Page 275 of Tormented Billionaire Romance Series

“Seriously,” he says, “are you all right? You look a little green.”

“Yeah,” I answer. “I don’t know, maybe a bit disoriented. Where is everyone?”

“We’ve got people from corporate flying in this evening,” he says. “Listen, Grace, it’s great to see you and all, but I do have a lot on my plate right now. Was there something you wanted?”

“Oh,” I say. “Yeah, hey, I know I wasn’t exactly fair to you the last time you asked me out,” I tell him. “I was wondering if you might like to give it another shot.”

Wait. How didIend up being the one to askhimto go out again?

He gives me a pristine, though brief smile and says, “That sounds great. If you leave me your number, I can give you a call when it’s not so hectic around here.”

“I know what you mean,” I say. “All those people waiting out front, I didn’t think I was going to get halfway into the lobby, much less actually—”

His head cocks to one side, and he raises an eyebrow. “What people are waiting out front?” he asks.

“I think they’re all waiting for a job,” I tell him. “At least, that’s what—“

“They think I’m in here hiring?” he asks. “We’re a long way away from staffing. Give me just a second.” He grabs his phone and dials a number. “Yeah, how many people are out there?”

He’s nodding, but not speaking. Zach lifts his head toward me and makes a writing motion with his hand. It takes me a second to get it, but a moment later, I’m grabbing a pen from his desk and writing my number on Nikolai Scipio’s open palm.

Zach smiles, and as he looks up at me, I let my defenses drop for a moment. He hasn’t given me any reason to think he’s playing me, but at the same time, what would he want with someone like me? I’m just the chick who works at the junk shop.

I catch Zach’s gaze and for six or seven heartbeats—it’s going too fast for an accurate count—and he parts his full lips, taking a quick breath of air. As he looks me in the eyes, he covers the phone with the palm on which I wrote my number, and he says, “Hey, this is probably going to be a minute. I’m going to have to talk her through this. Do you think you can get out all right? If not, I can have one of my guys—”

“No,” I say. In that brief, forgotten moment, I was almost ready to say yes to just about anything that came out of his mouth. “Besides, if they’re going to turn hostile, I’m pretty sure you’re the one who should be worried about the torches and pitchforks.”

“Okay,” he says. “If we’re going to stay here much longer, I’m going to insist they put in a few more exit doors—yeah,” he says, uncovering the phone, speaking into it. “Well, tell them that we’ll be happy to take their applications once we’ve gotten the forms back from the printers or something. They’re not responding when you tell them we’re not hiring yet?”

I guess that’s my cue.

Slowly, I turn and walk back to the door of the conference room. I glance back toward Zach. He notices my look and smiles before turning his attention back to the phone call.

It’s no secret, no matter how much I wanted it to be. I might be able to fool Naomi, but I wouldn’t be so worried that Zach might turn out to be one of those guys if I didn’t get a shot of adrenaline like a baseball bat to the chest every time I think about him.

This is dangerous territory, and I’m gladly signing up for it. I just have to be careful; that’s all. I’ve just got to keep my eyes open, and I’ll be okay.

It’s a bit exciting, going out with a billionaire. I’ll never admit it, but I’ve had the fantasies of the wealthy nobleman who might save me from my life of serfdom. Maybe I haven’t exactly fantasized about it in those terms, but the general concept is there.

I still don’t know why he’s interested in me, but he did give me space when I told him I wasn’t ready to go out with him. Either it’s a long con, or there could be a chance that even as one of the richest men in the country, Zach Scipio just might be an okay guy.

It looks like I’m going to find out.

I hardly notice I’m looking at the floor smiling until I notice the complete lack of noise from the rabble and look up. There at the end of the hall, where the corridor leads out into the main foyer, are a few dozen scarlet faces with narrow eyes staring at me.

They all think I’m the reason they’re not getting jobs today.

CHAPTER4

DINNER ON THE BEACH

ZACH

It’s taken a few days, but my schedule is finally pliable enough that I can take Grace to one of my favorite spots, Kola Kitanabu. She was very impressed with the name, but I could see she’d never heard of the place. No matter, we’ll be there soon enough.

The best part so far is when we pull up to the airport and my driver stops the car. She’s sitting on the other side of the backseat, and she grabs my arm as she looks out the window.

“Why are we at the airport?” she asks.

---