My beautiful billionaire player

CHAPTER 6

She glances upward at the hotel before turning her attention back to me. “Seriously? You checked me into a hotel, didn't you?"

I can tell by the look on her face that she is angry, but I can understand why she might be making hasty judgments. "The conference room at the hotel was the location of the meeting with my sales team. It occurred to me that we could eat at Ash's place. It's the restaurant in the hotel. It's been recommended to me as the best in town."

Her cheeks were pink. "I truly apologize."

"Don't even bother giving that a second thought."

She reaches out and grabs the arm I offered. "Are you sure you aren't from Victoria?"

“No.” That is the extent of my response, and she makes no further demands.

I give her the opportunity to go ahead of me through the revolving door and into the lobby of the building. "Are you going to be staying here for a while?"

“No. I am staying at a country estate for the next few days."

“Oh.”

I take her all the way to the back of the restaurant where we are seated at our table. When she sits down, I pull out her chair and slide it under her, so it's out of the way. "Are you hungry?"

When she smiles, I can't help but wonder what mysteries lie concealed behind those beautiful eyes. “Very. I don't consider myself to be one of those girls who get nervous about eating in front of a date. I hope that isn't a problem for you."

"Not in the least."

As our server approaches to take our drink order, she remains hushed as she peruses the wine list in front of her. "I'll have a Sauvignon Blanc."

She takes her gaze off the list for a moment. "I have absolutely no idea how to place a wine order. I'll take exactly what you're having, please."

"Two Sauvignon Blancs please."

She is blocking my view of her face with the menu that she is holding in front of her. She is preparing for it as if there were going to be a test later. "I'm not sure what it is that I want. Everything seems to be in order."

"My colleague in the business world suggested trying any kind of seafood."

After another brief pause, she sets the menu down on the table. "Seafood sounds like a tasty option. I'd like to order the stuffed prawns, please."

Following the delivery of the wine and the taking of our order, we proceed with our unremarkable and routine conversation. How did the vintages that your friend brought last night turn out?

"I was not surprised by Mike's performance because I did not expect anything less. The production of wine is a family enterprise."

I believe the waitress mentioned something to that effect. I think she mentioned that he was from the state of California. "Yes, I do comprehend that." When something provides your living, you care about it much more than when it does not.

"You make it sound like you have personal experience with that." She has a keen intellect.

"I do." In addition to that, I also have a job in the winemaking industry. It's only partially true because I didn't tell her that I own numerous wineries all over South Canada and New Zealand, but it's still a lie.

When she does, I can see the light bulb go off in her head. "I see, and that explains why I saw you at the vintage dinner the other night."

“Yes. Because my employer funded money for the wine program, he has been given an invitation to the event without having to do anything else. As a representative in his stead, I was the one who was sent."

When we are done eating, there is a noticeable shift in the atmosphere of our conversation, and we talk about nothing in particular. "Even though we've been having dinner together for the past hour, you still haven't introduced yourself or given me your name. Perhaps it is more common in Canada, but in the place, I'm from, that is one of the first things you share with a new acquaintance. Is there a particular reason why you have chosen not to tell me?"

I am intrigued by the prospect of picking her brain and listening to her perspective on the matter. "What makes you think that might be the case?"

As she examines my features, I become aware of the peculiar color of her eyes for the first time. I had the impression that they were brown, but upon closer inspection, I see that I was only partially correct. They are less dense and more akin to caramel than actual chocolate. In addition, her tresses are not a uniform brown color; rather, they feature honey-colored streaks throughout.

Her back stiffens. "If I had to guess, I'd say you're married with 2-5 kids and a wife waiting for you at home."

Because I am so engrossed in observing the windows to her soul, I almost forget that she asked me a question. I am aware that there is something there; however, I am unable to identify what it is.

I raise my left hand, which does not contain a wedding band, and point to the spot where it would be if I did have one. The idea that my partner and I are married makes me laugh because it's so far from the reality of the situation. "I have no wife and no children."

It does not appear as though she is interested in what I have to offer as she reclines further in her chair. The absence of a wedding band is insufficient evidence to conclude anything.

The fact that I am married has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that I am private.

As soon as our server comes back to clear our plates, we all remain silent until he has left the room. "What is the reason for your secrecy?"

"I don't know of a more satisfactory explanation; it's just the way I am."

She wears a frown. "Wow, I had no idea. That clarifies everything."

I'm getting myself into some pretty hot water here. This girl stands out from the others because of her unique qualities. She will flee if I do not handle her in the appropriate manner. This much is certain to me. It looks like we'll both be in Victoria for the next three months, and that's great news! It would mean a lot to me if we could catch up while we're in town.

Would you mind telling me your name for the last time? She is laughing, but she has no idea that keeping each others real names a secret is my most important requirement for dating.

Hell! She's managed to throw me off my game and make me feel as though I've never experienced this situation before.

Before I begin, I pause for a moment to draw a breath and clear my thoughts. "My life is complicated for some reasons that I will not go into. When it comes to dating, I want things to be as easy and undemanding as possible. You wouldn't know my real name because disclosing my identity would make the situation more difficult."

"You're not joking."

I am unable to interpret her response. I have no idea whether she is on board with this or completely freaking out about it. "When the next three months have passed, so will our time here. You and I will both eventually move on from this. You won't be able to get in touch with me in any way because you won't know my name or have any other identifying information about me. Ever.”

This is a face I can read, and it's brimming with bewilderment. "Why is that?"

I could give you reasons, but I'm not going to do that. "Because I require things to be done this way."

The angry expression that is plastered across her face makes it abundantly clear that she is irate. "If there was ever a time that you did not want to hear from me again, Victor, that would not be a problem on my end."

I can't help but c***k a grin because she has no idea that she just called me by my real name. "You would extend the same courtesy, wouldn't you? You are under no obligation to use your real name when speaking to me, and the amount of personal information that you share with me is entirely up to you."

She rests her elbows on the table and leans in toward the space in front of her. "You are completely and utterly insane, but you are aware of this, aren't you?"

Because I can feel that she is getting away from me, I have no choice but to resort to my very last resort. "I have accumulated a great deal of wealth. The next three months that we spend together are going to be some of the most memorable of your life. You could never find anything that could compare to the time you spend with me.

She relaxes and lets out a guffaw. At least you don't have an inflated sense of self-importance.

It wasn't over yet for me. I still had an ace up my sleeve for this situation. I'd make all of your wildest dreams come true.

After licking her lips, she draws the lower one into her mouth and then licks it again. Oh my God, if only I could help her in that way! "You want me to have s****l relations with you?"

She is beginning to understand now. "Yes, I think that would be wonderful."

"It seems like you could use an escort or a p********e, but I'm neither of those things," she said.

Oh, s**t. I have completely and utterly messed up now.

I try to reassure her by reaching for her hand. "I wasn't implying that you were either. Our relationship would consist of more than just having s****l encounters. There is going to be a great deal more to it than that."

She quickly pulls her hand away from me. "I don't sleep with strangers, and it seems as though that's what you'd continue to be if I asked you something as fundamental as your name."

I am forced to pull back my hand. You make a very valid point, but things wouldn't work out like that. Each of us would learn about the other in our own special way.

"To hell with this piece of garbage. I'm out of this place!" She disengages her body from the table and moves away. "Would you kindly call your driver and have him pick me up and take me home?"

Excellent work, Victor! Way to go.

I reach into my pocket, take out my phone, and give Michael a call. "Let's move to the lobby of the hotel now."

I watch her face as she refuses to look at me while she continues to stare off into the distance. I feel bad that we weren't able to spend more time together. I really wish I could undo everything and start over with a fresh approach.

"He'll be there in just a few moments. I would ask that you kindly allow me to walk you out." As I stand up to walk her toward the exit, she neither agrees nor objects to what I am doing.

As we pass through the revolving doors, the car is waiting for us at the curb. Before she can get inside, her amber eyes meet mine as I open the back passenger door for her. "Whatever you are, I hope you have a wonderful life."

Wow, so that's the end of it.

As she does so, I stand here with my hand on the door, ready to close it behind her. I don't want to release her in such a vulnerable state. I have to fight the urge to climb into the backseat with her, but I'm well aware that it won't accomplish anything. I have insulted her, and she has made it abundantly clear that she will not accept the proposition that I have presented. However, I don't want this to be the last time I see her, so I put an end to my internal debate and got into the car.

She observes me with eyes that are wary and narrowed down. "What exactly are you up to?"

I am about to shut the door. "I'll be in the car with you."

She moves away from me as quickly and quietly as she can. "Since my response is negative, I don't see the point in continuing."

Great question. "I can't say for sure."

As Michael drives us to the location where she will be staying, we are forced to maintain an awkward silence. I rack my brain in an effort to come up with an alternative strategy, but I come up empty every time.

After the car has come to a stop, Michael will open the door so that she can exit. I am unable to resist the urge to make one more appeal as I walk alongside her toward the front door of the apartment complex. I follow her. "Would you kindly give this some thought and take another look at my proposal?"

She comes to a complete and utter halt. "You arrogant jackass! You rode along with me so that you could make an attempt to convince me to go along with this absolutely insane plan of yours."

I'm not sure why I think I have the right to touch her or why I think she'd let me, but I reach out and put my finger on her lips anyway. “Shh. Don't say no again right now. Wait until you've had some time to consider it before responding. This is a novel concept, and after giving it some more consideration, you might come to a different conclusion regarding how you feel about it."

As I remember the way she sucked it, I trace the path of my thumb across her bottom lip and gently rub it. If you accept, you will spend the next three months having the most fun you've ever had in your life.