The Billionaire's Christmas Date: A Clean and Wholesome Fake Date Romance (Christmas Billionaires) Read online

  THE BILLIONAIRE’S CHRISTMAS DATE

  CHRISTMAS BILLIONAIRES

  BOOK SIX

  LAURA HALEY-MCNEIL

  HUERFANO PRESS, LLC

  The Billionaire’s Christmas Date

  Book 6 of the Christmas Billionaires Series

  Copyright © 2022 by Laura Haley-McNeil

  All rights reserved.

  This e-book and this book are licensed for your personal enjoyment only. The book and e-book may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person or use proper retail channels to lend a copy. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it and purchase your own copy.

  No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission. To obtain permission to excerpt portions of the text, please contact the author at laura@ laurahaleymcneil.com. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this writer.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead is entirely coincidental.

  Published by Huerfano Press, LLC

  For more information about the author, please visit www.laurahaleymcneil.com.

  Laura Haley-McNeil. The Billionaire's Christmas Date

  For Jack

  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

  Epilogue

  Seven months later …

  Dear Reader

  About the Author

  CHAPTER 1

  On a December morning, Alia Nash stood in line at a New York coffee shop. Her phone’s ringtone sounded her favorite Christmas carol, and she juggled her shopping bag filled with Christmas presents to pull her phone out of her purse. The name pulsing on the screen like a heartbeat was Brenda’s—Alia’s assistant.

  “Hey, Bren.” Alia clutched the phone to her ear and moved one step closer to the pastry case. “I’m almost there.” She looked at the line in front of her and counted the customers waiting for their orders. “Just four people ahead of me, and then I can pick up our order.”

  “I hope so.” Brenda’s voice had a catch that made Alia stiffen. “This is the third call I’ve received from that business broker. His client is very interested in the buy-in you offered and wants to finalize a deal today.”

  “I told him I couldn’t discuss the specifics until after the new year.” She had to think fast. Granted, she’d mentioned she might be interested in a business partner. Now business was picking up. She didn’t want a partner if she didn’t need one. “Stall him. Tell him I have a family thing, and I can’t change my plans.”

  “I did tell him that.” Brenda exhaled heavily. “He said it wouldn’t take long.”

  The person standing behind Alia tapped her shoulder, and she looked up to see the smiling barista waiting for her.

  “I’m getting our order now.” Alia stepped to the counter. “Hang on. I’ll be there in five, and then we can figure out a game plan.”

  “Okay, I’ll tell him … I don’t know what I’ll tell him, but hurry. He’s really pushy. ’Bye.” Brenda hung up.

  Alia stood at the counter and waved her phone over the scanner to pay for her order. She juggled the tray the barista handed her, then stepped out of line. Her phone rang again. Rushing toward the door, she looked from the cardboard box holding eight cups of coffee and a pastry bag filled with croissants and muffins to her vibrating purse.

  Something solid struck her shoulder with a powerful thud and spun her around. She gasped and juggled the coffee cups that tipped toward the floor, then tipped toward her.

  Strong hands clasped her shoulder. She swallowed at the rush of warmth that scooped air from her lungs. Her phone stopped ringing, and she winced. She didn’t want to miss any business deals.

  “Are you all right?” The deep, accented voice brought her head up to a pair of emerald green eyes.

  “I am now.” She stepped away from the disturbing sensation that blocked rational thought from her mind. She didn’t like this inner turmoil that made her forget where she was and what she planned to do. “You should really be more careful.”

  “You’re right,” the man said. His smile pressed thumbprint dimples into his angular jaw. “Please accept my apologies.”

  “It’s fine.” She gave him a slight smile. “Just remember to watch where you’re going.”

  “I will.”

  She stilled a moment and stared at the face that could be in demand for any of her production clients. “I don’t suppose—”

  Her phone rang again, and she juggled the tray of coffee cups to dig it out of her purse. It wasn’t there. A bubble of panic climbed up her throat, and she looked around.

  “Is this what you’re looking for?” The man who had plowed into her scooped the ringing phone from the floor and offered it to her.

  “Yes.” She frowned and slipped it from his long fingers. “How did—”

  The phone rang again. She turned away and answered it.

  “Hello?”

  “Alia?” Her mother’s frantic voice carried through the earpiece. “Lucy said you’re not coming home for Christmas. How can you do that to your baby sister? You know Christmas is her favorite holiday. Everyone in the family is looking forward to seeing you again.”

  Alia rolled her eyes to the coffee shop ceiling. Ever since she and Lucy were kids, it amazed Alia that her mother always sided with her younger sister. Though twenty-two years old, Lucy was the baby in the family. Her mother’s chief concern was to make sure Lucy stayed happy.

  “I said I might not make it. You know this is a busy time of year for me.” Smiling, she nodded her thanks to the man with the green eyes. Shouldering open the coffee shop door, she stepped into the blustery wind that tossed her hair across her face and into her mouth. She spit out the hair strands.

  Someone stood next to her ringing a bell and calling out Merry Christmas to passersby. Alia dug some bills from the bottom of her purse and dropped them into the red kettle, then merged with the throngs rushing to their offices.

  Alia wouldn’t tell her mother that these past few months business had been slow, and she wasn’t sure how much longer she could manage the company on its shrinking budget, but with the last few clients she signed, her bottom line might rise from the red and into the black before the end of the year.

  “You have staff that can take care of things while you’re gone.” Her mother never could take no for an answer. “You’ll only be gone for two days.”

  “Mom, my staff wants to spend Christmas with their families, too.” Alia’s stomach clenched into a knot at the conversation she’d had with her mother every time she called. Alia rushed into her office bu
ilding, relieved to escape the cold, and checked in with the security guard. She moved with the crowd to the elevators.

  The catch in her mother’s throat was the surprise that Alia’s staff had families. “See what you can work out. This Christmas will be a very special one because Mike has proposed to Lucy.”

  “What?” Alia’s pulse shot up. She hadn’t realized she’d shouted until several hundred pairs of eyes riveted to hers. “What did you say?” She lowered her voice and stepped into the elevator.

  “I said—”

  The elevators closed. The call dropped.

  “Mom?” Alia pounded the phone against her hip and held it to her ear again. With a sigh, she dropped it to her side. She’d definitely lost the call.

  The man beside her cleared his throat, and she smiled apologetically before staring at the elevator doors. She should’ve known her mother would drop a bombshell on her. And right in her building lobby. How did her mother always manage that? A muscle working in Alia’s jaw, she glanced around sheepishly to make sure no one in the elevator was one of her clients.

  The coast appeared clear, and she released a ragged breath.

  She glanced at the floor numbers illuminating above the elevator door. Why was this elevator moving so slowly? She had to call her mother back. She had to find out about Lucy and Mike.

  They were engaged? That couldn’t be. Mike was Alia’s boyfriend. Not that they’d dated much, their last date was their high school prom, but she always thought one day he’d realize she was the woman for him, fall to one knee and propose. Maybe not with all the drama, but the last time she saw him, he talked to her.

  Had he talked to Lucy, too? Lucy hadn’t said. If Mike proposed to Lucy, why hadn’t she told Alia? A proposal was a big deal―especially when it was from the man Alia had thought liked her.

  The elevator doors opened. Alia murmured her apologies and squeezed past the other occupants. In the lobby, she filled her lungs. The one thing she couldn’t get used to since living and working in New York was all this closeness. Not that she was claustrophobic, but she needed her space.

  Juggling the coffee cups, she rushed down the hallway to her office. Her back to the door stenciled with Nash Conceptions, she pushed it open and stepped inside.

  “Thank goodness you’re here.” Brenda slipped the tray of coffee cups and pastry bag from Alia’s hands. “That broker keeps calling here. He said his client is very anxious.”

  “He’s going to have to wait.” Alia rushed into her office and dumped her shopping bag, coat and purse into the closet at the back of her office. She plopped into her desk chair. “I have an emergency.”

  “You do?” Brenda looked as confused as she sounded.

  “Yes. Mike, my Mike, has proposed to my sister.” Alia’s eyes went wide.

  “Oh? Oh.” Brenda sank into the chair in front of Alia’s desk. She picked a cup from the cardboard tray and sipped. “That’s awful. What are you going to do?”

  “I can’t go home for Christmas.” Heat filled Alia’s face. “There’s no way I can watch my boyfriend do all that engagement stuff with my sister.”

  “No, of course not.” Brenda gave a final nod.

  “Now, I have to convince my mother that I shouldn’t be there.” She pressed her lips together. “Which should be easy, because that’s my job, right? Coaching models and actors to be convincing.”

  “Right.”

  Alia’s desk phone rang, and Brenda pressed the button on her earpiece. “Alia Nash’s office.” She paled and looked at Alia. It had to be the broker. “I’m sorry, Mr. King, but—”

  Alia waved her hand and pointed to her phone. “I’ll take the call.” May as well get this guy off her back once and for all.

  “Just a moment.” Brenda released a rush of air. “I believe she’s available now.” She pressed a button on her earpiece.

  Alia’s phone rang.

  “George, hello.” Alia pressed the speakerphone. She nodded her thanks to Brenda, then leaned back in her chair. That she sounded calm shocked her.

  Brenda set a coffee cup in front of Alia and placed a croissant on a napkin next to it, then indicated she’d distribute the items to the other staff members and backed out of Alia’s office.

  “You’re not avoiding me, are you, Alia?” George’s voice sounded prying.

  “Avoiding you? Never! You know how the holidays are with juggling work and travel plans. Brenda said that you have a client who’s interested in the buy-in. I’d love to talk to him. Arrange something after the new year.” By then she’d have the final numbers from her accountant and would know if she really needed a partner. She hoped not.

  “My client wants to meet with you today,” George said.

  “Today?” Turning to her computer, she looked at her blank calendar. “Oh, George, I’m so sorry, but I’m jammed. How about a week from Thursday? I have an opening between ten-thirty and ten forty-five. I’ll tighten the morning auditions. That should free up some time.”

  “You are avoiding me,” George said with surprise.

  “Perish the thought.” Alia gritted her teeth. “What’s the name of the company you’re representing?”

  “Cinema Artworks.”

  Alia went rigid. “The investor? I already talked to their president, Nate Gideon.”

  “Nate? Who’s that?” George sounded confused.

  “He owns Cinema Artworks.” How could George not know that? “I know all about him. I did my homework. He buys companies, gets them back on their feet, then fires everyone. You know that’s not my style. I have a great team here, and they depend on me for their paychecks. No way am I working with him so I can tell my employees, ‘Merry Christmas, and you just lost your job.’” She took a breath. She didn’t want to sabotage this offer. She may still need the money.

  “They don’t always fire the employees of their new acquisitions,” George said in that tone that made it sound like she was making a big deal out of nothing.

  People losing their jobs was not nothing⸺especially at Christmas.

  “Tell you what. I’ll talk to him, but first tell him I’m doubling the price of the buy-in,” Alia said with a nod.

  “You can’t do that.” George choked.

  “Why not? Cinema Artworks can afford it, and we don’t have anything in writing. Ask him how badly he wants to buy into my company.”

  George’s hesitation said it all. His client really wanted to buy into her company.

  “Yeah, but twice the price?” George said weakly.

  “You’re right. I should’ve asked for that price in the first place. Talk to your client and get some times and dates that’ll work for him. I’ll juggle my calendar.” She’d talk to the guy. She knew how to say no. Her cell phone rang and her sister’s name appeared on the screen. “I have another call, George, but we’ll talk soon. ’Bye-bye.” She disconnected the call and rested her forehead in her palm. “Dear Lord, please help me get through this.” She breathed.

  She had to think of a way to stall this guy. She knew better than to take a situation into her own hands. Her parents had raised her to trust in God, but things were moving so fast, she had to act now.

  Her phone rang again. Groaning, she pressed the speaker button. “Hi, Luce.”

  “Alia.” Lucy sounded near tears, and Alia’s chest squeezed tight. “Mom said you don’t want to come to my engagement party.”

  Alia exhaled slowly. She hadn’t said that exactly. “Lucy, I didn’t know about your engagement party. When is it?”

  “I don’t know yet, but you have to come. You’ll be my maid of honor.” Lucy sobbed. Her voice always squeaked when she cried.

  “Oh, Luce, you know it’s a busy time of year. If I can get away I will, but I can’t make any promises.”

  “But this is my engagement party.” Lucy sniffled.

  Alia closed her eyes. She hated when Lucy cried. It usually meant Alia was about to get into trouble, which was ridiculous. She was twenty-seven years old. Sh
e ran a company. She should be able to live her life guilt-free.

  “Mike’s disappointed, too.” Lucy’s voice quivered. “You know he thinks of us as his family. He was hoping you’d be here.”

  Just what Alia wanted. Celebrate the engagement of her sister with her kind-of boyfriend. She struggled to breathe. She had to be there.

  “You know what?” Alia stared at her blank calendar again. “I just might be able to make this work.”

  “You will?” Lucy’s tone brightened.

  “I can’t make any promises, but I think I can juggle a few meetings. Move this here. Move that there.” She clicked her mouse on the screen and moved blank cells into different spots. “Yes, this might work. Let me know when you plan to have the party.”

  “Guess what? I just decided. It’s going to be tonight at eight, but you can come anytime. After we hang up, I’ll tell Mom so we can go buy the most gorgeous dress, then I’ll call my hairstylist so she can come to the house and fix my hair and makeup. Then I’ll need to call the photographer.” She squealed. “I’m so excited. You’re going to love my engagement ring.” Again, the squeal.

  “Engagement ring?” Alia swallowed. That was a stab to the heart. “Mike didn’t buy it yet?”

  “How could he? He just proposed, but we’ll need to buy it now so everyone will know I’m engaged.”

  “Tonight’s kind of sudden.” Alia knew her parents doted on Lucy and would do whatever made her happy but plan an engagement party in a few hours? “Maybe you should plan it for next week. After all, it is the holidays.”

  “You know Mom’s a miracle worker. Besides, we’ve been talking about my wedding since I was three-and-a-half, so she’s knows exactly what I want,” Lucy said. “I’ll tell her to call Mrs. Duckworth. She’s very good at arranging spur-of-the-moment events.”