Billionaire Temptations: Rich, Ruthless & Obsessed

Chapter 15

Chapter Fifteen

Emerson

When I opened my eyes, I was alone. I glanced over at the clock, and it was six-thirty. Shit . Where was Alex? I needed to get up and start breakfast. I climbed out of bed and noticed a piece of paper propped up on the dresser. Walking over to it, I picked it up and discovered it was from Alex.

Emerson,

No need to worry about breakfast this morning. I needed to get into the office early since I wasn’t there yesterday. I didn’t want to wake you. See you later.

Alex

At least he didn’t want to wake me, but I wouldn’t have minded if he had. Something happened last night between us. There was a connection. I had never told any of the guys I dated about the accident, my parents, or sister. They didn't need to know because I wasn’t sticking around. But with Alex, I opened up as if he were my best friend. It felt natural with him, and I couldn’t figure out why. I’d be gone in a couple of months, and Alex would be nothing but a distant memory like the rest. I set the note down, showered, and got dressed. Since I didn’t get the chance to make him breakfast, I decided I was going to make him lunch and bring it to his office.

After preparing Alex’s lunch, I hopped in Adam’s car and googled the address of Alex’s office building. I parked the car in the parking garage and stepped inside the doors of Parker Enterprises. I found the directory on the wall next to a beautiful fountain and saw his office was on the top floor. Of course, it was. As I took the elevator up to the thirtieth floor, it suddenly dawned on me that he might be mad I brought him lunch. Oh well, he’d have to get over it. Someone had to ensure he ate properly, and what better person to do it than his chef. The elevator doors opened, and his secretary wasn’t at her desk, and his office door was closed. I lightly knocked and then stepped inside. A wave of shock swept over Alex’s face when he looked at me.

“Oh. I’m sorry. Your secretary wasn’t at her desk, and I didn’t know you were in a meeting.”

“What are you doing here?” he asked.

The guy sitting in the chair across from his desk turned and looked at me. He looked oddly familiar.

“I brought you lunch.” I held up the bag. “I’ll just leave it here.” I walked inside and set it on the table. “I’m so sorry.” I started to sneak out.

“Hey,” the guy sitting across from Alex spoke. “I know you.” He slowly got up from his chair and walked over to me, checking me out from head to toe.

I looked at Alex, who was shaking his head.

“You must have me mistaken for someone else.” I gave a small, fake smile.

“No.” He shook his finger at me. “You. That’s it! You’re that stripper from Vegas.”

Alex’s eyes widened as he began walking over to me. I studied the short man with dark brown hair and beady eyes.

“You’re that man that grabbed my ass and tried to pull me down when I was on stage!”

“Excuse me?” Alex harshly spoke.

“Sorry about that. I had a little too much to drink that night. But I would never forget a hot girly like you, and I never forget a face.” He smiled. “Are you still stripping?”

“No. I gave that up last year.”

Alex’s eyes looked like they were about to pop out of his head.

“How do you know Alex here?” he asked.

“I’m his houseguest.”

“Lucky man!” The guy patted him on the shoulder. “Anyway, our meeting is over, so the two of you can sit down and eat lunch. “I’ll be in touch, Alex.”

I watched as Alex took in a sharp breath.

“We’ll talk soon.”

As soon as his office door shut, Alex glared at me. “A stripper? Are you kidding me?”

I waved my hand in front of my face. “It was a one-time thing, and I didn’t get totally naked. I was wearing those nipple covers, and I had my thong on. I made a thousand dollars that night.” I smirked.

He placed his hand on his head as he glared at me. “Why the hell would you strip in Vegas? Or anywhere, for that matter!”

“A friend of mine was ill that night, and if she didn’t get someone to replace her, she would get fired. She needed the job because she had a kid to care for. And I’ll have you know that it was a very respectable club. Not one of those trashy ones.”

“Jesus, Emerson. I can’t even believe you right now.”

I frowned. “Does it bother you or something? Hell, I didn’t even know you.”

“It doesn’t matter. You shouldn’t have done that. Does Adam know?”

“No, and he won’t ever find out. As I said, it was a one-time thing. Now go and eat your lunch.”

“Are you joining me?” he asked calmly.

“Not if you keep having that attitude, I’m not. So, I think you need to apologize to me.”

“Apologize? For what? For a business client recognizing the girl I fucked as the stripper he groped in Vegas?”

“He said you were a lucky man.” I gave a cocky smile.

He rolled his eyes and sighed. “Sit down and have lunch with me,” he commanded as he walked over to the table.

I didn’t move and stood there with my arms folded.

“SIT!” He pointed to the chair across from him.

Alex

As I sat and stared at Emerson from across the table, I couldn’t get over the fact that she had stripped in a club full of dirty men who only had one thing on their minds. She could have put her life at risk doing that, and I was angry. Why the hell was I angry? I didn’t know. All I knew was that it pissed me off.

“Thank you for making me lunch. That was nice of you.”

She cocked her head as the corners of her mouth curved up into a beautiful but cocky smile.

“You’re welcome. Someone has to look out for your eating habits now that you’re on a restricted diet. As long as I’m here, I will do just that for you.”

“I appreciate it. But I’m not a child. I’m more than capable of watching what I eat.”

“All men are children, Alex, and you’re no exception.” She pointed her finger at me. “I’ll train you to eat a proper high-blood pressure diet. Then, when I’m gone, you’ll be well educated.”

Something stirred inside me when she said, “when I’m gone.” There really was no reason for her to leave so soon after Adam returned. She should use that time to reconnect with her brother.

“Have you considered sticking around for a while after Adam returns? Maybe try and reconnect with him?”

“Nah. Never stay in one place too long, and three months back in Cali is way too long.”

Her way of thinking was really starting to get on my nerves. After we finished lunch, she left, and I stood looking out the window with my hands in my pockets.

“Excuse me, Mr. Parker?” my secretary Olivia spoke.

“Yes.”

“Don’t forget you have that charity event tomorrow night at Jonathan Place.”

“Shit. I already forgot. Call Jenna and have her make sure my tuxedo is ready.”

“Yes, sir.”

I sat down at my desk and looked through my contacts of women who would want to attend with me. As I scrolled through the names, no one was piquing my interest. I sighed. Suddenly, I realized that I didn’t have Emerson’s phone number.

“Olivia,” I called over the intercom. “Do some digging and get the phone number for an Emerson James.”

“Right away, sir.”

“When you get it, text it to my cell.”

“Of course, sir.”

I’d let her into my home. She cooked for me. I even fucked her twice now, and I still didn’t have her number. My phone beeped with a text message from Olivia. I stored Emerson’s number in my contacts and then texted her.

“There’s a charity function tomorrow night and I need you to go with me. You’ll need a formal dress, so go to Bloomingdales and buy one. Put it on my account.”

A few moments later, she replied, “Who is this?”

I rolled my eyes and let a small smile cross my lips.

“It’s Alex. Who the hell else would be asking you to a charity event?”

“You never know. Who would have thought I would have run into the man from Vegas in your office, lol!”

Did she really just say “lol”? I shook my head and replied.

“Very funny, Emerson. Now go buy a dress.”

“I don’t believe you asked me properly, Mr. Parker. You said that you ‘need’ me to go. You didn’t ask me if I would like to go. There’s a difference, you know.”

I could feel my blood pressure rising by the minute. She was going to be the death of me.

“Emerson, would you like to attend a charity function with me tomorrow night? It’s for a very good cause.”

“Why thank you, Mr. Parker. I’d love to.”

“Good. NOW GO BUY A DRESS!”

“Watch your blood pressure. I would hate to miss that event because you went and had a heart attack.”

I clenched my jaw and set my phone down. That woman. That beautiful, hot-as-fuck, amazing-in-bed, smart-mouth woman.