Chapter 21
THE AGENT
CHLOE
Ididn’t know someone’s face was capable of turning crimson red until Dante stepped into the lobby of the next apartment building.
He also managed to show off a rather unique shade of red when we reached The Croft, but I think the current building—The Raven—had them both beat.
I covered my face with my hands as we entered the latest indoor pool area and came face to face with a bubbling bowl of swamp green and brown water.
“That’s it.” Dante hissed at the manager. “Pack up your fucking office and get the hell out. I’ve got it from here.”
“It was blue yesterday, sir, I swear!” the manager pleaded. “We were having a pool party and everything.”
“Bullshit.” He pointed to the door. “Leave. Now.”
I watched him make phone calls to other engineers, and for the rest of the day, we fell into a similar pattern of him cursing at managers and demanding change plans.
I considered tipping off the media to his plans—to get him some much-needed good press—but I held off.
This soon would be performative.
It needed to breathe for a few weeks…
By the time we returned to my place, it was a little after eight, and his Audi was untouched as promised.
“Maybe you should look at my place another time,” I suggested as we walked up my steps. “It’s been a pretty long day for you.”
“It’s just one more,” he said. “I’d like to see…”
I pushed the door open and was suddenly grateful for the imperfections and lack of upkeep.
Things were bad, but compared to what we’d seen today, my place practically looked luxurious.
Dante didn’t look impressed at all, but he followed me upstairs and tapped a few notes on his phone.
I opened my door and looked over my shoulder.
“You kind of have to duck past this first part so your head won’t touch the ceiling, okay?”
“Oh, and if you need to use the bathroom, we share the one out there,” I said. “Not in here.”
He gave me a blank stare.
I let out a sigh before letting him all the way inside.
He stretched out his hands, nearly touching both sides of my place.
“It’s pretty spacious for this part of town,” I said. “Any bigger and I’d have to pay an extra thousand a month.”
“That’s a twin-sized bed.” He pointed at my mattress. “How have you ever had company over with that?”
“Because I haven’t had company at all.” I crossed my arms, feeling my stomach flip. “Not that my sex life is any of your business.”
“I wasn’t referring to sex.” He smiled. “Just company in general, but good to know…”
“I have foldable chairs in the closet.” I tried to change the subject. “Plus my friend’s space is three times this size, so—”
“So, it’s still small as shit.” He pressed his hand against my sad excuse for a window. “I can better understand why you snuck into my condos now.”
“Does that mean all is forgiven and we’re even?”
He let out a low laugh. “Nice try.”
He stepped out into the hallway and made a phone call before returning.
“Paul will have a separate team over in the morning, and we’ll get things handled within a month,” he said. “Do you want to stay here until they’re finished fixing things?”
“It’s where I live,” I said.
“That’s not what I asked you, Chloe…” The way he enunciated my name sent a rush of heat through my body. “Do you want to stay here until they’re finished fixing things?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t think going home with you is a good idea.”
“Ever or just for now?”
I blushed, unsure of how to answer that question.
I felt something between us for sure—something I’d never felt for any other guy this soon, but I was convinced it was just the billionaire and power imbalance.
It had to be…
As if he could tell I was struggling to speak, he pulled a pen from his suit jacket and clicked it. Then he moved to my desk and scribbled something atop my notebook.
“That’s my contact at The Four Seasons,” he said, moving closer to me. “You’re more than welcome to stay in my suite until things are completed here.”
“Will you be dropping by to check on me?”
“Not unless you want me to.” He ran his fingers through my hair. “Do you want me to?”
“I think we should keep things platonic.”
“You should’ve said that before you let me feel how wet your pussy was for me…”
“That’s not what happened.”
“No?” He lowered his voice. “What exactly happened, then?”
“A lapse in judgment between the two of us.”
“Okay.” He pulled me flush against his chest and kissed me harder than he did the first time, making me surrender to my lies with every brush of his tongue against mine.
“Come home with me,” he whispered. “Let me fuck you…”
Say yes. Say HELL YES…
I shook my head. “I can’t.”
“Why?”
“Because…” I slowly pulled away from him. “I’ll just be another example of you getting whatever you want, whenever you want…”
He arched a brow, looking stunned.
His lips parted, as if he were about to say something else, but he stepped back.
“I need to look into every single building I own—residential and commercial—over the next six weeks, and I’d like you to join me so you can use this in your upcoming press kits for me,” he said. “I’ll pick you up every morning at seven.”
“Okay.”
“Good.” He headed to my door, but not before stopping at my open closet and tugging at one of the hangers.
“Oh and Chloe?” He looked over his shoulder at me.
“Yes?”
“This—” he said, pulling out the hanger. “Is a fucking pantsuit. Let me know if I need to buy you more of these…”