The Billionaire Boss by J.A. Pierre Read Free Book Online

January wasn’t sure her heart could take the guessing game.
     
     
     

 
     
    Chapter Fourteen
     
    It was one meeting Ariel did not look forward to.
    Scotty Montgomery sat across from him in a tacky pinstriped suit, reeling off his achievements.
    Ariel tried to look interested. Scotty had already sent his resume via email. Besides that, he’d visited the software consultant’s website months prior to them bumping into each other at the restaurant.
    “So far, everything you’ve said about your services I can get from another consultant.”
    “Ouch.” Scotty placed a hand over his heart.
    His feeling familiar with Ariel just because they went to business school together annoyed Ariel. He sensed Scotty’s ‘ole-boy’ persona helped him when it came time to wheeling and dealing. But his antics would not work on Ariel.
    Scotty sighed, his chest visibly heaving. “So you’re going to play hardball for me to get the contract.”
    We’re not friends, buddy . "I'm just doing business.”
    “Throw me a bone here, Ariel. We go way back.”
    Ariel's jaw tightened. Thinking of their university days didn't exactly show Scotty in the best light. You only slept with the love of my life, asshole . Not even five years had since passed.
    Ariel’s thoughts  must’ve shown.
    "On second thought, let's focus on the present.” He smiled his cheesy smile. “I know that your company hires consultants once or twice a year. I'm sure you've picked good ones who have helped lead you to the success you’re experiencing. But I’d like a chance, even if it's for a short term contract.”
    Ariel tried to decipher why a man like Scotty wanted to work at Logis App.
    Insider information . Ariel shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He decided he’d hit the nail on the head and Scotty, for whatever reason, wanted to learn more about Logis App.
    As a consultant, Scotty’s position allowed him to have more fluidity than larger scale tech companies. But it also meant that the consultant had to be hired by big players to maintain a certain level of income. Ariel assumed Scotty’s staff, and therefore his overhead costs, were low.  There was something up his sleeve.
    He couldn't tell the man point blank he wasn’t interested. He’d have to find a way to let him down lightly.
    Just in case.
    Ariel had been in the industry long enough to know that someone shunned today could be a rising star in the industry tomorrow. And he always tried to cut strings as cleanly as possible.
    He checked his watch, making a show of the gesture. Scotty had already gone over the designated time by ten minutes.
    “Listen, I have to get back to work.” Ariel turned slightly and tapped a few keys on his desktop’s keyboard so that the screensaver disappeared. A window popped up: 28 messages .
    Ariel sighed.
    Scotty got the hint. He stood up and adjusted his suit.
    Ariel could tell it was tailor-made.
    “I see that you’re admiring my suit.”
    Really? Scotty’s presumptuous attitude got under Ariel’s skin.
    “I got it from the tailor on Fifth Street.”
    “Okay.
    “Where are your suits made?”
    Ariel simply lied. It might’ve seemed trivial, but there was no way he wanted to bump into the man at his regular tailor.
    Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.
     
    He had believed her.
    Believed her when she claimed Scotty had hit on her and she’d rebuffed him. Eventually, they got back together. Ariel wanted to give it one more try. Aubrey, the only woman he’d felt he couldn’t live without.
    She was beautiful, smart, down to earth, and charming. Months passed and they were in bliss. Ariel thought they’d rebuilt something more solid.
    Then he heard Scotty had claimed that he and Aubrey had slept together. Ariel was furious.
    He’d trusted her.
    Scotty was the snake.
    But it was true. And with that betrayal, Ariel’s ability to fully love a woman seemed stunted.
     
    Years later, he could put on his business hat and listen to