MR. TYCOON'S SUGARBABY

Chapter 1

Jordan's POV

He was looking at me. I could tell, even though the VIP booth was several paces away, I could feel his piercing gaze travel across the room, searing me with its intensity. I stole a quick glance toward the booth again, trying to concentrate over the upbeat music and swaying bodies, the neon lights and the haze of alcohol that was slowly but surely setting in.

VANITY was one of the most exclusive high-end nightclubs in town. Only the elite walked through its discreet, velvet-draped entrance, a door that stayed locked to the ordinary but opened to those who held the key to one of the night’s most exclusive places. The club was sometimes frequented by A-list artists and celebrities; I even spotted a few when we walked in and I wasn't sure how my girlfriend Francine secured the passes that got us in here, but I wasn't all that surprised. Francine had this uncanny knack for knowing the right place and the right people, one of her many, many talents.

Francine my best friend since college, with her stunning blonde hair and amazing figure, always knew how to turn heads. She had this effortless way of getting exactly what she wanted, and in her case, beauty was just as powerful as charm—a weapon she wielded flawlessly.

I admired her. I guess she just understood the way the world worked, a whole lot better than I did, might I add.

l could hear her now, effortlessly charming the bartender with her witty banter and flirtatious smile while I nursed my third glass of vodka, 'on the house'. I had to hand it to Francine, she knew how to work her magic, and I sure as hell wasn't complaining; it had been a crazy week, and I was ready to relax and unwind, that was until I noticed the dark pair of eyes that was trailing my every move. I wasn't sure at first, but after sneaking a few more glances in that direction, I was certain that the attractive man in the VIP was undeniably looking back at me.

The VIP was directly adjacent to the bar where we were sitting; the semi-private area was slightly elevated above the main floor, providing a clear view of the pulsating dance floor and DJ booth ahead; the velvet curtains were parted, so I had a good view of the booth's interior. He wasn't alone in there; there was a blonde sitting across from him. Now and then, I caught her fixing her already flawless hair and dusting her clothes, attempts at gaining his attention no doubt. I giggled softly, bringing the glass of vodka to my lips

"What are you looking at?" Francine broke into my reverie.

"Nothing." I quickly looked away from the booth feeling heat creep up my face.

Francine trailed my line of vision, "Uh huh... that's nothing." She looked back at me, "He's attractive, you should go talk to him."

"He's already got company," I said sliding my glass back to the bartender for a refill.

"You mean the "company" he's completely oblivious to?" Francine snorted downing her glass of whiskey.

"I don't know Francine... approaching him seems a little desperate."

"Oh, come on, grandma, let loose and live a little; with all the s**t you've got going on, you really could use a bit of distraction."

I sighed softly; she was right; I did have a lot going on, and that was putting it lightly. But even the thought of that wasn't enough to make me budge.

"Something bothering you, Signora?" the bartender asked with a thick Italian accent; he looked genuinely concerned.

I smiled sweetly at him, "Oh, it's nothing, I'm-"

Just then, a waitress walked up to the bar and whispered something to the barman, then walked away.

Next thing I knew, he slid a glass of sapphire martini in front of me. I was about to decline because I knew that single glass of alcohol could cover my rent for the next couple of months, I couldn't possibly accept it.

"Your drink has been paid for Signorina, courtesy of the gentleman in the booth." The bartender winked at me.

I heard Francine whistle softly, "That's one expensive glass of hooch. I think someone's rich, and I think that someone is interested in meeting you."

I looked back in the direction of the booth, and sure enough, Mr. Handsome raised his glass in a toast. I raised my glass, then brought it to my lips and took a sip. I closed my eyes, savoring the smooth, crisp fluid that traveled down my throat, leaving hints of juniper and coriander with a zesty undertone. I put down my glass biting my lip in contemplation.

"Look, if you don't want him, I can go." Francine shrugged.

That made me make up my mind. I finished my drink, got up on my four-inch heels and teetered my way through the thin crowd of swaying bodies toward the ladies bathroom.

Two ladies were touching up their make-up in front of the mirror when I walked in. I rested my hands on the countertop, peering into the mirror at my reflection.

Wide, expressive eyes that were a startlingly luminous shade of green, a narrow nose lightly sprinkled with freckles and pert lips that were now moist from the peach-colored lipgloss I'd dab on earlier. I didn't have much makeup on, just the basic eyeliner, a bit of powder, and gloss.

My round face was framed by my fiery red locks, which I'd held up in a tight bun that left tendrils of hair teasing my face and shoulders. I retrieved the makeup from my purse reapplied my gloss, and dabbed on a little bit of powder to mask the tiny beads of perspiration on my forehead. There was no need for a blush; the heat on my cheeks was sufficient, thanks to my extremely pale complexion. I replaced the contents of my purse trying to convince myself that I wasn't about to walk out there and make an absolute fool of myself. Washing my clammy hands in the sink, I applied some hand cream and straightened my black shotgun mini dress looking over my reflection one last time.

I walked out of the bathroom and with more confidence than I felt, I approached the VIP. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Francine give me a thumbs-up. I smiled and focused on putting one foot in front of the other; the last thing I needed was nailing an epic faceplant in front of everyone.

I reached the entrance of the booth which was warded off by thick velvet rope stanchions. A buff-looking bounce cut in front of me, "Excuse me ma'am, but I'm gonna have to see your pass."

I swallowed. So much for confidence.

I didn't own a VIP pass. I was prepared to make the walk of shame back to the bar and kill Francine for putting me up to this stupid plan when Mr. Handsome gestured to the bouncer to let me through. I heaved a sigh of relief, regaining my confidence, and climbed the short flight of stairs into the booth. The area was a lot wider than I'd expected, surrounded by tasteful decor, artistic wall panels, and plush velvet seating in deep, rich colors of midnight blue and crimson with gold accents. The cushions looked soft and inviting, and polished marble tables held premium buckets of champagne, whiskey decanters, and crystal glasses.

I sank into the seat next to my host but not before catching the acerbic look the blonde shot me. I seriously couldn't care less because at that moment, Mr. Handsome extended his hand, and a deep, rich voice drifted to my ears, "Good evening, Signora, you look absolutely stunning."

I tore my eyes away from the blonde taking his hand, "why, thank you, you don't look so bad yourse-..."

I was momentarily stunned into silence.

I had thought he was handsome before, but up close? Holy smokes, this sun-of-a-gun was gorgeous.

My gaze traced the chiseled perfection of his face—thick, straight brows, a narrow nose, and a firm, sensual mouth. His sharp jawline, dusted with just the right amount of stubble, only added an extra touch of charm to his flawless features. His tousled, dark hair looked irresistibly soft, I wanted to reach out and touch it, and those eyes—framed by thick lashes, impossibly dark and endlessly deep—sucked me in completely, there was even a sexy mole beneath the corner of his right eye.

"Breathe," He said.

"Huh?" I snapped back to reality, releasing a breath I wasn't even aware I was holding; I'd been so occupied with ogling this delectable male specimen that I'd forgotten to breathe, literally.

"I said, breathe." He said, a spark of amusement dancing in his eyes, despite the hint of concern. "Can’t have you passing out just yet... I have a lot of things planned." He grinned, revealing a flash of perfect, gleaming teeth that only made my pulse race faster.