Chapter 4
Vanessa
“Aren’t you glad I talked you into going out tonight?” Amelia slipped her arm through one of mine, our friend Katy the other as we headed toward the bar.
“Dinner was fun. You know I love tacos.” At least I was in a better mood than hours before. I’d spent the afternoon fuming after the asshole had left, cursing him in unknown languages to make myself feel better.
Nothing had worked until I’d had half of my first margarita. Maybe that’s because I’d continued to see dollar signs throughout the day.
I’d also continuously heard the word ‘shrew.’ Why hadn’t I been up front with the man and told him the very asshole who’d made me so…
strong and independent was sitting in the seat across from me.
Because I knew he wouldn’t have cared. Maybe I was hurt he didn’t remember me.
When I’d walked into his office that day, I’d felt a twinge of heat between my legs.
Then he’d opened his mouth.
Just like he’d done in my office.
Sugar daddy, my ass, even if the age difference was applicable. So was the slight gray accosting his temples.
“Tacos for the win,” Katy said. “Time to stop thinking about Mr. Asshole.” She threw open the door to the festive bar before tossing her long blonde hair.
I liked to call it Barbie blonde for two reasons.
As a doctor, graduating from medical school at twenty-three, she was smart as a whip and often mislabeled as dumb blonde and two, everywhere we went, men fell all over her.
Not the case for me.
That was alright. I didn’t have time to think about dating.
“I’m not thinking about Mr. Asshole.” But of course, I’d yet to be able to get him off my mind. His arrogance had permanently ingrained disdain in my brain.
“Yes, you are,” they both said at the same time.
“Let’s find a table by the fountain,” Amelia stated, already pulling away and heading to the garishly decorated area on the far side of the bar.
With neon signs on every wall, the location was the inspiration for the art I’d purchased for mine.
In seeing the way the jerk had looked at it in amusement, I now regretted my decision.
When we were seated, she leaned over. “What’s wrong with accepting one million dollars for the company? You won’t need to deal with him. You’ll just find an actress or model with the ability to ignore his ugly ass.”
“A-hem. He might be an arrogant prick, but you can’t tell me he’s not the hottest looking man in the city.”
I glanced at Katy, lifting a single eyebrow. “That doesn’t make up for him being such a creep. He oozed of smarminess.”
“That’s not a word,” Amelia teased.
“Trust me. It’s a word. You’ll find it in the dictionary with his picture attached.”
“I’ve never seen you hate anyone so much.” Katy shook her head. “If I didn’t know you better than I do, I’d say you like him. Come on, admit it.”
“Not a chance in hell,” I huffed and flagged down the waitress walking by. “We need drinks. Now.” I felt even more embarrassed about the reasoning for my extreme hatred of the man.
My two friends were laughing. At me. “Listen to you,” Katy chortled.
“What?”
“He crawled under your skin.”
“Katy, I love you to death, but no man will ever do that. Christian Elliot proves it’s better to own a dog.
” As we ordered drinks, I scanned the bar.
Everyone was having a fabulous time, something I rarely did any longer.
I’d sequestered myself because of work. Plus, with little money, I wouldn’t be out in South Beach tonight if the girls hadn’t insisted on giving me an early birthday present.
Five months early.
“Come on, girl. Have a drink and forget he exists. Although I will admit, I could use a raise.” Amelia laughed, but she had no idea how tempting the offer was.
The girls were right. After the initial discussions regarding the contract, I wouldn’t need to deal with him on a daily basis. I’d check in on the… relationship, of course, but I could do that over the phone. The offer was more than tempting.
It was a lifeline.
I had few other choices. Maybe I could help Donovan. I loved my brother, but he had no idea how much stress he caused in my life.
Sadly, accepting the contract with the man felt icky, as if I’d be selling a portion of my soul. However, I’d had to ask myself whether my scruples had been set a tad too high.
“I know,” I admitted. “And I almost feel bad I was so horrible to him. Almost.” Not really. But they didn’t need to deal with the brunt of my nasty mood. “But he’s just one of the most uncaring men in the world. He’s so rich, yet he does nothing with his money other than add to his wealth.”
“Do you think it’s possible you’re wrong?” Katy asked with her eyebrows raised.
“Have you heard something I haven’t? He has dozens of enemies because of how he dismantled their companies.”
“Maybe there’s more to him. Besides, why not take some of that wealth off his hands? Think of it this way,” Amelia continued. “You’d be doing the world a favor.”
Boats. Cars. Luxury homes. Vacation homes. The man had it all.
Maybe I was a teensy bit jealous. “I’ll think about it.”
We laughed, the conversation turning to aspects of their lives, which at this point seemed vastly more engaging than mine. What was the phrase about all work and no play?
Why couldn’t I get him off my mind even for ten minutes? Was it about the money or the man? There was no logical answer. Did I find him attractive? Absolutely, but that couldn’t matter in my decision. Money was money, but at what price?
As his image faded from my mind, I sat back, determined to forget about his chiseled jaw. The perfect hint of stubble.
Seconds passed.
Glorious minutes.
We talked.
We laughed.
I started to relax and when we were on our second drink, I was finally able to let it go for the night.
“I’ll be right back. I need to go to the restroom,” I told the girls.
“Pick us up some hot men while you’re gone,” Katy suggested in her purring voice. Something else I wasn’t good at. “Make them hot as sin.”
“I’ll see what I can do.” I headed through the crowd toward the large neon sign indicating the restrooms. Being it was Thursday night, there were hundreds of people in the bar, most laughing and enjoying being with friends while I was still crunching numbers in my head.
One million dollars would go a long way. A very long way.
I made it to the ladies’ room without being pawed, a feat when copious volumes of alcohol were involved.
After waiting for a couple of minutes, I headed into the stall, images of the powerful man popping into my mind.
I’d done a deeper dive into Elliot Enterprises and what I’d found was as disgusting as Christian’s reputation.
His behavior was ruthless, every endeavor shredding the companies purchased. Not a single employee had been left after the purchase, all tossed out on the street with one week of severance pay. What kind of animal did that?
Yes, they were extremely profitable and by all accounts, their sudden surge in profits could be attributed directly to Christian.
For some crazy reason, that alone made me hate him that much more.
Perhaps because the day I’d left his office defeated, I’d vowed to have an even more successful company than he could dream of.
I washed my hands, reapplying lipstick. If I considered his offer, I’d need to find the right woman.
From those on my roster, no one jumped out at me.
Some were clearly qualified, yet I’d gathered the distinct feeling he’d be extremely picky.
What if he made moves on them? Surely, he didn’t think they should be required to…
perform. Ugh. The thought was nauseating.
Granted, I could have ironclad additions made to the contract so that sex wasn’t allowed.
The entire situation weighed heavily on my mind.
As I opened the door, two girls pushed their way in. I had to fight to get through the crush of people.
The moment I did, another group of people managed to shove me forward, my heels catching on something on the floor.
And I was pitched against a rock-hard substance made of brick and body heat.
“Oh, shit.” My reaction was involuntary and I threw my hands forward, wrapping my fingers around something soft.
“Oh, shit, indeed.”
The deep voice penetrated my eardrums, his scent immediately intoxicating while the crush of heat exploding jetted deep within my core. I lifted my head, realizing I was clinging to the person I’d been knocked into.
While I’d hoped for a stranger, somewhere deep in my brain I’d recognized his voice.
Not just any voice, but that of Christian Elliot.
The devil in disguise.
There was a moment where every noise was driven into a vacuum.
In the flickering neon light hanging overhead, I could tell his eyes were twinkling.
While he was keeping me steady, he had also pulled me even closer until his body was like a form-fitting glove.
I was momentarily locked in shock as I peered into his penetrating eyes.
Instantly, I was lost in the fragrance of deep woods and a hint of the ocean, a splash of citrus and a dash of exotic spice.
Instead of easing me back like a gentleman would do, he shifted his hips. The move caused the realization that he was completely aroused, his cock throbbing between my legs.
“You should watch where you’re going, Ms. Blair. You never know when you’ll meet a predator.”
“A predator. That’s a perfect title for you.”
“Oh, but I sensed you know every way of handling a man with ill intent.”
I should be pushing myself away from him. I should show him how irritated I was, but I wasn’t moving. I couldn’t. I was momentarily under some strange hypnotic spell.
His chest was rising and falling, his jaw clenched, but from the twinkle remaining in his eyes, I sensed he was enjoying the moment of being in control.
Not for long.