Contract with a Billionaire, The Complete Series

Chapter 3-2

The days went by in a blur and Friday came earlier than expected. I started dressing at five o’clock. I applied my make-up with trembling fingers and when I discovered it wasn’t good enough, I washed my face and started again. My powder blue satin dress clung to my body as I stepped in and pulled it up with care. The fabric accentuated my curves, showing off the female indentations as the dress hugged the flare of my wide hips.

“I don’t think I’ve seen you pay such close attention to your outfit before,” my father’s voice rang from the doorway.

The soft fabric of the dress swirled around me as I rushed to him. “Dad, you should be in bed. What are you doing up?”

“Trying to convince you not to go. You’re not in high school anymore, and I can’t stop you from walking out that door. But I’ll be damned if I’m gonna let you go without some good, sound advice.”

My lips tightened. Going to the event was hard enough without my dad all over me. I had to nip the conversation in the bud. “We already talked about this. It will soon be over.”

“You look stunning,” my dad said as we both stared at my reflection. “Who’s the guy? Some lonely, awkward nerd who doesn’t know how to talk to women?”

I wished it was a nerd. I bit my lip and tried to subdue my curiosity about Jake. I had been focused on him all week and frankly it was starting to bother me that I was spending my personal time on him without getting paid for it. I plastered a smile to my face. “Probably. Doesn’t matter. It’s a charity event and these things are almost always over by midnight.”

My father narrowed his eyes on me and rubbed the overgrown hairs on his chin. “You don’t seem worried.”

It was the usual affair, so why make a big deal out of it? I studied my watch and performed an elaborate yawn. “I’m not. It’s just a business transaction that’s going to put a nice chunk of change in my account.”

“Okay. Well, try to enjoy yourself then, I guess,” he grumbled.

I squinted an eye. “I’ll try. I made you some of that cornbread you like to go with the chili. Try not to gas it up while I’m gone.” My dad and I were used to making raunchy jokes around the house. It was the only way I could keep his thoughts off Mom.

“Okay. I’ll save some good, savory ones for when you get back,” he chortled, maintaining a straight face.

Not picking at my freshly-manicured fingernails was quite a task while waiting for the driver. I didn’t know what to do with myself. I fanned cool air on my face and begged my pores not to sweat. Why the hell was I so nervous? After half an hour, there was a brief knock on the door and the driver told me that Mr. Sutherland was waiting outside his penthouse to meet me. We’d pick him up, then head over together to the charity event. It was smart. No sense in showing up in separate cars.

I waved goodbye to Dad before hopping into the car. The ride to the penthouse wasn’t that long. I caught a glimpse of Mr. Sutherland’s muscular form inside when we pulled up beside another black SUV. He wore one of those business suits that played upon his strong, hard physique. He came out and our eyes met for the first time since Monday. I fought back a shiver and drew in a deep, healthy breath. He’s just a guy.

“Good evening, Mr. Sutherland,” I greeted in a professional voice, reminding him that this was a business transaction and nothing else. I ran my hand across my thigh to remind my knees not to weaken. It didn’t help when he traced over my body slowly. Probably wanting to see if I wouldn’t embarrass him. And of course, I wouldn’t. I was trained for this job.

His lips moistened. “Good evening, Miss Madison. First names would be more appropriate here, wouldn’t it?”

He was right. His masculine voice caused me to relax my tense shoulders. “Of course.”

We filed inside the car without another word. I was used to my previous clients talking my ear off while being forced to listen. I didn’t mind. I was trained for this and I had to act professionally. So hearing him humming under his breath took me by surprise. He sat on the other side of the car, as if he was respecting my boundaries. The distance left me wanting to move closer. I needed to talk to him, to find out why he was doing this, to scream at the top of my lungs and demand he give me his entire life story. But instead, I crossed my legs and pretended to watch the downtown city lights.

The charity event was at a familiar building where I had probably been before—maybe even for a business event similar to this one. I accepted the hand Jake extended. His strong masculine hand sent electric waves ravaging through my body. I managed a smile in thanks as my feet landed softly on the curb. He didn’t let go of my hand as we walked toward the entrance. I had to be okay with that. I had stated in my profile that I was more than willing to hold a client’s hand.

Now I wished I hadn’t. I became flushed as heat surged through my body.

A hoppy jazz band echoed through the outdoors as we walked along the red carpet. Paparazzi lined the rope, flashing their long-lensed cameras as we continued to make our way. I displayed a few smiles as I was told to do in my training, wanting to come off as friendly as possible. Women murmured, probably wondering who the hell I was, and why I was on his arm. It dawned on me that Jake Sutherland was a notorious billionaire and people all over the country knew him. Was I the only one that slept under a rock? He must’ve thought it was strange that I didn’t crowd around him on Monday like everyone else. I made a mental note to apologize for my celebrity ignorance later.

“Please disregard any clamor you might hear. They just want lies to feed to the public.” Jake spoke to my ear, the heat of his body transferring to my own. How many escorts had accompanied him in the past? He sounded like a pro.

“Are there lies to tell?” The question flew out of my mouth before I’d had a chance to reign it in. I regretted it immediately. It was so unprofessional, but every bone in my body ached to know more about this mysterious man.

He smiled with one corner of his mouth as he focused on me. “Possibly.”

There was a massive crowd tonight--something I wasn’t so used to seeing. I had attended charity events before, but this was far beyond that. Big crowds made me nervous. I wanted the ground to open and swallow me whole. I shook the worry aside and promised myself to watch my tongue.

“Would you like a glass of wine, Mr. Sutherland and Miss…” A slim waiter asked, offering his tray of drinks.

“Madison,” Jake inserted, motioning the waiter towards me. My last name rolled from his tongue effortlessly.

I took one and thanked the waiter. Taking a small sip, I tasted the velvety liquid and felt the heat of it slide down my throat. It was an exquisite wine and probably costed a whole month of my salary. I earned more than anyone my age, but that didn’t mean that I was able to live with luxuries. I had my father to look after. He wasn’t getting any younger and from what the doctor said, his heart complication might get worse if not treated in time.

“Come, Chloe. I’d like you to meet some of my colleagues,” Jake said, taking my hand and heading to a group of couples.

Uh-oh. No. This wasn’t good. What if they’d seen me before as another’s escort? My cover would be blown. What would that do to his reputation?

He must not have cared, because we headed toward them. They were quick to greet him and didn’t even glance at me. Judging how they talked and behaved, I could already tell they viewed Jake as a king.

“Meet my date, Miss Madison.” Jake said, directing everyone’s gaze at me. I feigned the welcoming smile on my face, holding my hand out to shake theirs. “Nice to meet you all.”

There was a chorus of salutations from the group before they directed their attention back to Jake once more. Snobs.

I left him there, excusing myself to go to the ladies’ room to freshen up even though I had only arrived five minutes ago.

Jake stared at me as I ambled away. He looked confused.

“Restroom break,” I peeped out. Surely he’d understand.

He nodded in acceptance.

I felt his eyes watching my back as I strolled away.

After a waiter pointed out the bathroom, I made my way there and found countless women touching up. Some were chatting while the rest reapplied their make-up. I joined them and tried to shut out the whispers.

Jake was nowhere to be seen when I came out of the bathroom. There was no strict agency rule of sticking by our client’s sides for the entire date, but I shuffled through the room to look for him anyway.

Jake wasn’t the insecure type. He was completely different from anyone I’d escorted before. They were clingy, needy. He seemed independent of all that. And something told me he liked his freedom. Was that why he didn’t have a girlfriend?

I let out a relieved sigh when I finally got off my stilettos. I’d only been standing for a few minutes and it felt like I’d been walking for hours. I chose to ignore the deep ache spreading from the heels of my feet to the sides.

My jaw stiffened as my breath became shallow. Had he forgotten me? It didn’t matter. He was paying the bill and I was collecting his cash whether I was at his side or not. So why did it bother me that I hadn’t seen him for half an hour? Was I the one being clingy? I removed my cell phone from my purse, checked fruitlessly for a text, then buried myself in f*******:.

A familiar masculine voice brought chills to the bare of my back. “There you are,” Jake said as he strode toward me. His donned suit hugged the bulk of his muscular thighs.

I tore my gaze from his body and chucked my phone back into my purse.

He glared at the open handbag as a line etched between his eyes. “Do I bore you?”

Shit. He didn’t like the phone usage. My cell use had nothing to do with boredom and everything to do with distraction. It was the only way I could take my mind off him, but I wasn’t going to tell him that. “No sir. I’m sorry, I couldn’t find you anywhere when I got back from the bathroom.” I tried my best to be attentive, standing. My head only reached his chest as he was a good five to eight inches taller than me. “What would you like to do now?”

He met my gaze and pursed his lips. “What would you like to do, Chloe?”

His moist tongue flicked lust into the space between us whenever he uttered my name. I don’t know which one of his words made a throbbing arousal spread through my body, but I needed it to stop. His question fluttered through my mind. The image of him planting kisses all over my body drove a heatwave through my inner thighs. I needed him to devour me entirely, and all of that needed to stop.

Warmth traveled from my neck to my face. I straightened my back. “No client has ever asked me that.”

This time it was him who was caught off guard. He shifted feet and rounded his lips as if he were blowing a whistle. “Inconsiderate bastards.”

Laughter rolled from my belly. I couldn’t help it. He had the quirkiest comments and his touch made me relax. Maybe this wasn’t so bad after all. Jake Sutherland wasn’t as intimidating as I once thought. Had I judged too much of his appearance and forgotten to focus on what lies beneath?

“Do you date outside of what the agency has set up for you?” His voice was inquisitive.

My heart raced. The question shocked me. It was personal and intrusive and implied I had no life. “Of course I date. Here and there.” I lied.

He tilted his head to the side “Anybody interesting?”

I scoffed at the question. “Would I be here if I had someone interesting?”

“Whoa,” Jake said, shaking off his hand with quick snaps of his wrist and laughing. “She bites. Now I’m really starting to think you find me boring.”

My tongue was always getting me into trouble. “No, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that. I just meant that I hadn’t found anyone impressive enough to settle down with. I..I don’t find you boring at all. You’re fascinating.”

I laid the truth on the table. Ever since I tried going back to the dating world, I found no interest in men. I filled out two or three online dating profiles and went on a couple dates, but it didn’t work. What was the point anyway? I could either let guys buy dinner and be bored out of my mind, or I could let them get dinner and pay me a wad of cash. I preferred the latter. s*x was always off the table. If I had s*x with all the agency men I had dated, I’d be a bonafide hooker. Jake Sutherland was the first man who peaked my interest.

His eyes lighted at the compliment as his mouth formed a wide grin. “I’ll take it.”

Why was I telling a complete stranger about my love life—or lack thereof? He didn’t care. He would never go for someone like me anyway. To him, I was just a female escort. Damaged property. I wasn’t nearly as elegant as many of the women at the auction and I didn’t aspire to be anything other than a man’s date to a damn gala.

But that was where he’d be wrong. I may have started as an escort, but that didn’t mean I had no dreams. I was a hard-worker and a go-getter--hence me quitting and going to college for architecture—all of which Jake didn’t need to know. I reasoned it all out in my head while the host drew the curtain. Keep your eyes on the prize, Chloe.