The Billionaire's Bluff

by Nella Tyler

  Chapter 7

  I woke up in the same position I'd fallen asleep. I knew where I was this time, and I felt Luke's body cuddled up close to mine. I didn't move, but stared out the window, watching the branches of a loblolly pine gently shift with the morning breeze. The rising sun cast a dull glow into the bedroom, so I knew it was still early. I assessed my emotions. I didn't feel nearly as bad as I had the first time I had woken up next to Luke.

  I smiled. Yesterday had been absolutely wonderful, last night even better. Perhaps we could make a go of it. I sighed, shifted my position only slightly, and then heard Luke's deep voice rumbling behind me.

  "Good morning, beautiful," he said.

  His breath tickled the back of my neck. "Good morning, handsome," I said. I smiled when his penis, lying flaccid up against my buttocks, moved slightly. "Don't even think about it," I said.

  He laughed. "It has a mind of its own, you know."

  "So I've heard," I said. "What time is it?"

  "Why?"

  "Because I have to work today, silly," I said.

  "Can’t you ask the boss for the day off?"

  I laughed again. I liked this Luke, this Luke that showed a good sense of humor and a whimsical, boyish charm. "Nope," I said. "He might think I'm taking advantage." This time he laughed.

  "Just for a little while longer," he said. "The chef doesn't arrive ‘til nine, and it's only seven o'clock. Let's just stay in bed and cuddle for a little while, okay?"

  I agreed, not reluctantly. Smiling and feeling a little wicked, I pressed my buttocks against his groin, pleased when his penis sprang to almost instant attention. He grabbed me around the waist and turned me around. I felt self-conscious that I hadn't yet gotten up to brush my teeth or go to the bathroom. "Give me a minute, will you?" I asked.

  He nodded and let me go. I quickly got out of bed and move toward his bedroom door, not bothering to cover myself. After all, he had seen all of me in the Jacuzzi last night.

  "Where you going?" he asked.

  "I'll use the bathroom in the spare bedroom," I explained with a lame shrug. "A little more privacy."

  He nodded and I left his bedroom. Before stepping out, however, I quickly glanced down the hall to make sure that the house was indeed empty and quiet. I darted across the hallway and entered the spare bedroom. Just before I shut the door I heard Luke’s bed creak and I could only imagine that he was also going to take care of business before I rejoined him in bed.

  In a matter of minutes, I had used the bathroom, brushed my teeth, and given my hair an assessing glance. Then, as I had done moments earlier, I quickly darted back across the hallway and into his room. I hopped into bed and covered myself with a sheet just as he emerged from the bathroom, completely naked.

  He was impressive, no doubt about that. He had a great body, and I wondered how often he worked out or what he did to stay in such great shape. As he approached the bed with a smile, he gave me a questioning look, and then glanced toward his bedside table again. I knew what he wanted, and again to be completely honest, I looked forward to making love with him again.

  We did just that.

  *

  By the time the chef arrived for the day's work I was back in my work clothes and cleaning up downstairs. I spent the rest of the morning vacuuming and dusting and then mopped the downstairs bathroom floor. Then it was time for my lunch break, but I couldn't go anywhere because I didn't have my car. The chef mentioned it.

  "My car?" I asked, taken by surprise with his query. Unfortunately, the first thing that came out of my mouth was a lie. "It's at the shop today," I explained. "I needed a new radiator hose."

  He offered to fix me something for lunch and I accepted, feeling guilty for lying. Then again, what was I supposed to have said?

  After lunch, I began cleaning upstairs. I hadn't seen or heard from Luke all day. He was enclosed in his office, obviously catching up like I was. As I worked, my heart and my emotions felt lighter than in days. Maybe we could work things out between us so that neither one of us felt awkward. Besides, was there any reason, other than him being my boss, that we shouldn't enjoy each other's company? If we were both discrete, who would it hurt?

  Besides, Luke Benning was now a very eligible bachelor, and while I knew that workplace relationships happened all the time, I knew I was stretching the boundaries, more than a little bit.

  By the time quitting time rolled around, I was ready to go home and relax. It'd been a long day and my muscles felt a little achy, even in my private area. I headed upstairs, smiling as I knocked on Luke's office door.

  "Luke? I'm leaving now. I'll call a cab to take me home."

  "Hold on a minute, Molly," his voice came from the other side of the door.

  I waited outside his door for several moments and then I heard his footsteps approaching. The door unlocked and he opened it, filling the space.

  "Is it quitting time already?" he asked, glancing down at his watch. "Oh, the day went fast, didn't it? I got a little backed up."

  I smiled. "Yes, time for me to head home. I just wanted you to know was leaving. I'll call a cab-"

  "No, I can do that for you. My driver has the day off today," he said. He quickly stepped into his office, grabbed his cell phone off his desk and dialed. He gave the address. “Honk your horn when you get here,” he said, and then disconnected the call, placing the phone back down on a stack of papers.

  "A cab will be here in just a minute," he said. "You doing okay?"

  I could imagine he was wondering if I was having second thoughts about yesterday afternoon, as well as our two lovemaking sessions, last night and then this morning in his bedroom. Wait…three times. I wasn’t. "Sure," I said. "I'm just tired and want to get home and veg out, get a good night’s sleep."

  He grinned, and then grew serious. "I have a meeting early tomorrow morning, but I should be back here by the time you get here."

  I heard a distant honk and he nodded. "There’s the cab.” I turned to leave, but Luke gently grasped my shoulders, turned me toward him, and then leaned down and kissed me on the lips. It wasn't a passionate kiss, but a kiss like a boyfriend gives a girlfriend before she goes somewhere. I kissed him back, and then turning, quickly made my way downstairs, my heart literally hammering with satisfaction.

  Chapter 8

  I arrived at Luke's estate a little bit early the next morning, hoping to be able to spend a few minutes with him before my official workday began. Unfortunately, I didn't see him anywhere. I supposed that maybe he wasn't back from his meeting yet. I began my work, humming quietly, looking forward to what the day would bring.

  Since I had done most of the basic cleaning yesterday, I decided I would spend the morning polishing the woodwork in the main living room and the den, if I got to it. Not long after I got started on that task, I heard the front door open. It slammed shut so loud I jumped. From where I stood in the living room, I saw Luke enter the foyer and thought I saw a troubled expression on his face.

  "Good morning, Luke!" I called out. The smile died on my lips when I saw him halt in the foyer, turn my way, frown, and then head quickly upstairs.

  My heart sank a little. I don't know what I was expecting, but this certainly wasn't it. Perhaps his meeting had not gone too well. I had no idea what that meeting entailed, but if he came home in such a state, it obviously hadn’t been successful.

  I decided I wouldn't bother him about it and continued with my tasks. Before long, the chef arrived and I heard him clattering about in the kitchen. Luke had not come downstairs, not even for his usual morning cup of coffee. I wondered if I should go up and see if something was wrong, but then shook my head. It was none of my business!

  I forced thoughts of Luke from my mind as I ate the lunch that I had packed for myself, sitting quietly in the kitchen at the table while I watched the chef prepare a lunch for Luke. I knew that once that was completed and delivered, he would start on preparing Luke’s evening meal.

  I said nothing as
the chef left the kitchen with a tray. Several moments later he returned. I couldn't contain my curiosity. "Did Luke…did Mister Benning say anything to you?"

  The chef glanced at me curiously. "Like what?"

  "Nothing in particular," I shrugged. "It's just that he came back from a meeting this morning before you arrived, and he looked upset. He even slammed the door. He’s never done that before. I just wondered." The chef stared at me for a moment, as if assessing. I glanced back at my nearly finished sandwich.

  "What difference does it make whether he's upset or not, Molly?" he asked. "We’re here to do our jobs, nothing more and nothing less. Personally, I could care less. He's paying me to do a job, not to ask about his emotions."

  My hackles rose. "Well, of course," I agreed. "I just wasn't sure…” I thought quickly to cover my tracks. “If he's in a bad mood, I don't necessarily want to be making a bunch of noise upstairs." That was the closest to an excuse I could come up with for wondering about Luke's emotions. The chef seemed to think about it for a moment and then shrugged.

  "I just gave him his lunch, Molly. I didn't ask them for an emotional status update."

  I shook my head and smiled at him. "And I don't need one, either, I suppose. If I end up disturbing him, I'm sure he'll let me know." With that the chef turned back to the stove and I shook my head, mentally kicking myself. What in heaven's name was the matter with me?

  I decided that I just needed to focus on my tasks. Finishing my lunch, I threw away my trash and then stepped to the cupboard with the cleaning supplies. Gathering a bucket full of cleaners and other supplies, I headed upstairs. Thinking cheer him up a little, I knocked lightly on his door. "Luke," I said, my voice soft. "Are you okay? Is anything wrong?" He said nothing for several moments and I wondered if he'd heard me. I couldn't talk any louder because I didn't want the chef to hear me from downstairs. I doubted if he could, but still…

  I continued with my tasks, starting with the bathroom in the spare bedroom. When I completed that, I dusted the room and then stepped into the hallway. I was busily dusting the end table at the end of the hallway when I heard the door to his office open. I glanced over my shoulder and saw him standing there, staring at me, much like he had on the first day I had come to work for him. I offered him a smile, but it disappeared as he continued to stare at me. "What's wrong?"

  He said nothing. My mind began to race. Had I done something? I wasn't sure. I replayed the events of yesterday and last evening in my mind. I couldn't figure it out. "Luke? Is something wrong?"

  "Just leave me alone," he snapped.

  With that, he turned around, stepped back into his office, and closed the door loudly behind him. I heard it lock. What the hell? I barely prevented myself from stepping to his office door and knocking on it. What had put him in such a foul mood? I could only assume that it was his meeting this morning, but why would he be angry with me? Then again, maybe he wasn't angry with me at all, but at something that had happened. My questioning him about it probably didn't help. Still, he didn’t have to take it out on me. I scowled.

  I decided to just mind my own business and focus on the rest of my tasks, which kept me busy for the remainder of the afternoon. I had just put the supplies away in the cupboard downstairs and was preparing to leave when I turned around and saw him standing in the kitchen doorway.

  The chef was busy at the stove, so I couldn't say anything.

  "Miss Sanders, can you come up to my office for a moment, please?"

  I nodded, frowning at the blank expression he wore. What the hell was going on? Luke turned his back and disappeared. I cast a quick glance toward the chef. He glanced at me over his shoulder, shrugged, and then returned to stirring some type of sauce in a sauté pan. I had no idea what Luke wanted to talk to me about, but then again, maybe he'd taken that tone with me because the chef had been standing right there.

  As I made my way toward the stairs, sudden doubts began to niggle in my mind. Had somebody said something to him? Had somebody seen us together? Was I going to get fired? As I took the steps one at a time, I decided that that might not necessarily be such a bad thing. If he fired me, there wouldn't be any boss/employee relationship and we could be free to pursue any relationship we wanted.

  Then I wondered if he was dumping me. Maybe he had gotten his jollies and was ready to move on. My heart skipped a beat, but then I got hold of my emotions. We had only been out on a couple of dates. Yes, they had been intimate dates, but still. It wasn't as if I was in love with him or anything. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves, deciding that whatever this was about, I could handle it. I stepped up to his office, stood in front of the closed door for several moments, took another deep breath, and then exhaled. I could handle it. I knocked.

  "Enter."

  I did. Luke stood behind his desk, facing out the window that overlooked a portion of the back yard.

  "Close the door please," he said.

  I did and then stepped further into the room. "Luke, what's the matter? What's-"

  When he turned around I could tell by his expression that he was frustrated. A frown pulled at his forehead, deepening the crease between his eyebrows. He didn't offer me a greeting, a smile, or any indication that we had shared anything intimate. I began to grow uneasy.

  "Molly, do you know who I had a meeting with this morning?"

  How would I know who he had a meeting with? I didn't have access to his itinerary. I frowned. "No, how could I?" I watched Luke, as he appeared to try to grasp hold of his emotions. One minute I sensed anger, the next frustration, perhaps even worry. "Luke, what happened?"

  "I had a meeting with a very well-known businessman here in Raleigh. I've been doing business with him since I arrived here, and I thought we had been getting along rather well."

  I watched as Luke folded his hands behind his back and then paced a few steps one way, then the other, before looking at me. I could do nothing but wait for him to continue. His agitation was making me increasingly nervous. Was I going to be fired or not? What was this about? Why would he be telling me about an influential meeting he had this morning?

  Luke turned to me and then placed his hands on his desk. His eyes bored into mine with such intensity, I felt a jolt of alarm race down my spine. "What?"

  "His name was Robert Sanders."

  I literally felt the blood drain from my face. A cold sensation swept through me.

  "Ah, a trickle of recognition," he said.

  His expression grew even more intense, if that was possible. "Luke-"

  "Why didn’t you tell me who you were?" he demanded.

  He hadn't raised his voice, but it was extremely firm, sharp. I swallowed. "I did tell you who I was, Luke. I just-"

  "You're the daughter of one of the richest men in the entire South and you hired on as my maid? Why?"

  Before I could even answer that question, he continued, his voice hoarse with disbelief. "Can you imagine my surprise, no…my dismay, to find out that not only does Robert know exactly who is working for him, but that my new maid was none other than his daughter?"

  I should've known. My father knew everything. I didn't have any idea how he found out half the information he did about local families, gossip, and scandals, but he did.

  "Luke-"

  He made a gesture with his hand, cutting me off. "Let’s just say that the meeting didn't go well. It was rather abrupt, actually. He did have something to say to me, though. Actually, he gave me an ultimatum."

  I waited, my palms growing clammy with nervousness. I had a feeling I knew what it was.

  "He told me that I either stop dating you or I will no longer be doing business with him."

  His eyes bore into mine as my heart thudded in dread. How in heaven's name had my father found out not only that I was working for Luke, but dating him? This was not good. This was not good at all. This was exactly what I had been afraid of, someone finding out about us. That it would be my father shocked me as much as it obviously shocke
d Luke.

  Maid for Him #3

  Chapter 1

  I stared at Luke, trying to process what he had just said. Too many thoughts raced through my head at the same time, causing a jumble of confusion. How did Luke even know my father? What kind of business were they doing together? More importantly, how in the world had my father found out I was working here at the Benning Estate, or even worse, that Luke and I were dating – or whatever it was we were doing, besides having hot, steamy sex? I hadn't even yet classified what we had as dating! Did he know everything? Had he seen us at the beach? Oh God. Did he have a spy hanging around? Who? I had yet to see the gardener or the chef… He couldn't know anything. Or could he?

  I held back a growl of frustration. "Okay…you sure that's what he said?" I shook my head. "How do you know my-"

  Luke turned from the window and stared at me. I saw the look of frustration and consternation on his face and a tinge of what I could only define as accusation.

  "Why didn't you tell me who you were?"

  "I answered that one already, Luke. I did tell you who I was. I didn't lie about my name."

  "Why didn't you tell me your father was the Robert Sanders?"

  I shrugged, giving him a look of incomprehension. "Why in the world would I? I don't go around telling everybody who my father is. Why do you think I took this job in the first place?" I asked, growing a little perturbed. With my hands on my hips, I stared at him. "Luke, I took this job because I wanted to earn my own paycheck. Who my father is has nothing to do with it."

  He shook his head, frowning with confusion. "But why? Your father is a multimillionaire…a billionaire. Are you trying to tell me that you're cut out of an inheritance, a nice allowance, or even a hope of enjoying any of that money? Are you and your father estranged?"

  "No," I said, my voice coming out somewhere between a whine and a groan. "But don't you understand, Luke? It's not just about money. For me it's about self-reliance, self-respect, and self-esteem. I want to know that I can stand on my own two feet in the world, make decisions, make mistakes, and not..." I stopped. What was the point in trying to explain? Luke probably wouldn’t comprehend where I was coming from. Here was someone who had come from nothing, or very little, and who had had to work, or at least, I thought so. Then, then he had suddenly come into an inheritance from a relative who did very well for himself in the stock market. That inheritance had been dumped in his lap without an instruction booklet. He probably couldn't understand why anybody would want to work if they didn't have to.