The Teacher's Billionaire

she’d taken home had been fifty dollars cheaper than the one she had originally planned on taking this afternoon.
    “I wanted to talk to you about this in person. Next week I have an interview with Lindsay Phelps from NBC.” Warren began to explain, not commenting on her decision to take the earlier train. “I wanted to tell her about you. Get everything out in the open. But I wanted to speak with you first. Are you okay with this?” Warren asked, his concern coming through the phone loud and clear. “If you’re not that’s fine. We can wait.”
    This was exactly what Dylan and Marty Phillips had been trying to prevent. The logical part of her mind screamed that making any major decisions now while upset was a mistake. But she ignored it. Pissed at the two men for trying to manipulate her, she made up her mind in a split second. “I’m okay with you doing that.”
    “Why don’t you join me? The interview is being done in New York. I can make arrangements for you to stay at one of the Sherbrooke hotels in the city.”
    Letting Warren tell the reporter that he had a previously unknown daughter was one thing. Being present for the interview was something else entirely.
    “I’m not sure I could handle that. It’s probably better if I stay home and let you handle it.” Callie had no desire to be on television.
    Warren didn’t respond at first. Callie couldn’t help but wonder what he was thinking. But eventually he said, “If you change your mind let me know. I would like to have you with me for that part of the interview.”
    “If I do, I’ll call you,” Callie replied although she knew there was no way she would change her mind on this one.

Chapter 13
    It’s done. For better or worse it’s finally over.
She was sitting in Starbucks waiting for Lauren yet her mind was not on their upcoming shopping trip. Warren’s interview with the reporter had been earlier that morning.
    When she’d spoken with Warren she’d been angry with Marty Phillips and Dylan. Giving him the go ahead had been her way of getting back at them. Now though she wasn’t sure it’d been such a good idea. She didn’t want people to start treating her differently just because Warren Sherbrooke was her father.
    Callie finished off her latte and went to order another. Two lattes in the same day wasn’t good for the waistline, but today she didn’t care. Someone near the counter had his laptop open, and she glimpsed a picture of Warren on the screen.
    “Looks like the media finally uncovered some skeletons in Senator Sherbrooke’s closet,” she heard the laptop’s owner say to his friend. “According to this article he has an illegitimate daughter floating around.”
    “Big deal. All those politicians have their secrets. I think it’s a job requirement,” the companion responded not bothering to even look up from his magazine.
    Wow! That was fast.
Technology made getting news out too easy. At least she didn’t see anyone that she knew. And she wasn’t likely to since the mall was so close to Boston. Most of the people she knew went to the Salem Mall, which was just a few towns over from Slatersville.
    She didn’t want to think about all the questions she would face now from people she knew. Luckily, school was out for the year.
    Damn. I really shouldn’t have made this decision when I was so mad.
Callie sat back down with a fresh latte in her hand.
    “All right chickie. Let’s do some shopping,” Lauren said joining her. “And then pedicures.”
    Callie held back a groan. She wasn’t in the mood for one of Lauren’s shopping sprees. Still, she’d agreed to go along because she knew Lauren wanted to cheer her up. She’d been trying to since Callie told her everything about that night in New York. Unfortunately, Callie knew a day shopping and getting pedicures wasn’t going to cut it. Perhaps it would keep her physical body busy, but her mind and heart would still be on Dylan’s betrayal.
    He’d tried calling her once since that awful night. When she saw his number on the caller ID she let it go directly to voice mail. Since then he hadn’t tried to contact her again.
    Lauren pulled Callie to her feet. “Smile, we’re going to have fun. And spend more money than we probably should.”
    Stop thinking about him.
It wasn’t real anyway, Callie reminded herself entering the busy mall. He’s sure as heck wasn’t losing any sleep over her in that huge penthouse of his. He probably already has someone