Bachelor Heart
Bachelor Heart
A Rich Indulgence Novel
Regina Morris
Silkhaven Publishing, LLC
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* * *
Deborah Baxter, personal assistant to a powerful CEO, never expected her boss would want her to pose as his fake fiancée. She is plenty attracted to him, but she’s a 38 year-old single mother—now turned empty-nester—who hasn’t dated in years. Does she really want to go on romantic dates with her boss at the city’s glitziest spots? She says yes anyway.
* * *
At 49, Daniel Ellington has everything a billionaire could want—except maybe romantic happiness. And that’s only because he doesn’t really want it—there’s much to be said about shallow affairs when you are a busy man. But now reliable sources are telling him he is about to be named one of the country’s ten most eligible bachelors by People Magazine, and that kind of tabloid attention is the last thing he wants. Having his assistant pose a his fiancée seems to be the ideal answer, at least at first.
* * *
Their whirlwind fake—or is it real—romance explodes on social media. The loss of privacy drives Daniel nuts. But these troubles are nothing compared to Deborah’s refusal to date him for real. What is his assistant keeping secret? And more importantly, how can he change her mind?
Silkhaven Publishing, LLC
ISBN: 978–1–948997–53–9 (EPub Ebook)
ISBN: 978–1–948997–54–6 (MOBI Ebook)
ISBN: 978–1–948997–55–3 (Paperback)
Library of Congress Control Number: 2021915032
Copyright (c) 2021 Regina Morris
(V1) – July 22, 2021
This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. All of the characters, organizations, places and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are fictitiously used. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner without the written permission of the author Regina Morris and the publisher Silkhaven Publishing, LLC with the exception in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
Printed in the United States of America.
Silkhaven Publishing, LLC does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third–party Web sites or their content.
The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the internet or via any other means without the permission of Silkhaven Publishing, LLC or Regina Morris is illegal and punishable by law. To obtain a copy of this novel, please purchase only through authorized electronic or print editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials.
Created with Vellum
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
About the Author
Acknowledgments
Also by Regina Morris
1
“I can’t make next week’s meeting.” Daniel Ellington sat in the Green Terrace Country Club with his two best friends and enjoyed their pact—breakfast once a week with no mention of work. No medical technologies that were on the horizon from Ravi; no interesting cases from Scott, the lawyer. Daniel scooped up some eggs on his fork and allowed the peaceful dining hall to be his oasis from the craziness of work.
“Just as well. I might have a medical conference next week.” Ravi then waved dismissively. “I’m not sure I’ll go. My last trip had a two-hour delay due to bad weather.” He then glanced over to Scott. “I guess you and Caroline aren’t going anywhere for a while.”
The one topic that seemed central to their weekly meals had been the subject of Scott’s blessed arrival. His baby was due soon, and it was all the man could talk about. Daniel shot Ravi a stern gaze, one that Ravi picked up on and sheepishly mouthed the word, ‘sorry’.
Scott’s face beamed with pride, which usually launched him into a rendition of how happy he was in holy married bliss with a baby on the way. “Caroline shouldn’t travel this late into her pregnancy.”
Daniel didn’t appreciate the topic change. Everyone who was married seemed to have no problems finding the woman of their dreams. Men seemed to forget how difficult the dating scene was on their journey to find the right person. “Yeah, yeah. Marriage is great. We get it, Scott.”
“Marriage makes no sense,” Ravi said.
“Hey, trust me.” Scott focused on both men at the table. “If you can find a woman who can put up with your shit, you need to keep her.”
Ravi let out a huff, as though he had heard the advice too many times. “Well, Caroline kept you off the list, so it’s a good thing you married her.”
Scott’s jaw tightened. “I married her because I love her, not because of that stupid list.”
Ravi shook his head and took another bite of his meal, creating a silence between the three men. Daniel set down his fork. “What list?”
With an evil grin, Ravi said, “That’s right. You weren’t living in Chicago last year.” He let out a slight chuckle, a chuckle that held a secret. Using his fork to point over to Daniel, he asked, “Have you noticed more reporters hanging around your office lately?”
There were two reporters just this morning that had followed him into his office building. "Maybe,” Daniel said, his voice filled with trepidation. He sipped his coffee and wondered why both his friends looked as if he had just stepped on a land mind.
“And have they been hanging around your home?” Scott asked, leaning in and looking intrigued.
With his friends being a doctor and lawyer, you’d think they’d have a better way of telling someone bad news. They knew something—something unpleasant. “Reporters are frickin’ everywhere. I don't mind press conferences, but lately, they've been more of a nuisance.” Daniel gingerly picked at his eggs as he thought about how many newshounds he had bumped into recently, even on the sidewalk outside his favorite restaurant. Taking a minute to focus on other encounters, he said, “Several have been hanging around the lobby of my office and around my house. They're even bothering my assistant.”
Could information about the merger have leaked out? Was there a list of stocks to buy? Or worse, a list to avoid? Daniel had been so careful and only a handful of people knew.
“It's that time again,” Scott nodded to Ravi, a shifty stare in his eyes. “No single man is safe.”
Daniel head p
ing-ponged from Scott to Ravi. He hated games, so he buttered a slice of toast and pretended that their joint secret didn’t upset him. He pointed to the jelly across the table. “What are you talking about?” he calmly asked.
“Chicago's Top 10 Bachelor list,” Scott said in an ominous tone. “They announce the list every year soon after Valentine's Day.”
“Sort of like open season on all of us single men,” Ravi handed the basket of little jars of jelly to Daniel. “The ladies of Chicago take the list seriously. Probably only half the men listed for one year will make it on to next year's list because they all scramble to get married.”
“Less than half,” Scott said.
Daniel’s toast dropped to the plate. A fucking manhunt? Daniel felt the air leave the room and his heartbeat—thunderous and loud—echoed within his ears and threatened to explode from his chest. He didn’t want—no didn’t need—this type of publicity. “Who qualifies to be on this list?”
“The richest single men living in Chicago,” Scott said.
“In other words,” Ravi said, his eyes narrowing in on him. “You.”
Damn. That explained the photographers over the last week disturbing his evenings with his girlfriend Brandelynn, taking their picture and following them all around town. He didn’t need this crap, especially since things with Brandelynn were, at best, shaky.
The room suddenly got warm. “I don't want to be on any damn list. Can I pay someone to keep me off it?”
“You're not the only one who's had that idea. It won't work,” Ravi said through a fit of laughter. He pointed over to Scott. “He tried to pay his way off last year.”
Daniel's gaze darted over. His friend was an heir to the Hollister Hotel fortune and senior partner in the most successful law firm in Chicago, representing the richest clients. He even had an office in Daniel's building. “How much did you…?”
Scott shook his head. “Bribes don’t work.”
Money always worked for Daniel. It was his fallback position with no exceptions. “But wait. You're married with a baby on the way. How could you even be listed?”
“I wasn't married a year ago. It’s only been eleven months.”
The wedding wasn’t even a year ago? Thinking back, the event had happened just before Daniel had moved his business to Chicago. He had known Scott for decades, but the man’s marriage felt longer since Scott managed to mention his wife in nearly every sentence around the office.
Daniel was searching for a high-class woman, not a high maintenance one. This list would have every gold-digger and opportunist coming after him. The desperate and the crazies would come out looking for him—again. His entire life, he had done his best to keep his personal life out of the press.
He was screwed.
He let out a deep sigh, one that Charlie Brown would envy.
Pushing around some fruit with his fork, he thought for a moment. Even with the constant mention of marital bliss from Scott, the two were a great couple. “You and Caroline were dating for a while. Did this list have anything to do with you proposing?”
“I’d planned to ask her to marry me anyway, but the list sped up the process.”
Ravi, Scott’s friend that Daniel had met once moving to Chicago, was a professed bachelor—someone that Daniel could relate to.
The doctor grimaced. “Women were coming out of the woodwork wanting to date Scott. Didn't one jump in front of your car so she could meet you?”
Scott closed his eyes and let out a deep breath. “Yep. And one trapped herself in an elevator with me, and one was a flight attendant wanting me to fly her friendly skies, and one pretended to be my mailman who had a special delivery for me.” He let out a groan and looked at his friends. “All were after one thing—a rich husband and his wallet. With this list, it's like you have a bull’s–eye on your back for several weeks.”
“The women will come out of thin air, surrounding you until you can’t even breathe,” Ravi said, shuddering. “I'm glad I'm not on it.” His voice sounded decisive, as if the line had been drawn in the sand and no desperate bimbo bride could cross it. “And, you know what? There is no Top 10 Bachelorette list. The whole thing is sexist.”
What a god–awful thing. You work hard, make money and produce a product that people need… and they repay you by making you fair game for every scam artist in the world.
Daniel shifted in his seat, pulling his suit jacket around him tighter. The room suddenly felt claustrophobic, and he took a deep breath to steady himself. “Other than being rich, what else does it take to be listed?” Daniel asked as nonchalantly as he could while snatching a strip of bacon from Scott’s plate. It was one of his many comfort foods that he was certain Ravi, as his doctor, took note of.
Ravi let out a pfft sound. “Don't worry. You'll be listed. They'll wrap you up and serve you to the masses with a big red bow.”
“You'll probably be in the top three.” Scott scooted his plate farther away from Daniel. “You make more money than Ravi and I combined.” Scott finished off his coffee. “A good–looking, rich man like you will definitely be brought to the slaughter. But there is one sure–fire way to get off the list.”
A glimmer of hope surrounded Daniel. There was a way to be safe.
“Two,” Ravi said, correcting him.
Scott thought for a moment. “Two ways. But the first way is much more fun.”
“Eeeccchh,” Ravi’s face bunched together as though he’d just eaten a lemon. “Personally, I’d rather not take what’s behind door number one.”
To Daniel it was like watching a verbal badminton match where the bird fluttered down way too slowly. There was a way out, and he needed to know the escape routes. “You two want to share with the whole class?”
Scott gave a sneaky, devilish, an I-told-you-so type of evil grin. “Strap on the ball-and-chain.” He tapped his finger on the table and emphasized each word of, “Best decision I ever made.”
“Or,” Ravi said, “You can sell your house and move out of the city since you have to live in Chicago to be listed.”
“Moving is such a hassle,” Scott said.
“And a wedding isn’t?” Ravi said, challenging Scott.
Scott’s eyebrow rose, and he seemed willing to accept the challenge. “Look, having a wife is…”
“Wait.” Daniel didn’t need another one of Scott’s persuasive talks about the joys of marriage, and by the look Ravi was giving him, Ravi was far from eager to hear it, as well.
“I’m not moving.” Daniel’s hand went up. “It took my assistant over six months to find my home. It has a helicopter pad on the roof and a beautiful topiary garden and an acre of land. Plus, I have a bowling alley in the basement.”
“You’re bowling?” Ravi asked.
The bowling alley was installed by the previous owners. Daniel hadn’t yet tried either of the two lanes, but he liked that he had the option to do so if the mood struck him.
Knowing how much he didn’t like bowling, the mood to play would have to hit him pretty damn hard, so he gave his friends a WTF look as if they should already know the answer.
“Whatever. I got on the top ten list days before it was published because candidates nine and ten became engaged at the last minute,” Scott said. “I felt honored until the manhunt began. It didn't end until I proposed to Caroline.”
Ravi grabbed a slice of toast and scooped up the remains of the runny yolk on his plate. “You’ve been dating Brandelynn for a while now. You going to go with option number one?”
Daniel always believed that one day he would get married, but as each year passed the likelihood of that happening waned. He loved spending time with Brandelynn, and really wanted her to be the one, but something was holding the relationship back.
He couldn’t put his finger on what the problem was. It wasn’t anything Brandelynn was doing wrong. The hesitation came from his gut feeling that something stood between them. She was always checking her phone, active on social media, or… he felt s
he kept secrets from him, but he couldn’t explain why he felt like that.
They had mind-numbingly boring interaction by day followed by hot sex at night. Things between them felt bathtub-shallow, and now that he was turning forty, what he wanted in a relationship was more of an ocean depth.
His two best friends should know better than to ask such a pointed question. They stared at him, awaiting his answer—but he didn’t know what to say. Any man would be thrilled to be dating a woman nearly half his age. Daniel just didn’t feel so lucky. Not anymore.
“No,” Daniel said, the tone of his voice sounding defeated. “I won’t be taking option number one.” He had tried so hard to have things work out with Brandelynn, but she wasn't the love of his life—if there were such a thing—and the relationship, unfortunately, had probably run its course.
It surprised him how sad the revelation made him feel. “I'm thinking of breaking up with her tonight.”
Scott laughed. “You can't break up with her today. Did you forget it’s Valentine's Day?”
“Rookie move,” Ravi said.
“Shit.” Daniel couldn’t be that guy. He dropped his fork and felt like a sledge hammer hit him dead center in the chest. “It’s fucking Valentine’s Day?” He grabbed his phone and texted his executive assistant, his thumbs dancing across the tiny keypad.
“What’s wrong? Your girl needs a fake id?” Ravi asked.
Scott grabbed the salt. “Cut Daniel some slack. She’s not that young.” He touched Daniel’s arm. “Don’t take her across the state lines, though.”