Page 8 of Ruthless Financier
I took out my key and said, “Charge it to my room. Here’s your key, Indigo. You have a few hours to get a dress. And I’ll have Frank send the contract to your room as soon as he writes it.”
I was about to go and open the door, but halfway there she called out and caught up with me. “Wait. I don’t want to get married at the Venetian. Pick a different hotel.”
I asked, “Any one?”
She pressed her hand on my arm like we were friends. “Yep. Just not this one. My sister got married for love here. I don’t want to her happy memories confusing me.”
My hairs stood on its ends when I was near her. I said, “Then we have a deal.”
It was a start, but I leaned down and kissed her.
She tasted sweeter than the small chocolate candies I was addicted to. I hadn’t expected to have this adrenaline rush or feel these pings of excitement stir in me.
Chapter 3
Indigo
I hadn’t expected for my toes to curl over a kiss. It wasn’t just the stuff of cheesy movies I’d seen. My leg had started to go up before I stomped it down.
Lust was something that faded with time.
Hormones had nothing to do with love, and that’s all this was. Instant attraction that would fizzle out.
And the best kiss I’d ever had in my life. Seriously breathtaking. I hadn’t expected that, and I was still breathless.
He walked out and I checked to make sure I wasn’t still flushed from desire. Then I opened the door and called Jasmine and Ajax in.
I’d blown their work deal the moment I agreed to this crazy scheme, and they had every right to pack up and go home.
My cousin Jasmine helped care for her little sisters, so she’d need a paycheck, no matter what. Hopefully she’d be okay with the change, and I’d use my savings to cushion her until Jacob’s money cleared. She walked in first but waited till Ajax closed the door before she asked, “He’s Mr. Twenty-five million?”
“Yeah,” I said.
The ruthless businessman we’d spent hours preparing to wow had a completely different plan. And an agenda that wasn’t easily researched, but probably should have been.
His desire for the destruction of his father for some sins in the past was intense. Parents could have that kind of effect. Not with me though. My own mother had issues coping with the world, but while I’d never be weak like her, I still loved her and hoped she loved me, wherever she was now. She hadn’t personally hurt me though so I’d not judge Jacob.
Ajax cleaned up the visual aids I’d never pointed to as he said, “And he’s not buying our proposal?”
“No.” I lowered my head and kept my voice low when I told Jasmine. “But I am accepting his offer.”
She took a seat and placed her hand on her heart. “Seriously?”
She voiced exactly what the rest of my family might say. She’d never marry for millions. I sat down like I’d explain it.
“I’ll be starting my own company.”
She still slumped in her chair like she disapproved, and I pivoted and said, “We’ll need new headquarters to set up shop, and I’ll need your help—both of you. If you’re interested in jumping ship and joining me, just say the word. I’ll start paying you right away.”
She sat tall but she arched her eyebrow and said, “I don’t understand why you said yes to Mr. Ruthless. We both know his reputation. And you’re not poor and desperate. ”
I tilted my head and stared into her green eyes. “What?”
She curled her shoulders like she didn’t want Ajax to hear when she said, “In the books and movies I’ve read, the woman usually takes this kind of deal for money because she’s poor and desperate, like her kid is sick and she needs a miracle.”
“No sick kids,” I said quickly.
“And him knowing the sexual predator?”
