Struggling Dad Flirted With A Woman At A Café, Not Knowing She Was A Billionaire Falling Fast
The Mystery and the Revelation
The interview went exceptionally well. Carter felt confident and poised in his new suit. The hiring manager seemed impressed with his portfolio and experience.
When he returned to the apartment that evening he received a call offering him the position. It came with a salary that would finally allow him to stop living paycheck to paycheck.
“We did it Liybug,” he announced, swinging his daughter into his arms.
“Daddy got the job”.
“Does that mean we can have pizza tonight?” Lily asked.
Her priorities were perfectly aligned with her age.
“Yes it absolutely does”.
Later that night after Lily was tucked into bed Carter’s phone buzzed with a text from an unknown number.
“Congratulations on the job. I had a feeling about you. That coffee I was promised? How about tomorrow at Brewers same time? Emma”.
Carter found himself smiling at his phone, his heart racing a little.
“How did you know I got the job and yes tomorrow sounds perfect”.
“Just a feeling. See you tomorrow”.
The next morning Carter dropped Lily off at kindergarten and headed to Brewers arriving 15 minutes early. He’d spent more time than he cared to admit choosing what to wear.
He finally settled on his best jeans and a button-down shirt that wasn’t too wrinkled. Emma was already there sitting at a table by the window reading something on her tablet.
Today she wore a simple green dress that made her eyes appear even more vibrant. She looked up as he approached, a warm smile spreading across her face.
“No coffee dripping from the ceiling today,” Carter said by way of greeting.
“Already an improvement”.
“I requested they turn off the coffee sprinkler system in your honor,” Emma replied with a straight face.
As they talked over coffee Carter found himself increasingly drawn to Emma. She was intelligent and funny. She asked thoughtful questions about his work and Lily.
When he asked about her job she was surprisingly vague. She said only that she worked in business and changed the subject.
“So Emma Ellis who works in business,” Carter said, leaning forward slightly.
“What brings you to a place like Brewers on a weekday morning? Don’t tell me there was coffee dripping from the ceiling at your usual spot too”.
Emma laughed.
“Actually I like this cafe because it’s unpretentious. The coffee is good, the staff is friendly and nobody bothers me here”.
“Do you get bothered a lot elsewhere?”
A shadow crossed her face.
“Sometimes people want things from you for the wrong reasons”.
Carter nodded thinking he understood.
“You’re worried I’m only here because you bought me an expensive suit?”
“No,” Emma said quickly. “Not you. You tried to refuse the suit, remember? That’s refreshing”.
Their coffee date extended into lunch and only ended when Carter had to leave to pick up Lily from school. As they parted outside the cafe there was a moment of hesitation.
“I’d like to see you again,” Carter said finally.
“Maybe dinner? I know a great pizza place that has Lily’s stamp of approval”.
“I’d like that,” Emma replied. “But this time it’s my treat”.
“No way,” Carter shook his head.
“You’ve done enough. Besides I have a job now remember?”
Emma looked like she wanted to argue but instead nodded.
“Okay but next time is on me”.
Carter didn’t know there would be a next time after next time, but the thought made him smile.
“Deal”.
Over the next few weeks Carter and Emma fell into a routine. They’d meet for coffee or lunch. Occasionally Emma would join him and Lily for dinner or weekend outings.
Lily had taken an immediate liking to Emma, especially after Emma had shown up with professional art supplies. Lily had mentioned her love of drawing.
“You shouldn’t have,” Carter had said privately, feeling uncomfortable with the expensive gift.
“It’s just colored pencils,” Emma had replied though they both knew it was a high-end set.
“Besides she’s talented. She should have the right tools”.
There was something about Emma that didn’t quite add up. She never talked about her home, always met them in public places, and was evasive about her work.
When Carter had suggested picking her up for their date one evening she had quickly suggested meeting at the restaurant instead. One afternoon while Lily was at a playdate they walked in the park.
“Can I ask you something?” Carter said stopping near the small lake.
“And you can tell me it’s none of my business if you want”.
Emma looked at him expectantly.
“What is it?”
“Are you in some kind of trouble? You never talk about where you live. You’re secretive about your work. If you’re running from something I want you to know you can trust me”.
Emma’s expression softened and she reached for his hand.
“I’m not in trouble Carter. It’s complicated but I promise I’m not hiding anything dangerous or illegal from you”.
“But you are hiding something”.
She nodded slowly.
“Yes and I want to tell you everything. I just I’ve enjoyed these past few weeks so much. Being with you and Lily. Being treated like a normal person”.
“I was afraid that would change”.
“Nothing you could tell me would change how I feel about you,” Carter said.
He surprised himself with the certainty in his voice. Somewhere between coffee dates and pizza nights he had fallen for Emma Ellis.
Emma took a deep breath.
“Remember that boutique where we got your suit? Ellis and Co?”
“Of course”.
“It’s not just one store. It’s a chain. A rather large one actually”.
Carter nodded slowly.
“Okay so you work for a big company that’s not so…”
“I don’t work for Ellis and Co,” Emma interrupted.
“I own it. Along with Ellis Hotels, Ellis Technologies and the Ellis Foundation”.
Carter stared at her processing her words.
“You own all that? You’re what some kind of millionaire?”
Emma winced slightly.
“Billionaire actually. The Ellis family has been in business for generations. I took over as CEO 5 years ago when my father retired”.
Carter dropped her hand and stepped back, his mind reeling.
“Billionaire,” he repeated.
“And you’ve been hanging out at Brewster’s Cafe and eating pizza with us at Milo’s where a whole pie costs $12?”
“Carter…”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” he asked his voice tight.
“Why the secrecy?”
“Because this always happens,” Emma said gesturing between them.
“The moment people find out who I am everything changes. They start treating me differently, wanting things from me. Or they get intimidated and pull away”.
Carter ran a hand through his hair trying to make sense of everything.
“So that suit was not from the clearance rack?”
“No,” Emma admitted.
“But I wanted to help and I knew you wouldn’t accept if you knew. You lied to me”.
“I omitted certain facts,” Emma corrected gently.
“I never lied about who I am as a person. The woman you’ve gotten to know over these weeks that’s the real me. The title and the money that’s just circumstance”.
Carter wasn’t sure how to feel. Part of him understood her reluctance to reveal her wealth. Another part felt betrayed that she hadn’t trusted him with the truth.
“I need some time to process this,” he said finally.
Emma nodded her eyes sad but understanding.
“I know. Take all the time you need. But Carter these weeks with you and Lily have been the happiest I’ve had in years. That’s the truth”.
Carter walked her to the park entrance where her driver was waiting in a sleek black car. It was another detail that suddenly made sense.
As the car pulled away Carter stood watching. He wondered how he’d missed the signs or maybe he’d seen them but chosen to ignore them because he was falling for her.
