Whatever He Asks (Writer for the Billionaire) (3 page)

“
I'm
fine.
I
swear.
”

He
nodded
and
scooted
out
of
the
back
room.
The
front
door
jingled.
Steve
was
gone.

The
question
was
whether
Viking
Romeo
was
still
out
there
waiting.

Glancing
at
my
watch,
I
tried
to
still
the
beating
of
my
heart,
but
that
was
nearly
impossible.
1:50
a.m.
Closing
was
officially
in
ten
minutes.
Time
to
talk.

I
took
a
deep
breath,
straightened
my
dress
and
hair
and
walked
to
the
bar
casually.

“
You're
still
here.
”

“
Of
course.
”
Magnus
Gray
smiled,
and
I
noticed
there
were
only
two
bottles
in
front
of
him.
He'd
sat
there
this
whole
time
and
not
gotten
stone
drunk.
What
self
-
control.

I
leaned
against
the
bar,
waiting
for
him
to
speak.

“
I
don't
want
to
keep
you
from
what
you
have
to
do.
”
His
voice
ran
over
me
like
silk.

“
You're
not.
At
this
point,
I
only
need
to
lock
up.
”

“
Then
please.
Sit
for
a
moment.
I
have
a
business
proposal
for
you.
”
He
turned
slightly
to
face
me
full
on,
and
the
effect
was
like
that
of
a
magnetic
force.

I
felt
myself
drawn
to
him,
nothing
I
could
do
about
it.
He
was
the
moon,
and
I
was
the
ocean,
pulsing
to
his
pull
on
me.
I
sat
down
heavily
on
the
bar stool
next
to
him,
heat
creeping
into
my
cheeks
at
my
lack
of
grace.

“
Okay.
”
I
didn't
know
what
else
to
say.
I
had
no
earthly
idea
what
a
man
like
this
wanted
from
a
woman
like
me.

Well,
I
had
an
idea,
but
it
didn't
make
sense
other
than
in
the
form
of
a
quick
lay.
And
he
could
have
found
that
anywhere
with
his
looks.
I
was
far
from
the
most
attractive
or
most
polished
woman
on
earth,
and
I
was
flat
broke.
Hardly
a
trophy
for
a
billionaire,
which
I
had
an
inkling
he
was.

“
Melinda
Louis.
”
He
spoke
my
name
slowly,
lingering
over
each
syllable.
There
was
something
illicit
in
the
sound,
and
goosebumps
rose
on
my
arms.

“
Yeah,
that's
my
name.
Don't
break
it.
”

He
didn't
smile.

Guess
he's
not
the
joking
type.

A
shiver
rippled
through
me,
and
I
felt
exposed
in
my
barmaid
costume.

“
Melinda,
I'd
like
you
to
come
work
for
me.
”

I
gaped
at
him
and
finally
closed
my
mouth.
He
gauged
me
without
flinching.

Cool
as
ice,
this
one.
That's
how
I
know
he
has
money.

“
Doing
what?
”
I
hated
how
stupid
I
sounded
but
he'd
flabbergasted
me.

“
Whatever
I
want.
”
He
clicked
his
tongue
in
a
way
that
sounded
quite
naughty.

I
held
my
breath,
all
thoughts
leaving
my
head.
I
might
have
been
an
imbecile
for
all
the
brain
activity
going
on
at
that
moment.

“
Wow.
Okay.
”

“
You
would,
of
course,
have
the
opportunity
to
say
no
to
anything
that
made
you
uncomfortable,
Ms.
Louis.
Is
it
miss?
”
He
smiled.

“
Yes.
”
I
clasped
my
hands
together
tight,
aware
they
were
shaking.
“
But
I
don't
see
how
I'm
the
person
for
the
job.
”

“
You
are.
I
knew
it
before
I
even
walked
in
here.
I've
been
looking
for
someone
like
you,
Linda.
”

The
way
he
said
the
nickname
made
me
hot
all
over.
I
remembered
that
it
meant
pretty.

“
Right.
”

“
Really.
”
His
bit
his
lip,
his
brows
furrowing.
“
Of
course,
I'm
sure
you're
waiting
to
hear
about
pay.
”

I
nodded
stupidly.
That
was
honestly
the
last
question
I
had.
The
whole
situation
was
so
bizarre
that
it
defied
reason.

“
I'd
pay
you
$500,000
for
a
one
-
year
contract.
”

My
breath
whooshed
out,
and
I
gasped
for
air.
I
knew
I
must
look
like
a
fish
washed
up
on
shore,
breathing
its
last.

“
Um,
I
don't
see
how
there's
any
honest
way
I'd
be
earning
that
much
money.
”

Magnus
grinned
at
me,
his
teeth
impossibly
white
in
the
darkness.
For
the
first
time,
I
noticed
a
tiny
scar
on
one
cheek.
I
wanted
to
touch
it,
to
know
about
it.