Page 46 of The Wrong Billionaire
“Oh Wren, he’s so young. You’re such a dark horse.”
I blush furiously, causing my friends around me to giggle. I didn’t want to turn up without anyone, so I invited Emily and a couple of teachers I got on well with last year, who were all stunned that I’ve somehow hooked one of the most eligible bachelors in the city, if not the country.
“How on earth did you manage to land him?” Georgie asks, her eyes nearly falling out of her head.
“I have no idea,” I mumble.
“He fell in love with you because you’re stunningly beautiful, surprisingly witty, smart as, and a complete catch,” Clare states.
Knowing I’m none of those things doesn’t exactly help my confidence as the door opens and everyone starts getting out.
As I wait to descend, I peer out of the windows. Waiheke Island is a ferry ride away from the North Shore, with lots of boutique vineyards and stunning views across the Hauraki Gulf during the daytime. The exclusive Midnight Resort and Club isn’t somewhere that any of us would ever have a chance to visit, and the nearby vineyard feels like something out of a Shakespeare play, another Midsummer Night’s Dream with the fairy lights that make it glow like a grotto in the evening sunshine.
“Hey, gorgeous.”
I look down the steps to see Marcus waiting, hand extended. He smiles as I slide my hand into his, and helps me down.
“Look at you,” he says. “What a stunning outfit. You’re the most beautiful woman here.”
A couple of days ago, I logged into my banking app to discover my bank balance had grown from a few hundred dollars to six figures.
I rang him immediately. “A hundred thousand dollars!” I said as soon as he answered. “Marcus!”
“I’m sure you’d like something to wear for the party,” he replied. “And you’re going to need a wedding dress and all the accoutrements that go with it.”
“I only need one wedding dress, right? I mean, we’re only getting married once?”
“I’m not having my fiancée turn up for any event in a hundred-dollar dress from a high-street store,” he told me firmly. “Let alone her wedding. Buy something nice. And whatever money you have left over, you can spend on the baby when it comes.”
That shut me up. I feel awkward about spending his money on myself, but somehow the thought of spending it on our child doesn’t feel as much of a problem.
I didn’t want to embarrass him by turning up in something that was obviously cheap, though, so for the first time in my life, I ventured into one of the more exclusive boutiques that I’d normally never set foot in because I know the dresses would cost more than a month’s wages. I half expected to reenactPretty Woman, but to my relief the assistant was friendly. We went for black in the end, because I felt more comfortable in it, but she convinced me to go for a slinky off-the-shoulder number with a wraparound tulip skirt that flatters what curves I have and reveals my long legs, which I consider my best feature. She also convinced me to buy sandals with a small heel once I told her that Marcus was taller than me.
“So gorgeous,” he murmurs, dropping a kiss on my bare shoulder, which makes me tingle all over. “And this must be your mum,” he continues, extending a hand to my mother as she navigates the steps. “I’m so pleased to meet you, Ms. Carter.”
I’ve told him that we all use her maiden name now she’s divorced for the second time. But as he shakes her hand and gives her a warm smile, she says, “Oh, Tina, please.”
“Of course, Tina. Wren’s told me so much about you. It’s great to meet you at last. And Clare, hello again. No Ben today?”
“Much to his chagrin,” she says. “He wanted to show you his new LEGO kit.”
“Aw, next time we’ll have to have a mega LEGO building session.”
“You know Emily,” I say, “and this is Georgie and Helen, who are both teachers at my primary school.”
He smiles. “Please, let me introduce you all to my brother, Caesar, my sister, Aurelia, my father, Edward, and my mother, Cece.”
Everyone shakes hands, and I watch the Ashford family greeting everyone warmly. Cece immediately says to my mother, “Oh, I just love your dress, that color really goes well with your hair.”
Mum blushes, but keeps composed enough to joke, “Thank you, but then gray goes with everything.”
Cece laughs and slides her arm through Mum’s. “I suppose that’s true, but yours is such a pretty shade, almost silver. Now come on, you must sit next to me. I want to find out all about you and your lovely girls now we’ll be joined by marriage. We’re going to be best friends; I can feel it.”
I swallow hard as she leads Mum into the vineyard. Mum has trouble making friends, and she’s suffered from depression many times over the years. It’s touching to see someone be so kind to her.
“Come on, ladies,” Caesar says to the others. “This vineyard has an amazing array of reds and whites to try, so I’ve asked them to give us a tasting session. Who’s up for it!”
With a squeal, Clare and the girls follow him into the vineyard, all talking at once.
