Mad for the Billionaire (4 page)

“You wanna rephrase that, Mark? Quickly?”

He tapped his calloused fingers against the desk. Tap. Tap. Tap. “No offense. You know what I mean.”

As far as apologies went, that was good as I was going to get. I sighed, frustrated to get entangled in a tug-of-war between my past and my present. “Look, we went to school together. That’s all. He probably wants to be polite and catch up on old friends.”

The pinched set of Mark’s mouth loosened. “That’s it?”

“Yes, that’s it.” I resisted the urge to shake my head at Mark’s territorial tendencies. “Now what did you need?”

He held up one hand. “It can wait.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah.”

“It must’ve been pretty important for you to send Connie.”

“Hell, no! I just wanted to go over the meeting and get your feedback on how it went.”

I relaxed and crossed my legs. “It went well. The troops are excited again. There’s hope now…the very thing we’ve all needed. Between the layoffs and the ones left migrating to more stable companies, it’s been brutal.”

“I know. We were running the blade for too long.” Mark slapped the desk. It rattled the silver Newton’s Cradle toy I had gotten him last Christmas. “Damn but it feels good to think about the future. Now that Draven will be the acting CEO until he finds us a suitable replacement, I can focus on doing just my job.”

“Tell me about it.” We laughed, wry humor tempered by longstanding fatigue. “I think I’ll finally be able to sleep without waking up in the middle of the night.”

“Sleep? What’s that?”

I chuckled again before eyeing the wall clock. Minutes expired while I contemplated an insurrection against my baser fixations. Mark and I chatted, conversation circling around subjects like weekend plans before zeroing back onto MLM.

Two minutes left. Alexander, I’m not going to hop at your command. I’m really, really not.

No. I’m not.

No. I can’t.

Shit!

I shot to my feet. “Mark, I gotta go.”

“Oh, that’s right.” He waved me off. “It wouldn’t do to keep the new boss waiting. Pass on anything pertinent, will you?” His sharp gaze held mine to press the importance of the statement.

“Sure thing.”

“Sophia?”

“Yeah?” Mark regarded me another moment, keen stare sweeping across mine. I got the distinct impression he was looking for something secret and vulnerable to discover. I fortified my walls with a lopsided grin. “What is it?”

Good luck scaling me, Mark. You were never going to get in.

As if he heeded my silent challenge, he shook his head and waved me off. “Nothing. Enjoy yourself.”

“Will do.”

I left his office and swung by mine. Picking up my purse, coat, phone, and keys, I glanced out of the window, trying to see if I’d spot Alexander waiting outside seven floors down.

You’re really not going to do this, are you?

Hell, yes I was. Why? Because I still couldn’t resist the lure of Alexander Monroe Draven II.

Fuck, fuck, fuckity, fuck, fuck, fuck!

My cell rang. I answered it with a crisp, “Sophia Carter.”

“You’re not going to make it.”

I closed the door behind me and strode down the hall in a rapid clip. “How did you get this number?”

“I’m paying for it. Remember?”

My teeth ground against one another. “Don’t say it like that.”

“Like what?”

“Like I’m your kept woman.” Alexander’s laughter dissolved my pique. His humor made me feel warm and happy. “Stop laughing!” My tone bordered on flirtatious. I wanted to bite my tongue.

“Oh, girl. ‘Kept woman?’ That is hilarious. What’s next? Are you going to accuse me of being improper for seeing you without a chaperone?”

“Hush.” I nodded to passing coworkers and reached the receptionist. “I’m off to lunch, Gloria.”

“Have a good one, Ms. Carter.”

“Thanks. I will.” I entered the empty elevator with an emphatic “I said stop laughing!”

“Not a chance.”

I leaned against the wall, sleek phone pressed tightly to my ear, and admitted, “I was afraid to see you today.”

“I can’t imagine why.”

“I’m pretty sure you can.”

Alexander soft voice seduced confidence. “Tell me.”

“I’ve never—”

The doors opened and with it the outside world intruded. I nodded politely to the older, sharply dressed gentleman getting in. I resumed a ruler-against-the-back posture. What was I doing talking to him like that, like we were friends or closer? Obviously my mind sneakily tried to continue down its downward spiral.

“Sophia?”

Stony-faced and staring blindly at the lights flashing above the doors, I answered him brusquely. “I’m still here. What parking deck are you in?”

“I’ll wait for you at the entrance.”

“No, I’ll come to you.”

Alexander sighed, obviously irritated with my obstinacy. “I already told you what I was going to do, Sophia. No need to argue about it. See you in a few seconds.” He ended the call, leaving me to pocket my cell phone without another word.

The elevator doors opened, freeing me to my upcoming fate. I nodded again to my companion, warmly thanking him for the courtly gesture indicating I should depart first. I strode across the marble lobby, keeping my eyes fixed on the bank of revolving doors.

I’d need to curate my words with Alexander in order to keep my most important truths to myself.

I’ve never forgotten you. I’ve never stopped loving you. I’ve never gotten over you.

I slipped into the circular exit, unable to keep from contrasting it against my present circumstances. If I wasn’t careful I was bound to find myself walking in circles, trapped and unable to stop from repeating the same damned mistakes.

The same mistakes being I’d be too attached to Alexander, too insecure of his feelings for me, and so furious because no matter how much I loved him, I wouldn’t be able to overcome the sins of my mother and his father.

Cool air rushed out and caressed my face, bringing much needed relief to my flushed cheeks. My eyelids drifted down for a bit, shutting out the concrete vista, and letting the bustling world slow to a crawl.

I don’t have to be so scared of this. Maybe this is the way it’s supposed to be. We’ll meet, reminisce, and then I can finally move on. Isn’t that really what I should want? Closure. Peace. Happiness.

“You’re late! What are we going to do about that, Ms. Carter?”

The world found its speed again. I opened my eyes, overwhelmed not by the living river of people flowing by, but the brilliance of Alexander’s liquid gaze. His smile taunted and teased, easily plucking the strings of my resolution loose.

Alexander was right. I
was
late. I was late in realizing a sad, simple fact—I had already been caught.

And there was nothing I could do about it except dangle on the hook.

Present Day and Time

“Come here.”

I rationalized my defiance. I didn’t have to obey Alexander. In this setting, he didn’t have the right to command me to do anything much less expect me to actually do it.

Alexander watched me; large body swiveled in profile, elbow resting on the smooth, wooden surface and forearm straight and rigid like a post. The snowy white shirt could be mistaken for the traditional symbol for surrender.

I knew it for what it was. So did Alexander.

I was the moth to his flame. Forever flying near, doing my best not to burn but destined to do it anyways. I was that weak, you see?

A killing-soft smile landed at the corners of his lips. He waited, patient and watchful.

Where was he going with this? What was he trying to prove that he hadn’t already proved a million times before? There was only one way to find out.

“Fine.” I walked over to him, fixated on the beacon of his arm. Chin up and defiance oozing with every rigid step until I stood at his knee. “Happy now?” I snapped, doing little to be gracious over my capitulation.

“Not by a long shot, baby.” Alexander appraised me, doing nothing to disguise it. “I never cared for your anger before. I saw it as something to be eliminated and subdued. Now I know the great potential it has for us both.”

Warmth drizzled, softening my insolence. My belly clenched. My nipples tightened to twin points, vividly remembering the hot tug of Alexander’s lips. The urge to cross my arms and cover my chest tangled with the urge to rip off my shirt.

Push, pull, want, deny. Seductive madness could only lie this way.

“Sophia, I want you to do something for me.”

I coughed, trying to disguise my body’s response as an aberration. “Yes?”

“I want you to sit down.”

“Okay.” I turned to find the nearest chair.

“Stop.” Alexander waited silently until I looked back at him, eyebrow raised quizzically. “Not there.”

“Then where?”

Alexander pointed to the floor. I followed his finger, seeing his polished, leather shoes and the empty space before them.

I shook my head and backed away. “On the floor?”

“Yes. I want you on the floor, kneeling at my feet.”

I reached out to steady myself. My fingertips dug into the side of the desk. “You want me at your feet.”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

Alexander tilted his head. “Because it would please me.”

Jesus fucking Christ!

Violent lust ricocheted through my body, instantly piercing my core. I tightened my thighs, finding perverse, thrilling pleasure in the idea of obeying him. My mind whirled into overdrive, looking for any reason to drown out the instinct demanding I obey.

“Are you serious, Alexander? You’re not joking with me?”

He stared me down, mouth tight and eyes blazing with implacable domination. “On your knees. Now.”

My knees buckled. Still keeping hold of the desk, I sank down, down, down, until my legs folded beneath me. My heart hammered, beating so hard against my chest I wasn’t sure if I wanted to scream in fear or delight.

“Breathe, Sophia.”

“I…I…am.” Fear gripped me strong. My panicked gaze jumped around. I couldn’t believe what I had done. Worse, how come it felt so right?

Alexander’s warm hand cupped my chin. “You’re doing beautifully, Sophia. Look at me. I said
look
at me. Now just breathe for me. In and out. That’s it. Good girl.”

I patterned my breathing after his. Lost in his black gaze, I watched the world fall away. Nothing existed but him.

“You’re doing beautifully. Feeling better, are we?”

I drew in a long, shaky breath. “Yes.”

“Good.” Alexander stroked my dark hair, tilting my head forward so he could gather the length into a ponytail.

“What are you doing?”

“Hush.” He tightened his fingers to use my hair as a leash. Alexander tugged my head back hard. “I’m not going to mince words here, Sophia. I want you. I want you with me like this.”

“On my knees?” I couldn’t help injecting a bit of sarcasm in my voice to minimize just how helpless I felt.

“Get serious fast, girl, or you’ll feel my belt on your ass faster than you can blink.”

My eyes widened. I could hear my voice shaking as I unequivocally stated, “You’re not going to hit me.”

“Care to make a wager?”

Tears suddenly pricked my eyes. I blinked them back quickly, clenching my jaw to make a flamboyant lie of my vulnerability. Alexander had never hit me before. The fact he would even suggest it hurt more than I could put into words.

This is what he’s become now? Someone who would abuse me?

“Don’t misunderstand the situation, Sophia. I’m not talking about how Mr. Doughtry hit Mrs. Doughtry.”

“Then what?” I spat, feeling betrayed and disillusioned. “Because it sounds pretty much like the same damned thing.”

“It’s not. Truly.” The corners of his mouth lifted in a sensual grin. “And I very much look forward to teaching you the difference. You always were such a smart girl, Sophia. I doubt that’s changed much since school. So don’t make me out to be some kind of a bastard, Sophia. Not about this.”

None of his words made much sense to me, but a kernel rapped against my brain. His dominance, his need to have me on my knees, it all pointed to dangerous delights.

Like the things I had seen in movies and read in books. Dark, seductive desires that attached to my core whenever I saw them. Memories of our fights, of how I got a strange thrill whenever he shoved his face right into mine, staring at me as if he didn’t know whether to kiss me or punch the wall above my head, rose up to remind me of my twisted nature.

“We flirted with this before.”

“I know, Sophia.” He tilted his head and observed me. “What are you thinking?”

“I’m confused. I don’t understand any of this.”

“Like what?” His soft voice inspired my confidence.

“Why are you chasing after me?” I frowned and shook my head. “No, don’t answer that.”

“I
will
answer it because you need to know.” Alexander kissed the corner of my mouth. “You and I never finished. You know it’s true. Why do you think I ended up here? Of all the companies in the world, why did I choose this one?”

My dry mouth nearly left me incapable of speech. I swallowed hard. “Coincidence.”

“You know better. Do you really think I haven’t kept track of you all these years? I’ve known every address you’ve had, every job, and every…relationship.” Alexander’s lip curled back on the last word.

I swayed. I should’ve been frightened by his thoroughness. I wasn’t. A strange, secret part of me was relieved. To have someone share my obsession was lovely.

“Me too.”

“What?”

“Relationships. I’ve known about yours, at least the ones that made it on the Internet.”

His mouth quirked into enigmatic smile. “Really now?”

“Yes.” Anger and jealousy spiked. “You’ve gotten around so much I wonder how you’d manage to run a hot dog stand much less a large corporation.”

His amusement evaporated. “Careful there, girl. I’m not above throwing things in your face.”

“Go for it. I’m not the one jumping from bed to bed and letting the whole world document it.”

“Did you ever wonder why?”

“No.”

Alexander pulled my head back slowly. He bared my throat, leaving it a long line vulnerable to his lips and teeth. “Why do you think someone like me who has always been protective of my privacy would allow that kind of information out? Would be in places where pictures could be taken?”