Born a Billionaire - A Billionaire for Every Season Book 4

She didn’t want a bodyguard. Now he’s all she wants.

In the wake of scandalous tabloid headlines about her movie star mother, Adelia Allen needs a hasty escape from California, and who better to help her hide out from the paparazzi than her second family, the Schultzes. But when she becomes the target of a blackmailer, it’s time to call for backup.

Officer Oliver Wood has never worked as a bodyguard before, but when the head of the famous Schultz family requests his help for their high-profile guest, he can’t say no. Especially when the woman he’s protecting is none other than Hollywood’s favorite daughter.

Forced together amidst all the drama, Adelia and Oliver’s attraction grows, as does the list of differences between them. Can a normal guy and a celebrity find love? Or are the obstacles keeping them apart too great to overcome?

As the wheels of the airplane touched the pavement at LAX, an abnormal sense of dread came over Adelia Allen. No matter where she traveled, whether for work or play, coming home usually gave her a sense of calm. But after the call she’d received from her manager, Iris, letting her know there was a tabloid story circulating about her parents, she was on edge.

At first, she’d blown it off. It wasn’t like the tabloids hadn’t concocted stories about her parents before. But
there was something in Iris’s tone that made Adelia nervous, wondering if this time was different.

She pulled a baseball cap from her bag and put it on, tucking her long blonde tresses underneath. Maybe
she should’ve canceled her first-class commercial ticket, chartered a private jet, and flown into the celebrity terminal to avoid the public, but that seemed like overkill. How much attention could another phony
story actually bring? If only she’d been able to reach her parents, but neither was answering their phone.

Hugh Allen and Cora Roberts were Hollywood’s most famous and beloved couple, and their thirty-year
marriage was something many aspired to. Thankfully, their fans were loyal and steadfast and not easily
swayed by the tabloids’ fabrications.

Adelia exited the plane and headed through the airport with her head down and sunglasses on, anxious
to get to the car that was waiting for her. The moment the doors slid open, a group of paparazzi rushed at her from the curb, blinding her with camera flashes, and bombarding her with questions.

“Adelia, is it true your parents are divorcing?”

“How do you feel about their split?”

“Is the divorce because of your mother’s affair with her costar, Bryce Griffiths?”

Her stomach dropped as what they were saying hit her, and she rushed around the car to the door her driver, Andre, held open and practically dove inside, bags and all. She took a deep breath in and let it out, relieved when the vehicle pulled away from the curb.

“Where to, Miss Allen?”

“Can you just drive around for a while, Andre?”

“Sure can.”

She pulled out her phone, about to call her parents’ household manager, Marta, and paused. They had a family rule—don’t read tabloid magazines or websites. Her parents had taught her from a young age that this was all part of the very public life they lead and to avoid what was printed about them at all costs. But this was one rule she was about to break.

Adelia opened one of the popular celebrity websites, and there, at the top of the page, were pictures of her
mother with Bryce Griffiths on a beach somewhere, and they were all over each other. Adelia’s stomach
churned. Mom’s latest film was set in winter, so she knew that probably wasn’t a scene they were filming for the movie. Could it really be true?

She dialed Marta, tapping her foot against the floor as she waited.

“Hello, Miss Allen.”

“Put one of my parents on,” she demanded.

“They aren’t here at the moment.”

“Where are they?”

The other end of the line was silent.

“Marta?”

“I’m sorry, miss. Your father said he’d be in touch with you tomorrow.”

Adelia groaned and hung up on her, and the phone rang seconds later with a call from her mother’s business manager.

“Violet, what is happening?”

“How are you holding up, sweetie?”

“I’m confused, and I can’t get ahold of either of my parents.”

“They’ve gone away to be out of the eye of the paparazzi for now.”

“Gone away where?”

“Your dad went to the country home in England, and your mom—”

“They aren’t together?” Reality began to set in.

There was a pause. “No.”

“So, it’s true then.”

“Adelia.”

“Is she with ... him?” She couldn’t say his name.

“I’m sorry, Adelia. She is.”

“I think I’m going to be sick.”

“I would advise you to get away from Los Angeles for a while too. At least until the initial shock blows over.”

“It’s never going to blow over. People adore my parents and their love story. Their fans are going to be
crushed.”

She was crushed. Her world as she knew it was shattered. Having famous parents who were still
together was rare in Hollywood, and Adelia had always been proud that hers were so solid. They were her role models, proving to her that love can last a lifetime. At least that’s what she believed until about ten minutes ago.

Sadness overcame her, and she shoved it down before she did something weak and pathetic, like cry.

“Do you have someplace you can go?” Violet asked.

She immediately thought of the Schultzes, the family behind the world-famous Schultz Chocolate
company. Their families owned Malibu homes just down the road from each other, and Adelia had been
best friends with their daughter Skylar since they were little girls. They’d always been like a second family to her. If she needed a place to hide out, she knew they wouldn’t hesitate to help her.

“Yes, I do,” Adelia replied.

“Good.”

“Did you know this was happening?”

Violet was silent.

“Right. That’s what I thought.” Adelia shook her head. “Somebody could’ve warned me.”

“I work for your mother. I’m not at liberty to give out information about her, even if it is to her daughter.”

“We’re done here.” Adelia hung up. Violet had always been more like a fun aunt to her than her mom’s assistant, and the betrayal stung.

Adelia let out a frustrated groan.

“Is there anything I can do for you, Miss Allen?” Andre asked.

“I need to go back to the airport. The celebrity terminal this time.”