Secrets (Lords of the City)

by Alice Ward

  Stacey’s lips curled up in a knowing smile while Piper stared at me with blank confusion.

  “What are you talking about?” she asked, practically sputtering. “Have you gotten an offer somewhere else?”

  “Not exactly… but if things keep going so well with Drake, it doesn’t make much sense for me to stay at the office.”

  “What!” Piper gasped. “Chelsea, what the hell has gotten into you?”

  “Drake is a busy man,” Stacey explained, as if the idea of me quitting my job was the most logical thing she’d ever heard. “He travels all the time. If Chelsea stayed at the society, they’d basically be in a long distance relationship.”

  “That’s the craziest thing I’ve ever heard,” Piper insisted hotly. “You’ve never once depended on a man for anything. And you’ve known Drake for less than a month. How can you possibly think about throwing away everything you’ve worked so hard for?”

  “I’m not throwing anything away,” I replied, trying to keep my voice even. I understood Piper’s confusion, but she didn’t understand where I was coming from at all. “And I’m not saying I’m going to give notice tomorrow. But Stacey’s right. Drake flies around the world for work and I don’t want to be left behind. It would be different if I were doing something I loved. But that’s not the case. If I wasn’t at the society, I could get my doctorate online and spend more time with Drake.”

  “So, are you moving out?” Piper demanded. “Or is he going to pay your half of the rent while the two of you jet across the world?”

  “I told you, Piper, I haven’t made any decisions yet. I was just thinking out loud. I shouldn’t have said anything.”

  Piper gave me a skeptical scowl but dropped the subject. We sat in awkward silence while I finished my makeup and Stacey twisted Piper’s hair into an elegant knot with soft curls bordering her face.

  “Just think, Piper,” Stacey cooed. “If things work out tonight, by the time Chelsea moves out you and Martin could be serious too. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?”

  Piper didn’t reply. Instead, she scowled at me as our eyes locked in the mirror. Stacey noticed her expression and took it as her cue to leave.

  “I’m going to go eat a little snack before the guys get here,” she said as she backed up to the door. “Do you two want anything?”

  “No thank you, Stacey,” I replied without looking away from the mirror. She stepped out of the room and I turned to face Piper directly.

  “You can’t be pissed at me for this,” I insisted.

  “I’m not pissed. I just don’t understand. I’m not sure I even know who you are anymore, Chelsea,” she confessed. “You used to be so determined, so… reserved.”

  “You’re the one who told me I needed to lighten up and enjoy myself,” I reminded her. “You’re also the one who said I needed to come out of my shell.”

  “Come out of your shell? Yes,” she agreed. “Completely change yourself to make a man happy? I never suggested that.”

  I groaned with frustration. “What have I changed? My wardrobe? You suggested that too, if I may remind you. I’m still the same person I’ve always been, Pipes. In fact, when I think about leaving the society, I feel more like myself than I have in a very long time. You know my dream was never to run the PR office. That wasn’t your dream either. Put yourself in my shoes for half a second. If you had an attractive, wealthy man showering you with attention, who wanted to make it possible for you to go back to school for your doctorate, what would you do?”

  Piper pinched her lips together and looked to the floor. “I don’t know, Chelsea. Everything you’re saying sounds wonderful. But how can you trust that it’s real? What if you quit your job? What if you leave the society, give up the apartment, and a few months later Drake changes his mind? What if you change your mind? You’d have to completely rebuild your life,” she warned.

  “That’s why I’m not making any decisions just yet,” I reminded her. “And you know I have savings put back. If the worst happens, I’ll be able to take care of myself. Stop worrying about me. You have a date to look forward to.” I grinned and a slight smile broke through Piper’s worried face.

  “Do you really think I’ll like Martin?” she asked, her voice skeptical. “Or are you just setting me up so I won’t be the only single girl at our table?”

  “Stacey knows him better than I do,” I confessed. “But he’s one of Oliver’s best friends, so he can’t be a bad guy. And he’s donated two hundred pounds of sea bass for the Founder’s Gala, so we know he’s charitable.”

  I knock echoed through the room and Stacey stuck her head in. “The guys are here,” she whispered.

  “We’ll be right out,” I assured her with a smile. I turned to Piper. “Are you ready for this?”

  “As ready as I’ll ever be,” she sighed.

  ***

  “So, have you two decided if you’re going to find out what you’re having?” Drake asked Oliver and Stacey as our stretch Escalade pulled away from the curb. It was a quarter past seven and we were finally on our way to the banquet.

  “We’ve decided to keep it a surprise,” Stacey replied, smoothing the front of her slate blue maternity dress. “We don’t care if it’s a boy or a girl, as long as it’s healthy.”

  “But how are Chelsea and I supposed to shower it with gifts if we don’t know what we’re buying for?” Drake asked, raising a critical eyebrow. I gave him a friendly nudge in the ribs with my elbow.

  “We’ll buy everything in yellow,” I told him with a smile. “I think waiting until the baby’s born is a great idea. It adds extra excitement to the birthday.”

  Martin nodded. “My sister was so impatient, she went to one of those walk-in ultrasound offices in a strip mall every day for two weeks until they could finally tell her she was having a boy. When my nephew finally arrived, it was kind of anticlimactic.”

  “Do you have a big family?” Piper asked him.

  He nodded and I tuned their voices out as Drake dropped his lips to my ear. “When we have kids, we’ll be finding out as soon as possible… just for future reference,” he whispered.

  My heart flooded with… what? Affection, yes. But something more. Love?

  He’s already thinking that far into the future. How did I get to be so lucky?

  I laid my head against Drake’s chest and stared out the window as everyone around us talked about the baby. A few blocks from the banquet hall, I felt his phone vibrate against my ribs.

  “Sorry,” Drake said, untwining his body from mine. He pulled out the phone then stared down at the screen.

  “Is everything okay?” I asked, hoping that he wouldn’t have to leave the banquet before it even began.

  “Everything’s fine,” he assured me without looking up. “It’s just a contractor with a question about plumbing.” He returned the text and stowed his phone away just as the Escalade slowed to a stop. We filed out of the car and into the Radisson hotel.

  “You need to let me take care of your venues from now on,” Drake insisted as he scanned the building with a critical eye.

  I shrugged. “When you work at a nonprofit, you take what you can get,” I reminded him. As we made our way through the lobby and to the banquet hall, Drake pulled out his phone again.

  “You guys go on in. I need to make a phone call, and then I’ll join you,” he promised.

  “I can wait with you,” I offered, lingering by his side. When I’d envisioned the night, I’d imagined walking into the banquet on Drake’s arm. Walking in by myself was much less appealing.

  Drake shook his head. He was obviously distracted and it reminded me of the morning after our first night together. “I’m sorry, Chelsea, but this could take a while. You go find our table and order me a scotch and soda. I’ll be in as soon as I can.” He gave me a quick kiss on the forehead and then walked back outside, his eyes fixed to his phone.

  This is part of his job. I can’t get angry. It’s best that he takes the time to deal wit
h it now. Then we can relax and enjoy the rest of our evening.

  I took a deep breath and stepped into the banquet hall. The room was full of round tables covered in plain white linens. The lights had been dimmed and soft candles flickered from the centerpiece candle arrangements. I spotted Oliver and Stacey at a front table and moved to join them. I only made it three steps before Charles stepped in front of my path. His tie was loose and sweat beaded his forehead. I glanced at the drink in his hand and wondered how many he’d had before the banquet.

  “Chelsea, you look amazing tonight,” he said, the familiar leer radiating from his face. “That dress should be illegal.”

  I looked down at my canary yellow cocktail dress. It fit perfectly, but had a high neckline that I’d hoped would cut down on unwelcome attention. Obviously, I’d been wrong.

  “Thanks, Charles. If you’ll excuse me, my family’s waiting.”

  Charles took another step towards me and I instinctively backed up. I hadn’t realized how close we were to the wall until my heels knocked against it.

  “Where’s your boyfriend? Duke, was that his name? I’m assuming he’s the one who hooked you up with the gala venue. Tell me, did he volunteer the space because you’re fucking him, or was it the other way around?”

  Rage boiled in my veins and I fought to keep it at bay. My eyes darted around the room, hoping and praying that someone would spot us and come to my rescue.

  “You’re drunk, Charles,” I spat back at him. “Go to the bar and get a cup of coffee. I’ll forget this ever happened.” I wouldn’t, but it was the first thing I could think to say.

  “No, not until you answer my question,” he pressed, moving even closer to me. I could smell his rancid sweat and the gin seeping out of his pores.

  “My personal life is none of your business,” I insisted, holding my head high.

  “Well, see, I think that’s where you’re wrong,” he slurred. “If you and your Chippendale’s model were screwing before he gave you the venue, that’s one thing. But if you’re fucking him as a thank you, that’s a line I want to get in.”

  His words made my stomach churn and I turned up my nose. “You can go fuck yourself, Charles. I don’t owe you for shit.”

  He held up a finger and waved it in my face. “I’m the only reason you got the promotion,” he reminded me. “I’d think you could show a little gratitude.”

  “Is there a problem here, Chelsea?” Drake asked, stepping between me and Charles.

  My body flooded with relief as he wrapped an arm around me. “No problem at all. Charles has had a little too much to drink, that’s all. Right, Charles?”

  And evil fire burned in Charles’s brown eyes. “Right,” he hissed.

  Drake stared back at him for a moment and then decided he wasn’t worth a response. He brushed past him, leading me to our table.

  “What the fuck was going on back there, Chelsea?” Drake whispered as we moved through the crowd. I smiled and nodded at my coworkers as we passed.

  “It was nothing I couldn’t handle,” I assured him.

  “Where the fuck where you?” Drake hissed at Oliver as we took our seats at the table. Oliver stared back at him, stunned by his words and tone.

  “Dude, I’ve been right here,” he replied. “What the hell is going on?”

  “That drunk ass wipe had your sister cornered. That’s what’s going on,” Drake said, gesturing to the back of the room.

  “Charles?” Piper asked with no surprise in her voice.

  I nodded. “The good news is that I now have plenty of reasons to report him,” I announced to the table. “I’ll have the papers on Pete’s desk first thing in the morning.”

  Oliver rose to his feet. “Point this bastard out to me and I’ll take care of it right now,” he demanded, his face flushed red.

  “Oliver, sit down,” I hissed, just as Pete took the small stage. Stacey pulled Oliver into his seat while Pete welcomed everyone to the banquet. As he spoke, I leaned in to Drake’s ear.

  “Did you get the business issue cleared up?” I whispered.

  “I’m not sure,” he replied. “The contractor is going to make some more calls. I may have to step out again at some point. I’m so sorry, Chelsea. I never should have left you alone.”

  “I can take care of myself,” I assured him, hoping I sounded more confident than I felt. “Charles is an asshole, but he’s basically harmless.”

  “If you say so,” he said, his voice full of doubt.

  Pete continued his speech and the wait staff began passing out our meals. Drake spent a considerable amount of his time with his face glued to his phone while the rest of us choked down rubbery prime rib and thick mashed potatoes. When the dinner plates were cleared and dessert was served, Leonard stepped to the stage to present the interns with their awards.

  Piper and I clapped enthusiastically as the interns accepted their recognitions. Oliver, Stacey, and Martin clapped politely, while Drake remained engrossed in his phone. After the final award was given, Leonard clasped his hands together and met my eye with a warm smile.

  “As most of you know, tonight’s banquet marks my final event with the Manhattan Historical Society. It has been an honor and a pleasure to serve such a wonderful cause.”

  Drake wrapped an arm around my shoulders and leaned into my ear. “I’m so sorry, Chelsea. The contractor in Hong Kong is calling again. I have to take this.” He slipped away before I could reply. I turned back to the stage and listened as Leonard continued.

  “The only reason I’m able to step away from my work with a smile on my face is because I know I’m leaving you all in good hands. Please allow me the opportunity to introduce Ms. Chelsea Tyler.” Leonard started a round of applause and I joined him on stage.

  Everyone at my table jumped to their feet and the rest of the room followed suit.

  “Thank you,” I said with a fake smile plastered across my face. I couldn’t believe that Drake had chosen that moment to leave the room.

  “I’m honored to be taking over the Public Relations department. I’m looking forward to working with each and every one of you to preserve and promote our city’s fascinating history.”

  The crowd applauded again and after a nod, I escaped back to the table. Drake was still nowhere to be found.

  “Nice job, sis,” Oliver said as I returned to the table.

  “Thanks,” I replied, accepting his hug. “I’m going to go find Drake. We’ll be back in a minute.”

  “Do you want me to come with you?” Piper offered.

  “No, that’s okay,” I assured her.

  As I moved through the crowd, several people stopped me to offer congratulations. Part of my job was to charm the donors, so I made polite small talk while keeping my eyes fixed on the door. When I finally reached the back of the room, Charles stepped in front of me again.

  “I don’t have time for this, Charles,” I snarled at him.

  He raised his hands in defeat. “I just wanted to apologize. You were right earlier. I had too much to drink. I had some coffee like you suggested and I just wanted to say that I’m sorry. I hope you won’t hold tonight against me.”

  “Apology accepted,” I said impatiently. “I’ll see you at work tomorrow.”

  “Thanks for understanding, Chelsea. If you’re looking for your boyfriend, I saw him step into the conference room three doors down,” he called after me as I moved past him.

  Well, at least you can be good for something.

  I found the door and knocked softly. Drake didn’t reply, so I pushed it open and stepped inside. “Drake?”

  This must be a mistake. It’s completely dark in here.

  I groped the wall and flipped the light switch. The room was empty, but I spotted another door on the far wall.

  “Drake?” I called out again, crossing the room.

  “I can’t believe you fell for that, Chelsea.”

  My skin crawled as Charles’s voice filled the room. I turned just as he steppe
d through the door and locked it behind him.

  End of Part 1

  To Be Continued in Part 2…

  TAMING THE BILLIONAIRE

  ALICE WARD

  PART 2

  BOOK DESCRIPTION

  This is Part 2 of “Taming the Billionaire” – a five part Hot Alpha Billionaire Romance Series by Alice Ward.

  Drake Waters was my knight in shining armor and I was living in a fairytale as surreal as it was exciting. It was everything I’d ever dreamed of and never thought possible. At least in the beginning.

  My confidence in him was tested when I stumbled into a dangerous situation. I managed to escape my attacker, but it took time to put our relationship back on track.

  As we fell deeper in love, our differences became more and more apparent. But neither of us could fight the pull we felt towards the other. And when our families warned that we would never work, we felt more determined than ever to prove them wrong. I was certain that I’d found my happily ever after… until I overheard a secret that could tear everything apart.

  This book is intended for a mature audience, 18+ only.

  CHAPTER 1

  e

  I took a deep breath and locked eyes with Charles as he crossed the room. A burning anger washed over my body and I braced myself against the wall. I was close to the far door and made a quick move for it before reconsidering my options.

  “That’s just a storage closet,” Charles sneered, his voice dripping in sick triumph. He knew he had me trapped. He took a seat on the conference table instead of moving closer to me.

  He thinks he has plenty of time. Damn it, why did I go looking for Drake on my own? Oliver thinks we’re together. He won’t come looking for me until Drake gets back to the table. I’m going to have to get out of this myself.

  I began plotting my escape as Charles continued. “It’s too bad that hot shit boyfriend of yours doesn’t pay more attention to you. I was shocked when he left the hall just as you were taking the stage. But I guess his loss is my gain.”