At His Desire: The Billionaire's Beck and Call, Part 7 by Delilah Fawkes Read Free Book Online Page B

mouth when the driver cocked an eyebrow at
me in the rearview mirror.
    I’d
been in the office several times arranging last minute details, but hadn’t seen
Mr. Drake for more than a moment or two. He’d been locked away pouring over the
books with the accounting staff behind the CFO’s back, hoping to find
God-knows-what before the big event.
    He
entered his office just long enough to change his shirt and steal a kiss from
me before heading back downstairs, but I felt the stress pouring off him like
steam from a radiator.
    I
recalled the words I’d overheard between him and Lex days before, and
wondered... What exactly was going on? How bad were these losses he’d
mentioned? Was Mr. Drake in serious trouble?
    I
chewed the cap of my pen. If I could make his problems disappear, I would in a
minute. But for now, I was glad I could at least take the detail work of this
weekend off his plate. I had to admit, it felt good to be needed. To be trusted
with something so important.
    I
closed the lap top and stood up. I’d done all I could for now. The rest was up
to him.

 
    ***

 
    The
driver held the car door open, and I stepped out, fidgeting in my red satin
dress. I thanked the man, and walked to the gilded double-doors of the Titan
Hotel, feeling naked in my sleeveless little number. Two men in full livery
swept the doors open for me with a bow, and I nodded to them nervously as I
walked through.
    I’d
heard of this hotel before, but had never even been to this part of the city,
much less set foot inside the gleaming, modern structure. The Smith family had
built this hotel and casino to cater   to
the super rich, a place where luxury and exclusivity were guaranteed. I blew
out a shaky breath, and stood up a little straighter. Just because I couldn’t
afford a snow globe in the gift shop didn’t mean I didn’t belong.
    Sure, Isabeau. Just keep telling
yourself that. Maybe one day, you’ll even believe it.
    The
choker shifted around my neck, and I sighed. I wasn’t in this alone.
    I
moved through the lobby, my heels click-clacking on the veined marble. Water
sculptures framed the check in and concierge desks, while the entire back wall
housed an enormous aquarium. I moved toward it, marveling at the way the light
from the water danced across the floor, mirroring the movement of the colorful
fish housed within. The light dimmed for a moment as a shark swam by. I jumped
and backed away. My back collided with something hard, but before I could turn
around, strong hands clamped down on my arms.
    “You
look breathtaking this evening, Miss Willcox.”
    The
sound of Lex Smith’s oily voice made goosebumps rise on my flesh. I pulled out
of his grasp, and heard him chuckle.
    “Thank
you.”
    He
grinned at me like a wolf, his eyes wandering over the drape of my satin dress
all the way down to my exposed legs. I wanted to cover up under that stare, but
wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.
    “I’m
glad you came to this little get together. I’ve been thinking about you.” He
brushed back his dark hair, his silver cufflink gleaming in the light from the
aquarium.
    “Oh?”
I didn’t like where this was going, but I didn’t want to be rude.
    “Absolutely,”
he said, his voice lowering to a purr. “I hope we’ll get another chance to
dance, you and I.”
    I
didn’t know what to say. The last thing I wanted were his hands on me, but I
didn’t want to cause a scene by telling him what I really thought about him.
Not when this weekend was so important to the company. I backed away just as
the elevator doors slid open on the other side of the lobby.
    “Lex,”
Mr. Drake said. “I hope I’m not interrupting. Mind if I steal Isabeau away?”
    If
I could have leapt into his arms at that moment, I would, but instead settled
for beaming at him.
    Lex
shot me another look, dark and full of promises. His lips twitching into a
lopsided grin. “See you later, then.”
    I
repressed a shudder. What did he want from me,