Defying Dorian: Bad Boy Billionaire Romance (32 page)

Katy paused for a moment. Nodding, she pointed her index finger in my direction and said, “Well, has he asked you to find him any other escorts?”

“No,” I replied. “In fact, I only managed to get one for him, which he hated. He tore up her picture and stepped on it in the floor of his limousine.”

Katy laughed. “There you go.”

“Where do I go, Katy? What does that prove?”

“Maddie, Greyson is communicating to you in his own way that he wants to spend time with you.”

“I’m so confused. If that’s true, why not just tell me that?”

“Simple.”

“It is?”

“Sure. If he asks you out and you say no,
you
win. But if he pays you and you say no, then it’s just a business deal that didn't work out. He doesn’t lose.”

“But, that’s not what happened.”

“Right, so you’re both getting what you want, for now.”

“For now?”

“Yes, you get the money you need and he gets the opportunity he wants. To use some biz jargon, it’s a win-win deal.”

I felt my shoulders slump. Not that I thought there was any real truth to Katy’s interpretation of this situation, but if there was, did I want to start a ‘relationship’ like this? It sure didn’t seem romantic. Not in the least.

I exhaled. “So, you’re suggesting I just go along with whatever he wants to do with me? To me?”

“No. But, this is Greyson
freaking
Sinclair we are talking about here. He’s only one of the most intimidating, powerful, sexy, rich, insert whatever adjective you want, men on Earth and he’s paying you to spend time with him! Maddie, wake up!”

“Ugh,” I groaned as I looked up to the ceiling. “I don’t want to talk about this anymore. I’m going to bed.”

“Okay,” Katy said, as I began to walk down the hallway towards my room. “But Maddie…”

Stopping mid-stride, I did a half-turn back towards Katy. “What?”

“Look at it this way. What’s the worst that can happen? So long as you keep it professional, like Greyson does, you’ll have a great time. After all you've been through, don’t you at least deserve that much?”

“I don’t know. I guess so. I’m just sick of screwing up.”

A soft smile lit Katy’s face. “I know sweetie. You won’t. Try not to worry about it.”

“I won’t. I just want to do my best.”

She walked up next to me. Hooking her arm inside mine, she started to walk down the hallway with me towards our rooms.

“You better,” she began. “Besides, how the hell else are you supposed to buy me a new microwave?”

* * *

A
s the second
day of Greyson’s meetings drew to a close, I sat in the limousine outside the studio offices and waited for him. We had dinner plans for the evening and with the promise of a fresh infusion of cash only a couple of days away, I spent the afternoon picking up some things to wear for the remainder of his stay. At least now I wouldn't be a complete embarrassment to him when we went out in the evenings.

Tonight I’d settled on a cute black jumpsuit with a plunging neck line and flowing pant legs. I accented it with a sexy metallic shrug, which was not only comfortable but hugged my curves in just the right spots. I’d opted to wear my hair up, mostly at Katy's insistence, but after I’d completed the ensemble, I had to admit she was right.

Glancing out the window of the car, I noticed Greyson walking towards us in the middle of group of four other men. They stopped about twenty yards away, paused, shook hands and then dispersed after about a minute or so. Afterward, Greyson continued towards the vehicle alone. As he did, I took one last look at my reflection in my compact before snapping it closed and sliding it back into my clutch.

Armando exited and opened the door for Greyson.

“Good evening, sir,” Armando said as he held the door open.

Greyson nodded as he began to climb inside the vehicle. “Armando.”

A subtle breeze carried traces of Greyson’s cologne in my direction. Slightly sweet citrus notes combined with hints of leather set my senses alight. It was a musky medley, wild and irresistible, a tantalizing reflection of the man who wore it. As Armando closed the door behind him, Greyson slid into his seat and looked in my direction. I smiled at him, but before I could offer a greeting, he spoke.

“Wow, Maddie. You look…
fucking incredible
. And I mean that in the most deplorable sense imaginable.”

I smiled and shook my head.

Strange that the notion I had of how a billionaire would behave clashed in such harsh contrast with the real life example seated next to me.

It’s not that Greyson wasn’t refined; he could be if it suited his purpose.

It’s not that Greyson wasn’t sophisticated; he knew how to carry himself in any setting.

And, of course, it’s not that Greyson wasn’t charming; he could dazzle any woman he desired.

No, Greyson Sinclair was
all
of those things when he needed, or wanted, to be. But the thing that caught me the most by surprise with this man was his total, utter,
fearlessness
.

Whether it was beating up some random dirtball in line at the club or feeling so sure of himself to say what he’d just said to me, I would be lying if I said his total disregard for consequences that would send ninety-nine percent of all men running didn’t turn me on.

It did.

And if I wasn’t careful, he’d know it.

So, with his ‘deplorable’ comment still fresh in my mind, I brushed it off with a casual chuckle.

“I’ve come to appreciate your unique manner of complimenting me, Greyson. Thank you.”

His caramel irises flickered in the soft light of the backseat. He leaned away from me and with a slight smile, he replied, “No, thank
you
. And Maddie…”

“Yes?”

“Call me Grey.”

I swallowed and looked away, uncertain of how I’d feel the first time I said
that
to him. As the limo drove off, I placed my hands in my lap, glanced out the window to my right and tried to change the focus of the conversation.

“So, I noticed you leaving with a few gentleman from the studio. All is going well, I hope?”

“Yes,” Grey replied. “As a matter of fact, I’ve concluded my business with them ahead of schedule.”

Turning to face him, I said, “Oh yes? Well, that’s excellent news then, I suppose, isn’t it?”

“In one sense, yes, it is. In another, less so.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, I’ll be leaving tomorrow morning. Back to Chicago. So that’s good.”

“Oh,” I replied, as I attempted to mask the sudden sense of disappointment I felt on hearing the twist to his travel plans. “So what is the bad part of that news?”

“Isn’t it obvious?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, if I’m leaving tomorrow, we only have tonight to spend with one another and conclude our business together. You
are
prepared to honor the commitment you made, aren’t you Maddie?”

Life-threatening nausea is not the best phrase I’d use to describe the feeling that pulsed through every vein, capillary and corpuscle in my body. But of all the sensations I experienced at that instant, it is the most easily relatable.

So we’ll go with it.

In the wake of that, my mind flashed with innumerable outcomes, most of which ended with me in a twisted tangle of sweaty flesh with the olive-skinned hunk seated next to me. I reached up and smoothed my eyebrow with the most casual stroke I could muster as I stalled for time.

Maddie! Wake up!

Snapping out of my funk, I realized I had to speak my mind. No matter the consequences. And the time to do it was right now.

“Um, Greyson…”

“Grey,” he interrupted.

“Sorry. Grey,” I said, correcting myself. “I don’t know how to say this, so I’ll just come out with it.”

He nodded. “I’d prefer that.”

“Please don’t take this wrong way, okay? Promise me that you won’t.”

“Scout’s honor,” he replied with a wink.

“Um, okay, well it’s like this. I want to keep our relationship
professional
. As much as I appreciate you being flexible and accepting the terms of my offer, I just, I don't want to ruin my business chances before they ever even get started. I hope that makes sense.” Turning my upper body towards him and placing my hand over my heart, I continued. “Please don’t be insulted.”

He leaned away from me with a look of confusion on his face.

“Maddie, why would I be insulted? I want the same thing.”

“You do?”

“Yes, of course. Why else would I agree to pay a king’s ransom to spend time with you?”

As he finished speaking, he reached down and slipped his hand into mine. Disbelief suspended me in the moment as he raised my hand towards his mouth and placed a single, perfectly moist kiss on the back of my hand. Electric shocks raced up my arm and sent a primal pulse to my brain, setting my carnal urges on edge and my desire to keep things ‘professional' in serious jeopardy.

Grey withdrew his lips from my flesh and lowered my hand back into my lap before releasing it.

“Let’s discuss the details over dinner,” he said with a grin. “I have a proposal that I think you’ll find tempting.”

W
e dined
at Chef Claude’s that night. After we were seated, he came out to the table and chatted with us. Nice guy. I know Maddie thought I was rude to him when we ate at the bar the first night I came to town. But if anything, I hoped she noticed the result. I operated by a simple rule, never take crap from people.

Ever.

If you give another person the slightest clue you think you’re less important than they are, it’s over. Now that Chef Claude went out of his way to glad-hand me, I was certain the point wouldn’t be lost on Maddie.

After ordering, I turned my attention to the issue at hand. She’d caught me a bit off guard. Not only was she a knockout, but the business idea she’d come up with was a damn good one. I watch startups fail all the time. Mostly it's because they just run out of money before they can make a go of it. Of course, when that happens, it’s great to be in the position I’m in. My companies have acquired more businesses on the verge of bankruptcy than I can remember. But that’s where the real bargains are in life. When people are desperate, they’ll do almost anything. And while Maddie might not be desperate just yet, I figured it wouldn’t be long.

I sensed an opportunity and there was no way in hell I’d leave town without making my intentions known.

I took a sip of my vodka rocks. The alcohol stung my taste buds as I swallowed it with a hard contraction. It was about the only thing that could have washed away the taste of her skin from my palate. Not that I wanted to be rid of it, mind you. I
had to be
, otherwise I’d never make it through the meal.

Placing the icy beverage down on the table, I looked across the table at her as she lifted her wine glass to her lips. Her fingers wrapped around the long, slender stem of the glass as she tilted it up and took a healthy swig of the deep purple liquid. I studied her throat muscles and watched as they contracted while the alcohol made its way inside her. Finishing, she placed the glass back down on the snow white tablecloth, made eye contact with me and smiled.

“So,” she said, as she cleared her throat a bit. “You mentioned you had a proposal you wanted to discuss with me?”

I nodded and leaned back in my chair.

“I have to tell you I’m impressed,” I said.

“Impressed?” she replied.

“Yes, with you, Maddie. With your business idea.”

“Oh,” she said. I noticed her skin turn the shade of red I’d grown accustomed to seeing when I said something that caused her embarrassment. “Thank you, Grey. That’s kind of you. I’d be a liar though if I told you it’s gone smoothly. It's been anything but.”

“Yes.” I nodded in agreement. “I’m well aware of that. But that still doesn’t mean it’s a bad idea. Far from it. You need some help though.”

“Help? What do you mean? What kind of help?”

Placing my forearms at the table’s edge, I leaned forward and folded my hands together in front of my face. As I tapped my fingers together, I said, “So how do you intend to grow your fledgling operation from this point on? What's your plan? Do you have one?”

She broke eye contact with me for a moment. Taking a lock of her hair and spinning it round her index finger, she continued, “Funny you should mention that.”

“Oh? Why is that?”

Maddie grimaced as she stammered, “Um, I was hoping to get a referral from you. You know, assuming you’re pleased with how things went.”

I stopped my fingers mid-tap and held them pressed against one another.

“Sure Maddie, I’d be happy to give you a referral,” I replied, as I smiled and leaned back in my chair.

Her expression brightening, Maddie straightened up in her chair and began to speak before I interrupted her with a warning.

“Even so, I can tell you right now you’re going to need a lot more than a referral from me, or anyone for that matter, if you hope to make a long-term go of this as a business. You need working capital. A plan to grow. Do you have any idea how to put that in place?”

Maddie’s face froze. I watched as her lips pressed together. She shook her head.

“No. I don’t.”

With a half-shrug, I reached for my drink and took a pull of the clear liquor. Placing it down, I continued, “Well, you need those things if you hope to have any chance to make it. For instance, without sufficient cash reserves, you’ll be bankrupt in a few months, if not sooner.”

While I spoke, Maddie twirled her hair in tight spirals, releasing it every few seconds before starting all over again. At last, she puffed her cheeks and exhaled.

“Bankrupt?” she said. “I mean, I know I’m struggling a little, but I don’t think I’ll go broke that fast.”

“Ah yes, the eternal optimism of the entrepreneur. Maddie, I’ve seen this more times in my life than I care to recount. You can choose to accept my advice or not. Ignore it at your peril.”

And honest to God, I meant it. I enjoyed watching people succeed in business and if I could profit from it, all the better. This circumstance was even more enjoyable, given all the ‘fringe benefits’ I expected to accrue if she listened to the rest of the advice I was prepared to offer her.

As I ruminated, Maddie continued to twirl and twist her hair until at last she stopped and with a hint of desperation in her tone asked, “Okay, well, what can I do?”

I leaned back and casually interlaced my fingers together across my chest.

“I’ll tell you that I think you’ve got a solid business idea here, Maddie. I mean it. There’s definitely a niche you’ve found and I think it’s one that could be quite lucrative. I’ve got lots of wealthy friends who'd be willing to pay a pretty penny for a high-end concierge service. It solves a lot of problems. However, you need
three
things to keep going. One, of course, is money. The second is a business plan and third, a partner you can trust.”

Her eyebrows drew together. “Partner?”

“Yes. I’m talking about a business proposition, Maddie. You’ll get the money you need to not only meet your short-term cash needs, but also to grow the business over the next year to eighteen months. In addition to the capital infusion, I’ll put together a complete business plan and I’ll do all of this for a fifty-one percent equity position in the business.”

Maddie’s hands dropped into her lap. “Fifty-one percent? But -- that means you would control the business.”

“That’s right, Maddie. It’s the only way I can be sure my investment is safe.”

“Okay, well I need time to think about it,” she replied. “Is that all right?”

Her gaze conveyed a sense of determination I’d not seen from her before. I half-expected her to take any deal I offered. I was surprised she wanted to take time to think it through, even though I believed this one to be fair. Maybe my instincts about this business, and about her, were right after all.

I nodded and gave her a quick wink. “Of course you can think it over. I’ll give you until tomorrow to decide.”