The Irresistible Billionaire

Chapter 8

Goosebumps? Oh, yes.

Blush? It wasn’t the makeup I put on but the heating up of my cheeks as my head echoed what just happened inside the elevator.

I felt my tongue go numb the whole helicopter ride until we got into the restaurant.

And the reason is sitting right in front of me, halfway done with his steak. Decently and slowly gnawing the meat while those eyes were glued on me.

I audibly swallowed and aided my drying throat with a swig of water.

What’s he doing? It’s either he’s high, or he’s trying to make me regret that I slapped his “ticket to paradise” to his face.

This isn’t fair!

“You never asked anyone to eat lunch with you. Not even your own mother,” I broke the thick silence between us as I gripped the utensils in my hands. “Is this you telling me that you’re dying?”

A smirk formed on his lips before he sucked in his inner cheek and poured all his attention on me. “Just in the mood to do so,” he simply answered. “Why? Would you rather join that nerd instead of having a romantic candlelit lunch with your hot boss?”

Johnny squinted his eyes at me, tilting his head to the side, waiting for an answer that would satisfy his ears.

Candlelit lunch? Well, that was new. But who was he surprising? Me? Out of all people in the world, I’m probably the only person who can get the works of his brain.

The A-hole rented the whole restaurant for the two of us, sitting adjacent to each other in the middle of this spacious place.

He mostly spends his money on his wants, there’s no question there. But what’s with this setup?

“What’s your play?” I answered a question, failing to keep my composure and letting curiosity kill the cat.

“My play?” he repeated, sounding like a mock as he let go of his utensils and wiped the sides of his mouth with a napkin—slow and sensual. The usual Johnny manner.

“I know your goal is to bed every single woman on Earth, but I’m off-limits. I’m your secretary, I’m ugly, and I’m weird.”

My own words kind of hurt, but that’s just the other side of my actress life. I’m beautiful in my own way. Everyone is. Just keep note not to stand next to Johnny. I’d definitely look like a used rug.

He frowned, pushing his head back as he made a face. “What the f**k are you talking about?” he chuckled.

He doesn’t believe I’m ugly and weird?

Something about it touched my heart. I was about to feel moved, but Johnny just had to break it before I could make it whole.

“Who says I want to f**k you?” he chortled, chugging his wine to the last drop after stepping on my ego, bursting my bubble, and slapping reality right on my face. Shoving embarrassment through my soul, making me want to just vanish in the air.

Why did he have to make me sound so assuming?

“You’re right about one thing though. You are my secretary,” he said, stating the only fact he heard.

What he didn’t know—I was actually the woman he devoured and couldn’t get enough of the other night.

“I was just bored, and I find it really entertaining whenever I tease you,” he explained to me, dropping the remaining percentage of my dignity to the bottom of the sea. “Stiff. In denial.”

“I can kick you in your gut if I want to,” I snarked at him, not wanting to hear another reason for my pride to bleed.

“Uh-huh?” he muttered as if that was a hard thing to believe. “Why kick it when you can just choke on it?” he grinned wide.

And yes, indeed, someone is definitely choking.

I coughed and wheezed when I swallowed wrong.

Quickly, Johnny aided me with a glass of water. A waiter came in fast, but he dismissed them and stood beside my chair.

I was out of air, and he took the rest of what’s left when I felt his hand caressing and patting my back softly.

“You are so obvious, Cassy babe,” he teased, traveling his hand from my back upward to my nape and started to make some motions that churned my stomach. “Can you breathe now? Or do you need me to perform CPR for you?”

Clearing my throat and regaining my color, I sat up straight to avoid his warm palm on my nape. “I’m fine now, sir.”

“I thought you’d ask for some service,” I heard him murmur before going back to his seat and stared once more. “I will have a meeting in Boston the day after tomorrow. I’ll need you there to keep notes for me.”

“Boston?” I asked, not oriented about that schedule.

“Mom made a friend at the event, and she said she’s interested in investing in our company. It was supposed to happen by Friday, but she rescheduled it sooner since we have to go to Seattle,,” he informed me, done with his lunch and refilled his glass.

My ears grew bigger when I heard his mother’s name. There was nothing straight whenever Tamara planned something, and it was always something that would make me show a constipated smile.

What does she plan this time?

“What’s it about?” I asked.

He shrugged. “She told me the reason, I listened to it, then forgot about it,” he replied in boredom, gesturing his hand going in his left ear and out his right. “That’s why I’ll need you there. You’re going to be my ears.”

Of course, he’ll need me in business matters. What’s the use of being his secretary if I’m not?

“But it was a woman,” he added, sounding so excited to meet his soon-to-be prey.

“Sure,” I muttered, preventing myself from voicing out my disappointment.

Now I get it. No matter where he and his women end up shaking the world, it wouldn’t matter to him.

I can’t even hear a single word from him that he enjoyed every second of his night with the mysterious lady—me.

He never mentioned a thing about the woman with a tattoo on her back, the one who kept the mystery, the one who had him coming multiple times.

Not at all.

I don’t even get what he peculiarly does in life. None of this is special. None of it is important to him.

This may be another reason for me to give this up.

But the money…

Screw this! Screw him!

I want out!

“Did you hear what I just said?” Johnny pulled me out from getting lost in space.

“I’m sorry, sir?” I asked, blinking twice and pulled my ears to listen.

Johnny stared at me for a second before shaking his head, muttering under his breath that slipped my hearing.

“When was the last time you clothed yourself normally?” he asked, offending me from different angles with his nonchalant face and voice.

“Uhm…” Well, on weekends, whenever I’m off work, whenever he couldn’t see me. But that answer stayed inside my head.

“Get up. The car’s waiting outside,” he ordered, standing up from his chair and nodding his head to the restaurant manager, who had been grinning from ear to ear since Johnny gave her a glance.

“Back to work, sir?” I stood up and took my bag with me.

“Just follow me,” he ordered and started dragging me out of the building like I’m his luggage—he doesn’t care if it bumps on corners or twists or turns.

“Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!” I complained when I stumbled in my heels and had to grip his arm, trying to keep up with his pace.

“What’s wrong with you?” he asked as if he doesn’t know he’s basically yanking me by the elbow.

“If you could just let go of me, I can walk by myself,” I spat at him.

He abruptly halted, causing me to crash into his back with a muffled “oof” and stumble on my own feet.

I lost my balance and was about to kiss the floor when his quick hands caught me by the waist and pulled me in like we were in some kind of romantic movie.

“Gotta watch those ankles,” he seductively uttered before leaning in and tossing me on his shoulder like I’m a sack of rice.

I yelped in surprise, my voice echoing through the whole lobby, collecting eyes from everyone.

“Johnny, put me down!” I yelled through gritted teeth, wiggling myself free—but what did I get? A spank on my butt. I gasped.

“Stop whining,” he chided and sashayed out of the lobby with me hanging on his shoulders.

“Johnny?” A man’s voice called, and Johnny greeted him back with a welcoming tone and even shook hands like I wasn’t even here.

“Spencer Lane, how’s business?” he asked, placing one hand on his hip while the other hugged my legs. “I heard you’re looking for someone to model your liquors.”

Spencer let out an awkward chuckle. “Yes, actually, I am. I was, in fact, looking for help. Perhaps you could help me find the perfect lady for the job?”

“Maybe my secretary would be a great fit,” he replied, causing me to panic. “Ain’t that right, Cassy babe?”

“Could you please put me down now?” I politely but irritably asked, and thankfully, he did.

I clutched my head, feeling how my blood rushed there and gravity started to pull me down.

“Your girlfriend?” Spencer asked, shifting his eyes from me to him.

I let out a sound of retch and shook my head, but Johnny wrapped his arm around my shoulders and stuck me to him.

“Sometimes,” Johnny proudly answered. “Just call me if you’re still looking for someone. I’d be happy to lend her to you.”

I gaped at them. “Excuse me—”

“A little makeover is needed, yes,” Spencer said, studying me from head to toe. “I’ll consider her as one of the choices.”

I hugged myself. His eyes were just like Johnny’s—luscious, scheming, and seemingly with X-ray vision, just in a different shade.

Him and his kind.

“Then you better ready your pocket,” Johnny informed him before pulling me with him once more and onto his car. “In,” he commanded, too gentlemanly to even open the door for me.

I was being sarcastic.

He just beeped his car, hopped into his side while I stood there, stunned. I felt like I was sold.

“What are you doing standing there?” he confronted me, rolling the window down.

“You’re not just a lazy-ass grown man, but also a huge asshole, do you know that?” I barked, almost imploding.

He propped his elbow on the window frame with that toasty attitude. “Don’t you think I’m aware of that?” he asked, nodding his head to the side. “Hop in.”

I shook my head. “Thanks for the offer, sir. But I can find my own ride. Thank you,” I said and started marching away from his car.

“I’ll pay you!” I heard him shout, but I kept walking and flipped him a middle finger. “Suit yourself.”

He can shove his money up his ass.

I struggled walking in my heels and had a near-death experience when Johnny sped off like he owned the street and didn’t even consider forcing me in his car like he was supposed to.

“Jerk,” I grumbled and fished for my wallet inside my bag, so I could hail a cab. “Oh, no. Oh, no!”

I don’t have my wallet with me!

I was about to lose hope, but then a car honked at me.

Johnny came back!

“Eh?” I muttered when I noticed it was a different car.

Who’s this? Am I getting kidnapped?

No!