The Engagement Game (Engaged to a Billionaire) (25 page)

"Consider this a warning," Leron mutters, finally letting me go.
 
My hand immediately rubs my aching throat.
 
I cough, my eyes shifting around the darkened street like a paranoid asylum escapee.
 
Why did I let things get this out of hand?
 
"You have one week.
 
Understand?
 
One
week to pay LeRoux back."
 
My hands shake and my muscles remain frozen.
 
I never saw Leron coming.
 
His lanky body blended into the night.

"Please," I whimper, a tear rolling down my cheek.
 
"Where am I supposed to get that kind of money?"

"Not my problem."
 
He stares straight through to my soul, making me wish I'd never set foot in France to begin with.

"I didn't mean to.
 
I didn't mean to mess up, but there were too many rules to remember."

"You cost him almost half a million euros and you
will
pay."
 
He lunges forward and waves his giant hand in front of my face.
 
He stops just centimeters from my cheek then chuckles.
 
"See you in a week."

I'm left standing alone with an ocean breeze blasting through my hair.
 
I thought I was untouchable having escaped a gruesome fate just weeks ago.
 
Turns out I wasn't.
 
I was an idiot.
 
I try to relax, forcing my mind to think of things that didn't involve blood, guns, or disgusting forms of torture.
 
What the hell was I gonna do?
 
Call Mom and Dad and ask them to wire me three hundred thousand euros asap?
 
They
would kill me.

I gulp, looking over my shoulder as I cross the street.
 
My feet take me to the safety of a street lamp.
 
I'd tried out the
Bond girl
thing.
 
I'd dressed up in one of Jenna's expensive ball gowns and thought I could get away with helping some richy cheat at a high roller's table.
 
Hey, it worked for Halle Berry.
 
But turns out I couldn't even charm my way out of a losing streak.

I focus on nothing but my steps as I hear waves crashing behind me.
 
I enter the hotel lobby, still in awe that I was staying at a five star resort with decor that included actual diamonds.
 
It was a hotel owned by Jenna's fiancé's uncle.
 
A family I was almost a part of not too long ago thanks to my big sis Kat.
 
She'd almost married hotel billionaire Rex Kinlan.
 
Then he got her best friend pregnant.
 
Reporter's still showed up on my porch asking me what Kat was like in high school.
 
A drag with a loser boyfriend.

Kat was
way
too serious when it came to guys, telling me I shouldn't bother if the guy didn't own a neck tie.
 
My philosophy was simpler.
 
Hot guy equals good times.
 
And better sex.
 
My philosophy sucked though.
 
I'd never admit it out loud but for some reason I was attracted to losers.
 
Guys that would blow through like a freakin' hurricane and leave
me
with the cleanup.
 
The past couple days I'd learned something else too.

Rich guys are insane.

"Miss!"
 
I turn my head, seeing a bell boy trying to catch my attention.
 
What now?
 
I keep walking towards the elevators.
 
"Miss!"

"Fine," I sigh.
 
"What?"

"You come with me please," he replies.

"Why?"
 
I shake my head, remembering Leron's sudden ambush.
 
Something I never wanted to experience again.
 
My only solution at the moment was get the hell out of Nice, France and hope LeRoux's men didn't follow me back to San Francisco.

"Please, miss."
 
He keeps nodding with a lame smile on his face.

"If this is about the broken glasses from last night we-"

"No no," he interrupts.
 
"You have visitor, miss."
 
My heart starts to pound.
 
Not LeRoux himself.
 
Please, no.
 
My head starts virtually packing my bags.

"A visitor?
 
Me?
 
You must have the wrong person."

"No," he insists.
 
"Miss Artino from California?"
 
I nod.
 
"A Mr. Kinlan waits for you."

"Kinlan?" I respond.
 
"As in the family that owns this hotel?"

"Yes Miss."
 
His smile grows wider and I agree to follow him past the lobby to a quiet table in the hotel cafe.

"Uh."
 
I glance around at the empty tables.
 
"I thought this place was only open for brunch or whatever?"

"Not for me," a voice replies.
 
A pearly smile sits behind attractive facial features and a sexy British accent.
 
Rex grins, standing up as I approach his private table.
 
His lean torso looks tempting in his fancy suit.

"Of course," I say in a low voice.
 
"My sister won't talk to you so you're spying on
me
now?"

"You two are a lot alike," he chuckles, sitting down to a cup of coffee.

"Whatever weird fantasies are running through your head right now, I'm not into that."

"Have a seat," he laughs.
 
Rex takes a sip of his steaming coffee, still with a smile on his face.
 
I reluctantly sit down.
 
Rex had to know that Kat would kill me if she knew the two of us were talking.
 
Naturally, that intrigued me.

"Is there something I can do for you?" I ask.
 
"Sneak you a pair of my big sister's underwear or something?"
 
Rex looks amused.

"This visit has nothing to do with your sister."

"Really?"

"Might I remind you that you are at
my
hotel."
 
He pauses.
 
I guess I was supposed to think through my questions.
 
Whatevs
.

"Okay," I reply.
 
"Let me rephrase that.
 
Rex, so nice to see you."

"Thank you," answers.
 
"I hope you're enjoying your stay."
 
I bite the corner of my lips.
 
I
was
having a good stay up until recently.
 
Now I was stuck trying to figure out how to survive the next few days.
 
"Is something wrong?"

"Nope," I lie.
 
I play with my fingers underneath the table, wondering when he would finally cut to the chase.

"You want anything?
 
Perhaps a coffee?"

A waiter rushes over and waits for my word.
 
I shake my head.
 
How about an explanation?

"I see you're a bit antsy," he comments.

"Very observant."
 
I feel the heat of his glare on my face.
 
"Sorry.
 
The sarcasm just slips out.
 
It's habit."

"I'm going to cut to the chase then.
 
You're just the girl I've been looking for."

"Oh," I say, raising my eyebrows.
 
What the-

"I mean I need a favor from you," he continues.

"Right," I mutter.
 
"Of course that's what you meant."
 
He sips his coffee and takes a moment to admire the lights of the city out the window.
 
I smell the sea as a breeze blows through the room.
 
It was fall back in the states - windy and cool.
 
But here it was still gorgeous.
 
The sun still brightened up the sky, making it possible to hang at the beach.

"You see Leah, I'm in a bit of a situation.
 
My father had originally planned on passing the family business down to me-"

"Until your engagement fiasco," I mutter.
 
Rex glares at me again.
 
The flecks of gold in his cocoa eyes glimmer in the light.
 
"Sorry."

"But," he clears his throat.
 
"In light of recent events that
had
to be publicized all over the world, my father has changed his mind."

"Ouch," I mumble.

"Yes indeed."
 
Rex nods, taking a calming breath.
 
"My father is now considering passing the business to my cousin Warren.
 
He's been mentoring him for quite some time."

"That sucks," I respond.
 
Rex does a double take, unsure if I was being sarcastic or serious.
 
I shrug.
 
"What?
 
It does."

"In fact once Warren secures the company's future by finding a wife, I'm convinced that'll be it.
 
He will be handed what's rightfully mine."
 
I nod like I actually care.
 
But the truth was I didn't give a crap about his problems.
 
I was just being polite.
 
I had more important things to worry about . . . like getting home in one piece.
 
My stomach churns as I anxiously think about packing up my room and catching the next available flight to the U.S.
 
"This is why I need
you
."

"Me?
 
What can
I
do?"

"It's simple," he chuckles.
 
"I want you to date him."
 
I hold back a laugh.

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" I ask.

"I trust you," he replies.

"No, you trust my sister.
 
I'm
not Kat."

"I still trust you," he insists.
 
"I want you to date Warren.
 
Keep him occupied, and most importantly distract him from his work."

"Look," I sigh.
 
"I'm sorry this is happening to you right now but-"

"I'll pay you."
 
His comment makes me sit up straighter in my chair.

"How much?"

"Listen Leah," he begins.
 
"I won't pretend that I haven't done my homework.
 
I know what's going on.
 
I know you
need
the money."

"How do you-"

"I will pay off your debts," he goes on.
 
"But in return I need this favor."
 
My heart leaps as I imagine myself shopping without wondering if I was being stalked by Leron and his posse.

"You want me to date him," I repeat.
 
"That's it, right?
 
And if by some twist in the universe he's not into me?
 
Then what?"

"Trust me," Rex smiles.
 
"You're exactly his type.
 
But I'll keep my word.
 
You do the best
you
can and I'll do the best
I
can."