An Improper Deal (Elliot & Annabelle #1) (Billionaires' Brides of Convenience Book 3) (23 page)
Read An Improper Deal (Elliot & Annabelle #1) (Billionaires' Brides of Convenience Book 3) Online
Authors: Nadia Lee
I’m sure Dad knows everything—it fit his MO. But he also didn’t brag about his role. Men like him are supreme assholes but also know how to manage a public persona. To everyone else in the world, he’s a self-made man who was strict with his children and taught them the value of hard work. So what if he’s had six wives? His success excuses such a minor flaw.
I dig the heels of my hands against my eyes, then blink when the elevator stops at the garage level. I hop into my Maserati and drive, my mind working on autopilot.
The freeway is a tangled snarl of cars going nowhere fast. I get off and take other roads until I somehow end up at Ryder’s mansion.
It’s practically a fortress, with thick concrete walls and barbed wire on top. Security cameras monitor the premises twenty-four seven, and it wouldn’t surprise me one bit if the place also has anti-air missiles to shoot down helicopters. Ryder hates uninvited media, and he absolutely abhors psycho fans, of which he has tons.
The gates unlock at my arrival. I’m on the special guest list, and can come and go as I please.
I park in front of the main mansion and climb out. As I turn toward the marble steps leading to the front door, I hear Ryder’s voice from behind me.
“Yo, Elliot. Over here!”
He waves from the pool. I walk over. “What the hell, man? Swimming at this hour?”
“Jet lag,” he says, heaving himself out of the water. Rivulets pour down his lean and tanned body. Looks like the time in Thailand was good for him. “Want a scotch?”
“Sure.” He goes to the bar and grabs a bottle and tumblers, while I take a seat at the table by the pool.
“Your wife okay?”
“Seems to be.” I drag my fingers through my hair again. I can’t talk about her past. It’s her private life, and I have no right to air it.
With a dark scowl, he pushes a full glass of scotch my way. “Boy, Number Six really fucked things up.”
“Yup.”
“She’s lucky there was nothing sharp around. Could’ve sworn your wife was going to cut her.”
No kidding. But it was more than just outrage. It was… I forcibly breathe through my mouth, hating the tight feeling in my gut. “When do you think he’s going to get rid of her?”
“Before the year’s over. Hopefully. You aren’t the only one who can’t stand her.” Ryder’s jaw hardens. “She insulted Paige at my place.”
I take a healthy swallow of the liquor. “Is there anyone she
hasn’t
pissed off?”
“Dad, maybe. She needs his money.”
I snort.
We finish our scotch in silence.
“It’s only a year,” Ryder says.
“Exactly,” I respond even as my heart thumps a little harder.
“You have a good prenup in place?”
I nod.
“See. There you go. Totally protected.”
“Of course.”
“Just… Don’t let her mess with your head. Buy her something nice and she’ll calm down.”
“Does your wife calm down when you buy her something nice?”
Ryder barks out a laugh. “No. She’d probably try to brain me.”
I make a noncommittal noise. “Mine would probably do the same.”
“Reeeeeaaaaaally?” He cocks an eyebrow. “So where did you find her?”
“At one of my favorite clubs, then out of that cake you didn’t send.”
“Bro, I swear I didn’t. Did you ever find out who did?”
“Nope.” That still bothers me. The cake company said it was handled by some guy who paid cash. Since their clients don’t always want their information made public, a lot of them don’t even give out their real names when booking a service. But the man wasn’t that old—maybe in his late thirties or forties, the company rep couldn’t say for certain—with rather ordinary brown hair and brown eyes and nothing else to notice.
“Maybe they got something mixed up.”
“Maybe.” I stare at the water. A breeze ripples the surface. “Strippers are supposed to be simple.”
Ryder gives me an unreadable look. “All women are simple…so long as you don’t care.”
Annabelle
When I open my eyes, I’m still on the floor in the same position I was in last night. My neck protests as I move, and my knees actually creak and pop. I rub my face and check the clock. It’s almost nine, and Elliot didn’t come home.
Or if he did, he certainly didn’t come into the master suite.
I raise myself up with care, moving like an old lady. I shouldn’t have said the things I did last night.
Now that I have some time to digest what happened, it’s obvious I overreacted and lashed out at Elliot and ruined what should’ve been a nice dinner with his siblings and father. He’s not responsible for his stepmother. She acted like a spoiled brat, determined to do whatever she wanted because she’s the “mom”.
I shouldn’t have freaked out the way I did, and I shouldn’t have said half the things I said. I’m the one who’s trying to turn what’s between us into something it’s not. It’s unfair for me to say okay to it then later complain about it being not good enough when Elliot has done everything he promised. Actually more than what he promised. He didn’t have to go out of his way to arrange for Nonny’s transfer. Or get me into an investment house.
I strip the dress off and shower quickly. Then I throw on a blue cotton housedress that says
Keep Calm and Let It Go
, leaving my feet bare. My hair hangs damp over my shoulders. I’m feeling too defeated to bother drying it.
The guest suite is empty, and so is Elliot’s office. So he didn’t come home last night. Where did he go? A hotel? A friend’s place?
Maybe Ryder’s. His brother is back in town.
I sigh. I should call and apologize. Then just get through the year without any more drama. I can do that. I’m a survivor. I can survive anything.
My phone’s in the living room, where I left it last night. Nonny’s still sleeping, and I leave her be. It’s Saturday, and sleep will be good for her hangover.
I unlock the screen. Notifications for missed texts pop up. The first one’s from Mr. Grayson.
Congratulations on your marriage
.
You chose wisely
.
My teeth grind together. He has no idea how much I dislike him now. He used to be helpful, but not anymore. To him, I’m just a girl who owes him…who can’t even eat without him. Thanking him would be the polite thing to do, but I can’t bring myself to type the words. I skip to the other missed texts. They are all from Dennis.
We have to talk
.
What the fuck?
Don’t ignore me!
What’s wrong with you?
You owe me! Damn it!
You bitch! Are you trying to ruin me?
I rub my eyes. I have no idea what he’s talking about. Did he even text the right person? I told him I’d get back to him. As a matter of fact, I was planning to contact him after the family dinner was over to figure out when we can sit down and talk. Whatever we have to say to each other won’t be pleasant, but it’s a necessary step given our history.
I start the coffee. After caffeinating myself, I’m calling Elliot, then texting Dennis. Just as the machine’s done brewing, the doorbell rings.
As I get close to the door, I hear voices—one female and the other Elliot’s. He’s speaking softly but forcefully, while the woman’s talking rather loudly with a lot of heat.
I open the door just as he says, “Annabelle.”
I almost let go, stunned that he’s using my name. He’s in the clothes from last night, except now they’re rumpled. Even so he’s still heartbreakingly gorgeous.
The woman is a willowy brunette with lush breasts and hips. She looks to be around Elliot’s age, and the makeup on her heart-shaped face is so flawless, it almost looks photoshopped. Dark hair tumbles over her slender shoulders, and the diamonds around her throat sparkle expensively. Her brown-eyed gaze flicks to me for a fraction of a second, then dismisses me as inconsequential. She rests a hand on his forearm. “Yes, love?”
His eyes are on me as he speaks, “You have to go.”
——
Thank you for reading
An Improper Deal
. I hope you enjoyed it! Elliot and Annabelle’s unforgettable love story continues with
An Improper Bride
.
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——
Billionaires’ Brides of Convenience Series
Book 1:
A Hollywood Deal
Book 2:
A Hollywood Bride
Book 3:
An Improper Deal
Book 4:
An Improper Bride
——
The Pryce Family Series
Book 1:
The Billionaire’s Counterfeit Girlfriend
Book 2:
The Billionaire’s Inconvenient Obsession
Book 3:
The Billionaire’s Secret Wife
Book 4:
The Billionaire’s Forgotten Fiancée
Book 5:
The Billionaire’s Forbidden Desire
——
Seduced by the Billionaire Series
Book 1:
Taken by Her Unforgiving Billionaire Boss
Book 2:
Pursued by Her Billionaire Hook- Up
Book 3:
Pregnant with Her Billionaire Ex’s Baby
Book 3.5:
Romanced by Her Illicit Millionaire Crush
Book 4:
Wanted by Her Scandalous Billionaire
Book 5:
Loving Her Best Friend’s Billionaire Brother
——
If you want to receive notices about my latest books, please join my new release alert at
nadialee.net
or send a blank message to
[email protected]
!
New York Times
and
USA Today
bestselling author Nadia Lee writes sexy, emotional contemporary romance. Born with a love for excellent food, travel and adventure, she has lived in four different countries, kissed stingrays, been bitten by a shark, ridden an elephant and petted tigers.
Currently, she shares a condo overlooking a small river and sakura trees in Japan with her husband and son. When she’s not writing, she can be found reading books by her favorite authors or planning another trip.
To learn more about Nadia and her projects, please visit
www.nadialee.net
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An Improper Deal
Copyright © 2016 by Hyun J Kyung
Kindle Edition
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any manner whatsoever without the prior written permission from the author except in the case of brief quotation embodied in critical articles and reviews.