Boxed Set: Rocked by a Billionaire – Vol. 1-3 (12 page)

I woke up in the hotel suite bathed in daylight. I stretched slowly, still hot from the burning kisses of my lover. Sitting on the bed, I could see the port with its fishing and sailing boats across the bay and the immensity of the buildings on the other side of the inlets. What a city! After New York and Hong Kong, which megalopolis would Sacha take me to? Talking of Sacha, where was he? Obviously he had left ... I looked around the room, blinking my eyes. Mmm! The cat was gone! I dragged myself out of bed and pulled on the silk kimono that had been carelessly dropped on the armchair, and went over to the huge bay window to enjoy the view ... What time was it? 8 o'clock? Maybe later? I don't wear a watch, so I got my cell phone out of my handbag that was on a console table in the entrance hall. The battery was flat. Just what I needed ... I was looking around for a power socket when I saw a piece of paper with Sacha's handwriting on it! I could recognize his handwriting anywhere. Straight as a poker, just like him!

“Liz,

I've booked the room opposite the suite. Your clothes and belongings are already there. It's open and the key is in the entrance hall. Make yourself comfortable.

I have a private meeting this morning, but I'll be waiting for you at 10:30 sharp in room 108 of the convention centre which is two blocks away from the hotel.

Bring your notes for the N. Ruppert file.

Don't be late.

S.”

I held the note in my hands and stayed quite still for a few seconds. My head buzzed. I could hear my heart pounding in my chest.

OK, let's summarize:

1/ He's kicked me out of the suite. OK. I had a room opposite and it suited me quite well to have some independence ... but hey, he did kick me out ... I'd rather it had been me who asked for another room (but I would never have done it, let's be honest)...

2/ He wanted my notes on the Ruppert file ... Meaning what? OK, I'd worked on this file for a few days before my arrival in Hong Kong, but I was far, very far from knowing all the strings attached. What did he really want from me? I hadn't forgotten that besides Sacha being the most extraordinary man I've known in bed...he was also my boss! I couldn't screw up on this file, there was no question about it ... Oh boy, talk about being stressed out ... especially as the file in question was not an easy one. Nicolas Ruppert, a Texan who made his fortune in farming, wanted to diversify his activities and was very interested in the Chinese market, particularly after his marriage to a young woman 25 years his junior from the new wealthy class of Hong Kong. Ruppert had appointed the firm Goodman & Brown to find him something where he could earn a few million dollars. If Goodman & Brown managed to get a good deal for Ruppert, this was a sure way to bring other multimillionaires into the New York law firm. The firm was playing for high stakes. I had done a little spadework on the file, but I didn't think Sacha would use the convention as an opportunity to work on this case ... It was not only Goodman & Brown who were playing high ... I was as well. My notes - where were my notes? I needed to look at them before the appointment...

3/ The appointment?! What time was it? I switched on my cell phone which I had just plugged in. 9:30 ... Phew! And this convention centre that was two streets away? Two streets? But I've never been to Hong Kong before! I was sure it was a trap. He was deliberately testing me, to freak me out, always pushing the limits on all levels ... OK, try not to panic.

I opened my laptop and in two or three clicks I found the location of the convention centre. I glanced at the phone. 9:45 ... I grabbed my bag, the key, my phone, tightened the belt of my kimono and, with my laptop propped on one hip, I crossed the hallway like a madwoman ... I didn't have time to assess "my" room. My suitcase was there, waiting for me quietly. I grabbed a pantsuit, a blouse and my toiletries and quickly took a shower.

In no time at all I was ready! I hadn't got a lot of beauty sleep the night before, but this was a professional appointment after all, wasn't it? I put my long, red hair up in a bun. I needed to look more my age (this wouldn't be a bad thing at all) if I wanted to be taken seriously.

I took my file, my computer, my handbag and headed out of the splendid establishment. Two streets ... on the map it seemed to be close by. No need to complicate my life with a taxi that might not understand the address I gave with my French accent, or worse, take me to the wrong place.

As sure of myself as was humanly possible, I walked towards the large glass door. A porter opened it for me and I found myself in a bustling and busy street.

The interior of the hotel was fully air-conditioned. I didn't realize just how hot it was. My pantsuit suddenly seemed completely inappropriate ... Too bad. I didn't have time to change ... I turned right, then right again ... The road unrolled its long asphalt ribbon before me, cars hooted, pedestrians bustled ... and I was lost! And yet wasn't it the second right? Was it actually further than I thought? How long had I been walking for? I pulled my phone out of my bag and looked at the time: 10:15!

Oh no! 10:15, 10:15! ... but where was this convention centre, for goodness sake?

I awkwardly asked someone the way, but all I could understand was that I was on the wrong road. I felt the panic rising up inside me and became very flustered. I was about to give up, but I turned around and there I saw it:
"Convention"
was spread out in capital letters on the front window. (
Dear God thank you, they had had the good sense to put it in English
). I rushed into the hall, ran in all directions and ended up in front of a door with the right number on it: 108. Fate was on my side for once. I knocked and heard the serious voice of Sacha asking me to enter. I pushed open the door. He was alone, in what looked like a luxury meeting room. An oval mahogany table took up a good part of the room, and was surrounded by green leather seats. On the table, there were cups and glasses arranged on a silver tray, and thermos flasks, presumably for tea and coffee. I suddenly remembered that I hadn't had breakfast, which might explain the knot in my stomach. Sacha barely lifted his eyes, but he still greeted me with a smile ... as he would have done with any other employee. He indicated for me to sit in front of him. I did this, putting down my files and my laptop. I was sweating like a pig. I didn't dare think about the state of my bun, or the traces of perspiration that must have been staining my blouse.

I was trying to find a position that looked professional before I asked him what information he needed, but he beat me to it, without even looking up from his papers.

"Liz, we have an unexpected opportunity on the Ruppert file. This afternoon we are meeting with an industrialist, Mr. Ong, who is selling a site that will soon no longer be in use, two kilometers from here." He raised his head and looked me straight in the eye. "I went to see the site in question yesterday; this is a golden opportunity for Ruppert. For now, we are one of the first in line, but if we don't act quickly, we could lose the business. I know there is also an English investor who could be potentially interested. So we need to act quickly. I had Ruppert on the phone this morning and he has given us carte blanche to negotiate. Our application must be water tight if we want it to go through before the competition is called in."

I took notes at full speed, not wanting to miss any details. It was lucky that I had just been working on a financing plan for a similar project; this could be a starting point.

"Liz?"

"Yes?" I raised my head.

"So is this up your alley?" he asked half seriously, half-amused.

"Yes, yes ... I've already worked on a fictional financing plan. This could be a starting point. I need you to give me the actual figures for the industrial site..."

"Hmm ... I knew you would make an excellent assistant," he cut me off. "You definitely have a lot of ... um ... talent ... with many ... um ... strings to your bow! he added," emphasizing the word with a tone full of innuendos. He got up and stood behind me to read my notes. He was so close I could smell his intoxicating perfume.

I cleared my throat and continued to take notes as if nothing was bothering me. He came a little closer ... I had to force myself to stay focused on what I was doing ... His presence always had a devastating effect on me. I couldn't help the slight tremor that shook my pen. He obviously noticed it and, no doubt feeling satisfied and reassured, returned to his seat, sat down and picked up the handset in front of him.

"I ordered a chilled orange juice. You seem to be hot!"

The next few hours passed with incredible speed. We set up an ultra meticulous and successfully completed file ... I called Ruppert's personal assistant several times for new information. Sacha, in turn, contacted the Hong Kong authorities to find out all the formalities that we should obtain to transform this industrial site into a building complex. We were leaving nothing to chance. I was completely carried away by the project, excited and terribly proud to participate in this challenge. Maybe nothing would come out of it, but one thing was for sure - that in a few hours, my professional self-confidence had been incredibly boosted. This extraordinary encounter with Sacha Goodman had really changed my life ... in just a few weeks.

Sacha ordered sandwiches for lunch and in the early afternoon we were going to present a really solid, well-argued and, most importantly, profitable application to Mr Ong.

During the meeting that followed with the client, Sacha introduced me as his personal assistant (I was flattered, even if it was my rightful title!) and asked me to intervene to clarify some figures on two or three occasions. He negotiated with a talent that in my eyes made him even more wonderful ... I was already completely under the spell of his physique and personality, but now I was under the spell of the business lawyer. Was there anything he could not do? That he could not control?

Mr Ong left us without showing much emotion. I couldn't tell if he had been convinced by our arguments (I would have immediately said yes to Sacha in his place!). But we would have no regrets, whatever happened next, at least not from my point of view. Sacha seemed pretty satisfied too ... I was floating in a state close to euphoria. Maybe it was due to fatigue as well.

"Well, Miss Assistant Chief," said Sacha with a mysterious look when he turned to me after Mr. Ong had left. "I think we've done enough for today ... It goes against the rules to drink with my subordinate - that said, it's not very regulatory to sleep with them either - but let's relax with a small glass of champagne. Pack up your things, we're going back to the hotel."

I looked at my cell phone; it was 5 o'clock, a bit too early for champagne! But I was careful not to say anything as Sacha seemed to be in a particularly perky mood and I didn't want to annoy him.

We took a taxi back to the hotel. Only two streets, but there was no question that one of the greatest lawyers of New York should have to walk there!

Sitting in the comfortable and cozy lounge bar, I realized just how tired I was. I felt drained, I was exhausted. Sacha ordered two glasses of chilled champagne and untied the knot of his tie without taking his jade-colored eyes off me. The champagne was served at once, its fine bubbles escaping from the crystal glass. He undressed me with a long look, without embarrassment, pausing over every detail of my anatomy, and then he picked up his glass and raised it in my direction.

"If Ruppert signs with Ong, darling, I'll make you come so many times you'll lose your breath..."

I choked on a sip of champagne (
He said "darling"
) ... and coughed to catch my breath.

"No need, I've already lost my breath," I said, patting my chest. But don't let that hinder you... even if they don't sign!"

He laughed. His laughter was clear and sincere. I have rarely felt so close, so accessible...

"You did a good job on this, Liz ... I would go as far as saying that you have impressed me. I very rarely give compliments..."

I blushed. Compliments always made me very uncomfortable. He was so "normal" for once, maybe it was time to broach the serious issues, right? The ones that made me suffer and cry when I was alone - women and him...

"I ... uh ... you ... uh... you..."

"Yes, Liz? Me? You?"

I decided to chill out instead. To hell with Natalia, the Allissons and all the others. I wasn't going to spoil this moment!

"I'm delighted to work with you!" I said at once to dispel any discomfort and I swallowed my glass of champagne in one gulp.

"So much the better," he replied, not at all surprised. "And it's not finished! We have a gala dinner tonight. All the major law firms around the world come to this type of social event. I want you to be perfect ... You will find a suitable outfit in your room ... By the way, is your room to your liking?" he said, looking at me over his glass.

"Yes, its fine, and thank you renting me a room, I like being alone," (
take that
) I said, taking on a relaxed position.

"That's perfect then (
was he disappointed with my reaction? Who knows?
) "It goes without saying that you're welcome in my suite, whenever you wish..." He moved closer to me over the small table, his mouth almost touching mine.

I turned my finger around the rim of my glass and, licking my lips, I added:

"You too, of course ... but I'd rather be warned before a courtesy call..."

My temples were pulsating; this game was beginning to get very exciting. But he suddenly sat back, looked at his watch and told me to hurry up as we had to leave for the gala in half an hour!

The gala was held in a beautiful room on the top floor of one of the tallest buildings in Hong Kong. I arrived on the arm of Sacha, molded into a gorgeous midnight blue sheath dress, fully pleated and embroidered with transparent stones. My red hair fell in a wavy waterfall around my shoulders. I had put on more make up than usual. I felt so beautiful that night, which I was not used to. Sacha was wearing a tuxedo. He was divine. In the car that had brought us to the gala, the sexual tension was palpable! It wouldn't take much for me to take him right there on the backseat. The night after the evening promised to be full of carnal pleasures.