The Billionaire's Real Love: Cristian & Roddy

This is an exclusive story, featuring Cristian & Roddy of the The Billionaire Next Door series. It's available only to Patreon subscribers.

Chapter One

“Girl, if I hear you say you’re ‘fine’ one more time, I’m coming over there to see it for myself.”

“But I am fine,” I said, shifting my laptop a little closer as I scanned the numbers on the screen again, even though I had already checked them twice.

The TV kept playing in the background showing some couple arguing about their definition of loyalty and why the other’s behavior came short. I reached into the bag beside me for another handful of chocolate granola. “You act like I called you crying.”

“You don’t have to cry. I know you,” Corrine replied, her voice carrying that familiar mix of concern and judgment that only she could get away with. “And whenever you’re eating granola and binge watching trash tv, it means you've given up on life."

I leaned back in my chair, letting my head rest against it as I glanced around my apartment like it might help me prove her wrong. Everything was in order, quiet, exactly how I preferred it after a long day, and still, there was a part of me that knew she wasn’t completely off.

“I’m not bored,” I said, even though my attention kept drifting between my laptop and the TV without fully settling on either. “I just have a lot going on.”

“Mmhmm,” she hummed, dragging it out just enough to let me know she didn’t believe me. “Like what? Because last time I checked, you lost that job and been working for your little ex-turned-friend, doing whatever he needs you to do for just enough to keep your bills paid.”

“It’s enough,” I said quickly, straightening up a little as I rested my elbows on the table. “And it’s temporary. I told you I’m figuring something out.”

“I know you are,” she said, her tone softening just a bit. “I’m just saying, don’t act like you're thriving when you're really just trying to stay afloat.”

I paused, letting her words sit for a second longer than I wanted them to, because they landed a little too close to something I had been avoiding. Losing my job had been one thing, but trying to find something that matched what I used to make had been a whole different kind of reality check. At some point, I had to stop waiting for things to line up perfectly and just make sure I could take care of myself, even if it didn’t look the way I had planned.

“I’m good, Corrine,” I said finally, keeping my tone even as I picked up my mouse again. “For real. It’s not glamorous, but it’s stable, and that’s what matters right now.”She exhaled on the other end, and I could tell she was choosing not to push me any further. “Alright. Well, since you're sooo stable, let me give you something a little more entertaining.”

I smiled despite myself, already bracing for whatever she was about to say. “Go ahead.”

“You remember Janelle’s little rebound she been dragging everywhere like he was her husband already?”

“Yes,” I said, leaning forward a little.

“Tell me why she just found out that man still lives with his baby mama.”

I blinked, then sat up straighter, my full attention snapping into place. “You're lying!"

“I’m serious,” she said, her voice picking up with excitement. “And the baby mama didn’t even know about Janelle until she saw her name pop up in his phone as ‘My Wife.’”

A laugh slipped out before I could stop it, and I covered my mouth as I leaned forward on the table. “No, he didn’t.”

“Yes, he did,” Corrine said, clearly enjoying every second of it. “So now both of them mad, and he somewhere trying to explain how he managed to lie to two women at the same time without thinking it was going to blow up.”

“That sounds exactly like something a man would do,” I said, shaking my head as I sat back again. “Janelle be so focused on proving she moved on that she doesn’t even check what she's moving into.”

“Exactly,” Corrine said. “And that’s why I keep telling you, take your time. At least you're not out here letting somebody's son make you look crazy.”

“I’m not looking at nobody right now,” I said, reaching for another piece of granola. “That part is done. I'm content being a cat lady.”

"You don't even have a cat."

"Not yet. But I can change that."

She went quiet for a moment, and I already knew where the conversation was heading next before she even said it.

“So have you heard from Cherish?” she asked. “Because from what I see, she's over there living her best life with Lucky and forgot all about us. She's living like nothing crazy ever happened with them.”

I leaned back, staring up at the ceiling for a second as I let out a slow breath. “That’s her business. If she’s happy, then that’s all that matters.”

“You don’t think that’s a lot, though?” Corrine pressed. “After everything that happened, she took him back. No reservations.”

“I think people do what makes sense to them,” I said, shifting slightly in my seat. “Even when it don’t make sense to everybody else.”

Corrine made a small sound like she was thinking, and then she moved right along.

“So... what happened with Roddy?” she asked. “Because last time I checked, that man was doing everything to get you back, and now it’s like he disappeared.”

There it was. The real reason she even brought up Cherish and Lucky in the first place.

I rolled my eyes, even though she couldn’t see me. “That’s because he did.”

“Cristian.”

“What?” I leaned forward, resting my elbow on the table as I held the phone closer. “You want the truth or you want me to soften it?”

“I want the truth.”

“He’s a fuck boy, Corrine,” I said plainly. “In every definition of the phrase. He knows how to talk, he knows how to show up when it benefits him, and then he disappears when it doesn’t. He’s not consistent, he’s not reliable, and I’m not building anything with somebody like that.”

She stayed quiet for a second, and I could tell she wasn’t completely convinced.

“Well… would you be open to him if one day he—”

“No,” I cut in, not even letting her finish. “I’m not about to sit here and wait on potential. If he changes, that’s good for whoever he ends up with, but that’s not my responsibility to find out.”

“I’m just saying people can change,” she said.

“And I’m saying I’m not waiting around to see if they do,” I replied. “I like knowing what I’m dealing with, not hoping it turns into something else.”

Corrine let out a small laugh, like she had officially given up. “You are so hard-headed.”

“I’m realistic,” I corrected.

“Alright,” she said. “Well, I just want you to be happy.”

“I am happy,” I said, glancing around my apartment again as I spoke. “It might not look exciting to you, but I like my peace. I like not having to deal with nobody’s son stressing me out.”

She didn’t argue with that.

“Okay,” she said after a second. “I’m gonna let you get back to your little routine.”

“Exactly,” I replied. “Mind your business and I'll keep minding mine. Along with everyone else's on TV.”

We laughed, said our goodbyes, and I dropped my phone onto the couch before turning my attention back to my laptop. The numbers blurred together after a while, and the voices from the TV faded into background noise that I barely registered anymore.

At some point, I stretched out without thinking, and the next thing I knew, my cheek was pressed against the couch cushion and something vibrating against my face was pulling me out of sleep.

I frowned, reaching for my phone as I pushed myself up, my vision still adjusting as I tried to focus on the screen.

What the hell?

It was Roddy.

Corrine had talked him up.

My expression tightened instantly, irritation settling in before anything else had a chance to show up.

I declined the call and dropped the phone back onto the couch, letting out a quiet breath as I leaned my head back again.

A few seconds later, it started ringing again.

I picked it up, stared at his name for a second longer this time, then declined it again before setting the phone down on the table.

The screen lit up almost immediately.

I sucked my teeth, grabbing it again and holding the power button until it shut off completely. “You've got to be kidding me,” I muttered, tossing it back down.

The apartment fell quiet again, and for a moment, it felt like the night could go back to what it was before.

Then the knocking started.

It hit the door hard, sharp enough to echo through the space and pull me fully out of whatever sleep I had left.

I sat up slowly, already knowing who it was without needing to check.

“Are you serious right now?” I muttered, dragging my hand down my face as the knocking came again, louder this time, like patience was not something he had brought with him.

I swung my legs over the side of the couch, staring toward the door as the sound filled the room again, and the irritation that had been building since his name first popped up now sat heavy in my chest.

Because of course he couldn’t take a hint.

Roddy never did.

Click Here to Read Chapter Two