Trouble: A Dark Billionaire Romance Read online

  TROUBLE

  By KARA SPARKS

  This is a work of fiction. All characters and events reside solely in the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual people, alive or dead, is purely coincidental. All characters are eighteen years of age or older.

  © 2015, KARA SPARKS. No portion of this work can be reproduced in any way without prior written consent from the author with the exception for a fair use excerpt for review and editorial purposes.

  This title is for adults only. It contains explicit sex acts, adult themes, and material that some folks might find offensive. Please keep out of reach of children.

  Table of Contents

  0. Title

  1. Sophia

  2. Chase

  3. Sophia

  4. Chase

  5. Sophia

  6. Chase

  7. Sophia

  8. Chase

  9. Sophia

  10. Chase

  11. Sophia

  12. Chase

  13. Sophia

  14. Chase

  15. Sophia

  16. Chase

  17. Sophia

  18. Chase

  19. Sophia

  20. Chase

  21. Sophia

  22. Chase

  23. Sophia

  24. Chase

  25. Sophia

  26. Chase

  27. Sophia

  28. Chase

  29. Chase

  30. Sophia

  31. Sophia

  32. Chase

  33. Sophia (Epilogue)

  34. Backmatter

  Trouble

  1. Sophia

  I pull the fresh batch of cookies out of the oven and as I set the tray down on the side to cool, I accidentally burn myself on the red hot metal. White hot pain flashes across my skin and surges up my arm.

  “Fuck!” I yell at the top of my voice, and my screams of agony fill the tiny kitchen at the back of my bakery. I double over in agony clutching at my arm where the metal burned me. A flurry of footsteps runs in from the front of the shop.

  “Oh god not again! You okay hun?” I look up and see my best friend and co—worker Roxxie. She’s got one hand curled around the door frame and is poking her head in to survey how bad the latest burn is.

  “Ahh I’m okay.” I wince, I shake my arm as if I can make the pain fall away, and straighten myself out once more. “How are things looking at the front of the shop?”

  Roxxie pulls her face into an expression that says not that great boss.

  I close my eyes and let out a deep sigh. “Have we had any customers since I came into the back?”

  “Oh we’ve had customers alright.” Roxxie tilts her head for me to follow her and disappears out of the doorway back into the front of the shop. I set my oven gloves down on the side, turn the oven off and walk after her.

  As I go through the doorway into the front of the shop, my mouth drops open and I’m lost for words. I turn to Roxxie and whisper.

  “What the fuck is going on here?”

  “I’m as clueless as you are.”

  Since I opened the bakery a few months ago, business hasn’t exactly been great. The shop has had maybe a dozen customers or so a day. Enough to pay a salary for Roxxie and get new ingredients in, but still not enough to cover all the bills and rent. Running the bakery has been great fun so far and its been my life long dream but the actual reality of running a business…not so hot.

  But now, the bakery is crammed full of customers, all fighting to get to the counter and place their order next.

  “Come on, I was about to come in the back and ask you for help, things have started getting a little hectic.”

  I run to the counter and take position at the cash register next to Roxxie.

  “You should have said something Roxxie, I would have come and helped you!”

  “Well I know what you’re like when you’re back there inventing, I didn’t want to disturb you.”

  “In the future just call me Rox, it doesn’t matter, okay?”

  Roxxie puts on a big smile and addresses the first woman waiting at the counter.

  “Hello madame, welcome to Hot Buns, how may I help you today?”

  The woman’s eyes pour over the counter of fresh baked goods greedily.

  “Give me two of the mud cakes and a danish!”

  “Two mud and one dane!” Roxxy shouts as if I’m standing down the street and not right next to her.

  “Right away madame!” I answer in response. While Roxxie takes the money I squeeze around her in the tight space behind the counter and get the goods from the glass case. After wrapping the cakes and the pastry in a cute little paper bag I hand the woman her order and Roxxie gets to work on serving the next customer.

  “Can I get a dozen of those macadamia cookies?” An old gentleman asks.

  “Dozen of the macca!” Roxxy shouts once more.

  “Rox come on, I’m right here.”

  “I know but they always shout the orders on TV and it seems fun.”

  I can’t help but laugh.

  The shop is small, but there’s probably two dozen customers crammed in waiting to be served. For the next ten minutes Roxxie and I move around behind the counter like whirling dervishes, trying to get to all the customers in a timely manner.

  By the time the last customer leaves the shop, we’re both almost ready to collapse.

  “Okay,” I pant, sliding down the wall slowly until I come to a rest on the floor, “That was absolutely crazy. That’s definitely the busiest we’ve been since we opened.”

  “I’ll say,” Roxxie wipes a hand across the back of her head, “And just in time for closing too.” She nods up to the clock on the wall, jogs over to the front door and flips the sign from ‘Open’ to ‘Closed’.

  “Do you have any idea how much we made today?”

  Roxxie walks back to the counter and starts counting the money.

  “Just short of five hundred dollars.”

  My mouth hits the floor. I know it’s not a heap of money, but it’s definitely the best day we’ve had at the bakery so far, and it more than covers our expenses for the day.

  “Well hey.” I say, lifting myself back up to my feet gingerly. “I think this calls for a celebration.” I walk into the back and come back with the fresh batch of experimental cookies I just whipped up.

  As I walk back in Roxxie’s eyes light up at the sight of the treats.

  “You mean…they’re finally ready to try?”

  “I think so.” I say pensively. I’ve been working on the latest cookie recipe for weeks trying to get it right, and after much deliberation and many burns to my arms, I think I’ve finally cracked it. Peanut Butter and Chocolate cookies with a few special ingredients for added pizazz.

  Roxxie picks up one of the large brown cookies carefully, as if she’s handling a live bomb.

  “Rox it’s just a cookie.” I laugh, as I pick one up too.

  “This isn’t just a cookie Sophia, this is a work of art! You’ve been working on these things for weeks!” She yells and gestures with her arms like she’s making a grand point.

  “Okay okay!” I laugh. “Just eat the damned thing already. I’m sick of waiting!”

  Roxxie takes a moment to compose herself and holds her cookie up to mine.

  “To Hot Buns.”

  We ‘clink’ our cookies together and then both take a bite at the same time. As the soft and sweet dough melts into my mouth the flavors of the rich milk chocolate and salty peanut butter floods my taste buds. I take another bite of the heavenly soft dough, close my eyes and feel every ounce of stress leave my body. I look up at Roxxie and see her staring at me in disbeli
ef.

  “Well…what do you think?” I pop the final piece of the cookie into my mouth.

  “I don’t know how to say this Sophia, but that might be the best god damn cookie I’ve eaten in my entire life!” Roxxie runs towards me and throws her arms around me, crushing my small frame between my arms. I can’t help but laugh. I stand there with a goofy smile on my face as her hug almost suffocates me.

  “Alright that’s enough!” I say, squirming to get out of her embrace. Roxxie has always been a hugger, me not so much.

  “So you really think they’re good?” Roxxie picks up two more cookies from off the tray and starts eating them simultaneously. She answers between mouthfuls of foods.

  “Sophia you’re on to a real winner with these. I feel like every time you invent something you get better.”

  My cheeks flush red at the compliment and I look down to the floor humbled. More than anything all I’ve wanted to do my whole life is bake, so to hear from people that my efforts bring them happiness, well it must mean I’m doing something right. Right?

  “Thank you Roxxie. That really means a lot coming from you.”

  We both stand there for a moment nibbling at the tray of cookies, until the batch of twelve is reduced to just three.

  “Well we should probably start cleaning up.” I say looking at the clock on the wall. “I don’t know if the last fifteen minutes of today is an indication of things going forward, but heck…if it is then we might be able to finally get things off the ground.”

  I move to grab the broom and start sweeping up when a knock comes from the front door. I look up and see my older brother Tom standing outside.

  I skip to the front door and unlock it to let Tom in.

  “There’s my favorite baker!” Tom sings as he throws his arms around me. I squirm my way out of another hug and smile at my brother. Tom looks up to see Roxxie and I lock the door behind him.

  “Oh hey Roxxie, you’re looking like a heart breaker as usual.”

  “Oh stop Tom, everyone knows the only man I want is you.”

  “Already taken honey, and even I know you couldn’t pry me from the arms of my special hubby.”

  Roxxie puts on a fake display of heart break, clutches at her chest and throws an arm across her forehead like a damsel in distress.

  “My heart weeps eternally.”

  “Okay you two split up the amateur dramatics. How are you doing Tom? It’s a nice surprise seeing you here.”

  “Honey I am positively amazing. I’m just on my way to the hospital for my shift and I thought I’d swing in and see how my baby sister is doing.” Tom looks me up and down with judgmental eyes, quickly taking in my demeanor. He looks me in the eye with an expression of unsure worry. “Now she…” Tom motions to Roxxie with his head, “Looks like she just stepped off of Broadway. You my dear…” Tom runs a hand through my hair unenthusiastically, “You look like you’ve been sleeping in the park for the last week.”

  I roll my eyes and walk away from my brother, move back behind the counter and grab the broom again.

  “Well gee, thanks brother. So to what pleasure do I owe this surprise visit? I take it you didn’t just come here to insult me.”

  “Oh honey of course not.” Tom skips to the counter, sets his elbows down on the glass top and his eyes glaze over at the mountain of left over goodies. “I came to get leftovers as well of course!”

  “Of course!” Roxxie parrots and moves behind the counter to pull out the left over goodies.

  Tom had recently started stopping by the bakery before his shifts at the hospital to ‘check in’. At first I thought he was visiting out of the goodness of his heart, but as time goes on I suspect he’s here mostly for the treats. Tom and Roxxie have started making a ritual of eating the leftovers together while I clean up the shop.

  “You can have some,” I say, laying down the law, “As long as they’re going to sick people at the hospital and not just into the bellies of yourself and Cruise.”

  Tom rolls his eyes and tilts his head like a protesting child.

  “Oh but they’re so good!” Tom whines.

  “Thanks bro, but I need to start laying down some ground rules. You and Cruise have been putting on a few inches recently and I can’t help but feel responsible…”

  Tom’s face melts into an expression of over dramatic shock and he looks down at himself. “…Maybe you’re right. We’ve both put on a couple winter pounds. I can’t help it though, everything you bake is so damn delicious!”

  “Give him half of everything that’s left Roxxie and I’ll take the other half for the shelter.”

  “Aye aye captain.” Roxxie replies as she scoops the left over treats into a bag for Tom.

  “Say seems like there’s a little less leftovers today than usual. Did y’all have a busy day or something?”

  “We did actually.” Roxxie says as she hands the bag of treats over to Tom. “Must have been a bus full of tourists come through or something, the last hour or so in the shop it was jam packed.”

  Tom opens the bag and takes out one of our signature shop mud cakes and starts tucking into it.

  “To die for.” He mumbles through a mouthful of cake. “But hey, shop full of customers is good right? Maybe things are finally picking up?”

  “Maybe.” I say dismissively. “They better pick up soon or we’re not going to be in business for much longer.” I cast my mind to the giant stack of bills and final notices I have hidden in my desk upstairs.

  “Bank still giving you grief over that whole Duncan thing?” Tom asks as he finishes stuffing the cake into his mouth.

  That whole Duncan thing. Such a simple way to describe the complicated situation that bastard left me in. If it hadn’t been for the whole Duncan thing I reckon I might actually have a chance to get the bakery off the ground. Try as I might to explain to the bank that he took those credit cards out in my name and he maxed them out, my credit score is still completely fucked and my finances even more so.

  “Something like that.” I sigh, and run my fingers through my hair. “We need a serious cash injection in the business or we’re going to go under soon, I’m not kidding around Tom.”

  Tom sees that I’m not joking around any longer and his face falls slightly. Then it picks up again.

  “Wait a minute. I think I have the perfect idea.”

  Despite almost having lost all hope for the bakery, I look up at Tom anyway, hopeful that he might have an answer that can get us out of this hot mess.

  “Do you remember Chase King?”

  The name hits me like a train. How on earth could I forget Chase King. Math genius, sports star, homecoming king, Tom’s best friend throughout high school. I used to have such a massive crush on that guy, but I knew that he always saw me as a younger sister. Last I’d heard Chase had moved away from Aurora Heights to the big city and he’d made something of himself.

  “Chase…King.” I feign trying to remember. “That’s the guy you used to hang out with all the time right?”

  “Come on Sophia don’t act like you don’t remember Chase King. Everyone knows you used to have a massive crush on him.”

  My cheeks burn red in response and I say nothing.

  “See! I knew you remembered him. Well I got a message from Chase the other day and guess what.”

  I stand there looking at Tom waiting for the answer to come.

  “He’s moving back to Aurora Heights and…he’s become a frickin billionaire. He messaged me asking if I want to meet up for a drink!”

  I have to take a seat. I can’t believe it. Chase King is moving back to Aurora Heights and he’s a billionaire now? I pinch myself to make sure I’m not dreaming, this all just seems too bizarre.

  “Well Tom, this is great and all, but I’m not about to up and ask a guy that I’ve not seen for over a decade for a blank check.”

  Tom rolls his eyes at me for the thousandth time and turns to Roxxie.

  “It’s a good thing she’s pretty.”
Tom jokes, “Because gosh darn is my sister dumb.” Tom turns back to me. “Princess, I know that you’re not going to ask Chase King for help — you would never do anything so crass.”

  Roxxie clears her throat and joins in. “Tom on the other hand, is perfect for such a thing!”

  “Please Tom.” I plead with my brother. “Don’t ask him for money, don’t talk about me at all. Just forget I mentioned anything about the banks. I’ll talk it out with them, and figure something out.”

  Tom backs away from the counter, clutching his bag of leftover goodies tight whilst typing something into his phone.

  “Huh what? Sorry sis but I really gotta run, I’m going to be late for my shift at the hospital.”

  “I’m serious Tom, don’t mention anything!”

  But it’s no good, before I can get a promise out of Tom not to mention anything he’s out the door and sprinting down the street to his car.

  Roxxie locks the door behind Tom and turns back to me.

  “Well you got to admire his spirit.”

  “Easy for you to say, you only have to deal with him at the bakery.”

  After we finish tidying up the shop Roxxie leaves to go home, but not before giving me another spine crushing hug. When she’s gone I go upstairs to the office and plan to look over numbers for a bit. There has to be a way that I can get out of this mess.

  It doesn’t take long however for the numbers to all start blurring into one red mess and I decide to call it a night. I grab my papers, the leftover treats and run to my car as a crisp evening rain stars coming down. I drop the remaining goodies off at the local shelter on my way back and pick up a bottle of wine from the store.

  I’m determined to find a way out of this mess, Duncan really put me in it for sure, but the numbers don’t lie — we can run for maybe two more months unless we get a serious injection of money.

  Once I’m home it doesn’t take long for the wine to go to my head, and before long I find that I can’t think about numbers at all, my mind is awash with one thing.

  Chase King is back.

  2. Chase

  It feels good to be back. It feels damn weird too. I walk around my new office which is in a converted warehouse on the edge of town. The place is flashy, but in a sophisticated away. When you’ve got the kind of money that I’ve got you can afford to splurge every now and then.