The Billionaire's Pixie

Close Friends

The official announcement of dad stepping down was being made to higher staff. It came to no surprise to anyone which made me wonder why I was baffled by dad suddenly telling me in a year’s time I’d be CEO of Merigold Chocolate.

I might be living in my head as Nina once or twice mentioned.

After the meeting dad insisted on having lunch with me. I tried to decline politely but he more or less dragged me out of the building and muttered things about getting fresh air and stretching your legs every once in a while.

It was beyond me how this man made Merigold Chocolate as successful as it was.

“Nina called me this morning.”

It was hard to hide my smile. Of course, Nina called dad to tell him about our tea and snack night. She might have overshared too. My family was suddenly all up in my business which never happened before. We all meddled a bit with Nina's life but that was because Nina loved to talk. She loved to share with us and have our support.

Their support sometimes suffocated me. It wasn’t that I hated the attention my family was giving me but I needed it in a measured amount.

“Is she feeling better?” I asked.

We walked to a restaurant close by, it was a French bistro which dad visited a lot apparently. The staff knew him quite well and served him as if a celebrity just entered the room. He got us the best table and the chef left the kitchen to start small talk with him about chocolate.

This was the weirdest encounter I had in a while.

Dad continued his talk with the chef who was probably the same age as him. They seemed to get along well and were talking like old friends, maybe they were old friends. I probably didn’t know much about mom and dad’s life because I didn’t put as much effort into it as Nina.

Grabbing the menu, I scanned it carefully. I wanted something filling but not something which would make me feel like sleeping behind my laptop. A healthy option was probably the best. I was about to place my order when dad took over.

“It’s on me, Nick.” He grinned at me, “I need you to try something I usually get here.”

Dad ordered bread, soup, and a salad. I thought he'd order an entire meal but thankfully he went for a healthy option. I was okay with that. His friend left the table, both of them looking like they were in a great mood now. I was glad they could catch up.

“He’s a friend?” I asked.

Dad nodded, “Yes, we’ve known each other for years. He opened this restaurant the same time I started up Merigold Chocolate.”

“That’s amazing, dad.”

Dad’s eyes glittered, he looked content with life. It annoyed me a little that dad decided without discussing with me to step down but seeing him this happy with life I couldn’t stay annoyed with him. He deserved to step down and do the things he liked in life.

Maybe he could convince mom to work less too and the two of them could do things together.

I doubted that would happen soon, mom enjoyed being on top of her career but it was a nice thought. Maybe he was stepping down because he wanted to spend time with Nina’s kid. When I took over the child would be around three or four months.

Dad would be the favorite grandparent.

“Nina is doing fine now.” Dad went back to the previous conversation we were having, “She was glad you paid her a visit last night. That was nice of you.”

"She's my little sister, of course, I'd go see her." I shrugged.

Dad nodded, “That’s good, I’m glad you care for your sister like that.” He straightened in his chair and got a more serious look on his face, “But now it’s time to take care of your own life.” The way he said it implied that I didn’t have my life together at all, “The woman you’ve dated before, I think it’s really time to leave her in the past.”

All I could do was blink at dad for mentioning Joy. Mom and dad were aware of the woman I dated and who made Nina and I have a little spat during Christmas. They also didn’t approve of Joy asking me to join her Christmas party but then refusing to spend Christmas dinner with my family.

They didn’t like her even though they never met her. She ruined that with her decisions back then. I don’t think she could ever make things right. They would always remember the Christmas dinner she didn’t attend.

“Someone who cannot spend time with your family due to your sister’s marriage is not worth the time or effort. You’re going to spend a lot of time at the office, your time with your family is going to be limited. If you also need to fit in the demands of some woman who cannot get over the fact that sometimes things don’t work out you’re going to lose yourself.”

He was right about everything, all I could do was nod.

“Now that’s out of the way let’s focus on food, you’re going to make this place your regular lunch spot. I promise you that.”

Smiling I watched as the waiter served us our food. It smelled good. We were having bread and soup first, the salad came after. It was so good though. Dad wasn't wrong about the food being amazing here. It would probably become my regular lunch spot and I didn't mind that at all.

***

Owen called me around five in the afternoon. He wanted to meet up for dinner. I didn’t mind having dinner with him, nothing could go wrong there so I accepted his offer. We met up around eight at a restaurant he suggested.

It was an upscale place, surely one of his clients preferred this restaurant. It wasn’t like Owen to come eat at places like this in his spare time. I knew him well enough to know he liked more down to earth places where you could be yourself.

Something was up.

“I mean I like this place, but I also like that pizza place you suggested a few weeks ago.”

Owen smirked at me from across the table, “I know but sometimes it’s fun to eat at places like this, right?”

I didn’t buy his excuse. Owen must have noticed I was suspicious of him, he shifted in his chair looking more anxious. He cleared his throat and let his shoulders drop. Coming here to eat was definitely an excuse.

“What’s going on?” I asked him again, hoping he’d be honest with me this time.

Owen sighed, “She’s coming here together with Amber.”

I leaned back against my chair, sighing too only I sounded like my soul just escaped me.

“Fine, let me humor you then.”

Owen grinned, “You’re a good friend, Nick.”

I knew I was a great friend, he didn’t need to tell me. A few days ago it would have upset me meeting Tinkerbell again but I think our midnight gaming did change something. I didn’t feel annoyed at all at her name being mentioned.

She was okay.

“You have it bad for this woman.” I concluded, “Owen, she’s not worth it.”

Owen didn’t disagree with me but the look in his eyes reminded me of the look Nina had in her eyes when she was confused about Lucas and Jacob. This woman might be his Jacob Blackwood which was not good at all.

It meant lots of confusion and pining over someone who in the end would make you regret everything.

Nina was lucky, her relationship with that man could have left her with scars.

“I know that but I can’t help it, this feeling I have isn’t going away.” He admitted to me.

I narrowed my eyes at him, “So she’s it then?” I asked.

He couldn’t respond to it so I didn’t think he was sure about her. He felt something for her now but he wasn’t sure about their future because deep down he probably knew it wasn’t going anywhere. That woman was hopping back on a plane on a wild hair without apologizing for it.

She was spoiled rotten and thought she was the s**t. Just because she was pretty it didn’t mean she could treat other people like this. I didn’t like her one bit and I had never met her before.

“I don’t know.”

I raised an eyebrow at him, "You don't know because you haven't actually spent some time with her. When things get more intimate she leaves. I'm sorry Owen, but you're setting yourself up for heartbreak."

Owen snorted, “If I wanted to get lectured about my feelings and what is right or what not I would have asked Joy to join me.”

I held my hands up in defense and leaned back in my chair. He didn’t want to hear the truth but I was sure Tinkerbell would give it to him. She wouldn’t hide how she felt. If Owen got upset with her for it she wouldn’t care.

It was something to admire.

“Are the girls joining us for dinner?” I asked, changing the subject.

“Yes.”

He was unsure of the situation now, I wasn't happy that I made him doubt his decision but at the same time, I was. This woman just sounded awful.

“Okay.”

Owen eyed me suspiciously, “You can sit through it? I mean you and Amber-“

I smiled at him, “We’re fine. We’re friends, I think.”

“You think?” Owen chuckled, “This is going to get interesting.”

When a waitress came by to ask us if we were ready to order Owen ordered a bottle of wine. We then let her know we waited for our guests to join us. She politely stepped back and gave us some space. The girls joined us a few minutes later.

The woman who made Owen behave out of character and chase her despite knowing she was wrong for him looked like the average Social Media model to me. They all had the same look, overly done makeup, lots of hair and glam clothes.

She didn’t look that special to me but then again I fell for the more down to earth kind of girls.

Glancing around the room I did notice she made quite a people stare. I guess I was the one who was wrong. Apparently, she was quite adored. I didn't see it though. I preferred the way Tinkerbell looked. A simple black dress, makeup subtle and her pink hair curled at the ends the same way Nina always did.

Tinkerbell reached our table first and sat down beside me, “Good evening, Merigold.’

“Good evening, Amber.”

Owen chuckled, “How polite.”

“We’re on the same level now.” Tinkerbell told him, “I’d love some wine by the way.” She nodded to the opened bottle.

Owen shook his head at her, grinning from ear to ear, “Sure.”

The model sat down beside Owen and eyed me carefully. When I met her gaze she smiled and batted her lashes at me.

This was going to go so wrong.

“Hello, I think we haven’t met before.”

This was my chance to let her know I didn’t like her and she shouldn’t even try.

“Well, we could have when Amber and Owen went out for drinks.” I made sure to smile at the end but we all knew I didn’t mean it.

Amber smiled knowingly as she reached for the glass Owen handed her, “You’re right.”

The blonde girl didn’t let that get to her as she shifted in her chair, “I wish I could have made it. It sounds like you had a fun night.” She held her hand out to me over the table, “I’m Grace by the way.”

I shook her hand even though I didn’t want to out of protest. I had to stay as polite as I could for Owen’s sake.

“Nice to meet you Grace, I’m Nick.”

She tightened her grip on me which made me raise an eyebrow at her, “Merigold?”

Of course, this woman knew exactly who I was. She might be one of those women who go through every single gossip blog and magazine to get the latest news about celebrities and people like Jacob Blackwood.

I would never get along with her.

I pulled my hand back and cleared my throat which made Tinkerbell bite back another laugh, “Yeah, that’s me.”

Things became awkward at the table, maybe this showed Owen her true character. She was just a woman who liked to rise up the ladder.

He deserved better.

“So you two are friends.” She asked as she gestured between Owen and Nick.

I wanted to ask her what she meant by that but I held it back. I watched Owen hand her a glass of wine too. I wasn’t sure if it was a good idea to let her drink but at the same time if she showed her ugly side to him he’d be done with her sooner than later.

“Yes, we are.” I confirmed, “Close friends.” I added.

Tinkerbell was having the time of her life beside me. I was glad someone was having so much fun. This wasn’t too fun for Owen though. I could tell when sharing a look with him.

Yeah, he was done with Grace whatever her last name was.

“Should we order?” I asked the table, hoping to move things along.

“We should.” Tinkerbell agreed, “What do you suggest?” She asked me as we shared a menu together as if we had done it before.

I felt Grace’s eyes on us which made me want to rub it in more. This was going to backfire on me but I didn’t care. Placing my arm around the back of Tinkerbell’s arm I pointed out the things which were definitely worth a try.

“What are you having?” Tinkerbell asked me.

"Chicken," I said without hesitation which made her laugh.

“Said with so much conviction.” She looked at me and grinned, “Okay, then I’ll go with the chicken as well.”

Putting the menu away I kept my arm around Tinkerbell’s chair, pretending not to see the glare Grace was giving her friend. She was the absolute worst. I understood where Tinkerbell was coming from when she told me she couldn’t drop this woman even though she knew Grace was the worst.

Childhood friends made you accept more of them even if they were the ugliest people in the world and we weren't talking about appearances here.

Ugly in the inside was what described her so well.

Owen and I shared a look again, he nodded at my silent question. He was so done with her which made me grin and reach for my glass of wine which my friend poured me. This night wasn’t so bad after all.