The Very Rich Man (The Very Manly Series Book 3)

by Laura Stapleton

  Darian laughed at the attempt. “You’d have to tell him nice try.”

  “I figured as much. Still, I’ll have fun bringing charities to you. Once I’ve checked them out, of course. There’s no sense in you giving any funds to scam artists.”

  “Thank you for being so considerate of my money.”

  “It’s my job. If I help you save, you can give me a raise.”

  “Working the angles, I like it.” Before he could add anything, the fasten seatbelt sign lit up and the tone sounded. “Almost home. I hope I’m not making you late for any plans tonight.”

  She settled into her seat and rounded up all her belongings. “No, well, I have a date with movies, hot chocolate, and flannel pajamas.” She gave him a side glance. “Glamorous and sexy, right?”

  “Very. Makes me wish I was with you tonight and not lingerie shopping with my supermodel girlfriend tonight.” He glanced over at her to see her smile. Instead, she closed her mouth and glared at him. Her fury amused him and he backpedaled, “Whoa, don’t even start. I’m kidding you.”

  “No girlfriend? Because that’s never something I’d do.” She crossed her arms. “Stealing boyfriends, I mean. That’s not who I am.”

  He laughed. “No. You’re the only… person that’s close to me right now.” Getting serious, he stared into her eyes. “Hanging out with you is the only part I wish was true.”

  “No lingerie?”

  “Ok, two parts are true. Hanging out with you and your unders, your date night ones.” He wanted to say more about how nothing sounded as appealing to him as spending time with her. His heart demanded it, but his brain resisted. “We’ll be together on Monday at the office.”

  “Sounds good.” Chloe stared straight ahead as the plane touched down.

  “Are you afraid of flying?”

  “Not at all. I love it. Getting down smoothly is good, too.”

  He agreed. “This crew is the best. I’d thought about staying a couple of hours later in the City, but didn’t think it’d be fair to keep them waiting on us.”

  “Sure. They probably have plans, too.” She stood, grabbing her purse and carry on. “And families waiting at home for them.”

  Darian realized he’d been ignorant. He hadn’t asked anything about her having pets, if her mom and Stew lived nearby, or her mom’s name. He turned his phone’s airplane status off, then stood and stretched. She was already up front, chatting with the pilots.

  He knew this crew better than the one they’d had on the way there. The shorter guy, Barry, was married. He’d sent them a wedding gift a couple of years ago, but Rob? Decent looking guy, single, from what he knew, and his touching Chloe on the arm was not cool. The avalanche of possessive anger filling him had to stop. He decided to go on up and join the conversation, covertly edging her out of the plane. “Great landing, as usual.”

  “Thanks,” replied Barry. “We were telling Ms. Anders here about our contest.”

  Rob chimed in. “We take turns seeing who can outdo the other on hitting the ground.”

  Darian froze his smile to keep from frowning. The guy even had a news anchor or DJ kind of voice. He glanced at Chloe. She couldn’t like Rob. She didn’t know him. “I rarely feel the landings. Who’s ahead?”

  “That’s what they were arguing about, who is the winner,” she replied as the steward walked up. “They were going to have Tony settle the score.”

  “Me? They’re tied, I promise.” He went past the two pilots and grabbed Darian’s bag first. “Mr. Lawrence.”

  “Thank you.” He waited until Chloe was handed hers. She was still chatting with Rob, so Darian walked between them in a hint to go already. Down the stairs, he looked back to see her at the top, taking a card from Rob. When they caught him staring, he grinned. “See you later.” They waved and he headed for his car, faking every casual step.

  Once inside the privacy of his vehicle. Darian sat for a few seconds until the cold reminded him to turn the engine. He imagined all the ways he could ruin Rob’s life if he dated Chloe.

  Chapter 6

  Darian stared out of his office window. “You know, I’ve been thinking about us. Couldn’t get our being together out of my mind. I’d like to marry you.” His heart started pounding, his palms itched. No, no proposal. Not today.

  He went back to his chair and sat, the coffee she’d brought him earlier now cold. Burying his head in his hands and resting his elbows on the desk, he moaned. Nothing about yesterday had been entertaining. The friends, the skiing, the ski bunnies. And they were always fun. He stood. “Shit. Shit shit shit.”

  He glanced at the locked desk drawer holding the Tiffany’s box for Chloe. The gold infinity band with diamonds was a surprise birthday gift. He wasn’t sure what day or month that was, but a call to HR would fix that problem. Asking her directly might tip her off. He couldn’t do that.

  After waking up his computer, he checked emails and IM’s to see if she needed him. Nothing. He needed a true vacation to regroup and reconsider. One night of fantastic sex did not make a solid foundation for marriage. He had things to do. A wife and family would get in the way. He got up to fix a tea, ignoring the urge for anything stronger, like whisky or a sharp whack on the skull.

  The whole idea of a cozy home life needed deleting. Other than working with her, he didn’t know her that well. Plenty of women had dollar signs in their eyes around him. How was Chloe any different? She’d not be the first to seduce and lie to get to the money. He sent her an IM to come into his office.

  She opened the door, asking “Did you need this closed?” After his nod, she came in, making sure the door was shut.

  “Yes, please.” He waited until she sat. “Last weekend has been on my mind a lot today. It’s distracting me far too much and I’d like to settle a few things.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that. By all means, let’s do what it takes for you to regain focus.”

  Her words took him aback. Wasn’t she useless today, needing him as much as he did her? Darian cleared his throat. “We had a good time in New York. We also work well together.” She gave him a nod. Encouraged, he continued, “I’ve given this some thought. I’m too young to be tied down in any permanent relationship. My goal is to get married when I’m forty. My father is still alive and healthy at seventy five, so I consider I have plenty of time.”

  “Two years isn’t a long time to play the bachelor.”

  He frowned. How old did she think he was? “It’s five years.”

  “Oh, I apologize.”

  He didn’t miss her smirk and knew she teased him. “So, we’re good?”

  “Yes, very good.”

  Darian examined her. She seemed to mean what she said. Chloe tucked a stray lock behind her ear before giving him a slight smile. She wore more makeup now than Saturday and he missed her clean faced look. As if his small brain had taken over the thinking, he remembered his office door locked. Another incoming message dinged, a reply from the New York branch.

  He leaned back in his chair. “I’m not sure I can have you working for me anymore. You may be unaffected by us together like this, but I’m not.”

  “Oh?”

  “You might think I’m firing you, but I’m not. Not really.” An idea hit him and before he could mull it over, said, “Even better, stop working for me here and I can help pay for your apartment and other bills.”

  “You’ll pay me, like a salary, only I’m not working for you?”

  “Something like that, yes.” He leaned back in the chair, pleased with the idea. They could have a relationship and he’d not have to fire her. It’d be a little like a mistress set up, but not entirely. One of his better ideas, he thought.

  “What if I don’t quit for now? What if I continue to work here and start a job hunt for anywhere else? Because, quite frankly, your suggestion sounds a lot like prostitution.”

  “Excuse me?” He sat up and leaned forward. “How the hell do you figure that?”

  “When you’re the on
e paying my bills, how available am I supposed to be to you?”

  “Well…” He couldn’t continue, couldn’t excuse how others might see their arrangement. Others opinions didn’t matter to him, but they might to her. “I’d like you to be there for me as much as I am for you.”

  “Exactly.” She stood and started pacing. “The fact that it’s borderline prostitution is why I’m saying no to your offer. Do I need to clean out my desk now, or can you wait for me to find another job? Can whatever’s being affected by me manage to endure the hardship until I leave?”

  Like a grade school boy in trouble, he stared down at his keyboard. “It’s fine. Disregard everything I just said. Stay here and work, if you want. It’s all up to you.” He glanced up at her.

  She stared out of his window, anger flushing her cheeks. He’d not thought his proposition sounded so bad until the words were out there. Bottom line was he wanted her. For forever, but later. “I’ve got a better proposition.”

  She crossed her arms, frowning at him. “This should be good.”

  Every one of his brain cells died when Chloe’s clear blue gaze met his. “So, Friday night taught me something important.” He took a drink, aware she watched his every move. “I’m thinking about something more permanent, but not now. Later, when we’ve both had time to think about it. I’m not sure it’s good to have you here. I keep wanting to ignore work and spend time with you.” He almost sighed in relief when she gave him a slight smile.

  “It seems as if you’re asking me for a serious relationship, and to keep my calendar open until you’re ready.”

  “Yes, that’s it.”

  She put both hands down on his desk and leaned forward. “What if I don’t want to wait for someday? What if I love you and want to start our love affair right now?”

  “No!” he blurted before seeing the myriad of expressions cross her face. Surprise, hurt, and finally fury and Darian stood. “I mean, you can’t love me, not yet. We spent one night together, one. Great sex, but come on. No big deal and it was vanilla.” She gasped and he panicked. “Not vanilla, that’s not right. Plain, ordinary…great! But just a night, not a week or two. I don’t know your favorite color, or position. We’ve not shared enough for you to love me.” Her expression now seemed cool and neutral. He ran a hand through his hair. Usually a lack of reaction meant reaching a decision. “I really appreciate you love me. Let’s table this whole discussion until later, okay? Let’s just focus on work for now.”

  Chloe clenched her teeth to keep back a sharp retort about who calling who into their office. “I like that idea, Mr. Lawrence. If you don’t mind, I’ll go back to my desk and resume what I was doing.” Before you called me in here, she silently added. She saw by his frown he also thought what she’d left off the end of her sentence.

  “That’ll be fine. Thank you.”

  She almost asked if he needed anything else before thinking she’d heard enough about his needs already. Chloe turned on her heel and went back to her desk. She promised a little sore spot in her ego that after work, she’d think about his calling her boring in bed. A glance through the door let her know Marjorie still sat outside. Chloe didn’t want to cry about anything Darian had said about their sex. Still, no big deal? It had been one to her.

  All of which could wait until after work while eating a family sized tub of ice cream. Right now, she needed to focus on work and not on Mr. Lawrence’s love life. She went to her desk, ignoring her fury, and her bruised heart.

  Chloe stared at the spreadsheet, willing it to make sense. The numbers swam from the tears trying to form in her eyes. She got up and hurried to the employee restroom to find Marjorie exiting. “Excuse me.”

  “Oh, you poor dear. Are you crying?”

  She snorted a laugh. “No, of course not.”

  “Let me guess, there’s an eyelash in your eye?”

  The other woman had done air quotes around eyelash, further infuriating her. “Could be.” She bent over the sink, pulling down the lower lid of one eye. “It stings, whatever it is. Probably hand sanitizer.”

  Marjorie leaned against the counter, arms crossed. “Really? Do you not know enough to keep from using that stuff as drops?”

  She washed her hands, reaching around her to the paper towels. “Residue, all right? Besides, I think I hear your phone out there.”

  “Right.”

  Chloe knew she’d not convinced her. She took in a deep breath and wiped the smudged mascara from under her eyes. Marjorie didn’t matter. Darian didn’t matter. Earning a living was the only thing that did matter. Mental pep talk complete, she all but marched back to work.

  A couple of months later, Chloe peered into her bathroom mirror. She didn’t see the dark circles she expected to find there. She yawned, pressing her cool hands to her face afterward. Sleeping eight hours a night, sometimes nine, wasn’t cutting it anymore.

  She’d slept great last night despite knowing today was Valentine’s Day and a Monday. Double whammy of awful. She had kept it frosty at work. Polite, professional, but icy, too. Darian hadn’t pushed, bless his heart. He’d also not apologized or elaborated upon his critique of her lovemaking. She frowned into the mirror’s reflection of her. Maybe she needed to lock his office door and show him. She was someone with more than one flavor, he’d just not stuck around for any other tastes.

  Satisfied with makeup and clothes, she went to her bed and loosely made it. Her little Tiffany’s box sat on the night stand and she smiled. She had to wear a heart for V Day. Chloe scooped up the icon and put on her necklace. She’d bought a pair of cheap silver earrings to match, regretting not getting a pair that day. She paused in putting on her coat before continuing to shrug it on. There was a lot to regret about that trip.

  Once at work, she saw Marjorie wasn’t in yet. She smiled and was glad to be alone for a while. Chloe powered on her monitor and started all the devices left behind to charge. A sound behind her, through Darian’s door, caught her attention. Before she could react, the door opened and he stepped through.

  “And so, I told her to not worry, help was on its way.”

  Just as she opened her mouth to respond, Sabrina from New York followed him into the outer office. She leaned into Darian. “I’m so glad you were there to save the day.”

  “I don’t know about that. The paramedics set her bone.” He glanced over at Chloe. “Ms. Anders, good morning. You remember Sabrina from New York?”

  “I certainly do.” Chloe stood and offered her hand. “A pleasure to see you again. Is there anything I can do for either of you this morning?” She smiled at Darian. “You’ll want your coffee first, I’m sure, sir.”

  “Not now. We’re on East Coast time.”

  Sabrina leaned against him. “We’re about coffeed out, aren’t we, Dare?”

  “Close to it.” He returned her smile before turning to Chloe. “You only need to freshen up my bar like usual. Hold my calls, too, reschedule for later this afternoon. I’m giving Sabrina a tour of the building.”

  Sabrina put her arm around Darian, and said, “My Valentine’s brunch, too. You promised.”

  “She’s roped me in, so it might be two o’clock before I’m back.” He waved his hand at her. “You’ll know what to do.”

  As they left, the elevator doors closing behind them, tears sprung to her eyes. “Damn it,” she muttered and grabbed a tissue. She’d cried more in the past three months than in the prior three years. Chloe frowned. Not three, since the 9/11 museum had been two months ago. She’d not had a cycle since then, either. A sick feeling wormed its way around her stomach and through ever nerve in her.

  She stood and paced, wanting to shake off this fear. They’d been safe all the way that night. Any reason she might be late had nothing to do with Darian. She grabbed her personal phone and checked the cycle app. Regular, until two months ago. Chloe sank down into her chair. She’d never missed before now.

  The elevator chime sounded and she tried to wear a different expressio
n as the doors opened. More professional, less terror stricken. Rob exiting and seeing her didn’t help at all. His handsome and smiling face doubled the shame filling her.

  “Wow! You look different.” He strode up to her, taking Chloe by the arms. “Very businesslike. I’m impressed.”

  “Thank you. It’s all part of the job.”

  “You need a raise.” Before taking a breath, he continued, “Hey, do you have lunch plans? We’re heading out later than expected and I have some free time.”

  This whole pregnancy thing had to be a scare. She and Darian had been safe, it was a onetime thing. And like he had said, no big deal. “I don’t, but can’t. We’re working on a new project and it’s taken up every spare minute I have between getting here and leaving.”

  “Still going at it? Man! Maybe dinner later this week?”

  “I’m always free on Saturdays for now.” She smiled at him.

  “Good, I’ll hold you to it.” He leaned in to kiss her cheek.

  “Please do.” She settled into her chair and smiled until Rob disappeared in the elevator. Once alone, she let her head fall into her hands. She’d not lied to him, today was packed. So much that getting a pregnancy test seemed impossible until late at night.

  She spent the afternoon doing everything but brood. At least, not about her future. Chloe restocked his bar with soda and bottled water. Straightening his desk, and a sliver of blue caught her eye. Without thinking, she opened the drawer. A box from Tiffany’s sat there, a ring sized box. Her mouth fell open. Him, with what might be an engagement ring in his desk? She tried to remember back to their big discussion. Had he tried to propose then and she misunderstood? Between the panic that morning and spending the prior two months in a trance, she couldn’t think.

  The elevator’s ding let her know someone was at their floor. Marjorie sat at reception, she knew. Chloe pushed the drawer back to almost closed and moved away from his desk entirely. She set to work straightening glasses at the bar when Darian walked in with Sabrina.

  “Ms. Anders?” He took out a soda from the little fridge. “Good job, as usual. Sabrina, do you want a drink?”