Billionaire Temptations: Rich, Ruthless & Obsessed

Chapter 9

Chapter Nine

Sebastian

As I climbed into the limo, Eli glanced at me.

“She’s the one who’s had you in such a bad state since you returned from London?”

I sighed. “Yes, she’s the one. She claims she’s seeing someone, but I don’t believe her. I’m not worried. I’ll have her in my bed again. It may take some time, but she will give herself to me. Just like she did in London.”

“I have no doubt you’re right.” He smiled.

After arriving home, I poured some bourbon into a glass and pulled out my phone, pulling up the picture I had taken of her. I sat down in the wing-backed chair and stared at her. Her smile captivated me just like it did back in London. It was a smile that drew me to her. I couldn’t believe that I saw her again after all these months. Since that night, she had occupied my mind. It didn’t matter who I was with. I always saw her. I dreamt about her, and every time the scent of roses crossed my path, I was instantly reminded of her. This one woman, who was a stranger that I’d fucked on my last night in London, affected me in ways that no woman ever had before, and that posed a problem for me.

I sighed as I finished off my bourbon and headed to bed. Chloe Kane was a beautiful woman with a beautiful name. Now she was complete, and I was going to stop at nothing to get her back into my bed. But I needed to be careful. I didn’t want her to see me for who I really was. A monster with no emotion and no feeling. A man who couldn’t cry and a man who thrived on control.

Chloe

“What do you mean you turned him down?” Sienna yelled at me over Facetime.

“I can’t, and I won’t. Do you know who he is?” I continued walking down the street to Whole Foods.

“What do you mean? I know he’s an extremely sexy man who wants you.”

“He’s a millionaire. No, make that a billionaire. Self-made when he was just twenty-one years old.”

“And that’s a problem how?” She twisted her face. “And most importantly, why?”

“Because we come from two different worlds. You know how those millionaires are.”

“No. Actually, I don’t. I’ve never known one.”

Walking into Whole Foods, I grabbed a basket and propped my phone against my purse.

“Why would someone like him be interested in someone like me?”

“Maybe because you’re beautiful and an incredibly sweet person, and he sees that.”

“How could he see that? We didn’t talk. We just had sex,” I spoke a little too loudly as the woman looking over the apples glanced up at me and shot me a look.

“Listen, Chloe, you’re reading way too much into this guy. You don’t even really know him.”

“Just by him saying he wanted a repeat of London told me enough. All he’s after is sex, and from what I saw on the internet, he’s a manwhore. Not to mention the fact that he basically admitted it to me. I’ve been through the ringer with guys in the past, and there’s no way in hell I’m getting involved with someone like that.”

She sighed as she rolled her eyes. “No one said you have to get involved with him. Just have some fun and see what happens. If he’s a total douchebag, don’t see him anymore.”

“I told him I was seeing someone, so he probably won’t try to contact me.”

“Of course you did, you silly girl.”

“Okay. I’m hanging up now. I need to finish shopping because my parents are coming over.”

“Have fun. I’ll talk to you later.”

As I opened the security door to my building, Mrs. Cooper came out of her apartment.

“Chloe, you had a delivery. Hold on.” She went back inside.

A moment later, she walked out with a tall glass vase filled with yellow roses wrapped in clear plastic covering.

“Is it your birthday?” she asked.

“No. It isn’t.”

“Well, someone thinks you’re pretty special. Let me take these up for you since your hands are full.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Cooper.”

Walking into my apartment, I set the bags on the kitchen counter while Mrs. Cooper set the flowers down on the table.

“Thanks again for your help.”

“You’re welcome, dear. Enjoy the flowers.” She gave a friendly smile.

“I will.” I walked her to the door.

After removing the wrapping, I pulled the small white envelope from the flowers and drew out the card.

Congratulations on a successful opening night.

You should be very proud.

I think a celebratory dinner is in order.

Sebastian

A small smile crossed my lips as I read the card, but a flutter in my belly also emerged. I expected this from Connor and Ellery, not Sebastian. He obviously didn’t care that I said I was seeing someone unless he knew I was lying. Ugh. I set down the card and took the flowers over to the coffee table.

As I was preparing dinner, the doorbell rang. Looking at the time, I saw that my parents were early. Walking over to the door, I pushed the buzzer and let them in.

“You’re ear—” I stopped mid-word as I opened the door and saw Sebastian standing there with a smile on his face.

“I’m early?” He grinned.

“Sebastian. What are you doing here?”

“Did you get the flowers I sent you?”

“Yes. Thank you.”

“Well, I thought we could do dinner tonight. But from the sounds of it, it seems you’re expecting someone.”

Suddenly, my parents came up the stairs, and my mom flashed a smile when she saw Sebastian.

“Oh. Hello.” She looked him up and down before extending her hand. “I’m Ophelia, and this is my husband, Larry. We’re Chloe’s parents.”

Shit. Shit. Shit.

“Hello. Sebastian Bennett. It’s nice to meet both of you.” He lightly shook their hands.

“Are you joining us for dinner?” my mom asked as she made her way into my apartment.

“Uh, no. Actually, I just dropped by to say hi to Chloe and congratulate her on the success of last night’s gallery opening.”

“Oh. I knew you looked familiar. Please, join us.”

“Yeah. Come on in.” My dad smiled.

Could this be any more awkward?

“I’m sure Sebastian has plans tonight.” I looked at him and narrowed my eyes.

“Actually, I did have plans, but they recently got canceled.” He smiled.

“Then you must join us.” My mom hooked her arm around his and led him into my apartment. “My, you’re very muscular, Mr. Bennett.”

“Please, just call me Sebastian.”

Jesus, my parents and he do not mix. What the fuck was I going to do now?

“It smells delicious in here, Chloe. I’ll set the table for you,” my mom spoke.

“And I’ll kick back on the couch with a beer. You have beer, right?” my dad asked.

“In the refrigerator, Dad.” I sighed.

As my mom set the table, Sebastian came up from behind and placed his hands on my hips as I was standing in front of the stove. I froze.

“It does smell delicious.” His hot breath swept over my skin. “What are you cooking?”

“Rigatoni with sautéed eggplant and tomatoes. My parents are vegetarians.”

“Oh.”

“You could have said no and walked away,” I spoke through gritted teeth.

“I didn’t want to.”

He let go of my hips and made his way to the couch.

“So, how do you know Chloe? Do you work together?” my mom asked.

A nervousness settled inside me. Please don’t say London. Please don’t say London.

“No. We don’t work together. Actually, we met in London. It was pure coincidence that we ran into each other here in New York.”

The spoon I was using hit the floor, and my mom came into the kitchen, lightly grabbing my arm.

“Chloe, is he…?”

“Yes,” I whispered. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Oh my God. Talk about the universe working in mysterious ways.” She smiled.

“You must be ‘Mr. Sexy,’” my dad spoke.

I literally just died at that very moment.

“Excuse me?” Sebastian said.

“Dinner’s ready.” I interrupted them and set the pasta on the table.

As I walked back into the kitchen, Sebastian followed behind.

“You told them we had sex?” he whispered.

“I tell them everything, and how the hell did I know that you’d be having dinner with us?”

“Now, this is awkward. How can I face them during dinner?”

“They’re very sexual and open people. Believe me when I tell you that they aren’t giving it a second thought.”

“Is everything okay in there?” my mom asked.

“Yep. I’m just giving Sebastian some glasses.” I handed him four glasses.