Her Billionaire Secret Part 1: An Alpha Billionaire Romance (2 page)

A look flashed across his face. Claire could swear she saw a twitch to his lips. For a moment she almost liked the man.

Across the room, the sound of a door opening broke the moment. Tevis Drummond’s thunderous face returned in an instant as he saw who was joining them.

Claire couldn’t help but follow his gaze to look at the woman entering the room.
 

Face bare of makeup and stunningly beautiful, she studied Claire with worry, chewing on her bottom lip. “Have we met?” she asked.

“No,” Claire responded, but she knew who she was talking to. She dragged her gaze back to Tevis Drummond trying to hide the recognition from her eyes.

I need to get out of here.

Her legs wouldn’t move and she remained pinned under his scrutiny.

“I have to…” she began.

He silenced her by placing a single finger to her lips.
 

She blinked. Heat seared through her at his contact with her skin.

“It’s okay, Ellie.” His face softened as he looked again at the young woman. “Claire is with me.”

He trailed his finger across Claire’s cheek. She couldn’t have said another word even if she wanted to. He held her gaze, a question in his eyes.

“I’ve been waiting for her,” he muttered to Ellie, staring at Claire all the while.

Putting his hand behind Claire’s neck he held her firmly as he dropped his head so his lips were close to her ear.

“Play along,” he growled.

Claire shivered at his touch and gave a slight nod of her head. He had to be giving her a way out of this mess. 

He pulled back and gave her a wide smile. One of victory and something else she couldn’t identify.

Claire narrowed her eyes at him but gave him a fixed smile of her own. Deep inside she somehow knew things were about to get worse.

And they did. Ten times. A hundred times.

“I’ve missed you!” he said with a passion that would have got him onto the stage in the West End.

Claire wanted to run. This wasn’t what she wanted. But it was too late.

He pulled her into his arms and kissed her firmly, silencing any objection.

Chapter Two

CLAIRE

“What the hell was that about?” Claire hissed.

Tevis had excused them both from the kitchen and was now dragging her up the stairs, his hand firmly grasping her arm. He wasn’t about to let her go anywhere but with him.

“Don’t say a word,” he commanded, his face emotionless.

They entered the ground floor reception area where an older woman was closing the front door. She had a huge bouquet of flowers grasped in her hands.

“Josie, could you hide those from…” He stopped and glanced at Claire.

Not planning on helping him out after that kiss, Claire didn’t say a word but eyed him mutinously. Let him guess at how much she knew.

“Boyd wants those hidden for now,” he corrected.

Josie appeared to know what he was talking about and gave him a nod before hurrying to another door leading off the reception.

“Come on,” he snapped, dragging her across to a set of doors. He pressed a button and the doors parted and he stepped through.

Her eyes widened. Who on earth had an elevator installed in their home?

Tevis saw the look on her face. “There are six floors, plus a rooftop level. Not everyone is fit enough to manage the stairs.”

Claire looked away. She wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of appearing interested in what he had to say. The sooner she got out of here the better.

When the doors opened he let go of her arm and pushed her out of the elevator. Gently, but all the same, it was a push, letting her know he was still calling all the shots.

“Don’t try running back. I guarantee I can move faster than you.”

His voice held a threat she didn’t understand. Standing alone in the middle of the luxury reception area of the new floor she watched as he crossed the room to another door.

He looked back, realising she wasn’t with him anymore. “This way,” he ordered.

“I think I’ve gone far enough,” she snapped. “Just sign for the package and I’ll be gone.”

He stalked back to her and took hold of her arm again. Claire tried to pull away but he refused to let go.

“If you think I’m going to simply let you walk out of here now, think again!” he snarled. “I don’t know who the hell you are but we need to talk.”

“Then don’t drag me around like this. And will you please hold a civil conversation with me!” She directed a slap at his hand gripping her arm. Her fingers stung satisfyingly.

He let go but it didn’t look as if he was about to make an apology. He was now staring at her. Hard. Like he’d never seen anyone like her before.

“This way,” he ordered, taking a step forward.

He turned and glared at her.

She folded her arms and stared back.

“Please,” he said finally, almost grudgingly.

Ignoring his attitude, she took the ‘please’ as a victory and walked past him and through the doorway he’d been heading towards. He was right behind her and almost bowled her over as she stopped dead.

“What’s wrong now?!” He shut the door firmly.

“This is your bedroom. I’m not staying in here with you.”

“How do you know it’s my bedroom?” The corners of his mouth twitched.

Looking around at the tastefully decorated and luxurious room, it was clear it was a man’s domain. A huge bed dominated the centre of the floor.

“I just know,” she snapped.

“Well, you don’t have much choice. It’s my house and I’m speaking to you in here and nowhere else.” He stepped back and leant against the door, blocking her escape.

She glared at him for what must have been about a minute. It seemed like forever and he held her gaze for every second.

That damned kiss replayed through her head. She hadn’t even fought back. His teasing lips had reduced her to jelly and she’d not had the strength to push him away. No way was she staying anywhere near this man. He was trouble. Big trouble. A tiny voice reminded her how much she’d enjoyed it. She ignored it. Pushed it out of her mind.

“What do I have to do to get out of here?” She kept her voice cool.

“Tell me who you are.”

Well, that wasn’t a problem. She had plenty of identification.

“And empty your bag onto the bed.”

Why would he want to rummage through her belongings?

“You don’t trust me.”

His face contained no warmth. “I don’t trust many people, Claire. You’ll have to work on that.”

He gave her a look that made her want to fidget. As if he found her deficient. All she was doing was being a delivery girl and look where that had landed her. The extra money didn’t seem so appealing now.

She looked at him pointedly before walking back over to him. “I won’t be around long enough to work on you, Mr Drummond.”

Unfastening the buckles on her messenger bag, she slid the contents out onto the bed. She reached forward to pick up the package that had caused her so much trouble. Five more minutes and this would be over. All she had to do was get him to sign for it and she’d be on her way.

He stopped her with a single look.

She stepped back, indicating with her hand that he was welcome to look for himself, and watched as he rifled through her belongings.

He picked up the package and studied Isabella Price’s monogrammed business card attached to it. Surprisingly, he put it back on the bed with disinterest, instead picking up her security pass.

“You work for Stanford & Henderson Law?”

She gave him a tight, but satisfied smile. “I did try to tell you.”

He turned back to her other possessions, picking up her camera and studying it carefully. He put it back down.

Mortified, she watched him look at the plastic bag carrying her spare underwear and toothbrush.

“Prepared for a night out?” he said sardonically.

She didn’t respond. It was no business of his that she liked to cover every eventuality. Her spare underwear was in there in case she couldn’t go home and nothing to do with staying overnight with someone. She gave him a look of disgust.

Finally, after going through everything she possessed one by one, he flicked through the gossip magazine Fran had loaned her. He looked at her coldly. She felt the need to explain it.

“It’s not mine. A friend gave it to me and I didn’t want to offend her. I never read them.”

“Never?” He looked as though he didn’t believe a word she was saying.

“Never,” she said firmly. “Mr Drummond, I don’t lie.”

“Do you know who you met in the kitchen?” His voice was steady but cutting. He was calling her out on her last statement.

Claire thought of that pale fragile face. She knew exactly who she was.

“Yes.” Her voice came out in a whisper.

“Who is she, Claire?”

Closing her eyes, she knew she was damned, but she still answered.

“Eloise Grace.”

“We need to talk." He looked at her with distaste. "That’s an expensive camera, Claire Bretton, for someone who delivers parcels.”

“It’s not what you think. I’m not a snoop.” She felt like spitting the words out. He could have no idea how she felt about the paparazzi. But to explain her reasons would be even worse. “I’m a photographer. I specialise in candid, artistic shots.”

“Yet you work at a law firm. Doesn’t it pay enough—your photography career?”

His words felt like an insult. Jutting her chin out, she went on the defensive. He could think what the hell he liked.

“I finished my post graduate work last year, Mr Drummond. I’m working as a temp to get the money together to travel around Europe. When I come back I plan to put on a show.” No matter she had no
 
contacts, she’d somehow find a gallery willing to take her work. “Some of us have to work our way to the top, Mr Drummond.” She tried to hide the edge of sarcasm from her voice but failed.

“Believe me, Claire, I know all about hard work.” For the first time, his smile was genuine. It hit her squarely in the chest causing her throat to constrict, and she looked away. Giving her a look like that chipped away at her resolve and she couldn’t let it happen.

“I won’t breathe a word about…”

He cut her off. “Put your things away and sit down while I think about this.”
 

Tevis stalked over to the window leaving her to push everything but that damned package back into her bag. She had no idea what it contained but it had caused her a world of trouble. At this moment she felt like slinging it on the floor and jumping up and down on it.

Now, that’s really mature, Claire.

Dropping to sit down on the bed, she waited to see what Tevis would come up with. He’d probably get Isabella Price out to draw up some sort of confidentiality agreement for her to sign. God, that would really put her in Isabella’s bad books. She might even send her back to the temping agency.

Damn. Damn. Damn!

She stared at the floor. It seemed as good as anything. She didn’t have to look at the set shoulders of the man standing at the window. She heard him move but didn’t look up until his polished leather shoes came into her view. Even then she only lifted her gaze as far as his waist. She studied the buttons on his shirt

He stood in silence and she realised he wasn’t going to speak until she looked at him properly. She lifted her head higher, determined to hide the fear from her eyes at losing her job. It wasn’t her fault she’d seen Eloise Grace. It wasn’t her fault Tevis Drummond didn’t appear to trust her.

“When are you expected back at work?”

Puzzled at this odd question, she answered reluctantly. “Wednesday.”

“Is anyone waiting for you at home? A boyfriend? A husband perhaps?”

“That is none of your business.”

“Claire, I’m trying to come to a solution that will suit us both. Just answer my questions and I won’t report you.” His tone contained exasperation.

“I've done nothing wrong,” she sighed. “You invited me in.”

“If I decide to take this further, who do you think your employer will back?”

He was right of course. Isabella Price wouldn’t risk losing a client like Tevis Drummond. She was screwed.

“No one is expecting me to come home,” she admitted. There was barely enough living space for herself never mind a live-in lover.

“No boyfriend? No husband?”

God, he’s persistent.

“That still isn’t your business.” This game of cat and mouse could go on and on. One of them had to give in. It seemed it would have to be her. Tevis Drummond wasn’t the type to back down. “I don’t have a husband or a boyfriend.”

He smiled again. She couldn’t tell what he was thinking.

“Good, so I can contract you for four days of your time to stay in this house.”

“What if I have something else I’d prefer to do?”

He raised an eyebrow at her as if to say he couldn’t imagine she had something more preferable in mind.

“You plan to turn down twenty thousand pounds and a round-the-world flight ticket?”

“What?!” She must have misheard him. It had to be a joke.

“Four days of your time at five thousand pounds a day, plus the plane ticket at the end of the period. If you carry this off, really play the part I plan for you, I’ll throw in free accommodation at every hotel where you have a stopover.”

She was stunned. Her face must have shown every emotion going through her, including the strong desire to jump up and hug him for his offer.
 

And the even stronger one to say no. The answer she knew she had to give.

Did he think he could pay for her silence? Wasn’t he prepared to take her word?

Oddly, it hurt. It sent a pain through her heart and made her sick to her stomach that he thought so badly of her. As much as she was tempted to take his offer, it almost seemed like a bribe for her silence.

She shook her head. “I’m sorry, I have something else planned for my four days off. You have my promise, no one will ever know Eloise Grace was in this house.”

“Not even if it’s to help her?”