Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 56280 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 281(@200wpm)___ 225(@250wpm)___ 188(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56280 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 281(@200wpm)___ 225(@250wpm)___ 188(@300wpm)
Adorable, he thought again with an inner smile. It seemed to have escaped his little bee’s notice that he could still her through her reflection on the window, and it was obvious she was fighting back tears.
To give her time to compose herself, he changed the subject and told her about his plans for the next forty-eight hours, and she gradually relaxed beside him. By the time they made it to his place, she was comfortable with him again, not hesitating to show her gaping admiration of his luxurious apartment.
“It’s insane, truly insane,” she told him, “the way you rich people make the craziest things seem so easy. You bought this and you’re not going to live in it most of the time?”
“Well...” He looked at her with hooded lids. “You can always stay here instead of your cousin’s place.”
Fredericka rolled her eyes. “Like I could ever afford the rent here.”
“I’m not asking you to pay.”
“Even worse,” she told him with a scowl. “I came here to be a state’s attorney, and I won’t be that if people start thinking of me as your mistress.” She looked at him warningly. “This is also the only time I’ll be staying over, okay?”
He chose not to address that, not wanting to lie to her. As far as he was concerned, tonight was the first of the many nights she would be spending under his roof. “Once you’ve freshened up, we’ll need to buy some clothes and toiletries for you.”
“But I have—-” Fredericka frowned. Where was her luggage?
When her questioning gaze met his, he murmured, “I had your belongings delivered to your cousin’s place, and I’ve hired professionals to ensure that neither you nor your cousin will have to lift a finger. When you join her, your room should be ready for your use.”
For one moment, she could only stare at the billionaire, thinking that she should be mad at the way he had so easily taken charge and made decisions without even bothering to consult her. But on the other hand, a part of her was hopelessly swayed by his sense of authority. Maybe it was because she was so sick of the fact that her father hadn’t the guts to stand by her mother, but that Sergei Grachyov could be so decisive even though he was six years younger than her—-
“You win,” she said finally. “Just this once, you win. Whatever you want, let’s do it.”
His lips slowly formed a devastating smile. “Thank you, pchelka, but we both know this won’t be the only time I’ll have my way.”
They stared at each other, his words playing in her mind in the most ridiculously lurid way possible. Oh, he could definitely have his way...with her. Any way would do, she thought deliriously as her imagination went into overdrive and her throat went dry. Missionary, doggie, sixty-nine—-
She suddenly noticed the Russian billionaire gazing at her with interest gleaming in his dark eyes.
“Dare I ask what you’re thinking?”
Wide-eyed, Fredericka shook her head quickly, thinking she would rather die than let him know what she was fantasizing about.
“It doesn’t matter,” the billionaire said huskily. “I think I have a good idea anyway.”
Chapter Nine
Fredericka
Life took on yet another different turn, and this time it was marked by the comings and goings of the Russian billionaire in my life. Moving to Florida, the greatest thing that worried me was that we’d eventually drift apart, and that it would hurt me.
But the opposite happened.
The distance between us actually made our friendship stronger, and there wasn’t a day that I didn’t talk to him over the phone. Most weekends, Sergei also flew over to visit me, and every time he did I’d put up a token protest.
You’re spending too much money. You don’t have to visit me all the time. I don’t want to cause you any trouble at work.
But the Russian billionaire only brushed off my every excuse, and whenever he did, I didn’t try too hard to convince him otherwise.
Before I knew it, the day I turned the big three-oh came, and it was also the first time that the Russian billionaire had canceled on me out of the blue. To be fair, he did try to call me several times, presumably to explain his reason for canceling, but even so.
“That’s like the eighteenth time your phone rang,” Alyx remarked in amusement from across the table.
For my birthday, I had reserved one of the private rooms of a popular Japanese restaurant downtown. I had also planned to finally introduce Sergei to the girls tonight, but obviously that plan was moot, and it was yet another reason the Russian’s billionaire standing me up had me so bummed.
“Aren’t you going to answer it?” Anneke de Konigh prompted. Blonde and blue-eyed, she was a cool Dutch beauty made famous by her connections to the royal family of Contini...as well as the fact that she was married to Italian billionaire Marcus Ravelli.