Flirting with the pilot was mindless fun and so was going home with him. We were meant to be #OneNight.

I had zero idea some blogger was out to ruin his life and mine.

Now I’m fired because of some fraternizing policy and my bills are coming due fast.

I was stunned when he came back in my life and offered me a way to prove myself. We’d pretend we were dating.

And did I mention he’s a trillionaire.

We were supposed to be a temporary fix to get me back in my own world.

Except being his was the only joy I had these days.

He’s sexy, funny, a trillionaire, a little bit of a man child, and he strikes me as someone charming and fixable.

Except I don’t form attachments. I’m better on my own.

♥ Except when we’re together I forget who I was.

✓ Even if he’s sweet as pie under all his layers

★ And I’m quickly getting addicted to him.

I was walking a slippery slope that ended in disaster, and my world was about to crash in on itself, but you’d never have expected what happened because I absolutely hadn’t.

Charlie

The smell of the beach was in the air as I passed the almost-empty beach drive. It was the dead of winter, and the wind whipped against my leather jacket and helmet as I drove faster than usual.

Maman expected all of us to come, and I’d flown in early to join the family at the last minute. Soon, my life changed again.

I hated not having control of my schedule. I’d also hated interning at my father’s banking empire with Kir when I was eighteen. Kir had done all my work. I’d snuck out every day to ride, and honestly, my Harley was the closest thing I had to a long-term girlfriend.

The four-hour workweek was now my future. Life, it seemed, had returned to that never-ending summer where my father and older brothers all lived every day, and every second they stared at me, they saw my many mistakes. Next Monday, I would wear a suit and show up looking professional, but for now, I blazed past the new mansion and headed onto my parents’ estate.

Out of all our homes growing up, the compound was the closest to feeling like a place we returned to.

Most people would call it a beachfront mansion, but its two stories and four wings made it more like a castle, complete with stables, gardens, private beach coves, yachts, and a helipad. This was the only life I’d ever known until this past year.

However, the grind of answering to bosses and grueling hours was enough to make me accept the luxuries of my life. Real life outside my gilded cage was never going to tempt me again. As I pulled up on the driveway, staff came out, followed by my adoptive mother.

Her black hair, which sported a silver streak, was up in a bun. As I climbed off my bike, she smiled brightly and put her hand on her hip. “Riding your motorcycle again.”

Not the dangerous speech again. We’d had that conversation many times in the last decade. I kissed her cheek. “It’s nice to see you too, Maman.”

She hugged me and took off my helmet. Once she stared into my charming eyes, she cupped my face. “It’s hard to imagine you’re going to sit in your chair working at Pedar’s office with Warren and Kir.”

My lips pressed together. I hated when she didn’t believe in me. As we headed inside, I said, “I’m good at math.”

She waited as I handed my coat to the butler. “Yes, but you’re the one that always gets me to worry. I’m hoping you settle down like Elon just announced.”

I heard my family in the dining room with the long table designed for royalty, where Maman had us line up weekly. The sound of family togetherness grounded me.

After living in hotels for two years and working nonstop, coming home hit me with how much luxury we had. I walked with her, as I said, “He’s been in love with Clarissa since we were in school. I don’t have an ex that I’m carrying a torch for. The best woman in the world is already my mom.”

“Flattery won’t always work, you know.”

“We both know it works with you.”

We made it to the dining room, where Pedar, nine of my brothers, a few of their wives, and children were all sitting. Only Adrien, who was the youngest and still in college, and Gerard, who was sailing the world, were missing from our usual Friday-night get-together.

Maman walked me to my seat. “Well, have fun on your last flight. I’ll plan a party when you get back to celebrate.”

I waved at Kir, who was set up to show me around once I officially took the office job. I knew he was disappointed that I had no big idea for my life, but I held that thought as I said, “Quitting a six-figure job in some households would probably cause a panic.”

She shrugged and motioned for staff to pour me a tea. “You always had options. Are you planning to stay in Paris for more than your flight?”

Right. My last flight. I shrugged as servants placed a tea and my Caesar salad in front of me. “I don’t know. I hate plans.”

“Good luck, Charlie.” She returned to her seat.

More than half of us were adopted, and some hadn’t been infants when they arrived, like I’d been. I had no idea who’d given birth to me, and I mostly didn’t care, except when I wondered if everyone here truly appreciated how blessed this family was. Elon and Clarissa waved, and I waved back. Maddie got up, hugged me, and returned to Arman’s side. Cyrus and Sarah laughed at some inside joke.

And as I stared at them, I wondered what was wrong with me. My other brothers joked about the market, and I caught Kir’s expression. Last weekend, he’d insisted I follow my heart and not just settle for a life at our father’s place. Warren was the clear successor, and Kir had expressed he wished he’d had my guts to strike out with a big idea.

Maybe one might hit me. I didn’t know. I hoped so. My coworkers had no idea how much money I had in my accounts, and they’d thought I was insane to just quit without another job lined up first. There was a rumor I’d won the lottery, which wasn’t far from the truth. I’d won the lottery with my last name, which I’d kept secret.

I spoke to my family and caught up. Clarissa was pregnant already. Then my phone beeped with my alarm. My last flight on which I was a regular person who hid that he went to a mansion beckoned. As a kid, I’d dreamed of piloting and working with others, until the long hours killed that plan. I hugged my mom and family goodbye, left my dinner so my stomach was slightly empty, and headed to the airport.

One flight to Paris left, and I finished my job. I would return, clean out my locker, and be done. Then I could stay seated at the dinner table for as long as I fucking wanted. Or I could take a few weeks, hit the road on my Harley, and see the world from the ground again. Eventually, I would start my job, where everyone catered to me because of my father.

I parked, changed into my uniform, and headed past security. On the way to my gate, I saw two boys loudly trying to get the attention of a woman in a business suit. Her bright-red hair was up in a bun that reminded me of my mother’s.

I liked red. I slipped into the seat beside her and waved to the bartender, who nodded at me. I pressed my hand on her arm to get her attention. A spark rushed through me. She turned her emerald-green eyes and stared at me. For a second, I lost the ability to speak.

The college kids were upset I’d taken away their prize, but I ignored them. My hair stood on end as I took my hand back. “Can I buy you a drink?”

Her lips quirked, and she scooted closer. “Darling, hello. I’ve been waiting for you, but I don’t know if drinking’s a good idea.”

That voice was almost like a sweet song. I didn’t remember ever being… enchanted. I whispered, “Because I’m a stranger?”

The boys left.

She sat back and shook her head. “Because I’m a nervous flier, playboy, though I wasn’t really liking those college kids and how they were talking to me.”

Well, she knew my reputation without knowing my name, but I kept the conversation going. “You were uncomfortable?”

“It was why I met your gaze and sent a silent plea for you to save me from the boys who were looking for a MILF when I was neither a mom or a bored housewife, which was what they were betting or hoping I was.”

“Glad I could help.” My chest caved in for a second, but I sat up. “Where you heading?”

She sighed and pressed her boarding pass to her heart. “Paris. It’s my first time.”

I gazed around. Normally, pretty women never flew alone.

My heart was elevated as I asked, “1942?”

She narrowed her eyes, looked at her ticket, and nodded, “Yeah, that’s my flight number.”

My lips quirked higher. “I promise to get you there safely.”

She tensed and was clearly nervous again as she lowered her head. “Thanks for talking to me a minute ago.”

I gave her space. I hadn’t had a woman say no to me in a long time, so I said, “No problem. I meant what I offered about a drink.”

Then she smiled at me. “I hope neither of us has alcohol to blame for whatever happens next.”

“Well, I’m Charlie if you ever need me.”

“We’ll see, Charlie. I’m Hope.”

My last trip to Paris was getting a lot more interesting. I bumped her to first class, and I hadn’t had to pay this time to impress. This was my last perk, though, because wining and dining the beauty was a temporary goal. Now I wanted to know everything about her.