Capsizing Her Billionaire Boss - Sarah Gay Page 0,15

man, Stanley,” said Rob.

“And I thought you might want to celebrate. I threw in some bubbly for you and Kara.”

Rob stared out his window in thought before he clapped his hands and shouted, “I’m engaged? I’m engaged!” He glanced at his phone. “Kara hasn’t noted her arrival time.”

“I almost forgot,” said Stanley, grabbing a few papers from his center console and handing them to Rob. “Your friend wanted me to give you these.”

“Here,” said Rob, handing a thick, folded paper back to Damian with his name delicately written on the front.

Damian brought the paper to his nose and breathed in deeply. It still held her scent: fresh ground cinnamon.

“Where’s mine?” asked Eli.

“Eli,” said Damian, carefully unfolding his note, “you videotaped her getting pushed down…instead of helping her. Did you even notice her on our flights?”

“She was on the plane with us?” asked Eli, scratching his chin.

Damian’s note read, Rob, I can’t thank you enough for allowing us to use your car. I hope to repay the favor someday. Many thanks, Poppy. He glanced at the front of the card again with Damian written on it.

Rob held his paper out in front of his face. “I was wrong. She likes me. Not you, Damian.”

“Give it,” said Damian, smacking the back of Rob’s seat. Rob laughed, which irritated him even more.

The car stopped at the curb in front of Rob’s apartment complex. Rob exchanged Poppy’s notes with Damian, then jumped out of the car.

Eli pegged himself to Damian’s side. “Why would she write you a love note? What did I miss?”

“It’s just a thank you note,” said Damian, slipping the paper into his pocket. He hoped he was wrong, and she had written him a love note. He made a point to stroll casually to the trunk to help unload the bags of food. If he and Eli weren’t about to spend the next several months or years working with Poppy, then he would’ve disclosed everything in a heartbeat to his brothers, but he found himself drifting into dangerous, uncharted waters.

“I’ll go grab my car,” said Rob, jogging away. “Not sure when Kara will be flying in and I need to be back.”

“You don’t have to take us,” said Eli, but Rob had already sprinted out of earshot. He bumped into Damian’s side. “Come on. Who’s Poppy?”

“She’s our new boss.”

By Eli’s surprised expression, Kai hadn’t spoken to him yet. “Come again?”

“Kai wants to invest in us. Have us start a company with his investment.” Damian opened the email app on his phone. “I’ll forward you the proposal.”

Eli rubbed his forehead. “I can’t quit college. I’m only halfway through my sophomore year.”

“I get it,” said Damian. “I’ll be dropping out my senior year. But what have you learned in college? You’re a better programmer than your professors. Think about that on our drive home.”

Rob’s car pulled up next to them. “Jump in,” he said with haste.

Damian motioned for Eli to take the front seat so he could be alone with Poppy’s letter in the back.

Ten minutes into the drive, when his brothers were settled into a quiet driving daze, Damian unfolded his letter.

The note read,

Damian, I look forward to working with you…

Didn’t get much more platonic and impersonal than that. Damian’s heart sunk into his gut. He closed the letter and stared out the window. Rob must’ve been messing with him.

Rob tapped his steering wheel. “You’re not going to call her?” he asked, catching Damian’s eye in his mirror.

“Quit. I’m not in the mood,” Damian spat out.

Rob sighed. “Read the dang letter.”

With reluctance, Damian continued reading. Damian, I look forward to working with you. When you said, ‘welcome to Dallas,’ I had no idea I’d be welcomed by the paparazzi. I’ve dealt with them before, chasing them away from Kai and his family, but I’ve never dreamt they’d be coming after me (us). Thank you for avenging me today. I now understand why Kai holds you in such high regard. Give me a call if you have any questions about the proposal. I can’t wait to start this journey with you. P.S. I won’t forget… Poppy.

So, the plane kisses had been as monumental for her as they’d been for him. He threw a fist in the air to celebrate, until he remembered why he couldn’t date her. Why he didn’t want her to like him just yet. Her affection for him had to be gradual, or Kai might pull the plug. He’d made that crystal clear. Poppy needed this and she hadn’t left