Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 34532 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 173(@200wpm)___ 138(@250wpm)___ 115(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34532 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 173(@200wpm)___ 138(@250wpm)___ 115(@300wpm)
After that, I flew them all to a private island resort off the coast, all expenses paid. I couldn’t bear to share Selma with everyone for a week after the wedding, so we flew off to the south of France and holed up in my villa there. Even without us, from all reports, our four friends managed to turn into their own little family and had more fun than my credit card had expected.
I would have married her the day I got her from her father’s house if I could, but we had a hell of a time obtaining her birth certificate since her mother had her at home and they never bothered to register her birth.
It pissed me off for a while because what I found out is all the children in the community are homeschooled as well. Which is all fine and well, but basically there was no record of Selma Hoffner anywhere. I thought it was hard finding Anastasia, but creating Selma turned out to be as much of a challenge as finding her alter-ego.
I reach forward and rest my hands on her hips, pulling myself closer in my chair. My mind is already focused on laying her back, flipping up the fabric that covers that sweet cunt between her legs and having a snack.
“I got a letter. From Papa.”
I raise my eyebrows. “Okay, and?”
Another shrug from her and her eyes well up, breaking my heart. “He just said he’s not ready to see me, but he’s praying for me. But he sent this.”
I look up and see her force a smile as she holds up the necklace I gave her that day in the hotel.
She looks so sweet and beautiful:;I restrain my groan. “Well, baby, at least he wrote you back. You’ve extended the olive branch, that’s all you can do. Give him time. It’s progress.”
I reach out for the necklace and secure it back around her neck.
“Yep. I just want him to be happy, but I want to be happy too.”
“Exactly. you deserve your happiness, and he’s responsible for his.”
She plays with the engagement ring and matching wedding band, twisting them around her finger.
“You want some good news?” I squeeze her hips, and she nods.
“Always.”
“You have the feature on The Food Channel. We will shoot it here in your home kitchen. They are very excited.”
“Yippee!” She claps. “Did you get the charity stuff set up?”
“Yes, I did. The attorneys are overnighting the paperwork for us to look over, then we will file it, and all your profits will be paid directly to Anastasia’s Angels. I’ve copied Cameron on everything. He’s on it like a pitbull.”
“Thank you. It just doesn’t seem right to keep any money. After all, you have more than we will spend in ten lifetimes.”
“Yes, I have some other news as well.”
“Okay. I love your surprises.”
“I’m accepting the ‘give half away’ challenge. I’m working with my legal team to divest half of my net worth to charities as well. I will need your help to choose where the money will go. I want us to do that together.”
“Oh! I’m so proud of you! We don’t need so much money, and it makes me feel better knowing we can do good deeds with what you have.”
“I hope so. And...” I run my hands up her sides. “Cameron called. He’s coming to dinner tonight.”
“Wow! It’s a good day after all and becoming a great day.”
I hear the sound of a helicopter in the distance and watch as Selma rolls her eyes.
The press have been hounding me since we got back to New York with Selma. I’m an unlikely celebrity, known for nothing but running my businesses and my wealth but seems the public can be voracious when it comes to a rich man and a young girl.
At first, Selma didn’t do well with the scrutiny, but she’s tougher than she gives herself credit for, and she has since taken to the mindset of if they want a show, she will give them a show.
I was called a cradle robber and plenty of other things, but I don’t care. I’ve never lost one minute of sleep over it, unless it upsets Selma. Which at this point, it doesn’t.
“Shall we?” she asks, and I nod.
“Whatever makes you happy.”
“Good answer.”
I follow her out the front door and onto the front lawn as the helicopter hovers, and I make a phone call.
Selma spins in a circle and waves at the helicopter. She gives them peace signs and sticks her tongue out. She does the same thing every time. In her opinion, if she gives them a whole lotta crazy every time they stalk us, sooner or later it will be boring, and they will give up.
Whatever makes her happy.
I don’t particularly like them invading our privacy, but I have to admit, they are becoming less and less frequent, so maybe her angle is working.