Page 21 of How to Train Your Billionaire

The next afternoon, I’m texting with Tessa when I hear the sound of tires crunching on the driveway. I glance out the window and freeze. Hayes is here. And this time he’s not alone.

A stunning blonde steps out of the car, her legs impossibly long and tanned, her outfit so perfectly tropical it could’ve come from a resort catalog—white linen shorts, a citrus-colored crop top, and a floppy straw hat she doesn’t even need. She leans into Hayes, laughing at something he says, and my stomach twists. A darker-skinned guy wearing a floral shirt climbs from the back seat of the SUV, dark sunglasses covering his eyes.

Charles tells me he forgot to mention Hayes is coming in today with some friends.

Forgot to mention?Do I need to check this dude into memory care? This is going to change everything. My happy bubble has just been popped.

I plaster on my best fake smile and step into the foyer. “Hayes. What a surprise.”

“Isn’t it?” he says, grinning as if he doesn’t have a care in the world. The woman—who looks familiar to me as she gets closer—steps beside him, her hand casually resting on his arm. “Guys, this is Olivia. And Charles, you know my friend Malachi.”

“Of course,” Charles says, shaking Malachi’s hand.

“And this is Francesca,” Hayes adds stiffly. “She works for my uncle.”

“Frankie,” I correct him.

“Pretty sweet work trip,” Malachi says, smiling at me. He’s pocketed the sunglasses, and he’s very cute, but if he’s friends with Hayes, it probably means he’s a walking red flag.

“Yeah, it’s not bad,” I say, returning his smile.

I realize why I recognize Olivia. Liv Holloway was a famous child actress who starred in a bunch of movies alongside other A-listers. But aside from a few bad teen comedies, she sort of faded from public view. At least, I haven’t heard anything about her in years, so I have no idea what she’s doing these days.

“Nice to meet you, Olivia,” I manage, extending my hand. Her grip is delicate, and her smile overly rehearsed, probably from hours spent in front of a camera.

“I’ve heard so much about you,” she says sweetly, and I have to fight the urge to roll my eyes. That’s obviously a lie. Why would Hayes have said boo about me?

Charles clears his throat, breaking the tension. “There are drinks and snacks in the kitchen if you’d like.”

“Perfect,” Hayes says, leading Olivia and Malachi toward the kitchen as if he owns the place.

I retreat to my room and continue texting Tessa.

Frankie:Ugh! You will not believe this. Guess who just showed up to ruin my island paradise?

Tessa:Literally no idea . . .

Frankie:Hayes :(

Tessa:What’s his vibe? I picture a beta male. An entitled dweeb

I laugh so hard I snort.

There’s nothing beta about him. I actually wish there was. He seems to take over every room he’s in and manages to suck all the oxygen out in the process.

Frankie:This is him.

I send Tessa a photo I snapped of Charles and Hayes in Montana. I sketched devil horns on top of Hayes’s head.

Tessa:Holy main character energy. He’s a total snack!

Frankie:He’s a jerk

Tessa:If he were an apple, he’d be a delicious

Frankie:And a control freak

Tessa:He looks AI generated