kate Richards

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Epilogue

  About Kate Richards

  Also by Kate Richards

  Dear Readers,

  I hope you enjoy my second contribution to Melody Anne’s Billionaire Universe, another crossover to the MacKay Destiny series I share with L.J. Garland. In my previous story, Floating Hearts, Sarabeth Harvest left John Felix at the altar and flew away to land in the arms of his half brother James MacKay. Everyone is in good spirits now, but I couldn’t just leave John all alone. He wasn’t a bad billionaire. He’s smart, successful, kind, and very handsome. He just wasn’t Sarabeth’s billionaire.

  As in the other billionaire stories, family is important to these characters. They love them and want them to be happy, and they realize one awesome way to do that is by helping them find the perfect person to share life with. Maybe this time, John can fly away in the big red heart-shaped balloon with his soul mate.

  We can just hope for the best!

  I love to hear from readers so if you would like to drop me a line and let me know what you think of The Billionaire Stands Alone, my email is [email protected] Reviews are also very gratefully accepted.

  Take care,

  Kate Richards

  USA Today Bestselling Author

  The Billionaire Stands Alone

  Left at the altar when his bride flew away in their honeymoon hot air balloon and landed in the arms of his half brother, John Felix, III is done with romance for the time being. His international company requires most of his time anyway. First order of business, replacing his PA who also used to be his fiancée and is now engaged to his brother.

  Juliana MacKay is twenty years old, with an MBA and a couple of years with a NY firm behind her when she walks into John’s office to apply for the job as his assistant. Younger than everyone at her university, she never had time for much social activity, much less a relationship. She wrote her thesis on Felix Industries and is anxious to learn what she can from the mind behind the success.

  Neither is looking for love but the instant their hands touch, electricity flares and it’s not a matter of whether they are attracted to one another but whether they can avoid taking their attraction to its natural end. She’s innocent, he’s been burned, and they have a lot of work to do!

  Chapter One

  “Mr. Felix, Human Resources has sent another candidate for you to speak with.” Sarabeth Harvest, his exiting PA and ex-fiancée flashed an encouraging smile from the doorway of his office. “You up for it?”

  John Felix, III, called Trey by his family, settled behind his desk for the duration as he’d come to think of the hiring process for a new assistant. Sarabeth’s tenure in the position wound to an end, although she had promised to stay until he found someone to take her place. And, considering she was seriously involved with his half brother, with wedding bells in their future according to their mother, Margerie, only their professionalism kept the awkwardness to a minimum. “Send her in, but last one today.”

  “You got it, boss.” She disappeared for a moment and reappeared with a dark-haired woman in tow. “Mr. Felix, this is Juliana. She comes highly recommended with an advanced degree in business management from an East Coast university and two years of experience with a firm in New York City.” She slipped out to her desk but left the door open. As always. In lawsuit-happy California, no boss wanted to be alone in his office with a woman he did not know well—especially a boss with so many zeroes in his bank account he practically had a target on his forehead.

  He might be getting cynical in his old age. Twenty-eight.

  “Please have a seat, Miss…” Why hadn’t Sarabeth given her full name? He hated being uninformed.

  “Just call me Juliana, Mr. Felix.” She perched on the edge of one of the upholstered seats opposite his desk. “If you don’t mind.”

  He flipped open the folder and scanned the contents. Sarabeth, aware of his time limitations and occasional patience limitations, had consolidated the relevant data into a single sheet. The applicant’s education and employment data read just as Sarabeth had mentioned, but he found little personal information. Of course, since the breakup, he’d said a dozen times that personal relationships had no business in the workplace. Perhaps she’d taken him at his word.

  The other applications, however, had contained at least some relevant data. Hmmm.

  “I see you went to school in Connecticut. Were you born there?”

  She shook her head quickly. “No.”

  He waited for her to continue, but she just sat quietly. “Where were you born?”

  “Oregon, a little community about fifty miles south of Portland.”

  He arched a brow, but she did not pick up on the cue. “All right, then, can you tell me in several words why you feel you are qualified for this position.”

  Her gaze moved past him, to the window overlooking the Bay and Golden Gate Bridge, wisps of early fog wreathing its span. “I’m overqualified, in many ways,” she said in a soft, even voice, “but I understand the need to pay dues before moving up in any organization, particularly for a younger person.”

  Trey studied her face with its wide, heavily lashed blue eyes and rosy cheeks. She could be a high school student and looked every inch the country girl. Her time in New York had not hardened her, at least outwardly. And she was not fashionably thin, either. She had that plump, pretty milkmaid quality he found irresistible and rarely encountered in his social circles. Her cornflower-blue top, worn with a gray wool jacket and knee-length skirt, matched her eyes perfectly. Her high heels showed off very shapely calves, the conservative ensemble somehow making her look impossibly young. “How old are you anyway?” he blurted then forced himself not to slap a hand over his mouth.

  Her eyes flashed. “Old enough to have a master’s degree. I did my thesis on Felix Industries, by the way.” When her lips curved up into a smile, he blinked at the transformation. More than cute, she was beautiful. “I’m twenty.”

  He pushed the folder away and turned his chair to face the window. What was Sarabeth thinking? Staring out at the view of the Golden Gate Bridge and his half brother’s nearly twin skyscraper catty-corner to his, he mentally counted to ten before saying, “So how much of your résumé is false?” Spinning back around, he shook his head. “Never mind. Just have the receptionist stamp your parking ticket if you drove here.”

  The very pretty, very young woman met his gaze straight on, her lips pressed together. “I guess everything I heard was false.” She stood, pulling her purse over her shoulder. “I’m sorry to learn that.”

  John focused on her expres
sion and body language. Not one thing about her indicated any kind of dishonesty. In his day-to-day business dealings, he encountered many good liars and felt confident he could read through their subterfuges. She was not shaky, and she never looked away. Her voice was completely even and held no “tell.” What twenty-year-old was so composed? Especially after handing over a sheaf of papers containing credentials impossible for a girl her age. She should be a year or so out of high school, still working on her basic college classes like English 101. How could she have a business degree—he pulled the folder to him—a master’s in business administration and two years post MBA work experience?

  And why would she expect anyone to believe that? And not even protest when challenged? What the hell were people saying about him? “Miss…”

  “Juliana.”

  “Juliana, sit down. I’m getting a stiff neck looking up at you. I apologize for jumping the gun and assuming you were not telling me the truth. Let’s start again.”

  She paused, as if considering his words, and he also froze, not wanting to scare her off. A woman with her qualifications would be an asset to Felix Industries on any level. Before he turned her over to personnel, however, so they could find a position more suited to her abilities and experience, John wanted to speak with her. He had questions.

  “Fine, Mr. Felix.” She settled in the chair again, but her rigid posture and flushed cheeks told him of her response to his accusations. Any other woman would have told him off, let him know exactly how angry she was at his thoughtless words. Or perhaps might pretend it did not bother her in her quest to get a job that paid well, had excellent benefits, and offered the potential to move up in the company.

  Juliana had no guile at all. Everything she felt was coming through loud and clear.

  And she deserved better than the way he’d just treated her.

  “Can you forgive me?”

  She gave a small shake of her head. “There’s nothing to forgive. Or at least your reaction is no different than I’ve experienced countless times. I’m twenty. I look like a farm girl. How could I be qualified to work in the sleek executive offices of a billionaire like John Felix the Third?”

  He shifted in his chair. The farm girl had managed to achieve what few others did. Discomfiting a man who was comfortable in nearly any situation, social or business. On the turn of a dime, he decided he wanted her as his assistant after all. Not because she was cute as a button. He’d overlook that. But because she challenged him with no apparent effort. She had incredible qualifications—which would have been vetted before she ever walked in the door.

  In fact, she was more than qualified, and he needed to fill the position. Sarabeth was anxious to move on, and he agreed. While she did an efficient job, she was also a daily reminder that he’d nearly married her.

  Then had not. Seeing her with James, his half brother, still stung a bit. Their passion was evident, and he knew in his heart that they belonged together. What other explanation could there be for the fact that when she’d hijacked his hot air balloon on their wedding day and sailed off into the sunset—alone, instead of with him as he’d planned—she’d landed right on James’s property in Cedar Valley. The Fates could be cruel, but he grudgingly accepted, in this case, they were on point.

  But if the loving couple tried to set him up with one more MacKay relative, he’d give his brother a black eye. Maybe two. Although meeting him did seem to be the precursor to meeting the “right” guy for several women. Look at Brigit, Fire Chief Mac MacKay’s youngest granddaughter. One blind date with him, and bam! Engaged to someone else within a few months. Not that they’d hit it off anyway. She was gorgeous, but not his type.

  He was starting to wonder how many MacKays were around anyway. He’d managed to avoid his half brother from that clan most of his life. Now it seemed he tripped over one every time he turned around! Especially since he and James had mended fences and learned to appreciate being brothers. Odd how things happened.

  Now, when he looked out his office window at the symbol of his brother’s success soaring toward the heavens, he smiled instead of frowned. Years of competition, pointless and damaging, when all along they could have been friends.

  But one more blind date and that could change.

  “So, Miss…”

  “Juliana. Remember?”

  “Right.” An itch started between his shoulder blades, an indication he was missing something, but the smart, qualified woman captured his entire focus. So what if she was also beautiful. It wasn’t her fault.

  Neither was the erection tenting his pants. Trying to be subtle, he shifted, but her eyes narrowed and, for the first time in his memory, heat poured up from his collar. His olive complexion might hide it. Or it might not. Either way, he cleared his throat, anxious to move on. “Well, everything seems to be in order. Sarabeth would like to get someone in place as soon as possible, so she can spend a week or two training before she leaves. Will your employer accept two weeks’ notice?”

  Juliana folded her hands in her lap and settled back in the chair. “I have a few questions first.”

  Juliana’s boldness astonished even her. She’d had a single goal since receiving her master’s degree. To work for Felix Industries in some capacity. And while she could have gone in to an entry-level position with no glass ceiling in the way, the opportunity to work with the man who’d built the company into an international powerhouse had been too much to resist. The day she’d run across the notice of the position on the leadership site she frequented, she’d hit send on her résumé in less than thirty seconds. Then made a phone call.

  A risky move, to go from her essentially junior executive position to glorified secretary, but at twenty she had lots of time and would not pass up the opportunity to work with John Felix.

  The fact he was her cousin’s half brother presented the only downside. Everyone knew about his wedding, or near wedding. Although her branch of the family rarely visited Cedar Valley, the gossip carried. Her folks would be attending James and Sarabeth’s upcoming nuptials. Juliana’s early graduation from high school at fourteen, then her years spent on the East Coast at university then career meant nobody in the California branch of the family had seen her since she was a chubby kid with braces. And John had never, to her knowledge, been anywhere where she was. Until recently, the Felixes and MacKays rarely met.

  “You had questions?” His smooth, deep voice jerked her from her introspection.

  “Just a few.” Well, one, but she had to phrase it carefully. Maybe hide it in with a few others. “Would the job require work on weekends?”

  “Yes, sometimes. Is that a problem?” Anything but!

  “No, not at all. And would we be working closely together?”

  His brows drew down, making his golden-brown eyes even more intense. “A PA is generally working closely with her boss, but I’m not sure what you’re asking.”

  Cripes! Don’t blow this. “Just that. You noted my overqualification for the position. I have been an admirer of your business acumen for some time.” Her cheeks heated, but she plunged on. “I did my master’s thesis on your first expansion into the Middle East at a time when diplomatic relations and religious turmoil made that difficult. I am afraid I am a bit of a fan.”

  “Of my acumen?”

  How did he make that sound sexy? Of course he was quite old, close to a decade her senior, but he was the whole package. Tall, dark, handsome, a voice that probably had women flinging themselves at his feet…if that was what a woman was looking for. Relationships lay far out on the timeline of her life plan. After she accomplished more of her business goals.

  She swallowed hard. “Yes.”

  “All right, then.” His suspicion seemed to have cooled to amusement, judging by the grin quirking his lips. “Any other questions?”

  “No. I will fly back tonight, give my notice in the morning, and be ready to start two weeks from Monday. Thank you for this opportunity, Mr. Felix.” Her heart beat so hard,
she could barely draw breath. When Sarabeth had told her she was ideal, she had been flattered, but the final hiring decision was, of course, Mr. Felix’s.

  “Call me John,” he said, rising and escorting her to the door. “Since we will be working, as you said, closely together, we won’t have time for formality.”

  Juliana thrust out her hand. “John, then. It’s a pleasure.” The second his big, elegant palm met hers, time stopped. Electricity shot up her arm to her brain, leaving her swaying in her high-heeled pumps. At the back of her mind, she hoped she could wear more comfortable shoes to work here, but the rest of her brain turned to mush. She followed Sarabeth to HR to fill out her paperwork and sign her employment contract, unable to stop thinking about the hot man she’d soon be working under. With! For.

  Oh man…this was one complication she did not need.

  Chapter Two

  “Your employment has been terminated as of today.” The HR director, Sandra Hagerman, handed Juliana a sheaf of papers. “If you could please go over these, initial at the bottom of each, and sign by the sticky on the last page, we’ll get this wrapped up.”

  “What? Why? What did I do?” She was gobsmacked. “Did I offend someone?”

  “Once an employee with a high security rating gives notice, we sometimes accept their resignation immediately. Your position would not normally fall under that policy, but those were our instructions.” Sandra cocked a brow. “But, confidentially, Mr. Madden’s secretary overheard a conversation between him and John Felix from Felix Industries. Rumor has it you’ve accepted a new position on the West Coast?”

  She shook her head slowly. “So you’re cutting me loose because my new boss asked you to?”

  “I didn’t say that, and I shouldn’t say anything, but you must have made quite an impression on John Felix if he wants you immediately. What position did you take? At least a department head, right?”