The Beautician and the Billionaire Episode 3: The Third Ship

By Evelyn Aster

This is a continuation of a story about Charisse, who would prefer to live a simple life as a beauty salon owner, and Conor, a billionaire trying to seduce her. It loosely follows the Beauty and the Beast fairy tale without the magic. The first two episodes are available for free. There will be about three more episodes in this first season.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Evelyn Aster
• Release date: Dec 1, 2015
• ISBN: 9781310129247

Evelyn Aster

Evelyn Aster writes romance for grown-ass women. She loves heroines who make mistakes and have real problems just like her. Mostly, she lives, writes, drinks coffee and eats chocolate in Albuquerque, NM. She's managed to avoid being a meth dealer so far.

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The Beautician and the Billionaire

Episode 3: The Third Ship

By Evelyn Aster

Hot Java Press

Copyright

Copyright © 2015 Evelyn Aster

Cover Copyright © 2015 Chiara Girardelli

Pictures from CanStockPhoto

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed Attention: Permissions Coordinator, at the address below.

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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

1| The Feud

Charisse tightened her arms across her stomach. She'd been so ready to let herself go with Conor right in her salon. They'd had a connection—at least he'd made her believe they had. But the Hamptons?

Her eyes glanced back and forth between Marie and Conor. She must've lost her mind. She'd let herself be seduced by his seeming sincerity and vulnerability, forgetting that he'd chosen Marie first. Forgetting the picture of Marie pouring a shot down his throat. Forgetting she hated suits.

Worst of all, she was business partners with Conor, through no fault of her own. Shit. It was her fault. She was the one who hadn't read her own contract.

Conor stood up and combed his fingers through his still wet hair.

Marie stood with her umbrella down in one hand, dripping water on the floor and holding the strap of her Louis Vuitton purse up on her shoulder with her other hand. She glowered at Conor.

It's not how it sounds, said Conor. When his hand came down from combing his hair, his face resumed the slick I can explain everything expression Charisse loathed so much. I offered Marie a job at my Hamptons house because she wanted to make a change. She wanted to work at the flower shop that delivers my roses. Considering her biology degree, I thought she might want to work with the actual roses instead.

Marie flipped her straight black hair back over her shoulder and said, So you could get me out of the way and make your moves on Charisse. I think it's sick that you're trying to fuck us to get back at Daddy for the lost ships. You should've just fired him and left us out of it. We didn't do anything to you.

It was as if a bomb had detonated inside Charisse. What? Kissing me was about the ships? We were about to... Charisse backed away and thought she might faint. It was bad enough being the second choice, but being some sort of payment...maybe she'd hurl first and then faint.

Conor reddened and clenched his fists at his sides. Marie took a step back, looking fearful but clutching her umbrella like she'd swing it at him if he tried to hit her.

Instead of yelling, Conor spoke in a quiet voice that chilled Charisse. He stared at Marie as he spoke. Really? You're going to lie about that in front of me? The salon is payment for the ships. Your father offered you up instead, and I refused. Or maybe you forgot that part of our conversation.

Charisse's vision blurred as her world shattered before her. Conor had to be the one lying because Daddy would never try to trade Marie as payment. Never.

Conor turned to Charisse. Pain had flashed in his eyes before a shield went up. His voice gained volume and lost its edge. "I had hoped to take you to dinner tonight. I'm sorry for getting carried away