Paris Was The Place I Met My Billionaire Lover (My Sweet Billionaire Love Story Series) by Kiera Zane Page A
Authors: Kiera Zane
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having a wonderful time... in Cancun.”
Caitlyn thought fast. “Oh, yeah, well, I didn’t want to trouble you. But she and I weren’t getting along, and she decided to change her plans. I know she paid for it herself, the way she was going on about it. I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t want to leave Paris, but I didn’t want to worry you either.”
After a nasty little silence, Harrison exhaled tiredly and said, “Caitlyn, she told her mother everything, and her mother told us; about your plan, the hundred dollars you paid Jennifer to go along with it, everything.”
Crap!
“Why’d you lie to me, Caitlyn?”
“I didn’t mean to -- ”
“Caitlyn, stop it!” he barked, his little metallic voice still strong and imposing, even coming out of a tiny speaker from a half-a-world away. “You knew you were lying then, you just now spun a web of lies at the drop of a hat. Is this the girl I raised? Didn’t I teach you anything about the value of the truth, about right and wrong?”
Caitlyn turned away, as much as to direct her attention more effectively and completely toward her father as to misdirect Julien’s attention away from her and especially that particular conversation. “I’m sorry, Dad, I know I messed this up. I just... I couldn’t find anyone to go with me, and I didn’t want to miss Paris to go to stupid Cancun.”
“That’s not the point, Caitlyn, and you know it.” Another ugly, disappointed silence crawled past before Harrison added, “What are you doing there now? Who are you with?”
“Why do you ask that? What do you mean, who am I with ?”
“Don’t give me any more of your sass, young lady. It doesn’t matter anyway. Every minute you spend there alone, you’re in danger. I’ve already bought a ticket for you on Air France, tonight’s red-eye. You get to the airport now, have a meal, do some shopping, get some rest. But don’t miss that plane. I’ll pick you up at LAX.”
Oh no, Dad, don’t! Caitlyn wanted to plead. Please don’t ruin this for me! It’s no big deal. Why does everything have to be about truth and right and all that stuff? I’m young and in Paris, with an incredible man I think I might really be in love with. Please don’t ask me to walk away from all that just because I hurt your feelings, because I stretched the truth this one time!
Instead, Caitlyn turned and caught a glimpse of Julien in the corner of her eye, quietly observing without wanting to intrude. Caitlyn turned back to the phone and her expectant, angry parent on the other end of the phone.
Caitlyn said, “No.”
A moment passed, swelling with disbelief until it finally popped with Harrison’s astonished, “What?!”
“I’m an adult now, you can’t keep treating me like a child.”
“Okay, that’s fine, Caitlyn, then take a vacation like an adult and pay for it yourself, plus your school, your dorm, your expenses. As long as I’m paying for those things -- ”
A hot pride rose within Caitlyn, filling her soul and her imagination. Julien’s words echoed in her memory, humming in the back of her ears. She said, “You’re right, Dad. I’m sorry, you’re right.”
“Well all right then, get to the airport and -- ”
Caitlyn felt the little half-smile push her right cheek back. “No, I don’t mean it that way. I mean that you’re right, you shouldn’t be paying my way anymore. It’s time for me to strike out on my own.”
“Sweetheart, you don’t know what you’re saying -- ”
“No, Dad, you’re the one who doesn’t know what I’m saying. I love you and I’m grateful for everything you’ve done. But it’s time for me to really start living, to get a real education.”
“A real edu -- ?” Harrison’s voice cracked, confusion clogging his retort. This conversation clearly hadn’t gone the way he’d anticipated, and something about that pleased Caitlyn. It meant she was
Caitlyn thought fast. “Oh, yeah, well, I didn’t want to trouble you. But she and I weren’t getting along, and she decided to change her plans. I know she paid for it herself, the way she was going on about it. I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t want to leave Paris, but I didn’t want to worry you either.”
After a nasty little silence, Harrison exhaled tiredly and said, “Caitlyn, she told her mother everything, and her mother told us; about your plan, the hundred dollars you paid Jennifer to go along with it, everything.”
Crap!
“Why’d you lie to me, Caitlyn?”
“I didn’t mean to -- ”
“Caitlyn, stop it!” he barked, his little metallic voice still strong and imposing, even coming out of a tiny speaker from a half-a-world away. “You knew you were lying then, you just now spun a web of lies at the drop of a hat. Is this the girl I raised? Didn’t I teach you anything about the value of the truth, about right and wrong?”
Caitlyn turned away, as much as to direct her attention more effectively and completely toward her father as to misdirect Julien’s attention away from her and especially that particular conversation. “I’m sorry, Dad, I know I messed this up. I just... I couldn’t find anyone to go with me, and I didn’t want to miss Paris to go to stupid Cancun.”
“That’s not the point, Caitlyn, and you know it.” Another ugly, disappointed silence crawled past before Harrison added, “What are you doing there now? Who are you with?”
“Why do you ask that? What do you mean, who am I with ?”
“Don’t give me any more of your sass, young lady. It doesn’t matter anyway. Every minute you spend there alone, you’re in danger. I’ve already bought a ticket for you on Air France, tonight’s red-eye. You get to the airport now, have a meal, do some shopping, get some rest. But don’t miss that plane. I’ll pick you up at LAX.”
Oh no, Dad, don’t! Caitlyn wanted to plead. Please don’t ruin this for me! It’s no big deal. Why does everything have to be about truth and right and all that stuff? I’m young and in Paris, with an incredible man I think I might really be in love with. Please don’t ask me to walk away from all that just because I hurt your feelings, because I stretched the truth this one time!
Instead, Caitlyn turned and caught a glimpse of Julien in the corner of her eye, quietly observing without wanting to intrude. Caitlyn turned back to the phone and her expectant, angry parent on the other end of the phone.
Caitlyn said, “No.”
A moment passed, swelling with disbelief until it finally popped with Harrison’s astonished, “What?!”
“I’m an adult now, you can’t keep treating me like a child.”
“Okay, that’s fine, Caitlyn, then take a vacation like an adult and pay for it yourself, plus your school, your dorm, your expenses. As long as I’m paying for those things -- ”
A hot pride rose within Caitlyn, filling her soul and her imagination. Julien’s words echoed in her memory, humming in the back of her ears. She said, “You’re right, Dad. I’m sorry, you’re right.”
“Well all right then, get to the airport and -- ”
Caitlyn felt the little half-smile push her right cheek back. “No, I don’t mean it that way. I mean that you’re right, you shouldn’t be paying my way anymore. It’s time for me to strike out on my own.”
“Sweetheart, you don’t know what you’re saying -- ”
“No, Dad, you’re the one who doesn’t know what I’m saying. I love you and I’m grateful for everything you’ve done. But it’s time for me to really start living, to get a real education.”
“A real edu -- ?” Harrison’s voice cracked, confusion clogging his retort. This conversation clearly hadn’t gone the way he’d anticipated, and something about that pleased Caitlyn. It meant she was
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