King of Deception: A Secret Billionaire Romance (Billionaire Kings of New York Book 1)

6. Lucid

six

After finishing Sunday morning breakfast with my father out in the garden, he picked up his newspaper and rolled it in his hand. “Well, I better go before they start looking for me inside the sandtraps,” he chuckled.

“Golf with uncle Danny?”

“Better,” he winked. “Senator Ramsey.”

“Oh, say hello.”

“I will.”

“And please remind Adele to call me, huh? I’d like to talk to her about Toby.”

Rolling his eyes, he made his way around the chair. “Save your breath. You’d be barking up the wrong tree.”

“Someone’s gotta knock some sense into her. The ink hasn’t even dried on his divorce papers.”

“Well, she’ll give you the whole ‘adult, independent woman’ speech.”

“If she doesn’t call me, I’ll call her.”

Shrugging, he slowly walked toward the door. “Suit yourself.” He turned around before glancing over his shoulder, “Oh, and good luck tonight.”

“Thanks, dad.”

Taking off my shirt, I jumped into the pool, letting the warm water wash over me. I wasn’t concerned about the club opening tonight. After all, I was used to it all. It wasn’t the first venue my company had invested in, and I trusted the planning agency and my partners. The party was going to be near perfect. The only thing that would earn the night a stellar rating would be if Ella Rose actually showed up.

As I swam aimlessly forward, I imagined her stepping into the elegant event in a silver dress that made her eyes glow, wearing her hair down and maybe a pair of dangling earrings. Diamonds. That woman should certainly wear diamonds.

Getting out of the water, I felt the warm breeze tickle my wet skin as the pool water dripped onto the floor. I picked up a towel and dried my hands before grabbing the phone, swiping across to call the event manager.

“Hey, boss. Everything is going according to schedule.”

“I’m not worried about that. But I’d like to have a meeting with the crew at eight.”

“You don’t need to bother yourself with details—”

“It’s a meeting for me. Just let them know.”

“Of course.”

After plenty of back and forth with my sister over the phone, I finally persuaded her to meet me for an early dinner. In the rooftop restaurant, we sat at our regular table facing the magnificent New York skyline.

“I’m here,” she gestured with her hand. “So?”

“Can’t a man have a meal with his little sister anymore?”

She slowly blinked, pressing her lips into a line. “I know what this is about.”

“And? You think I’m being extra.”

“You are. Toby and I are having so much fun and—”

I interrupted her, “And you’re his rebound girl.”

She scowled at me and smirked.

“Any word from Isaac?” I asked.

“Why are you fixating on him?”

“Because he’s been your longest-standing relationship—”

“Until he wasn’t,” she leaned forward, gritting her teeth. “Toby’s everything Isaac is not.”

“Right,” I nodded. “Ten years older. Recently divorced. God knows what kind of trauma that caused.”

“She cheated on him.”

“You’re only getting one side of the story. Besides, what makes you think that he’s serious about you?”

“What makes you think that I’m serious about him?” She challenged me with her eyes.

“Adele!”

“What?”

“Oh, if it wasn’t New York’s most eligible bachelor.” A woman’s voice made us both look up.

Towering over us was Zeina Shall, a socialite with merciless beauty and even more ruthless ambition to rule the investment sector.

“Hi, Zee!” Adele grinned. “How are you?”

“I’m great,” Zeina’s eyes didn’t regard my sister with a glance. Instead, they were brazenly scanning me. “I heard that you two went to Lily’s wedding together.”

“Your sources are fantastic as always, Zeina,” I smirked.

“When are you ever gonna let me take you out to dinner, Abel? Strictly business, of course, in case it otherwise makes you nervous.”

Forcing a chuckle, I scratched my nose, giving myself an excuse to look away as she strategically leaned over, making her cleavage all the more visible. “How about coffee at my office?”

Finally turning to Adele, Zeina let out a nervous laugh. “Impossible, your brother. Isn’t he?”

“Tell me about it.”

Needless to say, my conversation with Adele proved futile. She insisted that she and Toby were ‘enjoying their time together’ and that she was ‘helping him heal’—whatever that meant.

As she settled in the back of her car, she rolled down the window and grinned. “I can tell that you don’t like Zeina, and that’s fine. But if you don’t have some real fun of your own soon, I’m afraid you’re just gonna keep obsessing over my brand of it.”

Stiffly nodding, I tapped on the hood of the car, signaling for her driver to move along. Turning around from behind the glass, Adele threw me a kiss in the air, childishly waving until the vehicle disappeared down the road.

At the club, I stood in the center with my suit and tie, surrounded by the crew. The event manager stood in the corner in anticipation of my instructions. I almost never did this sort of thing, so I could see why everyone was on their toes, nervously staring at me while holding their breaths.

“Okay, so tonight is just any other night in your line of work. Except that I have a special request. Let’s call it a game.” I explained, “A miss Ella Rosa Boraine is on the guest list tonight. VIP. As soon as she enters from these doors,” I pointed, “I am… one of you.”

The confused looks in their eyes were accompanied by hushed whispers and inaudible murmurs.

“That means…” I carried on, pointing at the first waiter in front of me, “You’ll hand me a tray and shots… and let me make the rounds.”

A waitress stifled a laugh, and I turned to the manager, who quickly approached, clearing his throat. “Uh, Mr. Drakos—”

“It’s pretty simple, guys,” I raised my hands, adding a casual flair to my body language as I smiled. “All I need you to do is not come to me doing exactly that,” I pointed at the manager. “No ‘Mr. Drakos’ while I’m talking to that woman. Only Abel.”

Wide eyes and humorously outraged grins greeted me while the manager returned to his position in the corner, utterly baffled.

“So. Think you can do this for me tonight?” I grinned.

“Yeah!”

“Sure.”

“Of course.”

Single-word responses poured on with shrugs, smiles, and nods. They must have secretly believed that I was a bored, spoiled billionaire trying to spice it up. If that was what it took for them to do as I asked, then it was a cheap price to pay.

When it was nine o’clock, everyone took their positions, and the mixers began pouring their colorful creations into exquisite little crystal glasses. At first, I had to mingle with my partners, associates, and notable guests in the VIP section. I was clasping the phone in my hand the entire time, anticipating the vibrating buzz that announced her arrival.

Much to my surprise… she came.

It was half-past ten when the head of security alerted me that Ella Rose Boraine had just stepped through the front door and was on her way in. Swiftly, I signaled to the waiter from earlier, and he rushed toward me with a tray, placing it in my hand. He then quickly and skillfully began arranging shot glasses in a colorful formation. My eyes remained on the entrance.

And she emerged.

In a pink slip dress that flowed down to the floor, Ella Rose donned silk like no woman I’d ever laid eyes on. The smooth fabric cascaded down her curves like water falling in slow motion, accentuating the smoothness along with her figure. Her feet gracefully mastered the silver heels with thin straps around the ankles as they peeked through the tasteful slit down one leg as she walked.

Looking around—doubtlessly in search of a familiar face—she exuded confidence and comfort. Her fingernails were painted the same shade as her dress, and the little purse that hung over her shoulder matched the shoes.

And then there were those dangly earrings. My heart skipped a beat as I approached, realizing that they were pure silver, oscillating gently between her golden locks.

“Explicit?” I stood next to her with the tray.

As if startled, she swiftly turned, “Excuse me?” Her eyes immediately locked with mine, and I grinned, pretending to be surprised. “It’s you!”

“And… it’s you?” I dipped my chin an inch. “Explicit. It’s our signature drink.”

A smirk curled up the corner of her mouth, “Explicit.”

“It’s got cinnamon,” I explained.

“Right.” She gracefully picked up a shot glass, immediately downing it. As she bent back her head, I examined the shiny earring up close. It was shaped like a moving snake.

“Interesting earring,” I said.

“What?” she furrowed her eyebrows.

“Why a snake?”

Tittering, she looked around at the people that were starting to fill the space. “Are you allowed to linger like this?”

“Oh, you mean ‘cause I work here?”

“Don’t you?”

“No, it’s just the opening gig. They have their own team.”

“And that means you get to slack off.”

“I’m not slacking off! Look.” I turned around and, in one spin, emptied out my tray to the laughing people around us. Returning to face her, I grinned. “Impressive, huh?”

“It’s like they all know you.”

“Well, you are literally late to this party.”

Her apprehensive smile turned into a grin as her fingers touched her neck. “Y’know? This actually isn’t so bad. It just burns a little.”

“Earns its name?”

Scrunching her nose, she tilted her head and swayed slightly. “Uh—I dunno. I wouldn’t call it ‘explicit’ if it were my call.”

“No?” I watched her irises twinkle by the effect of the colored lights and wished I could kiss her right then and there.

“Fire, maybe?”

“A little cliché, don’t you think?”

“Right,” she mockingly nodded, “excuse me for not being fluent in liquor.”

“What do you do for a living, anyway?” Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a group of friends at the end of the room. Subtly, I began to shift so they wouldn’t see my face.

“I’m an accountant.”

“Oh, so… boring.”

Outraged, yet holding back a laugh, she let her jaw drop as her lips made a big ‘O’. “Okay, that’s it for you, buddy. Move along.”

“Abel.”

“Able to what?”

I chuckled, shaking my head, “My name’s not buddy. It’s Abel.”

“Unusual.”

“This is the part where you tell me yours.”

“Ella.”

“Is that French?”

Dipping her head, she scoffed. “Okay, I gotta go.”

“Find your friends?”

“If I may?”

“Knock yourself out,” I grinned. “I have to go refill, anyway.”

As I made my way to the bar, I repeatedly glanced over my shoulder, following her with my eyes. Stepping farther and farther away from me, she seemed to settle in a corner. Soon enough, a man’s back blocked my view. He was speaking with her.

“Are we done?” I asked the bartender.

“Yup, you’re all set.”

“Thanks.” I quickly turned away, penetrating the crowd as I covered the distance between us. I didn’t stop watching them, and as he shifted to turn, I recognized his face. Steve Palmer. Of course, he was here; the man owned shares in half the city’s night spots. He had also just wrecked his last engagement by getting caught in bed with a stripper. In my opinion, Steve was just another Jude in a more expensive suit.

“Dangerous?” I popped my tray between them, tilting my head as I smiled with closed lips.

Raising her eyebrows, Ella picked up a shot glass with two fingers. “Let me guess. Another spice?”

I nodded, infusing some sarcasm into my tone, “Black pepper. Well done!”

Steve stared at my face for a second, furrowing his eyebrows before looking at her. He then turned to me again, confused. He definitely recognized me, but then again, the cocaine fogging up his brain must have been playing tricks on him.