Rise of the Billionaire by Ruth Cardello Read Free Book Online

happened to you, Jeremy, and why do I suddenly want prove to you that I am much more interesting than anything you can pull out of that briefcase?
     
    Jeremy listened to the prime minister drone on about the political climate of his country and was tempted to check his watch. He didn’t want to hear justifications or propaganda. He wanted to get his hands on their computer network to see for himself if it had been breached.
    The careful expression of interest on Alethea’s face suggested that she was equally impatient but was wisely keeping her thoughts to herself. She caught him looking at her and sat a little straighter in her seat.
    When Jeremy had run through this scenario in his head, he’d been pretty sure it would fall short of his fantasy. But it didn’t. Not judging by the sultry smile she snuck him when the prime minister looked away. She’d never met his eyes for so long when they spoke nor chose to sit so close to him when given a chance to do otherwise.
    If he were a fisherman, he would have said she was circling the bait.
    When the prime minister walked out of the room for a moment to take a phone call, Alethea said, “We make quite a team, Jeremy. He’s drooling over us.”
    Jeremy deliberately kept his voice cool. “He seems to be.”
    “Do you have any other countries lined up?” she asked, excitement evident in her voice and the dancing light in her eyes. He’d known this project would interest her, especially since her recent work had seemed routine by comparison.
    Everything was coming together exactly as he’d planned. He’d even anticipated this question and practiced his response in front of a mirror many times . He hoped it sounded natural when he drawled, “Let’s see how this one goes first.”
    Bam.
    There it was—the spark of real interest in her eyes.
    She’ s never been able to pass up a challenge, and I just made myself into one.
    I can’ t wait to tell Jeisa that it worked.

Chapter Five
     
    I’m not here because Jeremy is with Alethea.
    I’m here because it’s the right thing to do.
    Jeisa followed Marie through the foyer of her Beacon Hill luxury condo. It was full of a tasteful mix of American and European antiques, the collecting of which was a well-known hobby of Marie’s. If Jeisa remembered correctly, she owned a home near each of Corisi’s headquarters and loved filling them with furniture she found in nearby shops. Dominic’s wife, Abby, had once joked about Marie’s passion for finding priceless pieces in small, unknown shops most people would have dismissed.
    Today had been Jeisa’s first invitation to Marie’s home, and she wished she hadn’t agreed to it. This was a conversation she would have preferred to have at Marie’s office. In Marie’s home, her prepared speech felt like she was reneging on something personal.
    But I’m not.
    I didn’t let her down.
    This is more of a mission-accomplished visit.
    Marie waved to the space around her and said, “Don’t mind how small the place is. I used to own a big home. I sold it when my husband passed away.”
    “I’m sorry to hear that,” Jeisa murmured.
    “Don’t be,” Marie continued. “It’s going on eight years now. I still miss Stan every day, but the pain has grown bearable. Time does that. I’ve found happiness again, but my perspective has changed. Material things don’t matter much to me anymore. My home is wherever my boys are.”
    “Jake and Dominic?” Jeisa asked, feeling suddenly unsure if she should have referred to them as informally as she had.
    Marie turned and smiled. “Yes, those boys. I don’t know what I’d do without them.”
    From what little Jeisa knew of them, she felt confident when she said, “I’m sure they feel the same way about you.”
    “It is such a relief to see them settling down with good women.” Marie met Jeisa’s eyes with meaning. “Men get lost if left out there on their own. Women ground them.”
    The world according to Mrs.