Chapter 10
CHAPTER TEN
Considering it was our first day in the new office, I had to say I was impressed by how smoothly everything had come together in the first two hours.
After the initial chaos of my team and me settling in and adjusting, I finally managed to catch up on emails and confirm two new events for next week.
However, it would be dinner with Titus tonight that would determine whether I could continue with my usual routine of scheduled events. I honestly had no idea what I’d done to earn that man’s interest in virtually claiming me as his personal event planner.
Before agreeing to anything, I needed to know whether working exclusively for Titus Hawk would strengthen my company—or quietly limit everything I’d built.
“Hey,” Amelia said, sitting on the sofa with a box of Chinese takeout in her hand. “I got dinner.”
I smiled at her. “You look much better tonight,” I said, walking toward her and leaning down to give her a quick hug. “How was your day?”
“Really good,” she said. “Thank you for calling the movers to get my stuff out of the apartment. I’ll pay you back.”
“Don’t worry about that,” I said, pulling off my heels. “Let’s just continue to get you settled in and moving forward. You’re a strong woman, and I’m proud of you for making the decision to completely remove yourself from that man and that place.”
“If I stayed, I knew I would just fall into a depression,” she said, her features darkening. “So, I’m so grateful I had the courage to leave and start over somewhere else.”
I smiled at her, “Me too.”
“Quick, go change, and then we can eat Chinese takeout and watch America’s Got Talent together like old times,” she said excitedly.
“That sounds so enticing, but I’m afraid I’ve got a late meeting with a potential client tonight.”
“Ah?” she said after slurping up the noodles she’d just eaten off her chopsticks. “Who’s the lucky billionaire this time?”
“Titus Hawk,” I said flatly.
“Have I heard about this one?” she questioned.
“No, I don’t think we’ve talked since I salvaged his event in Monaco,” I answered.
“Is he gorgeous and available?” she teased. “Perhaps dating a billionaire can help me streamline things and create a stable life for the little one who’s on the way.”
I laughed with her. “He’s gorgeous, and he’s most likely single…but available?” I arched an eyebrow at her. “Honey, you saw how my last relationship worked out with a wealthy man who owned his own company.”
“Right,” she looked at me sympathetically. “Eric Mueller had as many girlfriends in other countries as he had bank accounts,” she rolled her eyes. “How did you manage to get over that pain?”
My eyes wandered to the ocean shimmering beyond the houses that surrounded mine.
Five years earlier, I’d shown up to one of Eric Mueller’s events only to discover the woman beside him wasn’t a client.
She was one of fourteen mistresses.
The scandal that followed destroyed his company, landed him in prison, and taught me one lesson I’d never forgotten.
Never confuse wealth with character.
“Sis?” Amelia said, snapping me out of my thoughts. “I’m sorry to bring it up.”
“No,” I said, coming back to the present moment. “I just haven’t thought about the man in years. I guess I got over him by focusing on myself and living my life on my own terms. I grew my company to what it is today, and if I’d allowed that heartbreak to consume me, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
“How did we manage to get screwed over like this?” Amelia said, taking a bite of her spicy chicken. “We’re stunning goddesses, and yet, these guys throw it all away.”
I chuckled. “This is true,” I said, turning to leave.
“I think it’s our choice in men. The more attractive they are, the more of an asshole they tend to be.
” I winked at her. “Okay, I seriously need to change. Titus is having a car pick me up, and apparently, his helicopter is bringing me to a place where he wants to meet me exclusively.”
Her brows pulled together, “Shit, this guy is pretty—”
“He’s Titus Hawk,” I said dryly. “Everything with him comes with a bigger budget.”
“Luxurious as hell, eh?”
“You have no idea, but the good news is, if he hires me as his exclusive planner, I will be charging him half a million to sign the agreement and at least that for every event I plan for him.”
“Holy shit, is that what you usually charge clients?”
“No,” I smiled at her. “Just the ones who like to flash their wealth in front of everyone because it makes up for their shortcomings in other areas of life,” I laughed.
“Get it, girl,” she grinned. “Okay, I won’t keep you.”
“Don’t wait up. I have no idea how long this meeting will last. This man is just as stubborn and persistent as I am when it comes to challenging what he wants.”
“Can’t wait to hear about the end result tomorrow,” she laughed. “Oh, and I did get an appointment with Dr. Aster for next week, Mickie Aster. I did what you said and mentioned I was your sister, and I got right in.”
“See, there are some perks from me being around these rich folks all the time, aren’t there?”
“Never said there wasn’t,” she finished with a laugh after I left her to eat.
I walked into my room to find a dress suitable for a business dinner at his estate. Why he wanted dinner there instead of a restaurant—or better yet, showing up at my office like a normal person—was beyond me. But then again, it was Titus. Everything with him was always on a grand scale.
I finally opted for a warm cashmere sweater paired with slacks, knowing his home sat high on the bluffs overlooking the ocean.
I wore a silk camisole underneath, though, just in case the coastal breeze was warmer than expected.
As always, I wanted to look classy and polished but stay comfortable no matter what the weather decided to do.
When I stepped out to find the black car Titus had sent for me already waiting, I immediately noticed it wasn’t just any car. Because, of course, it wasn’t. It was a damn Rolls, another reason I wasn’t afraid to demand my worth tonight from this man.
So, without appearing impressed by the vehicle that had come to deliver me to his private chopper, I took my time walking toward it, because if Titus Hawk thought I was about to rush into anything tied to him, he clearly didn’t know who he’d just invited into his world.
The driver stepped out before I reached the door, opening it with a quiet, practiced efficiency. The man offered me a respectful nod as I slid into the back seat.
The interior smelled like leather and money.
The driver pulled away smoothly, and I watched as the world outside turned into a blur of palm trees and glass buildings.
I crossed one leg over the other, pulling out my phone more out of habit than necessity. If I accepted Titus as an exclusive client, I’d have to expand my company—not replace it. That decision would affect every client who’d trusted me to get this far.
That was the only part that made me nervous.
Dropping clients for one man. Jesus, I could lose everything—including my reputation—if I got money-hungry tonight.
I had to maintain my composure and do what was right for me first, then for my business.
But truly, being the sole event architect for one billionaire, known to host these events practically every other weekend and in different countries, well, I’d be lying if I said this wasn’t a dream come true for me.
My mind shifted from those thoughts the second we turned toward the private access road. We went through gates and security, all of which was a subtle but unmistakable escalation into the world of the Titus Hawk, the man I was meeting on a much more private level tonight.
The driver spoke for the first time. “We’ll be at the helipad in two minutes, Ms. Veléz.”
“Thank you,” I answered, seemingly unfazed by Titus rolling out his version of a red carpet just for dinner and to go over the necessary details for me and my team to work for him.
When the car pulled over to the helipad, the sleek black helicopter was already running when we arrived. I watched as the blades sliced through the air in a steady, powerful rhythm.
The driver opened my door again, offering a hand. “Thank you,” I said, accepting the gesture and forcing myself to remain composed.
The pilot gave me a polite nod, guiding me toward the cabin. I climbed in, fastening the headset as the door shut beside me, sealing me in a world that suddenly felt…very small. Once the pilot was settled, the helicopter lifted off, and we were officially on our way to Titus Hawk’s estate.
I watched as Newport stretched out beneath us, the water shining under the early-evening sun and numerous yachts as they cut clean lines through the harbor as if they owned it.
I leaned back, watching Newport grow smaller in the distance. Titus wasn’t simply inviting me to dinner. He was bringing me to his world, and I had no doubt that was intentional.
By the time the coastline shifted and the cliffs of Pacific Palisades came into view, I was already recalibrating and refocusing my thoughts.
The estate came into view like a cinematic reveal. It was perched above the ocean, glass and stone catching the light in a way that felt less like architecture and more like a statement.
I exhaled softly, adjusting my headset as we began to descend.
Let’s see if the man lives up to the entrance, I thought as the helicopter hovered over his private helipad.
The helicopter touched down with a controlled precision that matched everything else about this experience.
When the door opened, and the chilly ocean breeze hit my skin, I was very grateful I wore my cashmere sweater. The last thing I needed to be doing was rubbing my arms like a child trying to keep warm in front of the man who stood waiting for my arrival.
The second my heel hit the concrete, I felt the man’s gaze on me, as if I were a meek little lamb and he were the lion preparing to devour his prey.
That’s why I didn’t look over at him right away.
Instead, I took a few measured steps forward, sliding my sunglasses up onto my head as if I had all the time in the world.
Finally, I focused on the man, and damn. He was just standing there, looking casually commanding.
I noted the black button-down he wore, with sleeves rolled just enough to suggest control rather than effort. His dark denim jeans were fitted, not trying too hard, which somehow made it worse. As if he didn’t need anything extra to make an impression.
And he didn’t. The man could dress casually yet still somehow seem to own the entire world. On a more personal level, now that I was alone with him, I could truly observe his appearance and presence.
He had broad shoulders and a relaxed stance, with one hand tucked into his pocket as if he’d been standing there for exactly as long as he’d intended to.
My gaze briefly and strategically lingered on the details of this man’s appearance. The open collar at his throat. The way the fabric pulled across his chest as he shifted his weight, and the kind of stillness that didn’t come from calm but from control.
God, this man is—I stopped the thought before it finished.
We were not going there. Absolutely not.
I’d built an entire career on reading people in seconds. On seeing through the surface of their appearances, through their unmistakable charm, and through the carefully constructed image they put on display.
And Titus Hawk? He embodied his image. He radiated refinement, control, and an air of intentionality, down to the last detail. These men were dangerous, especially to those who allowed themselves to be intimidated.
My lips curved slightly as I approached him, each step measured to match his energy, yet I withheld the satisfaction of acknowledging the impressive experience he’d made me part of, an admission into his world.
“Helicopter, really?” I said, tilting my head just enough to acknowledge the obvious without giving it weight. “How very subtle of you.”
His steady gaze held mine, still assessing, and with a new expression I’d never seen on the man… he was amused.
“It got you here,” he replied smoothly.
And there it was again… that quiet, underlying confidence, as if he didn’t need to prove anything because he already knew exactly where he stood.
I stopped a few feet in front of him, letting the silence stretch just long enough to feel intentional. Then I let my eyes flick over him once more—slower this time, unapologetic.
Because if he was going to make a statement, I was going to evaluate it. This wasn’t just about him hiring me anymore; it was now about whether I would work exclusively for him.
“I trust the trip here was uneventful,” he said with a smirk that could unravel a woman who wasn’t mentally armored against men like him.
“Mm,” I hummed softly. “I’m still deciding whether I’m impressed or concerned.”
A faint smile touched his mouth, “Why concerned?”
I met his gaze fully now, no shields, no distractions. “Because men who go to this level of effort usually want something very specific,” I said lightly. “And I like knowing exactly what I’m walking into, especially with a man like you.”
His eyes remained locked on mine. “Good,” he answered. “That makes two of us.”
Something in my chest tightened—just slightly. Annoyingly. It was an odd sensation, and I honestly couldn’t label it. I exhaled slowly, forcing my attention back into place, back into control where it belonged.
Because attraction? Attraction was easy, predictable, and manageable. However, this was something else. And I wasn’t entirely sure yet whether that worked in my favor or his.
I smiled as I brushed past him. “I’m starving,” I said over my shoulder. “I hope dinner’s ready.”
“I hope you enjoy lamb?”
“Excellent choice,” I said as he walked up to my side and offered his arm.
I took it and didn’t miss the fact that he seemed lighter, more amused, and dare I say friendlier.
However, his choice of meal, which I’d compared myself to just moments before the helicopter landed, made me truly wonder whether he was the lion and I was the precious little lamb he was about to devour.
I knew I needed to get out of my head, but nothing about this meeting was normal.
Hell, I usually didn’t even meet with the billionaires whose events I planned—I was typically hired through their finance departments, and once everything was set, I’d have brief meetings to ensure their needs were met.
But this? Especially from a man who seemed to think I’d ripped off his company to save his event in Monaco…well, it only fed the predatory comparison. I just couldn’t fully comprehend why he’d had a sudden change of heart. Although I was sure I’d find out soon enough.
Regardless of the reason, I wasn’t leaving this dinner desperate for his business. It would be the other way around.