Romance: The Billionaire's Demands (5 page)

Chapter 12

The more I drove, the more the sadness hit me.

By the time I was making it back to my suburb, tears were flowing freely down my cheeks.

I was too upset to go back to that crummy apartment to sit alone on my crummy couch.

I called Brianna to see if she was free, but she said that she was out at a club. I didn’t tell her about my hard night and didn’t show her how upset I was.

She works hard – she deserves to be out having fun. She doesn’t need me to pull her down.

Of course everyone should be out having fun; it was Saturday night. 

I knew that Jim would be out bowling tonight with his friends as well. 

The dinner party kept playing over and over on my mind. I couldn’t get the sleazy party out of my head. How could he do that?

No matter how much thought I gave it, I couldn’t figure out why he would invite me there.

Was it because I rejected him – and this was his way of showing me how great he was with the ladies? Was it supposed to make me jealous?

Or was it supposed to make me feel rejected – the way I might have made him feel?

That made the most sense. It was Bradley’s way of hurting me.

And it certainly worked.

The night cut deep.

I called Brianna back and asked if I could meet her in the bar, and she was more than happy to have me come along.

Maybe a night out could help me forget how much it hurt.

Chapter 13

I haven’t been out that much in L.A. so when I walked into the bar, the thumping of the music surprised me. 

How is anyone supposed to have a conversation in here?

My head was already aching, and the music just had it feel like it was going to explode. 

My footsteps were heavy and I wasn’t in the mood to be judged by everyone here. I only came here because I didn’t want to be alone.

The loud voices and laughter of the other patrons were annoying me.  I just wanted to find a quiet spot and sulk with a friend.

“So, what’s up with you?” Brianna asked as I walked up to her table. 

A lot of her friends were sitting around laughing and drinking.  I noticed that Anne was also here with her, and she was shooting pool with her husband.  I nodded in her direction to acknowledge that I had seen her.  Then I pulled up a chair and sat down at the table. 

Brianna leaned in closely so she could hear me over the other people and the loud music. 

“I’ve just been through the worst experience of my life,” I said to her.

“Why?  What’s wrong?  Do you want to talk about it?” she asked, taking a sip of her beer.  “Is it Jim?  Did you guys break up?”

I flashed her a funny look.  “I’m not dating Jim, Brianna!” I said, defending myself.  “We’re just friends…”

“Anyway, what is it then?  Didn’t the party go well?” She looked at me, excited to draw out the details. 

The bartender stopped to ask if I wanted a drink, and Brianna paid her to get me a beer. 

I took a sip, but it made my stomach churn.  Beer wasn’t my drink of choice.

I closed my eyes briefly and had a flashback of the night’s activities.  I could hardly hold back the tears. 

I was almost ashamed to say what had happened out loud to anyone. 

“I went to his mansion to work…”

“Yes…” Brianna pushed me to continue.

“When I first got there, everything was fine.  He was sweet, the kitchen staff was fun to work with, and the mansion was beautiful…”
“And you were paid well, right?” she asked. 

I nodded and quietly showed her the check. 

Her eyes were as big as saucers. 

“Wow!  Must be nice!” she said, with a hint of jealousy in her voice.

“Well, not really.” I took a deep breath. 

“Why… Did he do something bad to you?” she asked, worried.

“He… asked me to set a great ambience for his guests.  I did everything he had asked of me, but I was surprised to find out that the party was for six beautiful models.” 

She paused and looked at me with a curious gaze. 

“When it was time to serve them dinner, each time I went into the dining room to put food on the table, I realized they were taking more and more clothing off.”

“Oh no!  What!” The look on Brianna’s face was just as stunned as mine had probably been.  “So he had a big orgy at his house!?  Get out!”

“No, I mean… I think they were playing strip poker.”

“Oh…” Brianna looked down at her drink and seemed to be deep in thought for a moment.  “I’m sorry… I really thought that he liked you.”

“Yeah, me too.” 

“Oh, honey, I’m so sorry.” 

She embraced me in a hug and struggled hard to hold back the tears.

“I guess I’m not sure why he asked you to go then.  Strange.”

“Yeah, I was pretty humiliated.”

“Strip poker? Does that mean he was naked too?”
“Brianna!” 

“Well, just asking!”  I could tell that her eyes were wandering, and I noticed that she was checking out a cute guy playing darts.  “Well, it wasn’t a total loss.  I mean, at least you got paid, right?”

“Well yeah… but I left the mansion.  I mean, I was so uncomfortable and so upset.  I’m not a piece of meat like those girls are.  I couldn’t believe not one of them stood up for themselves or had an ounce of respect.”

“Yeah, they sound like a bunch of skanks,” she agreed. 

“Hey, you girls want to play pool? We’re up next.” I recognized the man as one of Brianna’s neighbors. 

“Hey, Trent.  Sure,” she answered. 

Brianna got up and found a suitable pool stick, then went to work chalking the tip. 

“Do you want to play?” 

I nodded, and we took turns. 

“I know just what you need to forget all about your little predicament,” she chided, motioning towards Trent’s single friend.

After a few more drinks, I got up the nerve to try to talk to the eligible bachelor.  I gave up and went home once I realized that he was checking out Trent’s tight butt.

Men.

I had zero luck with any of them.

I returned to my apartment and consoled myself in my carton of ice cream once again.  

At least ice cream would be nice to me.

Back to life as I know it.

Chapter 14

Knock, knock.

Damn.

Just when I had sat down to a morning coffee on my couch, someone was at my door.

I couldn’t function without a hit of morning caffeine.

But I raised my behind off the chair to go and answer the door – good luck to the person on the other side. If it’s someone selling me something this early in the morning, I’m going to rip their heads off. How dare someone interrupt my morning coffee!

As I pulled open the door, my face recoiled in disgust.

Not surprise, but disgust.

The only thing that would have made me more upset would be if Bradley Clifford was at my door.

But it wasn’t Bradley.

It was his driver. Bradley didn’t even have the balls to come up to my door.

What a prick.

I took a deep breath and reminded myself that the driver was just an employee – I shouldn’t take my anger out on him. 

He’s not Bradley…

But if Bradley was here, I’d rip his balls off.

With my teeth.

Then I’d serve it to him at dinner.

That’s how I feel about him right now.

I couldn’t believe that the driver was dumb enough to climb the three flights of stairs again.  You’d think the guy would just get my number and text my cell phone instead of sending his driver back to my place. 

“Bradley is requesting your presence.  He seems to think there was some sort of misunderstanding last evening and he would like to clear it up.”

His little moustache wiggled as he talked.

“Sorry…” I sighed.  

I couldn’t believe the nerve of these guys.  Why would Bradley think I was even remotely interested in hosting another party for him?  

Prick.

“Please, Ma’am.”

“Sorry but I am not going to another vulgar party of his. That was not a very nice place to work. I’ve worked in some pretty poor conditions but that was on another level. I have never seen anything so disgusting in my life. I can’t believe I even made it through the last one! You know, it would have been nice if someone had worded me up about what was going to happen. I would have liked to have been ready for that.”  

“I’m sorry, Ma’am.”

“Don’t be. He is who he is.”

He nodded knowingly – indicating that he completely understood my pain.

“And the offer, Ma’am?”

“I’m going to have to pass on your offer.  Despite the money, I’m not up for that sort of thing. I’m sorry but I can’t do that – no matter how much I need the dough.”

“Bradley is not hosting a party like last night. This party is going to be different,” he tried to explain.  “This is a private party for two.” 

“Yes.” I sighed. “I understand that it is a party for Bradley and his future wife. I’m happy for him. I really am. It’s not how I would choose a bride if I was him, but I hope they have a wonderful life together doing whatever they do.”

“Future wife, Ma’am?”

“Yes. One of those six ladies was clearly going to be Bradley’s future Mrs. and that’s fine. I just hope the poor model will be prepared for what she is getting into.”

I wondered for a moment which of the six beautiful girls he had chosen to be his bride.  

Was it the tall blonde with perfect breasts, or the leggy brunette with prefect hair?

I would have chosen the brunette with the long legs, I think. She seemed the nicest of them all.

Oh, who cares?

I could barely tell them apart anyway – they were all so perfect.

And whichever one it was, I didn’t want to be any part of it.  

“No,” he corrected me. “He is requesting only your presence and it is not for work.  No one else will be at the dinner table tonight. It is a dinner for you and him only…”  

Chapter 15

I had to go.

How could I not?

As much as his behavior repulsed me, how could I say no to a handsome, dominant billionaire?

I tried to say no. I really did.

As the driver stood in front of me, I tried to reject the offer.

But it was useless.

Every little girl gets told the fairy tales from the moment they are born.

And we all want to believe it. We want to believe that we can grow up and be swept off our feet by the handsome prince.

My prince may not be perfect, but he is unbelievably handsome.

Oh, so handsome.

“Does being so good-looking excuse his behavior?” Anne asked as I zipped up my gown.

Anne came running over the second I told her about the offer and had been sitting by my bed helping me prepare for dinner.

“I think it’s more than that.” I shrugged my shoulders.

“It’s lust,” Anne replied. “That’s what ruling your head at the moment.”

“But he is… I don’t know. There is something else about him other than lust. There is something else about Bradley that I’ve never come across before.”

Anne smiled. “I understand that you’re going. I completely understand. I would go too. No doubt about it… but…”

“But?”

“But I feel like your heart is going to get broken.”

“Again,” I added.

That was the first time I admitted it.

Bradley broke my heart the other night. That’s why I cried and that’s why it hurt so much. I thought everything was perfect between us, and when I saw him with the naked girls, my heart smashed into a thousand pieces.

I felt sick just thinking about those girls rubbing their breasts all over Bradley.

“It must be confusing for you. You watched him with all those girls the other night and now he wants to have an intimate dinner with you. What is he thinking?”

“About my breasts, I hope.” I laughed.

“Do you think he just wants sex?” Anne asked. “Is that why he’s asked you over? Or do you think it’s something more?

“I think it’s more than sex. He could have sex with anyone in the city. Why would he choose me?”

“You are beautiful.” Anne smiled.

Anne was kind enough to lend me her best red cocktail dress for tonight.

“This dress would make anyone look amazing,” I replied. “What do you think? Does he want more than just sex?”

“I can’t read his mind, but I think so. Not that I wouldn’t want to have sex with you if I were a guy, but he could pick any model he wants. He’s chosen you because you have something that they don’t.”

“And what’s that?”

“A personality.” She laughed. “How are you feeling?”

“Fine… but I do feel like it’s a job interview.”

“You know, he clearly didn’t like the behavior of the models the other night.”

“Why do you think that?”

“Because he would have chosen one of them if he liked what they did. And clearly he hasn’t chosen one because he’s asking you out to dinner.”

“Maybe he’s just playing the field before he settles down? Lots of guys do that. They take one last hurrah before their single life is over.”

“Is that what you think this is? I mean, will you sleep with him if he comes onto you?”

“I’d love to say no. I’d love to stand here and say that I’m not that sort of girl. But… he has some sort of power of me. Something I can’t control.”

“No stains on my dress, okay?” Anne burst out into laughter.

“Okay, okay.” I smiled back. “No stains.”

When the sound of a knock on my door rang through the apartment, nerves filled my stomach.

It was the driver, coming back to pick me up.

“Good luck.” Anne kissed me on the cheek.

I’m sure going to need it…