Close To Her Asian Billionaire

Chapter 6

The microwave had just pinged when Jason heard a key in the lock and the door to his apartment swung open.

“Hello? Anyone home?”

Jason smiled. He would recognize that voice anywhere. Saving his work and closing his laptop, he slid off the stool and went into the lounge. A handsome American woman in her fifties with short gray hair was standing in the middle of the room, dropping her bag onto the couch.

“Mom.”

Brooke Liu looked up, her face free of make-up and very few wrinkles. She smiled and came towards him.

“Hey, handsome.”

“That’s what you say to all the boys.”

Brooke laughed and Jason accepted the hug, returning it warmly. He adored his mother. She was his rock, his confidant. Probably the only woman he could completely trust. After everything, even when he was a complete bastard, his mother was by his side to scold him, hold him and make him carry on again.

“What are you doing here?”

“I came to see you.” Brooke drew back and slapped his chest. A tall woman, she was at Jason’s eye-level. “Isn’t a mother allowed to see her son?”

“You’re more than welcome to visit but normally you call to say you’re coming over.”

Brooke’s smile faded. She bit her lip and looked at Jason’s head. Jason knew she was looking at the cut on his head. The bandage was off and the wound was knitting itself together but the purple bruise was still there.

“I heard you’d been attacked a few days ago and I wanted to check if you were okay.” She gave him an admonished look. “And why you didn’t bother to tell me.”

“I’m fine.” Jason moved her to the couch and sat her down, plonking down onto the cushions beside her. “It’s virtually healed. And I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want to worry you. I was looked after so don’t worry about it.”

That had an image of Carla coming up again in his mind. She was a regular fixture in his head now, popping up whenever she wanted. Jason knew he was in trouble if he was starting to think about Carla all the time.

“I’m glad.” Brooke closed her eyes and sniffed. “What are you cooking? That smells good.”

Jason laughed.

“It’s just a microwave meal, Mom.”

“You must be the only person I know who’s worth billions and you don’t want a personal chef. Why don’t you use the skills I taught you when you were a kid?”

Jason sighed. He was exhausted and he wouldn’t be able to go to bed at all since he had work to do. That was probably going to keep him up all night.

“I’ve had a long day, Mom. I just want to put my feet up.”

“Another date?”

She knew him so well.

“You could say that.”

Brooke was silent for a moment. She knew about Jason’s frequent change of dates and Jason knew she disapproved. But Brooke knew better than to curb Jason’s behavior; she had decided a long time ago that the best thing to do was let Jason carry on and figure things out for himself.

“What’s the woman’s name?”

“Carla. She’s a journalist.” Jason found himself smiling. “I met her when she interviewed me earlier in the week. It was at our first date that I was hit over the head.”

Brooke’s eyes widened.

“Oh, poor woman. Was she okay?”

“She was fine. She’s the one who patched me up.” Jason touched his head and winced when his fingers brushed against his cut. It was still delicate. “We went on another date today to the high wire center in Boca Raton. But she never said she was scared of heights.” He rested his head back against the cushions. “She scared me when she had hysterics at the highest point.”

“God. I hope you didn’t tease her about it.”

Jason explained what had happened and what he did. Even now he could remember Carla trembling in his arms as she sobbed into his shirt. For someone who came across as strong it was startling to see her that terrified. He had wanted to hold her and not let go.

“Sounds like a disastrous date.” Brooke mused. “I suppose she’s going on the pile with all the other dumped women.”

Jason flushed from the remark.

“I actually want to see her again.”

“Wow, that is impressive coming from you.” Brooke’s eyes glinted. “And I bet you haven’t slept with her yet.”

“Mom!”

“Come on, if you had slept with her you would’ve dropped her already. I know you well enough to know what you would do.” His mother tilted her head to the side and regarded him thoughtfully. “From what you’re saying she’s a little bit special, yes?”

Jason knew he couldn’t lie to his mother. His father was easy to lie to; Chang Liu thought the world of his two sons and didn’t believe they could do any wrong. Brooke knew otherwise. He sighed.

“Yes, she is. Rick thinks I’m nuts.”

“It’s human nature. Your father was a lothario. How I managed to snag him and keep him faithful after thirty-five years I have no idea but I did it.” Brooke played with the solid wedding band on her finger. “He saw something in me that he said was special and he wanted to hold onto me. Womanizer that he was he wasn’t stupid to let something good go.”

“So are you saying I should hold on to Carla because she’s good for me?”

“Well, the look on your face when you mention her says you do think she’s special.” Brooke grinned.

“But she’s a journalist, Mom. I hate journalists. Ow!” Jason cried out when his mother thumped his shoulder with her fist. She was still very strong even with sixty around the corner.

“What did I teach you when you were growing up? Don’t tarnish with the same brush.” Brooke paused. “But make sure you get her checked out. You don’t want your instincts to be wrong.”

“Already in the works. I’ll know in the next few days.”

“Good.” Brooke ruffled his hair and then stood. “Come on, I’m taking you out. The buffet at your favorite Chinese should still be going. I could do with something to eat.”

Jason laughed as Brooke patted her flat stomach. At a trim one-twenty-five pounds, Brooke could eat like a horse and barely gain any weight. She was the envy of other women with the way she could eat large meals and still look good.

“Then you can tell me all about Carla.”

“Mom!”