Bought a billionaire rom.., p.2
Bought: A Billionaire Romance, page 2
Wait. An idea is forming in my mind. Oh yeah, this should be fun. What is the point of being a billionaire if you can’t have some fun? It isn’t all about the money. I know Greene would probably accept a fifty-five/forty-five split, but I’ll give him that extra five percent if he’s willing to give me something.
“OK, sixty-forty, I can agree to that. We’ll get the contracts drawn up over the next few days.”
I can see Greene breathe a sigh of relief. He thinks he has me beaten.
“Just one condition,” I continue, “I want something from you.”
“What is it?”
I look at Clara, all wide-eyed and nervous on her first day. I know it’s a problem, but when you’re as rich as I am, when you see something you want, you just have to buy it.
“Her.”
Chapter 5
Clara
“Her!?” says Greene.
“Me!?”
What the hell is he doing? This is the twenty-first century. You can’t buy people.
“I want her to come and work for me as part of the deal. You know, a secondment. At least until the project is all up and running, say, two years.”
TWO. YEARS. With this jerk? Kyan Ellis, the number one investor in fossil fuels, the man that Economy magazine called ‘the king of pollution’. Two years with the man that stands against everything I believe in. I can’t believe I thought he was hot when he sat down opposite me in the coffee shop.
“Deal,” says Greene as the two men stand up and shake hands like I’m not even there, “err, assuming you’re OK with it, Clara?”
“No Clara means no deal,” emphasizes Kyan.
How is this happening? I thought I was going to mess up and make a fool of myself on my first day but this is somehow infinitely worse than that. Do I betray all my values and go work for Kyan Ellis or do I let down the company I really want to work for and screw up this whole deal?
“I…can I have some time to think about it.”
“You’ve got twenty-four hours,” says Kyan, “I’ll get the contracts drawn up and we’ll meet back here this time tomorrow.”
****
I slam the door to my apartment and press my back into it, sliding down to the floor with my eyes closed. I hear footsteps and open my eyes to see my roommate Kelly in pajamas and an old hoodie with our college logo on it.
“Bad day, huh?” she asks.
Five o’clock couldn’t come round fast enough. I had spent my lunch break crying in the toilets but I thought I had fixed my makeup well enough. Kelly could tell, though. Kelly could always tell.
“I thought you were supposed to be at work this evening?” I dodge the question. Kelly had given up looking for jobs in finance and had decided that, for now, working in a bar would do. How she’s going to pay off the piles of student debt we have accumulated, I don’t know.
“Yeah but I swapped shifts with Greg,”
“That guy who’s always hitting on you?”
“That’s the one. If we head down there tonight he’ll be handing out free drinks to me like candy and you look like you could do with some drinks.”
“It’s that obvious? I don’t much feel like going out. More like I want to lie on my bed and cry.”
“It’s pretty obvious.”
“Well if I look that awful I don’t want to go out.”
“No, you look great. Kind of sad and cute. Like when a puppy hurts its legs and has to have those wheels so it can walk.”
She really doesn’t choose her words carefully. Still, I can’t help but smile at her attempt to cheer me up.
“Now I definitely don’t want to go out.”
“Come on. I won’t take no for an answer.”
****
An hour later I’ve redone my makeup yet again and I think I’m ready to head out.
“So, that’s definitely what you’re wearing?” says Kelly when I finally leave my room.
I look down at the jeans and purple top I’m wearing and then at Kelly’s short, black dress. Her ample cleavage makes it look like she’s smuggling a couple of melons.
“Well…not definitely,”
“Great. How about that dress you bought when you found out you got the job? You haven’t even worn it yet.”
“Well, yeah, but don’t you think it’s a bit…booby?” I realize the question is stupid when I look at Kelly’s dress. If anything she probably thinks it isn’t booby enough.
Ten minutes later I’m wearing the dress and trying not to fall down the steps to our apartment in the highest pair of heels I own. Somehow Kelly always has a way of making me come out of my shell, and I usually don’t regret it. Usually.
A short taxi ride later and we’re at The Cellar. The Cellar is one of those places that just screams ‘gentrification’. This neighborhood used to be run-down, the kind of place where girls like me and Kristy wouldn’t even set foot, let alone decide to spend an evening drinking.
This particular street used to be all drug dealers and pawn shops a few years ago; but now coffee shops staffed by bearded baristas in the skinniest jeans imaginable and vegan bakeries nestle between wine bars and pubs serving the widest range of microbrew beers you can think of.
The heat and noise of the dozens of people crammed into the small bar hit me the moment I push open the heavy door. The smell of beer and alcohol is thick in the air as we walk in. Kelly is right behind me and we head over to the bar to try and get Greg’s attention for some free drinks.
The bar area is pretty packed but we’re soon at the front where the neon blue and pink beer sign casts a ghostly light onto us. The Cellar is one of those places with the shabby chic of a dive bar but with triple the prices. The perfect formula for ripping off hipsters.
“My two favorite ladies!” yells Greg over the din of the bar when he sees us, “So, what can I get you. On the house of course.”
“Shots!” yells Kelly.
“Not shots,” I say.
“Tequila!”
“Coming right up,” says Greg
I know I shouldn’t go into work hungover tomorrow, but right now I really don’t care.
“So, tell me about today,” says Kelly after we’ve had a couple of drinks.
I tell her all about what happened. How I met Kyan in the coffee shop and he basically lied to me. Then, after being completely thrust in at the deep end, he asks for me to be thrown in as an extra on a business deal.
“No way!” says Kelly when I’m done, “THE Kyan Ellis wants you to work with him? That’s amazing! Why are you upset about this?”
“Because he’s a jerk! Not to mention that his company invests in the least green energy sources imaginable. Working for him is the opposite of everything I ever wanted to do.”
“So what’s the deal that you’re supposed to be a part of?”
“It’s a joint venture to provide carbon sequestration initiatives on Ellis Energy’s worldwide coal power plant holdings.”
“Err…what the hell does that mean?”
“Basically, we’ll be reducing the carbon emissions of the coal plants. You know, fighting global warming.”
“And what happens if the deal doesn’t go through?”
“Well, from what Kyan was saying it sounds like Greene Earth could be in trouble without this deal.”
“So what’s the problem? Sounds like you’ll be taking one for team Earth if you make sure this deal goes through.”
I couldn’t help but agree with her. I had been so wrapped up in following my dream that I hadn’t thought about the bigger picture. Maybe I was being selfish and if I really want to make a difference, making sure this deal works really is the best choice.
“I…I guess you’re right,” I say hesitantly.
“You know it,” says Kelly, “So, was he as hot in real life as he looks in the magazines?”
“Kelly…”
“Come on, just admit it, he’s hot.”
“Well…I mean…I thought he was hot before I realized who he was.”
“Hot AND a billionaire, that’s the total package. Do you think he wants you just for your crazy finance skills or is he after something else?”
“Shut up!”
“Oh come on, Clara, when was the last time you even went on a date? Maybe he’ll take you for a ride in his private jet.”
“Not going to happen.”
“Well if you don’t want him, can you at least introduce me to him? I’ve always wanted to join the mile high club…”
“You’re gross.”
“You know you love it.”
We laugh together for a moment and I take a sip of one of the pink cocktails that appeared in front of us while we were talking. The drinks are already startingto go to my head. I’ll probably regret it in the morning, but right now I want some fun.
“Do you know who his ex-girlfriend is?” asks Kelly
“You know I don’t read those gossip magazines.”
“A princess! His last girlfriend was literally a princess from some European country and now he’s after you. You have all the luck and you don’t even care. The only guy trying to get into my panties right now is that dumbass barman over there,” says Kelly gesturing to Greg who is desperately trying to serve all the customers packing the bar.
“For the last time, he isn’t after me. I think I just impressed him with my skill at manipulating figures.”
“Yeah, I bet he’d like to manipulate your figure,” says Kelly with a grin.
I lightly punch her on the shoulder. There’s no way Kyan could be after me, is there? Well, if he is he made a pretty big mistake in making me part of a business deal. No way am I going to let him buy his way to my heart…or my bed.
“Another cocktail?”
“You sure that’s a good idea? I think you’ve got an important meeting tomorrow morning,” says a familiar southern drawl from behind me.
No way. It can’t be him.
I turn in the bar stool to see the easygoing half-smile of Kyan Ellis. The last person in the world I want to see right now has appeared as if by magic. I can’t deny it, even in a simple white button-down shirt and a pair of jeans he still looks amazing.
“OH. MY. GOD,” squeals Kelly, “You’re Kyan Ellis right?”
“I am.”
Chapter 6
Kyan
Well isn’t this just a stroke of good fortune. I decide to hit up a bar I’ve never been to before in my life, get a couple of beers, maybe chat to some beautiful woman; if I can find one that is. The moment I walk in I see a familiar face: Clara Young is sitting at the bar with a friend, and she’s all dressed up. I’m not a great believer in destiny but, damn, the universe really does throw you a bone every now and then.
“So are you out celebrating your new job, Clara?”
I’ve got a thing for the hot nerdy girl look she has in her work clothes but holy hell does she look good in that tight black dress.
“More like drowning my sorrows actually.”
She scowls at me. Somehow she’s even more cute when she’s annoyed.
“So you’re telling me you don’t want to be part of a project that’s going to reduce carbon emissions worldwide? I thought you were an environmentalist.”
“More like the project that’s going to save your profit margins so you can invest even more in destroying the environment. When the new carbon tax system is announced in six months you’ll be hemorrhaging money unless you bring your emissions down.”
I continue to underestimate Clara, she always seems to be a step ahead of where I think she is.
“Do you think I’m that greedy? That I only care about my profits?
“Yes.”
Blunt, beautiful, and good with numbers. I think I’ve found the perfect assistant. All I have to do is make sure she says ‘yes’ to the opportunity I’m offering to her. After that maybe I can work on getting her to say ‘yes’ to a few other things.
“So are you going to introduce me to your friend?” I ask. I can tell that talking about the deal is only going to annoy her. For some girls, I just need to flash a smile, maybe offer them a ride in the Lamborghini, and they’ll let me do anything I want to them. But the ones I have the most fun with take a bit of a long-term investment, they like the chase and so do I. Either way, I always get what I want.
“Kyan, this is Kelly. Kelly, this is Kyan,” drones Clara unenthusiastically.
“I am SO excited to meet you,” says Kelly.
Those girls who will let me do anything to them after a smile and a ride in the Lambo? Yeah, Kelly is definitely one of those. On any other day I would have her back at my penthouse in half an hour, but today I’ve got my eye on a better prize.
“So, do you like, have any other jobs? I’ve got a finance degree just like Clara,” continues the excited Kelly. I swear one of her tits is going to pop out of her dress if she leans any further towards me.
“Well we’re not hiring at the moment, but I can always find something for a beautiful woman to do around the office,” I say with a wink.
Dammit Kyan, can’t you control yourself for one minute? What is Clara going to think of you if you start hitting on her friend right in front of her? I scold myself. I can see Clara rolling her eyes next to me.
“So, what can I get you two ladies to drink?”
“Cocktails!” replies Kelly, her eyes lighting up.
I get the bartender’s attention and order us some fruity cocktails for the girls and a mojito for me, making sure to give him a healthy tip so that next time I get served faster.
When I come back to Clara and her friend they instantly stop talking. I wonder what they were saying about me.
“So is it true your first business was selling tractor parts?” asks Kelly.
“It sure is. You know, I think that was the most fun I ever had in business. Going farm to farm, getting all oily and dirty with the machinery. Sometimes I think about selling the business to just go back and sell tractor parts again. Live the simple life.”
“Yeah. That’s so great,” says Kelly, eyes wide and drinking up every word I say.
“Bullshit,” says Clara, “As if someone like you would ever give up your tailor-made suits and your penthouse apartment. I don’t buy the whole folksy charm thing you’re trying to sell.”
Ouch. The shy, nervous Clara from earlier is disappearing more with each drink. This one is going to be a tough nut to crack. I take another sip of my drink and decide my plan of action. Should have gone for something stronger.
“You know…if I had your money,” slurs Clara, “I mean, there’s so much…so much you could do to help people. If I was a billionaire I wouldn’t be such a jerk is what I’m saying.”
“Seems to me like you hardly know me, what makes you think I’m a jerk?”
“Err, let me see. You’re trying to buy me in a business deal? Not to mention you lied to me in the coffee shop.”
“I saw how good you were with those calculations and decided I need someone like you on my team.”
“And when you want something, you buy it, right?”
“Exactly. Maybe I should have been honest with you in the coffee shop, though.”
“Huh, wow, I almost believe you’re sorry.”
“Would another round of shots help you come to terms with it?”
“Shots!” yells Kelly.
I’ve got a feeling this could be a fun night.
Chapter 7
Clara
I’m woken up when the thin beam of light cutting between my curtains falls over my eyes. My head feels like a thousand tiny construction workers are going to town on it with sledgehammers and pneumatic drills.
Before I have time to wait for the room to stop spinning, Kelly bursts in through my bedroom door and throws open the curtains.
“Murghurgh, blah!” I try to form coherent words but my mouth just isn’t up to it yet. I blink in the bright sunshine and try to will my churning stomach not to empty its contents all over the room.
“Wake up sleepyhead!” says Kelly, “I brought you a glass of water and a black coffee.”
How is she always so damn peppy after a night of drinking? I wonder. It doesn’t matter, I’m hungover enough for the both of us and grateful that she is alive enough to take care of me.
“So, do you remember last night?”
I’m too preoccupied trying to stop myself hurling all over my clean bedsheets to think about last night. It’s a blur. One minute we were in The Cellar chatting, then…
“Urgh,” I mumble, “Kyan showed up when we were in The Cellar.”
“That’s right. But there’s more, so much more.”
The night is coming back to me in pieces. I remember drinking…and then more drinking. Then…dancing?
“Did we go to a nightclub?” I ask, putting a hand up to my thumping head as if I’m checking it’s all still there.
“Now you’re starting to remember! That’s not all, though. Oh no, you’ve got a lot more to remember.”
I remember the thumping music. No wonder my ears are ringing this morning. A lot more to remember though? What else could there possibly be?
“Just tell me,” I beg.
“No, that’s no fun. You have to work it out!”
“I hate you.” I throw a pillow at her but it misses completely.
I close my eyes. The darkness of the nightclub comes back to me, the pumping bassline of the music. I’m dancing with a guy. Then, lips. A mouth against mine. A tongue. One rough hand against the back of my neck while we kiss and another on my hip, holding my body close to him. The musky scent of his cologne and the heat of the dance floor. Hot, but who the hell was he?
“Who was he?” I ask, wondering if Kelly knows who my mystery kisser is.
“Ooh, you’re so close now. Just think a little bit harder.”
I close my eyes and try to pierce through the drunken haze of the night before. The face of the man I’m kissing pulls back away. The perfect hair, the arrogant half-smile…it’s…he’s…
“I made out with Kyan Ellis!?”
