The Billionaire's Lesson by Anya Adonis

The Billionaire's Lesson
    By
    Anya Adonis
    Copyright © 2012
Anya Adonis
    All Rights Reserved
    All Romance ebooks Edition
    ***
    Bill
    One of my most formative memories took place in my
Dad's office on the top floor of a posh highrise he owned. I don't
remember if it was the one in Chicago or New York.... The location, I
guess, isn't important.
    Anyways, I'd just turned eighteen and was meeting
with him in regards to the financial feasibility of buying a car. He,
as he always did, made me research the topic, prepare supporting
materials and report my findings to him in a professional manner.
    He took in my information without a word. His
smooth, wrinkled face blank of expression. I remember desperately
trying to determine if he'd arched his eyebrows, even a little bit,
at my final conclusion.
    Dad let out a stern sigh and prefaced his remarks
in his usual fashion. “Son, with you having grown up wealthy,
I've always been concerned you don't grasp how desperate people are
for money; how they'll do anything for more – ”
    “Yeah, yeah, I know.” Impatient at
hearing the same old spiel, I rudely cut him off.
    My Dad frowned at me and his face grew red. “So
you're asking me for a favor and you dare, no, have the gall to be
ungrateful, before I even consent?”
    “Well, it's my money, Dad. You're in control
of it now, but you won't be forever.”
    “You're assuming more than you know. You
know, if you're deemed unable or incompetent or, hell, if you piss me
off... you won't receive a nickel.” He paused to laugh bitterly
at my shocked gasp. “In fact, that would make you the first man
to bear the name William Worth, since your great-grandfather, to be
poor.”
    I'd always taken for granted at twenty-one I'd be
rich. No mention had ever been made of it being up to my Dad. “I-I'm
sorry. Forget the whole thing.”
    He knitted his fingers together, tsk-ed, and
said,“You know I won't, Bill. Not unless you earn back my
respect. Like I always tell you, 'don't give anything away for
nothing.' Your inheritance is expected to be valued at one point two
billion dollars. It's of grave importance you learn to appreciate the
power of such fortune.” His eyes narrowed and he glared at me.
    I avoided his stare and looked down at the plush
Berber rug under my feet. “What do I have to do.” My
Dad's punishments, though not cruel were generally of the unusual
nature.
    “Hmmm.” He stroked his chin
dramatically. “I'd really like to make sure you appreciate the
message I've tried to instill in you. I suppose, it's been a little
much for me to expect you'd simply understand the concept without a
demonstration.... Patty,” he said, speaking into the intercom
on his desk.
    “Yes, sir?”
    “Have the new hire, Roberta, report to me at
once.”
    “Of course, sir.”
    “I think you'll like Roberta, she's young, a
little older than you at nineteen and very cute.” He placed his
hand to the side of his mouth, and whispered, “I wouldn't
bother trying to take her out if I were you, she's a good girl or so
I'm told.”
    The door buzzed open and in walked a timid
brunette in an old, blue dress. I judged by how threadbare it was
around its hems it may have been the only outfit she owned. It was
too bad too, in the right clothes with her brown hair styled and
makeup done, she'd have been a total knockout.
    She stood in front of my Dad's desk, arms not just
crossed, wound tight around her torso, head bowed, tremors shaking
through her long, skinny legs. “You, uh, called, Mr. Worth?”
She asked, so softly I could barely hear her.
    “SPEAK UP, when you address me,” Dad
roared.
    “Yes, sir,” she said, her voice too
high, too shrill.
    His brow creased. “Dear lord, you're a mess,
child.”
    “Sorry....” Her whole body quivered
and she looked longingly at the stylish chair next to where I sat.
With great difficulty, I caught her eye and motioned for her to take
a seat.
    She rested the weight of her arm on the armrest,
and Dad