Page 332 of Forbidden Billionaires: Vol. 5
“I don’t recall ever saying I wouldhurther. You’re putting words in my mouth.”
“Poppy.”
“What I implied was more of a kidnapping situation, but alas. I won’t do that either. Because I’m a mother and all that. You have my word.”
“That’s the whole problem. I don’t trust your word.”
She sighed, looking human for the first time since she’d walked back into my life. “Look, my uncle is really hard to please. Asyou know. I was just trying to get the results he wanted. And I mean…I did. You went to go talk to him. Or yell at him I guess. You didn’t give him a chance to tell you the news.”
“What news?”
She smiled. “It’s not mine to share. And I’m not even sure that you’ll care. For some reason he thinks you will. He’s off his game.” She looked over at Gigi to make sure she wasn’t breaking anything else. “Which is why I’ll be taking over operations soon.”
Okay.
“Just me at the head of the whole business. All alone.” She touched her chest and for some reason it seemed like she just did it to make me look at the tops of her breasts.
Where the hell was she going with this?
“You know what? We’re going to need more time to catch up than just a 15-minute meeting made at the last second, don’t you think? And maybe more privacy too. A relaxing night just the two of us. Let’s do dinner to properly catch up and I can tell you all about my plans for the company.”
Is that what she called her illegal dealings? A company?Give me a break.“I’m busy.”
“Tonight? Well, let’s do tomorrow night then. I’ll arrange it with your secretary.”
“She doesn’t arrange my personal schedule.”
“All good secretaries do.”
“She’s actually an administrative assistant. And she’s fantastic at her job.”
Poppy laughed. “Don’t tell me you’re dating her. Isn’t she a little old for you? Certainly there are people in your life a little more suitable. A certain someone right under your nose, perchance?”
“Who I’m dating is none of your business.”
“So you are dating someone? Well, that should make things interesting. Let her know I’ll be preoccupying your evening tomorrow night. No reason for her to wait up for you.”
“I’m not going out with you.”
“I never said it was a date. That was all you. I’ve always loved a man who’s forward.”
I sighed. “Poppy, we’re not having dinner. No matter what you want to call it.”
“Then I’ll just have to tell the hitmen to go forward with their plans.”
I froze. Last night Mr. Pruitt said he hadn’t hired hitmen to follow me around. I knew he was lying. But for her to actually sit there and admit it? Why hadn’t I recorded this conversation?Damn it.“Mr. Pruitt said he wasn’t having me followed.”
“Darling, you know better than that. You don’t think Uncle Richard doubled the size of our business by telling the truth?Honestly, you’re so naïve. It’s adorable.” She smiled and her teeth were so straight and white that they almost looked fake. “You’ll be perfect. I’ll have a car sent for you at 7.”
Perfect for what? “I won’t be home.”
“Yes, I’ll be sending the car to Tanner Rhodes’ apartment building of course. That is where you’re staying, yes?”
Fuck.She knew I was staying with Tanner? “That’s not…”
“Don’t play coy. It was smart to not go back to your house. Staying with a friend was the safer choice given the circumstances. At least for the time being. You won’t be staying there for long if I have my way though.”
I thought she’d meant because I was surely about to die, but then she gave me a salacious wink and lightly bit her lower lip.No.Good God, no.Did she think she was going to sink her claws in me and turn me into husband number two? Because there was literally no way that was fucking happening. I’d rather the hitwoman off me.
