The bad boy billionaires.., p.1
The Bad Boy Billionaire’s Vendetta, page 1
The Bad Boy Billionaire’s Vendetta – an erotic romance
KAYLA KRAMER
Copyright KAYLA KRAMER 2019
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The following eBook is a work of fiction, any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.
“So, your Christmas was a bust?”
I take a long, deep sigh. “It was. And yours?”
Selina mutters something dark. “Smashed to bits.”
I hunker down against the wall, one eye on the departure board. “I’ll be home soon.”
“Wait, you’re flying back to San Francisco? Talia, shit, it was that bad that you’ve cut short your one vacation of the year?”
“It went a little something like this,” I sip my black coffee as I adjust my carry-on bag that I was sitting on. The departure lounge was busy and I hadn’t been able to find a seat. “Dad’s new girlfriend caught my dad with his hands all over the housekeeper.”
“Urgh, he is such a pig.” Selina gasps. “Sorry, no offense.”
“Oh none taken.” I laugh. “He is a pig...I just can’t believe I fell for his ‘oh sweetheart, I have changed and I promise to make it the best Christmas ever’ speech.”
“I’m really sorry Talia.”
I eye the board, my flight still wasn’t boarding. “Where are you? And what happened?”
“It a very long story, but basically Jeff and I broke up.”
“Selina, shit...I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t be, it was red lining, both of us were trying to make something out of nothing, I can’t believe I just...”
“Selina?” I hear her fight the rising sobs. “Hey, listen to me, when I get back, you and I, we’re going to have a do over of Christmas okay?” I see the screen change and my gate number appears. I get to my feet, tossing my empty cup into the near trash can and reach for my bag. “I’ll see you soon.”
Three days after Christmas, Selina and I are still on the couch watching movies. “We should have planned this all along.” She sighs.
I grab the half eaten bowl of popcorn. “Yeah, we should have.”
She faces me, looking chirpier than when I’d come home and found her sobbing in the living room, clutching one of her ex’s shirt. I’d pried it out of her hands, stuffed it into the closet when she hadn’t been looking and directed her towards her bedroom.
“Has your dad called?” She fast forwards a commercial break.
“He has. But I let it go to voicemail.” I adjust the blanket over my knees, before reaching for my phone that’s beside our Christmas tree to order the pizza we’d promised ourselves for lunch. “I just can’t deal with it.” I absently adjust one of the colourful lights that’s fallen off a branch.
“What about your mom?”
“She’s in London; with her new husband...this isn’t her problem anymore.”
Selina looks over at me, her almond shaped eyes warm and kind. “It’s not yours either.”
I’m just about to dial when I notice a text message from my boss. “Great.”
“What?”
“Someone’s called in sick for a New Year’s Eve party.”
“Bit early isn’t it, they could get better?”
“Andrea says it’s a broken leg and if I can cover.”
Selina groans. “So, you’re going to have to work on New Year’s Eve?”
I scroll through the text. “Shit...it’s $150 for the shift.”
“That’s a good chunk of change.” She smiles sadly.
“Want to see if I can get you in?”
“I can’t waitress and I’m useless in the kitchen.”
I laugh as I start to text Andrea back. “It’s mostly serving drinks to richer than God moguls and making sure they have tiny portions of food in their mouths.”
“I think I’ll stay home.”
I put my cell down. “I’ll pass then, we should stick together.”
Selina lifts my phone, handing it back to me. “You should take it. It’s good money, and besides, we did our Christmas dinner yesterday, why not delay new year’s by a day?”
When New Year’s Eve arrives, I end up having to watch Selina and Jeff fight, then make up in the space of the living room. When I hear the shouts gradually lessen, then Selina’s bedroom door being slammed shut...not followed by the front door opening and closing; I make my deductions...which get nosily confirmed by them hitting the bed about a minute later.
I slip out of the apartment near six PM, making my way to the address that Andrea had texted a few days ago along with strict uniform instructions. Black skirt, must be knee length, white shirt and formal black tie and waistcoat. Mid heel, no higher and hair must be pulled back. Make up light, neutral, nothing over the top.
I take the service elevator some thirty floors to the penthouse level where I’m escorted by security to a make shift station where my bag and cell are swept for anything malicious by suited security officers. I’m only allowed into the property, once I’ve gone through airport style security, which I realise the guests will also have to do when they arrive at eight thirty. I fiddle with my hair that keeps on coming loose; normally Selina would have braided it into an elegant style, but my best friend was thoroughly occupied...and showed no signs of exiting her bedroom this side of the New Year.
I find a bathroom, noting the sparkling marble vanity which was the only opulence in the beautifully elegant space. I fiddle with my hair, tying it into a low bun and putting the wispy bits back behind my ears.
I find the kitchen, get my orders from Andrea. “You are a life saver Talia,” She smiles warmly at me. “Thank you so much.” I try and fight the catch in my chest that hints at a bruising loneliness. Since September my dad had dangled the perfect Christmas carrot in front of me. And I’d bit it. I’d saved what I could to cover the air fare to Colorado, only to have to dig into my savings to switch my return ticket home as it had been more than the original fare. “Hey Talia!” I face the voice.
“Reece,” I turn to my friend, getting onto my tip toes to kiss tall blonde guy warmly on the cheeks. “You are a sight for sore eyes.”
“Aren’t I just?” He grins. “Hey, sorry your Christmas was a bust. Selina said something about family issues?”
“Yeah, something like that.” We get ushered by Andrea towards the giant stack of white tapers, a couple of lighters and other shaped candles. Reece grabs the box, and I trail him through the stunning apartment, using good sense to light and place the candles in the glass holders that I was carrying.
“I got back from New York yesterday as the weather was getting worse and I have that exam in a few days.”
I light a couple of candles, carefully arranging them against the beautiful garlands that had been draped over the mantle of a substantial fireplace. “Good idea Reece, hey, maybe when it’s done, you, me and Selina...and probably Jeff, can celebrate?”
He groans. “Jeff is back on the scene?”
“Yes. Looks like it.” I grab a couple of pillar candles, popping them carefully into the glass holders on a side table near the huge L shaped couch that sits atop a pristine wooden floor. “God, this house is gorgeous.” I take a knee so that I can light the candles.
“Should be.” Reece heads for the huge table that’s been specially brought in for the dinner. “It belongs to a thirty something billionaire.”
I rise; watching to make sure the wick is lit, before settling my gaze on the twilight vista that shows me Golden Gate Bridge in the distance. The water is beautifully still and I note that on the terrace, there are some empty vases that could use some candles. With Reece handling those, I aim for the bathroom again, keen to secure my hair, which had come loose again.
As I exit, I hear an inelegant thud and then someone moaning softly. Whipping myself around the door frame, I see a suited man nursing his right eye. “Oh my God!” I whimper. “Are you okay?”
He presses a finger to the sight of impact, visually checking that there isn’t any blood. “I think I am...” He checks again, and then so do I. I collide with his utterly hauntingly green eyes that seem almost supernatural so sharp is their hue. I have to look up, and up, to connect with his handsome face, those lips which are turning into a wry smile. “I’m okay. No permanent damage.”
I release the death grip on the door. “I’m really sorry, I was just fixing my hair, the door opens out and I-”
He raises one hand. “I’m fine,” He digs out his cell, which is ringing. “I’m guessing you’re with the catering team?”
My heart sinks. “I am. I’ll go and get my things.”
He answers the call. “Just a second darling.” He covers the mouthpiece with his hand. “You’re not fired, far from it, just...just go, I’m fine, but if you don’t mind, can you grab me some ice?”
“Do you want a drink?”
“No,” He laughs, gesturing to the slight swell forming above his eye
. “For this shiner, some ice to lower the swelling please.”
Keeping my eyes down, I hustle into the busy main kitchen. The scent of cooking food is wonderful and numerous chefs in pristine white clothing move around the space with focused precision. There isn’t long until the main course is served and the starters are already being prepped. I aim for the huge ice bucket that has a dozen or so Champagne bottles sitting in it. I grab a few ice cubes, locate a linen napkin, but switch it out when I find a small, clean plastic bag on the counter top.
I make my way to the office I’d seen the suited man disappear into, the door open and I hear his gentle conversation.
“I can’t believe you’re not going to make it.” I hear him say as I linger by the door. I watch him as he stands facing that incredible view. In that suit, which has to be tailored as it fits him so well, he looks utterly handsome. He has dark hair, and those eyes were deep, vibrant pools of emerald...I tap the ice bag against my neck to cool myself, before lightly patting the door and getting his attention. He welcomes me with a beckon of hand, continuing his conversation. “Darling, you just stay where you are, if it’s not safe to travel, then don’t.” He accepts the ice pack as I offer it, immediately pressing it against his temple. I aim for the door, but he covers the mouth piece against his chest, “Can you hang back for a sec?”
“Sure.”
He smiles warmly when I comply. “Okay, darling, I better go, speak to you tomorrow. Give my love to the kids.” He hangs up, dropping the cell to the desk. “My sister.” He explains. “She’s stuck in Aspen due to the weather. We were supposed to spend tomorrow together.”
“Oh. Okay. Look, I’m really sorry.”
“It was an accident, don’t worry.” He tentatively places the ice pack against his temple again. Luckily the blow hadn’t broken the skin. He wakes up his PC. “I need your help with something.”
“My help?”
“Yes. Could you come here a moment?” Tentatively, I aim for the side of the desk. He’s working the mouse, clicking something. I hear a printer whir remotely somewhere in the room. “Could you take that picture and give it to security please?” I locate the sound of the printer, which is on a recessed shelf and grab it. “This guy is not to be admitted to the party.”
I stare at the colour image. “Oh my God.”
“What is it?”
“You want...” I swallow back the horror. “You want to keep this guy...”
“Away from the party, yes.” He must realise that I’ve gone horrible pale. “Why...do you know him?”
I nod my head. “It’s my dad.”
“Close the door.” His voice was ice. Cold, and so distant, that I trembled as I adhered to his request. “You’re Daniel Garrington’s daughter?”
I nod, still holding the print out, starting at the colour candid of my dad, presumably downloaded from his company website.
“You should leave.” There it goes, the final blow to my self esteem. “Give that to security on your way out.”
I nod shakily, seeing stars as my tears threaten to tip into existence. “What did he do?” I whisper.
“He just cost me millions of dollars in a deal that went sour.”
The penny suddenly drops. “This is your party...you’re him...” I exhale roughly. “You’re Matthew Stone.” The door suddenly knocks and without warning, someone enters. I take my cue, noting it’s someone from security and as I rush past them, I stuff the sheet into their hands.
“Hey!” Reece catches me as I steam past the open plan living room. “What’s wrong?”
“My dad, that’s what...” I hiss.
Reece clamps me by the arm. “Talia, what the hell has happened?”
I drag him with me to the spare room we’d been allocated to store our bags and coats in. I find my belongings, not bothering to put my coat on, simply draping it over my arm so that I could leave.
“Talia,” Reece follows me to the front door, both of us dodging a lighting crew who are coming to do the final decoration preparations to the huge Christmas tree in the living room. “Talia stop!” He gets me to a halt by the elevator, the door just closing as some catering staff clear it, so I stick my hand between the metal, getting it to stay open. Reece’s attention is taken by Andrea who is calling for him and I take that moment of his distraction, hit the button for the ground level and watch as the doors finally close.
Grateful when I find the apartment dark and quiet, I dump my bag in my room before making my way to the small kitchen. I find a note on the fridge door from Selina. She’s gone to Jeff’s apartment and with a New Year message and promise to call tomorrow, I slam the door shut after grabbing an ice cool water. The shock of the coincidence has me shaking. In the dark, I put myself against the countertop, desperately trying to figure out the mess, but I don’t get a chance. Someone thuds heavily on the door and thinking it’s Selina who left without her keys, I open it.
Big mistake.
Matthew Stone barges his way into my apartment. He sweeps in, sending me back against the wall. I gather myself together. “Hey, hey! Get out!” We end up in the living room, lit only by a lamp that I’d put on before I’d aimed for the kitchen. “You need to leave.”
“Did you think that your little act would garner some sort of insider secret? Something your father could exploit and screw me over again?” His presence spooks me. It’s sharp, frightening and he seems bigger and broader...probably because he’s in a much smaller dwelling than his mansion in the sky.
“It was just a horrible coincidence! I didn’t know that the party was for you, I never know, I just turn up and...”
“And...and what?” He steps towards me. “Maybe you thought you’d hurt me, and get some sort of strange added bonus...”
“What...” I go cold. “I didn’t know you were there! I hit you by accident!” The very notion that I could or would hurt someone deliberately makes an awful cold sweep across my senses. “You really need to leave, what my dad did...I didn’t do it.”
“But you knew enough...you knew my name.”
I want to crawl into bed, never to rise again, instead, I slump into a near seat. “I don’t have the best relationship with my dad...but I hear things...and just the other day...I heard him mention your name.” I get swamped by the memories of what added to the ruin of my Christmas...his behaviour had spiralled out of control and I’d heard him mention Matthew by name in a God awful speech where he likened his business deal to something from ancient Rome and the gladiatorial arena.
“He reneged on a deal.”
“And it cost you...” I swallow the lump in my throat, unable to fathom such a vast sum of money.
“I just lost a quarter of my business in one night.”
I stand, trying to force the shake out of my knees. “Then...” I take a quick breath. “You have had a lucky escape.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“My dad, he’s not a good guy and for you to only lose that much...well, Mr Stone, you might have just gotten a lucky break.” I watch him turn on his heel, fury making his hands into fists as he thunders out of the front door. And not a second later, I hear the sounds of fireworks, cheers from the street below and my own phone chiming midnight.
The New Year was here.
I take a long walk the next morning, the city still and quiet. My new year’s festivities were in the toilet. I’d quietly put the pieces together after falling into bed not long after Matthew had left...my father had screwed Matthew’s company over for a last minute bid and thrown Matthew out of the race. From my online searching, Matthew had already leveraged hundreds of millions of his own capital to finance the project, which would have been a collection of skyscrapers in numerous cities across the world. What my dad did was to take out Matthew and join up directly with the builders and essentially cut out the middle man; a middle man who’d sunk a fortune into pre planning.
I dig out my cell. A text from my mom. It’s a picture of her and her new husband on the banks of the Thames, ringing in the New Year in a crowd of thousands. I send back a sentiment, hoping the cheery nature of it would make her think that everything is okay.
As I approach home, I note that there is a large blacked out SUV parked adjacent to my doorway. With my senses on high alert, I scoot a little more quickly, grabbing my keys.
