A Very Bad Billionaire (BWWM Contemporary Romance Novel) by Vivian Ward Page A

off without a hitch until my mother had the glass of wine that put her over the edge of being a woman with a conscience to becoming a woman who didn’t give a fuck about anything.
     
    Up until that point, Lupita had been bringing in all of the food by herself. Since she had been a longtime employee, my mother was very familiar with her. When it was time for the main course, there was too much for her to bring on her own. Lupita carried in the lobster and short ribs while Natalia followed behind her with the butter and lemon. My mom looked up from the table when she walked in.
     
    “Well, who do we have here?” she asked as she looked over at me.
     
    “Oh, mom, this is Natalia. Natalia this is my mother.”
     
    Natalia extended her hand to my mom. “It’s very nice to meet you, Mrs. Melrose.”
     
    My mother shook her hand but didn’t say anything to her. Instead, she glared at Natalia. Fortunately, Natalia shrugged it off and began helping Lupita serve the rest of the main course. When all the food had been served and the girls were about to leave the room, my mom decided to start running her mouth.
     
    “I think it’s so sweet that you gave a minority a job. I mean, I know Lupita’s been here a long time, but I believe that this is the first black employee I’ve ever seen here. Good for you Kaiden.”
     
    Natalia looked at me in confusion.
     
    “Mom, I think you’ve had a little much to drink. You don’t know what you’re saying.”
     
    “That’s nonsense! I know exactly what I’m saying. I’m not trying to be offensive or anything. I just think what you’re doing is a good thing, that’s all. Anytime you can get a minority to actually work instead of living on the food stamps that our tax dollars pay for, that’s a win for the working class.”
     
    “Mother, that’s enough.”
     
    “Stop being so sensitive Kaiden. It’s not like what I’m saying isn’t the truth. What do you have dear? Three or four welfare babies running around at home?”
     
    I couldn’t take anymore. I stood up from the table determined to shut my mother up once and for all.
     
    “Mom that is enough out of you. Natalia was not hired because she was on welfare or anything like that. She was hired because we thought she would be a good candidate for the job. So far, she has been a hard worker and I am thrilled to have her as part of the staff. I would appreciate it if you didn’t talk to my employees like that.”
     
    “Okay, okay. I don’t know why you always get so testy.”
     
    I straightened my tie and sat back down at the table. After taking my seat, I looked up to see Natalia glaring at me. She was upset and had every right to be but judging by the way she was staring, it seemed like it was me she was pissed off at. I figured she would be happy that I stood up to my mother when she was talking so poorly about her. Apparently that wasn’t the case. After everything that just happened, I decided it would be best to talk to her in private after my parents left. I thanked Lupita and Natalia and told them that would be all. Natalia stormed out of the room in anger.
     
     

CHAPTER NINE
    Natalia
     
     
    I couldn’t believe the way that Kaiden’s mother spoke to me. She made me feel like the scum of the Earth. I guess that was her point. If she had a goal to point out to her son that, as a black woman, I was the lowest common denominator in society, she had certainly succeeded. I was seething with so much anger that I was having a hard time keeping it under control. Kaiden was no better. He treated me like I was nothing more than a lowly member of the staff. In front of his parents, he was so cold and professional when he talked about me. I had to close my mouth before they saw me standing there like a fool. What I really wanted to do was go off on him—and her, but I knew it was best to keep my mouth shut.
     
    Regret was starting to take over. I was already regretting the fact that I had slept with