The Magic of a Billionaire Read online

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  The Magic of a Billionaire (The Tycoons)

  The Magic of a Billionaire

  Edition License Notes

  PROLOGUE

  ONE

  TWO

  THREE

  FOUR

  FIVE

  SIX

  SEVEN

  EIGHT

  NINE

  TEN

  ELEVEN

  TWELVE

  THIRTEEN

  FOURTEEN

  FIFTEEN

  SIXTEEN

  SEVENTEEN

  EIGHTEEN

  NINETEEN

  TWENTY

  TWENTY-ONE

  TWENTY-TWO

  TWENTY-THREE

  TWENTY-FOUR

  TWENTY-FIVE

  TWENTY-SIX

  TWENTY-SEVEN

  TWENTY-EIGHT

  TWENTY-NINE

  The Tycoons

  Find more books from Marie Higgins

  Author Marie Higgins’s Bio

  Author Stacey Haynes’ Bio

  FIRST PLACE WINNER for July writing contest on www.ajoara.com

  The Magic of a Billionaire

  The Tycoon Series Book 9

  Clean Billionaire’s Romance

  Copyright © 2019 Marie Higgins & Stacey Haynes

  Editing by Luke Albertson, Teresa Pearson, Veronica Mesia, and Paulyn Aneke

  Cover Design by Got You Covered Designs

  Edition License Notes

  This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you have obtained this copy illegally. Thank you for respecting the author's work.

  Dedication from Stacey Haynes

  I’D LIKE TO DEDICATE this story to many different people. First, my husband, Patrick and my children, Luke, Caitlin and Joshua, for encouraging me to write and to help me believe in the dream of being published.

  Next, my sister Marie Higgins, for believing in my story and seeing potential in my writing. Without her, I’d probably still be just saving the Word documents and reading them in my spare time wishing and hoping.

  Lastly, my mother, Lillian, for teaching me and my sister the value of reading. She has always been a supporter of what we have done.

  One last thanks to all who buy and read this book. I hope you enjoy it as much as Marie Higgins and I have enjoyed putting it together.

  Dedication from Marie Higgins

  FIRST AND FOREMOST, I’d like to dedicate this story to my sister, Stacey. If not for her clever imagination, this story would have never been written. I was very lucky to work on this project (and two others that will be coming soon) with a sister I love so much.

  Thanks to my ARC team for helping me find the errors, and for the encouraging words you continue to give me after reading my stories. You are all awesome!

  Special Thanks from both Stacey & Marie

  SPECIAL THANKS GOES to Luke Albertson for helping with the continuity editing and added descriptions that have brought this book, The Magic of a Billionaire, to life.

  **WARNING**

  You won’t get anything done the day you pick up this book and start reading. I couldn’t put this book down! Great page-turning story. ~Kindle Reader

  A TRAGIC ACCIDENT – or cleverly disguised murder? Only one woman will be brave enough to find out.

  Paralegal, Elizabeth Martin, has two reasons for staying at a mysterious mansion – to help get the property ready to sell, and to investigate the rumors of the ghost who is haunting it. After shockingly finding the rumors to be true, one question stirs in her mind. Had the renowned magician’s death really been a careless accident – or was it a cleverly disguised murder?

  The deceased heir to the Powers’ billions, Aaron Powers, is only after one thing. Revenge. He couldn’t use his magician’s skills and illusions to keep his murder at bay, so now he must depend on the strikingly beautiful paralegal’s help. Unfortunately, he can’t stop himself from becoming attached to her – both heart and soul.

  Solving a murder is no magician’s trick, but can Elizabeth and Aaron see through the smoke and mirrors to bring the criminal to justice? And can they do it without their growing feelings for each other getting in the way?

  PROLOGUE

  AARON POWERS STOOD on the Rockwell Theatre stage, as a sold-out room of spectators sat and watched him as he prepared his next act. Sweat formed on his forehead and behind his neck. Even his palms were moist. The frantic rhythm of his heartbeat only made things worse.

  He silently cursed the doubts scrambling his mind, confusing him. It had been five years since Aaron experienced the jitters during one of his acts. But no longer was he an apprentice when dealing with magic. In fact, last month, Forbes magazine had interviewed him and given him the title of a Rising Star. Of course, it didn’t hurt that his billionaire grandfather owned three wineries, which helped give him a leg up. The magazine had written that Aaron’s sold-out shows and fame would make him wealthier than his grandfather one day.

  Taking a steady breath, Aaron prayed that day would come. But with all the accidents that had been happening to him lately, he worried he’d never get to see that day.

  The loud music with the intense beat boomed throughout the theatre, heightening the moment when Aaron would climb in the box for his swords-through-the-box illusion. This trick had never failed before, and because he’d checked all the props for tonight’s show two hours ago, he was sure everything would go smoothly.

  And yet... there was still that niggle of doubt in his mind that caused his nerves to jump and his hands to tremble.

  His beautiful assistant, the very lovely blonde bombshell, ZoAnn – a woman he’d dated for a while until realizing they’d be better as friends – sashayed in front of the coffin-shaped box, opening the cubby doors to show the audience that there was no way for him to escape, and no extra room once Aaron was inside.

  He grinned to himself. What the audience didn’t know wouldn’t hurt them. Once he was inside, there would be plenty of room for him and the swords.

  Once she connected the doors around the box, she stepped in rhythm to the pounding music, slinking her way around stage. When she reached him, she pressed herself up against him and slowly moved around his body, sliding her hands over his chest, his shoulders, back, and finally around to his front again. He grasped her roughly, pulling her closer as if he was going to kiss her, but just as their mouths were a breath apart, he moved her aside and stepped inside the box.

  Continuing to stand in the box, he moved his arms as he motioned from one side to the other of his short-lived tomb. He had arranged to have the fan on high at this section in the act, which blew his wavy hair, but especially, the wind lifted his white silky shirt away from his throat, giving the ladies in his audience a glimpse of his muscular chest.

  ZoAnn raised one of the swords, blade-side up, showing the audience. Aaron withdrew the silk scarf from around his throat and tossed it toward the sword. As soon as the cloth touched the blade, the scarf immediately split in two, showing the audience how incredibly sharp it was.

  Finally, he slid down into the box horizontally as ZoAnn finished locking up the doors. The slight tremble was still in his hands as he reached for the lever that widened the side of the box that the audience couldn’t see. He barely heard the clicking noise of the gears over the booming music in the theatre.

  The wood beneath him shifted ever-so-slig
htly... and then stopped. His heart stilled momentarily. His throat tightened, as did his chest. This wasn’t enough room!

  He moved the switch again, but the box extension beneath him didn’t widen any further. Gently, he pushed with his legs and hips, trying to get the extension to widen, but it wouldn’t budge.

  Panic filled him. The frantic beat of his heart pounded through his ears, blocking out any other sounds. He must make ZoAnn aware of the faulty box extension, and yet – how could they stop the show? His act would be ruined. So would his name.

  However, sharp swords slicing through the box would definitely kill him.

  “ZoAnn, stop the act,” he shouted, but the music was too loud. Using his fist, he hit the side of the box, but that didn’t accomplish anything. The music was just too loud.

  Suddenly, a sword pushed through the flimsy box. Pain shot through his arm. Clenching his teeth, he cussed.

  Taking in deep breaths, he tried controlling the fear rising inside him. “ZoAnn,” he shouted again, but seconds later, the second sword slid through the box. Pain exploded in his leg. Warm, sticky blood oozed down the side of his leg.

  “Stop the act!” This time when he screamed, he tried rocking the box. He prayed like he never prayed before. Someone just had to hear him.

  Suddenly, another blade entered the box, cutting into his stomach. He couldn’t tell which was worse – the fiery pain that made him want to vomit or the numbness slowly spreading over his body.

  “ZoAnn...” he cried out again as tears rolled into his ears. His body told him it was too late, anyway. Slowly, his body weakened as blood continued to gush out of him. An artery had been severed, he just knew it.

  Closing his eyes, he pictured his grandfather’s kind and loving face – the face Aaron had grown to love as a father-figure since his own parents died when Aaron was six-years-old. Out of everyone he knew, his grandfather would mourn Aaron’s death the hardest. They’d been so close over the years...

  Aaron’s mind filled with childhood memories that quickly meshed into adult memories. He’d had a good life. He’d made some good friends... but apparently, he’d made enemies, too.

  As he lay dying, he said one last prayer – that he would not cross over. Being a ghost and haunting those responsible for his soon-to-be death was what he wanted now. That was the best kind of revenge.

  ONE

  ELIZABETH MARTIN’S fingers flew over the keyboard as she finished typing the research notes she’d done on an embezzlement case. Out of all the research she’d completed the past three years working for Taylor, Baker, and Swift, Attorneys at Law, this particular embezzlement case had been the easiest. The bank employee hadn’t covered his tracks while stealing money from his company, and the fool bragged about it to his friends. This was an open and shut case. Easy-peasy.

  Once finished, she saved it to a folder and closed the program. She pushed away from her desk just far enough to rest her hands in her lap and sigh with relief, smiling. She loved her job, however... a job like this gave her the advantage of getting inspiration for her next story. Not many of her co-workers knew about her love for writing romantic suspense.

  Lately, her muse had been a little dry – so much, in fact, that she started spending more time with her boyfriend, Sam Livingston. The smile quickly left her face. Now she knew why writing came first. At least in her novels she could get away from life’s stress. In her stories, the hero adored the heroine, and everyone had a happy-ever-after.

  She grabbed her bottled water from her desk and drank the remaining liquid. It had grown warm since she had bought it, and she decided she needed something cold to hydrate her. Otherwise, she was in danger of dozing off at work. She looked in her drawer for some loose change, and then headed to the breakroom. After retrieving a fresh, cold bottled water from the office’s new vending machine, she leaned against the counter and sipped the refreshing liquid.

  Just then, two of her co-workers walked inside the breakroom. She nodded to them but kept drinking. They were in the middle of a conversation, anyway.

  “It was like watching a scary movie, I tell ya.” Susan shook her head, her eyes growing wider by the second. “It wasn’t until the assistant pulled out the bloody swords that she realized something had gone wrong with the act.”

  Tonya opened the refrigerator and pulled out a baggy of carrots and celery sticks. “I’d heard rumors that someone was purposely trying to kill him.”

  Susan shrugged. “I’m assuming it was investigated, but his death was reported as an accident.”

  Elizabeth lowered the water, suddenly caught up in her friends’ conversation. “Who died?”

  Susan spun around, her long, auburn hair flying over her shoulder. “It was about three months ago, but it was all over the news. Didn’t you hear? It was Aaron Powers, that famous magician.”

  Nodding thoughtfully, Elizabeth tapped her finger on the bottle. “I think I’ve heard his name before.”

  “His shows were all over – in California, Nevada, and even Arizona.”

  Elizabeth stepped closer. “And he died?”

  “Yep. One of his acts went wrong, and his assistant stabbed him to death with swords.”

  Elizabeth’s stomach churned. “While on stage?”

  “Oh, yes.” Susan nodded vigorously. “I was in the audience. It was surreal. I still can’t believe I watched it happen.”

  “How sad.” Elizabeth took another sip of her water.

  “You should look it up on the internet. Like I said, it was all over the news.”

  “I think I will.” Elizabeth turned and took slow steps toward the door.

  “So, who inherits his grandfather’s billions?” Tonya asked.

  Elizabeth came to a sudden halt and glanced back at the other two ladies. “The man was rich, too?”

  “Well, you see...” Susan walked toward Elizabeth. “His grandfather, Jethro Powers, owns three wineries. Aaron was his oldest grandson. Powers’ billions would have gone to Aaron, but now...” She shrugged. “I guess everything will go to the surviving grandson when the old man kicks the bucket.”

  “That definitely makes an interesting tale.” Although it was sad what happened to Aaron Powers’ life, Elizabeth’s mind spun with story ideas. It had been a while since she’d been energized like this about a story. She’d have to do more research and see what she could find. Within all of those details was a suspenseful romance story waiting to be written, and she was anxious to find it.

  She returned to her desk without even thinking about it as her mind whirled with ideas. As soon as she found herself in front of her computer, she reached for the keyboard and quickly searched the internet for the magician’s name. She clicked on the first link that popped up.

  Aaron Zeke Powers of Surprise, Arizona, died March 10th, while performing on stage at the Rockwell Theatre in front of a large crowd. He was performing the famous, yet dangerous, swords-through-the-box illusion. The props used were not working correctly and he was stabbed multiple times. He bled to death on the way to the hospital. He was the oldest grandson of the renowned winery owner, Jethro Powers. Well known in the winery communities, Jethro Powers had accumulated a large fortune that was to pass to Aaron upon Jethro’s death, including the wineries. With Aaron’s passing, Thomas Powers, the next grandson in line, is now poised to inherit the fortune.

  Elizabeth continued through the article and studied the pictures taken of the handsome magician. Aaron appeared to be in his early thirties and looked very confident. He had a charming smile that made his blue eyes sparkle. She couldn’t tell if it was his costume that made him appear so robust, or if it was just his nature, but either way, he was one finely built man. She found it sad that something so terrible could happen to someone as good-looking as him.

  She kept searching the internet and came across some videos of his performances. As Elizabeth watched, she caught her breath quite a few times. The way he looked deeply into his assistant’s eyes made Elizabeth wonder if
Aaron had been in love with the blonde woman with the Barbie-doll figure. While his magic tricks kept her mind buzzing with wonder, his hypnotic smile kept her eyes glued to the screen. His electrifying blue eyes, framed by his dark hair, captivated her imagination, and one question stuck out in her mind.

  Had his death really been an accident? Or, could it have been murder?

  She clicked another link that displayed a magnificent mansion in Surprise, Arizona. As she read the article, she discovered that this had been Aaron’s home before he died. According to the article, the man had been alone for most of his life. His parents had died in a tragic car crash when he was only six. Aaron had never married and had no children.

  Another paragraph mentioned that visitors to the mansion since Aaron’s death had thought they’d seen Aaron’s ghost. They’d heard doors shutting on floors where nobody entered, and whispers in the ventilation system.

  “Ah, perfect! You’re doing your research already.”

  Elizabeth jumped from her boss’ deep voice. She swung around in her chair and faced him. Heat burst in her cheeks for being caught playing on the internet. “Todd, I didn’t hear you come in.”

  Chuckling, he pointed to the computer. “The horrific story of Aaron Powers’ death would enthrall anyone. I don’t blame you for being so caught up in that.”

  “So, why do you think I’m doing research?”

  “Carey hasn’t told you yet?”

  “Told me what?” By her suddenly racing heart, she already had a feeling she knew, but she didn’t want to get too excited until she knew for sure.

  His grin widened and he waggled his eyebrows. She always thought her forty-five-year-old boss was a handsome man.

  “The elder Mr. Powers, Jethro, has hired us to help him get the mansion ready to sell. As part of the process, we are to check into these ghost rumors and see why people are saying the property is haunted.”