Surrender to My Prodigal Billionaire

Chapter 5 - Unobtainable

Drake

Jordan flags me from the corner booth as I enter the bar. Monica's is our usual hang out. It is close enough that we can walk after work without dealing with hailing a taxi and the atmosphere is amazing. Soft lighting and gentle music

make for a relaxing ambiance that I crave after a day at work. The women who

frequent there are also top tier.

I slide in across from him and grab the glass of bourbon that he ordered for me. After dealing with little Miss Perfect this afternoon, it is needed.

"You look like hell," he chuckles as he tries to flag the waiter.

"I'm glad you find my misery amusing."

"I wouldn't say amused. Entertained would be a better analysis."

"It is the same f*****g thing!"

Jordan shakes his head and laughs again. "I didn't think it was that bad."

It is easy for him to say. He wasn't the one with a mouthy and opinionated assistant. I thought she would be able to keep herself under control during the meeting. There for the sole purpose of listening and taking notes of things that would need to be handled to complete the merger. But I was hoping for too much. I damn near lost the deal with all her questions while we were going over

the smaller details. Was the deal in the best interest of the other company? No. But it was better than what they would have if their company went under soon. And it would if they didn't agree to our terms. Not because of anything we would do, but because they were facing financial downfall with the business practices they had in place. We are helping them. That's why we have the upper

hand in the wording of the contract.

"She almost destroyed us in there. How is that not that bad?" I scoff.

Jordan looks at me in contemplation. "Nicolette was the star today. The questions she asked were what pushed them to sign. It made it seem they had an ally in the company. You should have asked her out for celebratory drinks with us."

That wouldn't have ended well. She made her opinion of me very clear this afternoon when we met. I'm very aware that my reputation precedes me most places I go, but that isn't the usual welcome I get when a woman meets me. More often than

not, they are all too eager to speak to me. Most know that there is nothing more than one night, while others believe that they will be the one to change me. I hate to tell them, but that isn't even an option. I have no interest in

being tied down to just one person.

Begrudgingly, I don’t argue. While that may be the case, it wasn’t her place to take over. I was the one handling it. She hadn’t even been there a full day and was acting like she had worked for the company for years.

At first glance, I almost assumed she was a test from my father and Ellen. She was gorgeous and just my usual type - appearance wise. But now, I know that I wasn’t that lucky. A test like that I could pass. No. Ellen hired her to butt heads with me. She was well aware of my stubborn streak, and she found my match. But it wouldn’t work. I would break Nicolette’s strong will and not fire her like I’m sure they were expecting. Hell, it could even prove to be fun.

“The deal went through. That’s all that matters now. How about we head out of town this weekend and really celebrate?” I question, trying to steer the conversation away from anything Nicolette related.

“Where?” Jordan questions.

Shrugging, I think of all the possibilities. I couldn’t care less, but I know I need to keep him interested. “The lake house? We could take the boat out. You know there are plenty of friendly faces out there too.”

Jordan catches the meaning of my words and quickly shakes his head. “I will head out there with you, but I will ask Molly if she wants to come along. She’d love it.”

Searching my brain for who the hell he may be talking about, I come up empty-handed. Molly? He had been talking about getting a pet…

“Jesus, Drake,” he huffs as he takes in my confused expression. “Molly. The girl from the bar.”

Rolling my eyes, I do my best not to tell him what I really think about the whole situation. I know him better than I know myself. This fling will bore him, and it will end badly. However, I also know him well enough that if I tell him as much, he won’t listen. It is better to just let it play out than get him pissed off.

We discuss the plans for the weekend, and I make a mental note to have Nicolette reschedule tomorrow afternoon for me so we can get an early start. It is almost a three-hour drive, and I don’t want to do most of it in the dark.

Just like that, my mind is back on the big emerald eyes and pouty lips. I have to hand it to Ellen. If dad hadn’t given me the ultimatum, I probably would have Nicolette under me as we speak. Well, if she would have let me. She doesn’t appear to be the president of my fan club. Maybe I had slept with her already and that is the cause for her distaste. Shaking my head, I dismiss that notion right away. Something deep in my gut tells me that I would have remembered her. The fire and grit in her would be hard to forget. That easily translates to a hot f**k.

The next morning goes much smoother than the previous one. I had already told Nicolette what I expect in the morning, so there was no need to stop at the coffee shop again.

Getting to my office, Nicolette isn’t at her desk, but my office door is open, and I see the steaming cup on my desk next to a small paper bag. At least she can listen to some things.

Hanging my coat, I make my way to my chair and relax back as she comes walking in the main door. She stops in her tracks and breaks eye contact.

“Sorry to bother you. I just forgot your planner here. I will be back after lunch.”

Furrowing my eyebrows, I pin her with a stare. “Do you have somewhere more pressing to be?”

Jerking her head to me, I see her bite her lip. I noticed the same thing several times yesterday. It is sexy as hell, but it didn’t take long to realize she wasn’t doing it to seduce me. If I was right, she was biting back a nasty retort.

“I’m with Ellen until lunch today and all next week.” The fake smile that forms on her face is almost comical paired with the murderous glint in her eyes.

Shit! I forgot about that. Here I was dreading seeing her all day, but I wouldn’t have to since I was cutting out at lunch. Feeling my heart fall a bit, I didn’t know why. This is what I wanted. To be free of her sass as much as possible so I didn’t blow up. But here I sat, disappointed a bit in the fact that this would be our only interaction today.

“That reminds me. I need you to cancel my afternoon. I will be leaving at lunch.” I reply dismissively and deflate a bit more when that draws a real smile from her. What the hell is wrong with me?

“I will do that.” She quickly turns her head as Jordan enters the room. “Good morning, Mr. Hughes.”

“What did I tell you?” Jordan teasingly scolds. “It is Jordan, or I will call you Miss Andrews and I will make it creepy.”

Her angelic giggle floats over me like a light breeze and I can’t help but clench my fists. How the hell is she so laid back around Jordan but can’t stand being in the same room with me? We are one of the same.

“Did you need something, Jordan?” I grit out, breaking up their little flirt fest.

He gives me a peculiar look before turning back to Nicolette and shrugging.

“Wanted to make sure we were still on for leaving early. I am going to head home at noon and the finish packing before I go pick up Molly. We will be ready to hit the road about one. I’ll just park at your place this weekend.”

Suppressing the urge to tell him there is no way I’m driving him and his lady friend up to the lake, I just nod.

Nicolette clears her throat before looking at me. “I will get your afternoon taken care of and I hope you both have a wonderful weekend.” She was back into her customer service persona when speaking to me and it f*****g irritated me to no end.

As she makes her way towards the door, something comes over me and I can’t stop the words as they fall from my lips. “Nicolette, I guess I didn’t make myself clear. We are heading out of town for the weekend to celebrate yesterday. You are expected to be there.”

Shock falls over both of their faces and I take the moment to mentally celebrate, not even considering the consequences of my actions.

“I-I am expected to be there?” her cheeks flush as the rage takes its place back in her gaze.

“Did I stutter? This is about yesterday, which I was told you were an intricate part of. We will also need to go over more documents and you are my assistant.”

Watching her swallow, I start doubting why I felt the need to bring her along. There was no chance of her letting me within three feet of her, so it wasn’t like I could slip up. But there was no reason for her to come. This was supposed to be a trip to get away and not think about the hell she had rained down in my life in just a short time. Here I was demanding she come along.

After a moment, she squared her shoulders as if she had just accepted a great challenge. “I will need some time to arrange some things. There is no way I can be ready by one.”

Waving my hand, I nod. “Then we will push it back to two. You can leave after lunch. I will pick you up. Just text me the address.”

I could almost feel the hot air rushing out of her nostrils, but she just gave a curt nod and stomped out of the room.

“What the f**k was that all about?” Jordan glanced at her retreating figure before piquing a curious brow at me.

I was just as lost as he was when it came to my motive. All I knew was that this might prove to be the worst mistake of my life.