Chapter 10
Ten
NICO
The minute she walked into the room, my gaze locked on her.
She is the most important person in my life right now and is the key to my successful future.
There is nobody else that I want. She is the one, and even five minutes away from me was too long.
Until the deal is done, she is going nowhere, and as my gaze followed her progress, I witnessed everything.
It takes me seconds to arrive by her side, my rage bristling the moment he laid his hands on her.
By the time I reach them, it’s pretty obvious what’s going down, and I tug her gently toward me and say coolly, “Darling, aren’t you going to introduce us?”
Her cheating boyfriend stares in surprise, and his mouth drops to the floor.
“Nico.”
Regina leans against me, and it’s obvious she’s dealing with a lot right now. I place my arm around her waist and pull her closer and glare at her boyfriend. “If you’ll excuse us, I want to dance with this gorgeous woman.”
I don’t give him time to reply as I pull her away, signaling to my men to dispose of him from sight. The moment his hands touched her sealed his fate. I will not tolerate another man’s hands on my property and he will suffer the consequences of that.
I pull her into my arms and flush against my body, my hands holding her against me with no room to escape.
She rests her face against my chest and follows my lead, and I whisper in her ear, “I take it that was your cheating ex and his date for the night.”
“They are engaged. She’s more than just a date, it seems.”
“I see.”
I rub circles on her back, oblivious to the curious stares directed our way.
She whispers, “He was cheating on me the entire time, and I never saw it coming.”
I pull back and tilt her beautiful face to mine and ask. “Do you want to leave?”
Her eyes swim with tears as she shakes her head. “These are tears of anger, Nico. Tears of humiliation, rage and disbelief, but for some reason they are not tears of pain.”
My thumb eases the tears from the corner of each eye, and I smile. “Rage and anger are good. They are powerful emotions that can be harnessed and used to better yourself.”
“How?”
“By being better. For showing others what they’re missing and elevating yourself above them. Proving that you are better than them and they are fools for ever believing they were your equals.”
“That’s easy for you to say.”
“Do you think this has been easy for me?” I shake my head.
“Life isn’t easy when you come from my beginnings. Every dollar I have was earned the hard way.”
“I know what that’s like.” She nods her agreement, and my eyes lift in surprise.
“Do you now?”
“Yes, it’s not easy starting a business from scratch, is it?
I mean, endless videos going nowhere at first almost made me give up.
But then I got my first order, then my second, and soon I was getting three orders every day.
I mean, it’s spiraling, Nico, and I may even have to rent a larger condo soon. ”
“I get what you mean.”
I maintain a grave expression, but I’m laughing inside. She is so adorable, clueless but adorable and nothing like I’m used to. She is refreshing and addictive, and for a man who doesn’t believe in fate, I am fast becoming converted.
I notice her ex-boyfriend being escorted from the room and spin her so her back is against them.
She doesn’t need to witness that. He is in her past, and I am her future now.
He will endure an uncomfortable evening courtesy of my guards, and his date will be free to find another companion, one who doesn’t treat her with such disrespect.
Meanwhile, I am about to make another offer tonight that cannot be refused.
I tilt her face to meet mine and whisper, “I have a plan for revenge.”
“You do?”
Her eyes widen, and I am lost in them. They are so deep, sucking me in and capturing my attention far more than anyone has before.
“They say the best way to get over someone is to, well, get under someone else.”
“Excuse me.”
I grip her a little tighter. “Relax, not literally. What I mean is, two can play at that game, and you could have the most spectacular revenge ever.”
“How?”
I twirl her to the side of the room, away from the speakers, and as I spin her behind a white pillar, I push her back against the marble and lean forward, whispering, “As it happens, I need a fiancée for Christmas. To take home to my family to get me off the hook of an arranged marriage. Your revenge will be the publicity that brings, enjoying the benefits of being my intended with the kudos that go with it. You will be the talk of the town, the woman everyone wants to be around, and your ex-boyfriend will notice your face everywhere and hear your name on everyone’s lips.
Your business will power past its current level, and you will be assured of success. ”
The shock on her face is worthy of a great painting, and she gasps, “Marry you?”
“I didn’t say that.”
I’ll keep that surprise for later.
“I need you to pretend you are in love with me and said yes to my proposal. In return, I’ll help you get your revenge and expand your business.”
“In name only though.”
Her eyes widen. “I mean, we wouldn’t actually, well–”
She blushes, and I lean closer, running my thumb down her soft face as I whisper, “For appearances’ sake, we may have to kiss from time to time.”
“Hmm, that could work.”
Her impish grin steals a little of my heart, and her eyes gleam as she whispers, “Do you think we should practice?”
“That depends on whether you accept my, um, proposal.”
“And I would have revenge and exposure.”
Remembering her previous outfit, I’d say exposure isn’t new to her, but I nod, serious as we conduct business.
“Of course.”
“And you would require me to spend Christmas with your family.”
“It’s just a couple of days.”
My gaze burn into hers as I will her to accept and she blushes, her breathing erratic as she nods, her tongue swiping her lips as she whispers, “I can help you out; after all, it’s the least I can do.”
The moment when a plan comes together will never get old.
Success drives my passion, and right in this moment, I have scored a direct hit.
The deal of my lifetime because it sets me free while chaining her to me.
To control another person’s life is a serious turn-on for me, and she doesn’t know it yet, but there will be more than just a few stolen kisses involved in this arrangement.
“You will be required to sign a contract.”
“A business one?”
“Of course.”
“What else?”
I cup her face in my hands and stare at her with dark ownership. “You will move in with me.”
“At your parent’s house?”
Fuck, I forgot Christmas is a few days away.
“Yes, but until then, you will stay with me.”
“Why?”
“Because it needs to be believable. You must be comfortable with me. It won’t work unless you are.”
“It’s only for a couple of days, so of course.”
She blinks, her chest rising and falling as she breathes deeply, her heart beating erratically as she gazes into my eyes.
“Then we should seal the deal.”
“We should.”
I dip my face closer, and she closes her eyes, and as my lips touch hers, the music fades into the background.
I enjoy her like a fine wine or a decadent canapé.
A small example of what’s coming, the promise of decadence and a delicious feast. Her lips taste of strawberries, and she smells of flowers and spice.
My senses are controlled by her, the soft feel of her skin against my fingers, the scent of her surrounding me.
She is sweet and pure, and the warmth from her body is relaxing against mine. I take my time and kiss her softly, my tongue probing deeper, my cock hard against her stomach. She kisses me back, matching every stroke of my tongue, sampling, feeding off my energy, giving back as good as she gets.
The fact that I’m kissing her in public is a first for me.
I don’t kiss, not like this, and yet I want more of it.
We are making out like teenagers at their first prom, and it feels so good.
Right even and as the music changes to a powerful rhapsody, I drop my hands and pull her body flush with mine, deepening the kiss with the promise that this is the beginning of something amazing.