Emerald Island: Billionaire Bedroom, #1

By Fiona Blake

Hot, sandy beaches. Clear blue ocean. Gorgeous people. Private islands are playgrounds for the wealthy and glamorous. 

Sophie Montgomery is decidedly not wealthy or glamorous. A college dropout and owner of a struggling business, she can’t remember the last time she had free time, much less taken a vacation. 

But when Sophie’s best friend lucks into a free trip to billionaire’s paradise Emerald Island, Sophie has no choice but to go. 

What was supposed to be a bonding trip for two girlfriends takes a turn when Sophie meets a handsome but mysterious man. Who is he? What does he want with Sophie? And will what happens on Emerald Island stay on Emerald Island, or will Sophie’s life be forever changed? 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Fiona Blake
• Release date: Jul 25, 2016
• ISBN: 9781536558876

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Copyright © 2016 by Whittled

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Whittled Publishing

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Dedication

To my best friend, Laura. Thank you for believing in me, and for helping me believe in myself. I couldn’t have done this without you.

Chapter 1

Sophie Montgomery threw the box on the floor in frustration.

The 30 vintage sweaters she had just bought were riddled with holes; moths had done irreversible damage. She should have known better. The sweaters were far too cheap. The deal was too good to be true.

And the man who sold her the sweaters—long gone. Sophie’s calls went straight to voicemail. The man was an acquaintance, so she had let her guard down and trusted him. When Sophie checked the sweaters, the ones at the top of the box were fine. The man had driven off with a smile, saying I’ll let you know next time I have a good haul.

Sophie would have to write the sweaters off as a loss, and as a result, June was going to be a rough month. She wondered if she would be able to make rent.

Sitting down on another box in her office, Sophie ran her hands through her long, wavy brown hair before tying her hair back in a pony tail.

Fuck! Sophie said to no one.

She felt her phone buzz. Kristen wanted to know if they were still on for drinks. Kristen was her best friend, had been ever since the day they first met in the ninth grade. Since starting her business, Sophie had lost contact with most of her friends—no one had the patience for her unpredictable schedule or reluctance to spend excess money on drinks, fancy meals, or spa days. Kristen was the only one who had stuck by her side through everything.

Sophie texted her back saying she would see her in 45 minutes.

When Sophie started selling clothes online three years ago, it was exhilarating. The business started as an accident, really. Growing up, Sophie had always loved fashion. Fashion, however, was a foreign concept in the Montgomery household. Her father, a butcher, and her mother, a stay-at-home mom, didn’t have the money to spend on expensive clothes, and didn’t see being stylish as a priority. Sophie would march onto the school bus wearing hand-me-down outfits or trends from seasons ago.

In high school, Sophie worked in a sandwich shop on weekends. She often came home reeking of roast beef, but she began squirreling away a few dollars here and there. With the money she saved, Sophie would comb through Los Angeles’ thrift shops and look for unique pieces.

She developed a knack for finding remarkable things—shockingly underpriced items from high-end designers, or chic pieces originally purchased at boutiques in Copenhagen or Tokyo. In high school, her classmates thought Sophie was bizarre. When she and Kristen ended up at UCLA, however, she started getting compliments from other girls. Before long, she was known around campus for her innovative looks.

Women started asking her where she got her awesome boots and her sexy tops. She loved giving the advice out, and when she complained about applying for summer internships one day, Kristen suggested that Sophie turn her hobby into a business. Sophie was good at finding cute and unique vintage outfits, so why not share her haul with the world? Sophie first started with a few items here and there. She sold them to sorority sisters. Then on Etsy. And finally on her own website. She still did most of her business through her website, but in the past year had opened up her own physical store as well, a boutique selling some of her most unique treasures.

She loved the hunt. She loved the sale. She loved it all. 

It was tough to juggle both schoolwork and her fledgling business. But as her father always said, If you love it, you can make it work.

What her father didn’t tell her was that sometimes you have to choose between two things that you love. Halfway through Sophie’s sophomore year, Sophie’s father died. He left next to nothing for Sophie’s now widowed mother. Sophie was forced to choose between paying for college and helping her mother. College, Sophie tried telling herself, would always be there, but dropping out was still heartbreaking.

Sophie halfheartedly kicked the box on the ground. Today was a lost cause. She grabbed her purse, her keys and her sunglasses. Stepping over an empty box, she walked to her office’s doorway, looked over the messy room and sighed.

When did this turn into a job? It all used to be so much fun. Now I go to sleep every night dreading the next morning.

She flicked the lights off and locked the door. The June sun was just beginning to set, even though it was nearly 9 pm. These long summer days at least made staying late at work a little bit less depressing. Her part-time assistant, Desiree, had gone home hours ago. Hopping into her beat up Ford Ranger, Sophie drove onto the 101 to get to West Hollywood.

Driving with the windows down, she sang along softly with the country song warbling through her car speakers. She breathed in and tried to enjoy the wind on her face and in her hair. Searching for vintage clothing at least got her out of her office, and her soft skin was slightly kissed by the California sun.

It took what seemed like ages to find parking. Eventually, she walked up to the chic bar that Kristen had picked just as the sun completely disappeared. Sophie picked her way through the crowd, spotting Kristen in the back.

Kristen looked up, making eye contact with Sophie and jumping up to meet her. Kristen’s kitten heels showed off her long, beautiful legs — she towered over most women, and even some of the men she dated. Kristen had walked on to UCLA’s volleyball team and proven herself to be a strong asset all four years.

Hey. Way to be on time, Kristen said, hugging Sophie. Crimson lipstick offset her big blue eyes. Kristen was the type of woman who had men constantly doing real, almost cartoonishly exaggerated double-takes. Sophie sometimes wondered how they were friends.

Sorry. Things were crazy today. This asshole sold me sweaters with holes in them. I’m so angry. Then the bank called this morning. They won’t give us a loan. I just don’t know what to do...

"Don’t worry about being late!