Billionaire Temptations: Rich, Ruthless & Obsessed

Chapter 8

Chapter Eight

Jackson

After leaving Emily’s shop, I headed to the office.

“Good morning, Mr. Caine. Mr. Windsor is in your office waiting for you.”

“Thank you, Audrey, and good morning to you too.”

Walking into my office, I found my best friend and vice president, Samuel, sitting in the chair across from my desk.

“Where have you been?”

“I had to make a stop on the way in. Remember that girl I told you about? Emily? The one who owns the shop where I bought Jules’ dress for her birthday?”

“Yeah. Wasn’t she the one you ran into at that wedding?”

“Yes. I asked her to have dinner with me tonight.”

“Good for you, bro. Now the two of you can bash relationships all night. Speaking of which, I’m breaking up with Steph tonight. Wish me luck that she doesn’t go all psychotic.”

“I wish you all the luck in the world, man. That girl is a bit unstable.”

“I know.” He shook his head. “Anyway, we need to go over the market analysis for the condo project.”

After my meeting, I asked Audrey to come into my office.

“Yes, Mr. Caine?”

“Please call Jean Georges and make a reservation for two at seven o’clock. My usual table.”

“Yes, sir.”

Picking up my phone from my desk, I sent Emily a text message.

“Jean Georges at seven o’clock. Trump Hotel. I’ll be waiting for you outside.”

“Nice choice. I’ll see you then.”

I smiled and set down my phone. She intrigued me, and she was one woman whom I wanted to get to know better. Things felt natural with her that night at the wedding. I enjoyed her company, and I wanted more of it. I wanted all of her. But I’d have to play that very carefully, or I’d risk never seeing her again. The other women, I didn’t care about. And even though I only spoke with Emily for a few hours that night, I instantly knew that I needed to see her again.

Emily

“I seriously can’t believe you’re going out with him after you’re on a dating hiatus,” Katie spoke as she lay across my bed.

“This black dress, or should I go red?” I held up both dresses in front of me.

“Go red.”

“I have a good feeling about him. I know he won’t be a problem.”

“For both your sakes, I hope not.” She sighed.

After slipping into my dress, I ran the brush through my long blonde hair one last time, dabbed on a scarlet red lip color, slipped into my heels, and Katie and I walked out together.

“Have fun tonight. Are you coming into the store tomorrow?” she asked.

“Yes. I should be there around eleven.”

“Okay. I can’t wait to hear all about your date. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” She smirked.

The cab driver pulled up to the curb of the Trump Hotel, and I saw Jackson standing outside waiting for me. Upon opening the door, he walked over and held out his hand.

“You look beautiful.” He smiled as he took hold of my hand and helped me from the cab.

“Thank you. You look quite handsome yourself.”

When we approached the hostess's desk, a brunette greeted us and immediately walked us over to our table.

“Have you ever eaten here?” Jackson asked.

“I’ve been here a couple of times.”

“With your other men, I presume.” He smirked.

“Yes. And one of them forgot his wallet at home, and I ended up paying the bill.”

“I can assure you that you won’t be paying the bill tonight.” He winked.

As we looked over our menus, the tall skinny waitress came over to take our drink order.

“We’ll have a bottle of champagne,” Jackson spoke.

“Very good. I'll take your dinner order as soon as I bring that over.”

“What are you going to have?” he asked as he looked up from his menu.

“I think the beef tenderloin.”

His brow arched as he smiled. “Ah, a girl who likes meat.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “The women you date don’t eat meat?”

“They mostly eat lettuce.”

“Well, I like my meat.”

“That’s something I like to hear.” The corners of his mouth turned into a sly grin, and I could feel my face redden.

The waitress brought over our champagne, poured some into each glass, and then took our order.

“So,” I picked up my glass and sipped champagne, “tell me about Jackson Caine. I want all the dirt.” I smiled.

“Well, I’m thirty years old. You know I have a sister. Did I mention that she’s my twin?”

“Really? Wait a minute. If your sister is your twin, it was also your birthday.”

“You are correct.” He smiled.

I raised my glass to him. “Happy belated birthday.”

“Thank you, Emily.” He brought his glass to mine.

“May I ask what you do for work?”

“I’m the CEO of Caine Property Development & Management, which I took over for my father after his retirement.”

“Impressive. Your father can’t be that old.”

“He’s fifty-five. His philosophy was that he put in his time, built his company, and now it’s up to me to run it while he and his current wife travel the world.”

“Your parents are divorced?”

“Yes. Multiple times over.” He smiled. “My father is on his fifth wife, and my mother is on her fourth husband. I swear they compete with each other to see who can marry the most times before they die.”

“Wow. That’s crazy.”

He held up his glass to me. “Hence the reason I don’t believe in relationships.”

“Touché.” I smiled as I clanked my glass against his.

“I grew up watching my parents' bad relationships with each other and their significant others. Neither one of them has ever been happy.”

“I’m sorry. What about your sister? Is she also anti-relationship?”

“Not as bad as I am. She’s had her share of men, but now she let down her guard and fell in love with a doctor she met at the hospital. They’ve been dating a little over a year.”

“That must have been scary for her.”

“It was, but he treats her like a queen, and she’s happy. I just hope it lasts.”

“You don’t have to be in a relationship to be happy, " I said as I sipped my champagne. “Relationships have a way of taking a happy person and turning them miserable.”

“I fully agree. So, what about your parents?” he asked.

“I never knew my father, and my mother passed away a couple of years ago from cancer.”

“I’m sorry for your loss. Did she ever marry?”

“Oh God, no.” I laughed. “Hence the reason I am the way I am. She didn’t believe in relationships and dated many men over the years. She always told me that companionship is good, but relationships are bad. The minute a guy wanted to become serious, she dumped him. She was very career driven. Her business and I were her life.”

“What did she do?”

“She owned her own insurance company. Before she passed away, she sold it and put the money in an account for me. That’s how I was able to open my own shop.”

“Tell me if I’m being too personal, but what about your father? You said you never knew him. Did she ever talk about him?”

“The only thing she ever told me was that she wasn’t sure who my father was, and it didn’t matter because it was just the two of us, and that’s how it would always be.”

“Do you ever wonder?” he asked.

“I used to, but I haven’t in a long time. What’s the point?”

The corners of his mouth curved upwards as he picked up his glass.

“Here’s to enjoying life the way we want.”

“And staying single and happy.” I held up my glass to his.

After finishing dinner, Jackson paid the bill, and we stepped outside the restaurant. We stood there, facing each other amid the awkward moment phase. He slowly brought his hand up to my face.

“You are an incredibly beautiful woman, and I enjoyed having dinner with you.” He smiled.

“Thank you. I had a great time.”

“Would it be okay if I kissed you goodnight?”

“I think that would be okay.” I softly smiled as I stared into his eyes.

He moved his hand from my cheek and cupped my chin as his head dipped and his lips brushed against mine. His kiss was everything I knew it would be. Soft, sensual, delightful, and sexy. He pulled away and stared at me with hunger in his eyes. He wanted more than just a brief kiss. With how my body reacted to him, so did I.

No words were spoken as his lips met mine once again. My arms wrapped around his neck as his tongue slipped inside and tangled with mine. A wetness down below emerged and a fierce ache that couldn’t be tamed.

“Go get a room, you two,” a passerby shouted.

Both of us laughed mid-kiss as he placed his hands on my hips.

“There’s a room right inside,” he spoke.

“Yes, there is.” I smirked.

“Are you interested in seeing what the room has to offer?”

“Very interested.”

The smile on his face grew wide as he grabbed my hand, and we walked into the Hotel.

“Good evening, may I help you?” the gentleman behind the counter asked.

“We need a room,” Jackson replied.

“Any preference?”

“No. Not tonight, anyway. Just give us what you have available.”

“How many nights will you be staying?”

“Just one.”

“We have our park suite available. All I’ll need is your credit card, please.”

Jackson reached into his wallet and handed him his card.

“You’re all set, Mr. Caine. You are in room 1711.”

“Thank you.”

The moment the elevator doors shut, Jackson turned and smashed his mouth against mine all the way to the seventeenth floor. My body was already on fire with desire for him, and I didn’t want his lips to leave mine. After opening the door to our room, he immediately locked it, swooped me up in his arms, and carried me to the bedroom.