Drake: An Insta Love Short Romance (Bolton Billionaire Brothers Book 1) Read online

  DRAKE

  BOLTON BILLIONAIRE BROTHERS: BOOK 1

  FLORA MADISON

  Copyright © 2020 by Flora Madison

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

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  **Edited by: Geeky Girl Author Services

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  CONTENTS

  Chapter 1

  Drake

  Chapter 2

  Joey

  Chapter 3

  Drake

  Chapter 4

  Joey

  Chapter 5

  Drake

  Chapter 6

  Joey

  Chapter 7

  Drake

  Epilogue

  Now Read Chase’s Story …

  Also By Flora Madison

  CHAPTER 1

  DRAKE

  I’ve been waiting six long months for this day to arrive, and if all goes according to plan, I’ll be the new CEO of Bolton Enterprises before the hour’s end. Following in my father’s footsteps has always been my dream, I just wish he were alive to see it.

  My black town car rolls to a stop. When my driver pops open the back door, he reveals a quaint, red bricked building. Looks can be deceiving though. Morgan and Hawn is the most reputable estate firm in the state of New York. No wonder my father entrusted them with his will.

  Inside, a wave of icy cool air conditioning smacks me in the face. I tug my cuff down over my watch, noting the twenty-four carat gold lion’s head cufflinks that my father gave me for my thirty-fifth birthday. Even though I was born to lead the pack, it’s my three brothers that have never quite accepted me into their tribe.

  I may be the oldest Bolton son, the richest, the one dad took under his wing, but I’m also an island. My mother left when I was six and my father remarried. Chase, Brock, and Felix are all from my father’s second wife who, luckily, will be receiving nothing after their messy divorce a few years back. The funeral was the last time we were all together. As much as I hate to admit it, I have to steel myself to be around all of my brothers at once.

  The receptionist leads me to a small room in the back of the building that looks more like a high end, Mid-century modern living room than an office. A teak desk perfectly accents the white decor. My fists ball at my sides when I see two of my brothers, Chase and Felix, have already arrived.

  “Where’s Brock?” I ask, trying not to roll my eyes.

  Chase shrugs and swoops aside his blonde hair. “I haven’t talked to him since the funeral.”

  “You didn’t talk to anyone but the funeral director’s daughter at the funeral.” My chin dips in his direction. A playboy by nature, the man’s a magnet. Talk about middle child syndrome, Chase Bolton possesses it in droves. Although he’s the oldest in my younger brother trio, you’d never know it from his behavior.

  “Jealous?” Chase grins from ear to ear.

  “Some of us have more important things on our minds than putting notches in our bedposts.” I clear my throat. “Do we at least know if Brock’s coming?”

  “Does it really matter?” Felix, the baby of the family mutters, his eyes never leaving his phone. “It’s not like Dad will know. He’s dead, remember.” He’s always worn his dark hair short, but this rugged beard is new.

  “We’re all supposed to be here. This isn’t optional.” My teeth clench. “It’s a will, Drake.” Chase leans back on the sofa, propping his ankle on his knee. “No negotiations necessary. We’ll make sure he gets his share.”

  I’m about to retort, but I move toward the drink cart in the corner. A drink is exactly what I need. Where you put your energy is where you gain results. Today, arguing with my brothers isn’t worth it. I pour myself a bourbon neat, and move toward the nearest chair. My butt has barely hit the cushion when the office door flies open. I stand and button my coat prepared to shake the man’s hand, but I halt mid-gesture. A glittering pair of golden-green eyes gaze back at me. My breath catches in my throat and the room blurs around me.

  The woman—not man—extends her arm, striding toward me. “Drake Bolton?” Her deep, throaty voice sends chills down my spine. “You spoke with my partner, Christopher. I’m Joey Hawn. I’ll be handling the details from here on out.” Her dazzling smile penetrates my heart. “And I’m so very sorry for your loss.”

  Joey is a woman? Christopher never mentioned this. Not that he should, but I could’ve prepared myself to meet the most stunning, heavenly creature I’ve ever laid eyes on.

  The minute I take her hand, a jolt of electricity pulses through me. Her assertiveness, the power in her stance, her demeanor, they melt away any resentment I’m harboring for my brothers’ behavior.

  “We’re missing one?” Joey’s brow furrows, then she waives her hand through the air and her ivory forehead smoothes itself. “Funny thing,” she says, opening a brown leather document holder. “Your father wrote as a concession that the will be read so long as three of the four of you were present.” My eyes stayed glued to her hips as she moves behind her desk. Her navy pencil skirt hugs her full, curvy hips in all the right places.

  “Always covering his bases.” Felix rubs his scruffy jawline. “That’s dad.”

  “So, if you gentlemen are ready to get started.” She flicks her wrist and a delicate gold watch flitters from her sleeve. “We’ve got quite a bit to cover.” Her sparkling eyes lock in on mine once more.

  “Understatement of the year.” Chase mutters under his breath.

  “Your father’s estate is one of the biggest I’ve handled.”

  “That sounds dirty.” Chase mutters, again. I shoot him a look. His palms raise in surrender. How dare he disrespect Joey while she’s working, but it doesn’t phase her. She takes a seat and begins dolling out the long list of assets my father once owned.

  Most of it is exactly as I’d expected. Chase, who basically lives out on the west coast receives ownership of Bolton Vineyards. Felix takes the reins of the motion picture company. Brock is given ownership of all three houses. Nearly an hour later I’m finally up at bat. With a deep inhale, I will my pulse to steady.

  “I Harrison Bolton leave to my oldest son Drake, sole ownership of Bolton Industries.”

  I bring a clenched fist to my mouth attempting to hide my smile. I’ve been pining over this opportunity since I was sixteen and started learning about the multi-billion dollar corporation my father built with his own two hands. I’ve worked there every summer since. Finally, I’ve earned my birthright.

  “Oh, wait.” Joey’s voice pulls me back to the present. “That can’t be right.” An awkward laugh escapes her bee stung lips as she shuffles through the papers.

  A strange feeling grips at my gut. “What is it?”

  “It appears, there is one final condition of the transference of ownership.” She reads directly from the will. “That my son Drake be legally married before legal acquisition of Bolton Industries.” Joey stretches the words as if unable to believe this.

  “No way. You? Married?” Felix laughs and I shoot him a look of death.

  “This is a new addendum.” Joey smooths back her ponytail, clearly flustered. “Why the
hell wouldn’t Christopher tell me your father added this?”

  “Are you sure it’s legit?” I can’t control the edge in my voice.

  “Yeah, this new part is dated the day before he died.”

  The shit eating grins slapped across my brothers’ faces send a fit of rage through me. My fists ball at my sides. This was not part of the plan. Bolton Industries should be mine without any loopholes.

  What in God’s name was my father thinking?

  CHAPTER 2

  JOEY

  Being an estate attorney, I’m used to uncomfortable silences. Surprises happen. This however, takes the cake. An inheritance based on a marriage—and for one of the city’s most notorious bachelors no less—this isn’t something I’m used to navigating.

  “There must be some mistake.” Drake hulks over to my desk, hand outstretched. Our fingertips touch when I hand him the will, sending a wave of excitement all through me. A tiny breath catches in my throat.

  “No mistake.” I find my voice, desperately trying to ignore the bolt of desire tickling me between my legs. “It’s right there in black and white. I can hardly believe it myself.”

  There are actually a few things I can’t believe right now. First off, Drake Bolton really is as insanely hot as everyone says. With his clear, crystal blue eyes, and strong, heart-shaped jaw, he makes my core ache just looking at him. And the size of him! The term tall, dark, and handsome was invented for men like him. All the Bolton boys are built big and hot as hell, but Drake’s take charge demeanor has me blushing like a schoolgirl. And second, I don’t get involved with clients—especially ones with billion dollar trust funds. I’ve learned from experience, they only care about money and power, a dull combo if you ask me.

  Drake grips the paper in his fist. The sudden silence brings me back to the present. “I must apologize, Mr. Bolton.”

  “Drake.” He says, through clenched teeth. Perfect teeth. “Call me Drake.”

  “My partner didn’t prepare me for this.” I take a deep breath, ready to go all in on what an asshole Christopher’s been for the past few years, how it feels like he’s been personally trying to sabotage me. One day, when I have the funds, I’ll start my own practice, but law school wasn’t cheap and I’m still living slightly outside of my means, a side effect from working with the nation’s richest families.

  “What the hell am I supposed to do?” His thick, dark lashes contrast against the brightness of his eyes. Up close, I notice the dark navy ring around the edges of his irises. I open my mouth to answer, not sure what the hell to say, but Drake turns toward his brothers. I have to peer around his broad shoulders to see their faces.

  “You think this is funny?” He spits, fists balled at his sides. I bet he’s an absolute machine in the sack. The thought of his massive arms holding me down while he pleases me from head to toe makes me clench my thighs together.

  “Not funny, per se.” Chase shrugs, seemingly unaffected by all of this. “It’s just so dad.”

  “So dad.” Felix chimes in. “Well,” his dark brow furrows. “So you and dad.”

  “He always was so much harder on me than any of you.” Drake says with closed eyes, while revealing his prominent profile.

  “If you’re going to play poor firstborn, I’m out of here.” Chase stands and Felix follows suit. They both head over to the desk, and each shake my hand before heading out of the office leaving me alone with Drake.

  The energy in the room pulses around us. It’s probably just me. A man like Drake Bolton is probably inundated with women on the regular. Famous women, probably. But I can’t shake this little fantasy of Drake shoving all the shit off of my desk, throwing me down on top of it, and tasting me until I come all over his face. I shiver at the thought.

  Quickly, he moves back to the bar cart and pours two shots of bourbon before carrying one back over to the desk. “Join me?”

  “I usually don’t drink during work hours, but this has scrambled my head, too.” I take the tumbler and Drake presses his glass against mine, looking straight into my eyes, help me Lord. “Bottoms up.”

  The burning liquid loosens the knot in my chest on contact. “I really am shocked at this addendum. Fuck Christopher for not telling me. Nice partner, right?” I’m shocked at my own words. Apparently the whiskey’s loosened my tongue, too.

  “It’s not your fault.” Drake plops into the nearest chair. “My brothers’ are right. This is just like my father. My whole life he’s given me stipulations to make me a better, stronger man.” He glances up at me. “His words, not mine.”

  From the looks of him, if he got any stronger, he’d be a professional bodybuilder. “Of course. And I didn’t say it was my fault. This is all Christopher.”

  “So why keep him around?”

  A humorless laugh escapes my mouth. “Because technically it’s his practice.”

  “Why not start your own?”

  “Because not all of us are born billionaires, Mr. Bolton.” He narrows his gorgeous eyes at me, lowering my defenses in an instant. “I mean, Drake. And trust me, I would in a heartbeat if I could, but it’s not financially feasible at the moment. I can’t just up and leave.”

  A silence passes between us. I should end this meeting now, go deal with Christopher while my blood’s still boiling about this blatant sabotage. Looking unprepared in front of clients, in my book, is completely unforgivable. With a deep breath, I’m about to adjourn this meeting but I don’t have the chance. Drake bolts out of his chair. The sudden change in energy has me reeling backward.

  “Yes, you can.” He comes at me fast, fire in his eyes. “And I can help you do it.” He skirts the side of my desk so that he’s standing directly in front of me. I flinch at his towering frame, both intimidated and wildly turned on. Without the protective piece of wood between us, my body tingles at his close proximity. “But you’ll have to help me, too.”

  I struggle to catch my breath. “How?”

  “By being my wife, of course.”

  My laugh echoes throughout the room. I expect him to break character, but he remains stoic. “What? I don’t even know you.” I smooth my ponytail in place. “You don’t know me.”

  Drake wraps his gigantic hands around my own. “We don’t need to know each other, Joey.” I nearly melt at the sound of my name in his mouth. “It’s strictly a business arrangement. If you marry me and help me get my company.” The corners of his lips curl upward as I bask in his intoxicating, musky scent. “I’ll help you start yours.”

  I don’t know what to say. I can’t pretend that the idea of being married to someone as dead sexy as Drake Bolton, even as a business arrangement, isn’t appealing. And to have my own firm, that’s my life goal.

  “What happens after the wedding?”

  “We get a divorce.” He pulls his hands away and I immediately miss their soft warmth. “There’s no underlying stipulation about how long I have to be married is there?”

  “I didn’t see one.” The words tumble from my lips. “I’ll definitely need to double check.”

  When I finally find the nerve to look into Drake’s impossibly blue eyes, I know I’m a goner. I know I’ll do whatever he wants, but it’s not like he’s the only winner in this deal. Hawn Legal will go from being a dream to a reality.

  For the first time today, Drake Bolton flashes his billion dollar smile. “So what do you say Joey Hawn? Will you do me the honor, and be my wife?”

  CHAPTER 3

  DRAKE

  A business arrangement, that’s purely what this is. I repeat the words to myself as my driver weaves the car through rush hour traffic toward city hall. We’re cutting it close, but when you have money people tend to stay late. A favor for a favor my father used to remind me, which sums up my present situation perfectly.

  Joey sits next to me in the backseat, wringing her hands in her lap. The afternoon sun accentuates the golden highlights in her auburn hair. I’m mesmerized with the curve of her neck as she stares out the window, h
aving to resist the urge to trace my finger along the side of her cheek to see if it feels as soft as it looks.

  Her head jerks in my direction, catching me in mid-stare. “Are you sure this is a good idea?” The words tumble from her pouty lips. I bet they taste like fresh strawberries on the hottest summer day.

  “It’s foolproof, Joey. By getting married, we both get what we want. Then we have it annulled and get on with our lives.” I snap my fingers. “Like nothing ever happened.” Her normally confident demeanor seems overshadowed by doubt, and I can’t say I blame her. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little nervous myself.

  “And we’ll get divorced right afterward?”

  “We’ll be married and divorced by the end of the night.” I reach over and squeeze her hand, unable to ignore the wave of excitement from her touch.

  “But you’ll write me a check before that?” Her doe eyes look like something from a storybook. I’ve never seen eyes so wide, bright, and open.

  “Of course. Just name your price.” I pull my hand away, reminding myself that I don’t have to make her comfortable. It’s not like she’s going to be my real wife. “We’ll make this short, sweet, and lucrative for both of us.” Joey breathes a sigh of relief, her lips spreading into a warm smile. Goddamn, she is beautiful. I’d like to think that if marriage really was something I was remotely interested in, I’d consider Joey to be my number one candidate.

  But you don’t even know her.

  “Oh my God.” Joey cranes her neck as the car pulls up to the front steps of City Hall. “Why are there photographers here?”

  My head snaps out the window. “Dammit.”

  It never ceases to amaze me how quickly reporters sink their teeth into gossip. This is a new record, and I can’t help but wonder which one of my brothers ratted me out. Chase loves the spotlight, and Felix is too flippant to keep his mouth shut. The life of a billionaire tycoon’s son is never dull. Only now I’m about to be that billionaire tycoon.