Billionaire Bad Boys: The Company Ink Series

by Kira Blakely

  “And we can find ways to reproduce plants so they can survive even without animals to pollinate them or disperse seeds.”

  I blink. “Are you saying animals are dispensable?”

  “I’m saying they’re more valuable dead. They give food, clothing, medicine.”

  I can’t believe what I’m hearing. “Animals are living creatures.”

  “So are we. Why should animals inhabit the Earth when people need all the land they can get to live and work on?”

  It’s too much. I set down my glass and get off my stool, walking away.

  “You’re not going to finish your drink?”

  I don’t look back. “So it’s a crime to throw away wine but not to get rid of all the animals on Earth?”

  He doesn’t answer.

  I gather my things. “You know what? If you don’t want to throw it away, you can keep it just like one of these gowns. Maybe the next woman you bring up here can drink it.”

  I walk to the door, placing my hand on the handle. “Oh, and I take back what I said earlier. You’re not interesting enough, Mr. Landers. You’re despicable.”

  And I march out of the suite to Katy Perry’s “Roar”.

  A Weasel Out of Hiding

  “You called Nathan Landers despicable?”

  Pamela, my best friend, otherwise known as Pam – some people call us SamPam or Spam or Sam-I-Am and Pam-I-Am – looks at me across the table with wide eyes and a dropped jaw. Thankfully, she hasn’t taken a bite of her pasta or it would have fallen out.

  “Shh.” I scold her with a finger to my lips.

  Quickly, I look around the crowded cafeteria. No one’s looking at me weird. Or looking at me, period. That’s good.

  I don’t want anyone else knowing about the ‘slip’ I made.

  As soon as I got home and the anger had subsided, I realized what a fool I’d been. I shouldn’t have let him get to me. I shouldn’t have risen to the occasion.

  And I should have kept my mouth shut.

  “I know, I know,” I tell Pam. “It wasn’t the best thing to say. I should have just put on a fake smile and then walked away.”

  “You should not have been with him in the first place. He’s a womanizer, you know. A playboy. He’ll woo you and seduce you, take you to bed, give you the most amazing night of your life and then leave you lying in the dust.”

  The most amazing night of my life? Wait. Not the point.

  “How do you know this?” I ask.

  “I’m a news reporter, Sam. I hear things. I know things.”

  Pam writes for the company’s news magazine. Mostly in-depth stuff. Investigative journalism, she calls it.

  “He didn’t try to seduce me, though.” Or did he? “He pissed me off, that’s what.”

  “Then you’re lucky. Oh, but wait. You called him despicable.”

  I frown at the reminder. “He called animals dispensable. Like they are just weeds or something.”

  Pam chewed on a bite of her sandwich. “So you called him despicable.”

  I roll my eyes.

  “Question. Does Nathan Landers know who you work for?”

  “I might have mentioned it.”

  Pam shakes her head. “Not good. You never know how powerful men will retaliate. I hate to break it to you, but he could have you fired.”

  Fired?

  “Or worse, he could mess up the investors and have them pull out their money and our company would…well, take a big blow.”

  “No way.” I hadn’t thought of that.

  Pam shrugs. “Rich men usually have big egos, egos they don’t want deflated. Who knows what they do when their feathers get ruffled?”

  I sigh. Pam’s right. I should know, having been around a lot of rich people for the past several months.

  I let my head fall on the table. What have I done?

  Can my day get any worse? Nancy already gave me an earful for not taking enough pictures at last night’s gala. Never mind that I told her I was suddenly not feeling well. Mattie seemed disappointed, too, reminding me that I’m a professional and I shouldn’t let personal things like wardrobe malfunctions get in the way. Oh, and she gave me a heap of safety pins.

  Now, I find out my career’s in jeopardy and so is my company.

  What next? A broken arm? God forbid.

  “Sam?” I hear the concern in Pam’s voice.

  “I’m fine,” I lie.

  It’s not Pam’s fault. She’s a news reporter, so she has a thing for bearing bad news. Even so, she’s just the messenger. I brought this upon myself.

  “No, you’re not. Eat something.”

  “I’m still full.”

  “Suit yourself.” She pats my hair. “I have to go back to my desk. I’ve got a deadline to beat. Don’t worry about it, okay? It’s not the end of the world.”

  Easy for her to say.

  “Who knows? He might just let it go.”

  I lift my head and look at her. I can tell she thinks it’s unlikely and yet, she said so anyway just to make me feel better. That’s why she’s my best friend.

  She crosses her fingers as she walks away then blows me a kiss before turning around.

  “Good luck with that deadline,” I call out to her.

  She looks back to give me a thumbs up. Then she’s gone.

  I look around the cafeteria, the crowd seemingly smaller now.

  I glance at my watch. 12:42.

  Should I go back to my desk? But I don’t really have anything to do there. And frankly, I don’t want to see Nancy or Mattie again. Should I go home then? My next event isn’t until noon tomorrow so I can.

  I’m still toying with the idea when my phone beeps.

  A new message from Barry Baker.

  I frown. Didn’t I tell that scumbag not to contact me anymore? Why does he still have my email?

  There are pictures. I don’t understand what…

  Oh, shit.

  They’re all pictures of me. And Nathan. Half of them are of us kissing, the other half of us getting into the elevator.

  How on earth did he get these pictures?

  Why am I even asking? He’s paparazzi. Taking pictures without anyone knowing is his specialty. But why send them to me?

  I scroll down.

  Hey, babe. I know what you did last night, but hey, I can be persuaded to keep a secret. Just have dinner with me tonight at seven at the Marriott. See you.

  If my phone wasn’t so expensive, I’d probably have thrown it at the nearest wall.

  How dare Barry blackmail me? I know he has a ‘thing’ for me, and he’s been asking me to go out with him. I didn’t know he was this desperate, though.

  That…weasel.

  Well, there’s nothing I can do. I know Barry. He’ll sell any of his pictures for the right price, never mind the consequences.

  A scandal. A broken family. A ruined reputation. He doesn’t care about those things.

  As for the consequences I’ll have to face if those pictures get out, I could be fired. If Nathan doesn’t do it, Nancy will. She’ll say something about a conflict of interest or a breach of trust or whatever.

  I can’t have those pictures published. I should consider myself lucky that Barry is giving me a chance to get rid of them.

  Lucky? Just the thought of sitting across from him at a table, enduring his mischievous grin and knowing what he’s thinking of, is enough to make me cringe.

  Yup, my day just got worse.

  Much worse.

  ****

  I’ve been through worse, I tell myself as a confidence booster as I walk across the lobby of the Marriott towards the lounge.

  It’s 6:46. The sooner we start, the sooner we can finish. And I intend to finish this as soon as possible.

  Barry is already here. He’s eager. Of course, he is.

  He’s sporting a new suit and a fresh shave, too. Not that it makes him any less of a dick.

  He sees me immediately, his smile growing wide. Then his eyebrows crease.
Probably, he doesn’t approve of what I’m wearing – a cardigan over a turtleneck and a skirt over leggings. Nope, I’m not going to give him the satisfaction of gawking at me or trying to steal a glimpse down my shirt.

  His smile returns, though, as I sit across from him.

  “I knew you’d come.”

  I pick up the menu. “I didn’t have anything else to do.”

  We order. Steak and wine for him. Just salad and a glass of juice for me. I don’t intend to stay long, after all.

  “Watching your figure?” Barry asks, eyes on my breasts.

  What figure? “I’m not that hungry.”

  Who would have an appetite dining with scum?

  “Too bad. I’m paying. A man always pays on a date, after all.”

  I want to tell him it isn’t a date, but I have a feeling he’ll insist it is so I drop the subject. Besides, there’s something more important we have to talk about.

  “Where are the pictures?”

  “Impatient, are we?”

  “I just want to make sure you’re going to live up to your end of the bargain. I don’t trust you, after all.”

  Barry grins as he touches his chin. “Feisty as ever, I see. It’s what I like about you.”

  Whatever. “The pictures?”

  “Dinner first. Then the pictures.” He holds up a USB stick.

  “And how can I be sure those are the only copies you have?”

  “Trust me, the last pictures I want to keep of you are you kissing another man.” There goes that mischievous grin again. “Although I must say, you looked beautiful in that gown.”

  Every word from his mouth makes me shudder.

  As if that’s not bad enough, he suddenly places his hand over mine. “You’re better off with me, you know. Now that he’s fucked you once, he’ll forget all about you whereas I…I’ll never get tired of –”

  Thankfully, the waiter comes and Barry lets go of my hand.

  I’m saved. For now.

  We start eating. Finally, Barry shuts up. He seems to be hungry and the food seems to be good.

  Thank goodness.

  Then just when I’m down to my last forkful of salad, I hear murmurs from the next table. I turn my head, and what do you know? It’s Nathan Landers. In the flesh.

  Shit.

  Of all the restaurants in town, why did he have to walk into this one?

  My mind races. What do I do? Just sit still and pray he doesn’t see me?

  Nope. So far, I’ve been unlucky, and I don’t expect my luck to turn anytime soon. I can’t take my chances.

  I eat my last forkful and wipe my mouth with the napkin. “Excuse me. I have to go to the ladies’ room.”

  Without waiting for Barry to say anything – he can’t since his mouth is full – I rush to the door.

  The ladies’ room is in the lobby, but I don’t go there, instead going all across to the gardens, taking a gulp of fresh air.

  Why? Why does everything have to be so messed up?

  First, Nathan. Then Barry. Now, Nathan again. What am I supposed to do? Go back in there and face them both? Go home and let Barry sell those pictures?

  I should have snatched that fucking USB stick when I had the chance.

  I must have been taking too long trying to find a way out of my dilemma because Barry comes to find me.

  “I thought you’d left.” He sits beside me on the bench and lights a cigarette. “But I knew you were smarter than that.”

  “Sorry. I…needed some fresh air.”

  “You should have told me. I would have accompanied you.”

  “It’s fine.”

  He takes a puff. “And here I thought you were running away from Nathan Landers.”

  I narrow my eyes at him. “Wait. You didn’t invite him, did you?”

  “Hell, no. Why would I?”

  “To blackmail him, too, of course. He’s got lots of money.”

  “Do you think he cares if a picture of him and you gets out? The guy doesn’t give a shit. He’s got nothing to lose.”

  Barry has a point. I, on the other hand, have everything to lose.

  Life is unfair.

  “I swear that asshole must have sniffed you out. Maybe he wants to see how you’re doing the night after he fucked you.”

  “He didn’t–”

  “Or maybe he wants more. Maybe you were too good.”

  I don’t like how Barry’s looking at me. “Just give me the pictures already. You promised.”

  “I said after dinner.” He moves closer. “Thanks to you leaving, I didn’t get dessert. And I heard the chocolate cake here’s good, too. Well, maybe you can give me something sweeter.”

  Sensing danger, I get up, but he grabs my arm and pulls me back to the bench, then places one arm around me.

  “Barry…”

  He whispers in my ear. “Do you want that USB stick or not?”

  Shit.

  I’m trapped. Literally. His mouth clamps down on mine. It’s nothing like a kiss. Messy. Disgusting. More like a leech trying to suck the life out of me.

  I can taste the beef, the gravy, the wine and the nicotine on his tongue. And it makes my stomach turn.

  Please…stop.

  To my surprise, he does stop. Not intentionally, though. Out of nowhere, a leg comes swinging, kicking him off the bench so hard he hits the ground with a thud, his cigarette flying.

  “What the hell?”

  Quickly, I get off the bench, wiping my mouth with the sleeve of my cardigan as I catch my breath. I stop, though, when I realize who has just saved me.

  Nathan.

  Claws Out

  “Didn’t anybody ever teach you not to force yourself on a woman?” Nathan asks Barry as he crushes the cigarette butt with his expensive leather shoe.

  Barry snorts. “You’re one to talk.”

  Nathan stops and glares, the look on his face reminding me of a bear about to attack. It’s scary enough to keep me glued where I’m standing and cause a lump to form in my throat.

  So this is how Nathan looks like when he’s pissed.

  “For your information, I’ve never forced myself on any woman. I’ve never had to.”

  “Why, you…”

  Barry gets up only to have Nathan grab him by the collar, lifting him above the ground. “Stay away from Sam or you’ll never be able to take your piss-poor pictures again. Do you understand?”

  Barry nods, speechless and trembling in fear now that Nathan means business. As soon as Nathan lets him go, he scurries off like the weasel that he is, back into the shadows.

  Back into the shadows…

  “Wait!” I call, remembering the pictures.

  “What is it?” Nathan asks, rubbing his hands like he’s wiping the dirt off them.

  “He still has the USB stick that contains the pictures he took of us at last night’s party. It’s why I came to meet him. I don’t–”

  Nathan’s no longer listening, already on his phone. “Keep an eye out for a man with a cheap, dirty, rumpled suit and make sure you get every USB stick he has. Wipe every picture off his laptop and cameras as well.”

  Wow. He is so cool.

  And so hot.

  Damn.

  “Are you alright?” He turns to me after his phone call.

  I nod. “Thanks. For everything just now.”

  He offers me some breath mints. “No worries.”

  I toss a few inside my mouth. “And I’m sorry. For the things I said last night. I–”

  He silences me with a finger to my lips then grabs my hand.

  “Come with me.”

  ****

  Where am I? I wonder as Nathan’s car stops in front of a large gate.

  Is this Nathan’s house? Something tells me it’s not.

  It looks like an old house, in fact, one that hasn’t been occupied for some time, or so I think as we gaze upon it.

  Is it even occupied now? Why did Nathan bring me to a place like this?

  Suddenly, I
hear a bark. Then another.

  Dogs?

  Before long, the lights turn on inside the house and the door opens, a pair of dogs rushing out to meet us. For a moment, I feel afraid that they might bite, but Nathan bravely steps forward.

  “Easy, boys.”

  And just like that, their barks change and their tails wag.

  “Oh, it’s you, Nathan,” the middle-aged man on the porch calls out. “I was wondering who it was.”

  “I’m sorry to come here so late, Ted.” Nathan approaches the porch with the dogs, and I follow.

  “No worries,” Ted says. “I was still up watching TV. Besides, it’s your property.”

  So this place does belong to Nathan.

  “Sam, this is Ted,” he introduces. “He was a friend of my Dad. Ted, this is Sam.”

  “Nice to meet you.” Ted offers his hand, and I shake it.

  A friend of Nathan’s Dad? I’ve never even heard of his father.

  “Ted’s going to be looking after this place,” Nathan adds. “Though I’ll hire a few people to help him.”

  “What exactly is this place?” I ask, unable to rein in my curiosity any longer.

  “Well, it isn’t much now,” he answers. “But it’s going to be a dog shelter.”

  “A dog shelter?”

  Now, that’s a surprise, especially coming from someone who preferred robots as pets.

  “I thought about some things after you left last night. I thought about the dog I used to own, too. And I decided it’s not a bad idea to put up a dog shelter. You wanted to put up one, didn’t you?”

  “Yes, but…”

  He decided to put up a dog shelter just because I suggested it?

  “This house is old, but it’s got a lot of rooms. We’ll fix it up, put in the necessary equipment, maybe even turn one room into a clinic. Then we’ll start taking dogs in. Stray dogs mostly.”

  I can’t believe what I’m hearing. “You bought a house just to make it into a dog shelter?”

  “You might find it hard to believe, young lady,” Ted says. “But this man’s very generous.”

  “Thanks, Ted,” Nathan pats him on the shoulder. “But I think I don’t need any help impressing a woman.”

  Ted chuckles. “Of course, you don’t. I’ll leave the two of you alone.”

  After Ted goes inside with the dogs, Nathan sits on the porch stairs. I do the same.