Movie Merger (Bad Boys Billionaire Bachelors Club #2) (4 page)

After his explanation, I whole-heartedly dug into the files, trying to tackle at least the top third today. I didn’t know how long I had been working, but time was flying by. The next thing I knew it was 12:30 in the afternoon. I didn’t even know if I would have realized that, but Marshall brought me in a sandwich and a glass of Coke Classic—my favorite. He was also carrying his lunch and sat down to eat with me.
Hopefully this would be a better lunch than yesterday
, I thought, laughing at the thought of a repeat now.

“Thank you. I guess I am hungry now that I realized the time. There’s a lot to go through here.”

“You definitely have to eat. It’s important to keep a clear mind and a high energy level, don’t you think?”

“Absolutely,” I agreed. I did need to keep a clear mind and a high energy level. There was a lot to do.

“I know you have a lot to do in a short period of time, but I’m highly confident that if anyone can manage this it is you.”

“That’s nice to say. So, if you don’t mind my asking. How did you manage to inherit this studio?”

“It was a good companion piece to Foothill Studios, which I started in New York. As for the one that is the merger, that was an unexpected inheritance gift from my father, one that was lost in his estate for about eight years now. You see, I never knew my father existed until I was twenty years old. It seems that my mom had been an actress want-to-be before she was a druggie and didn’t tell my dad that she was pregnant with me. Kind of odd, you would have assumed she would have taken advantage of the money, to support her habit if not me. Nope, it was the one time when she apparently didn’t reach out for help. Rather ironic, don’t you think?”

“Definitely. That must have been tough,” I said, wanting to take back my heated comments from the day before in some way. Seeing this side of Marshall Kent before me, made me feel a bit more embarrassed about what I’d said to him yesterday. “I’m a survivor and that’s in the past,” he said. “My dad discovered that he had a son when I was twenty and had his attorney’s contact me first. Once they determined that I wasn’t completely crazy or troubled like my mom had been, he contacted me. Hugh Henley was a bold man, a real visionary. It was such a shame that I only got to know him for five years before he passed away. He never had any other children, but those who had thought they were going to get his estate were plenty mad when they discovered that the up and coming actor, Marshall Kent, was inheriting the entire thing.”

“A common story for estates unfortunately,” I added. People were always so greedy, thinking they were entitled to what was someone else’s. “You seem to manage your wealth very well.”

Marshall looked at me and had a half grin on his face. Okay, maybe that was an exaggeration because he was one eccentric guy for just barely being thirty years old.

“All I need to do is make sure you uncover everything and tell me everything before this merger goes through and we’ll be off to a wonderful start,” Marshall said.

“Sure. That’s why I’m here.”

With a mischievous grin on his face, Marshall got up and went to stand behind me. “Yes, that’s one reason why you are here,” he said. Before I knew what was happening I could feel his large firm hands gently kneading my shoulders, massaging them and making me instantly melt from their touch. It felt so good, I bit my tongue to keep from moaning. He kept going, reaching my shoulders and lower back too. I could get used to a massage like that.

“You’re very responsive to my touch,” Marshall said softly behind my ear. Yes, I was, but I couldn’t admit that. “You’re also very accommodating to my requests. It’s rare to find someone as beautiful, fiery, and responsive as you. It’s a very intoxicating blend of qualities, Ms. Rowland.”

I was holding my breath, enjoying the moment and in awe at the silky tone of his seductive words. My inner voice saved me, helping me regain my composure. “Um, Mr. Kent…”

“Marshall,” he said, interrupting me.

“Okay, Marshall. I think that I should…”

He interrupted again. “There you go, Ms. Rowland.”

“Becca.”

“There you go, Becca. I think I’d better leave you so you can finish your lunch and get back to work. Have a nice day.” Without another word or even a glance backward, he walked out of the room and that was it. I didn’t see him for the rest of the day. What a peculiar man; a peculiar man that I was longing to know more about on every level.

Chapter 6

I continued to work for the rest of the afternoon in complete silence. Nobody came back to this area unless Marshall was around. That much was clear. I’d wished there was some subtle music in the background or something to break the silence. For some reason it made it almost difficult to think. Plus, the lingering touch of Marshall’s hands on my neck and shoulders remained, making me think of things that were definitely not related to law. He was so complex and that made him wildly desirable. Naturally every alarm I have about trusting a guy like Marshall was going off as a result.

Finally, my work flow settled back in and I began to move along, accomplishing quite a bit and getting wrapped up in the complexities and factors of the movie business. I heard the front door open and looked up to see who’d come in. Marshall came around the corner with a large basket and an incredible smile on his face.

“I’ve gotten us some dinner for tonight. I hope you weren’t starving this afternoon,” he said.

“No, I’m fine. I’ve made a lot of progress…”

Marshall looked at me, giving me an impish smile as he cut me off. “I’m sure you have, but you must eat too.”

“Okay,” I said.
Since when you have been such an obedient person, just dropping something at the request of someone else?
I thought. The answer was easy though. I had never been around a man that was as intoxicating and intriguing as Marshall. In fact, I didn’t even know that they made such a man. Being around him seemed as dangerous as playing with dynamite by a fire.

I watched in fascination as Marshall pulled out two chicken dishes, loaded with steaming asparagus and a cream sauce, plus baby red potatoes along the side with rosemary and parmesan on them, instantly salivating at how fantastic they smelled. Accompanying them was a bottle of chilled white wine and some music that he turned on by pressing a few buttons on the console on the wall, making soft inviting music flow in the background. Wow—he knew how to make quite a presentation for a work dinner.

I was reading through an old movie contract while I ate, knowing that time was valuable. I’d have rather sat there and stared into those sapphire blue eyes that promised great sexual escapades, but unfortunately time was working against me.

As I read I didn’t quite realize that Marshall had been watching me so intently. I’d just assumed he was devouring his meal just like he had at the restaurant. I must have gotten particularly distracted by something in the contract because I suddenly felt the gentle press of a piece of chicken on a fork by my lips. I looked at Marshall and he was sitting there with the fork by my mouth, giving a lazy grin, and staring at me, waiting for me to open it up, which I did. He fed me a piece of meat and continued to feed me bits of food every minute or so.

The sweetness of the gesture of cutting up my food and feeding me caught me off guard. Marshall was indeed a confusing man. For being an actor, typically someone self-absorbed, and growing up in a tough environment he was extremely cultured. This moment was so different than the one at the restaurant. Everything about him had me mesmerized, and I was pretty sure it showed that he was very interested in me. The thought made my entire body want to shudder. It was something that I definitely wanted on a physical level, but was not ready to tackle on an emotional level. I was not a woman who could embrace that friends with benefits type of mentality, but heaven knows, in this case that would have been fantastic. I’d already had the visual of just how equipped he was to please a woman on every physical level.

“Becca, it looks like I’ll have to be going away to Vegas. The timing is horrible, having just hired you and knowing that I have to take care of this merger business quickly too. I can’t have you here alone working on it because nobody at the studio knows what’s going on.”

“You must be going for business so what choice do you have, but go?” I asked.
Great Becca, are
you trying to feel out whether he was going to Vegas for business or pleasure…with some woman. Real pathetic.

I was starting to think that Marshall was a mind reader because he looked at me, turning his head to one side, as if entertained by my thoughts. “There’s a convention there, an opportunity to pitch the movies that the studio is working on and also find new screenplays for us to work with. It’s also about promotions, connections, and all the other aspects of the industry that are essential to success. I was hoping that you wouldn’t be opposed to coming with me for the week. That way you could keep working along in secrecy and keep me informed on everything as you find out about it.”

I paused, thinking about spending a week in Vegas with Marshall, working closely with him. He’d just been so gentle and nurturing to me just now, as if I was a newborn infant. It was surprisingly inviting to me, though. I began to believe there was more to him than raw sex appeal, a dynamic face and body, and eccentricity.

“I’ll be ready to go. Just let me know the details, Marshall.”

“Pack for a week and be ready to leave tomorrow morning at 12 noon. We’ll take the jet over and get settled in.”

“Do you want me in before that?”

“No, that won’t be necessary. You’ll have your work cut out for you this upcoming week.”

“Okay,” I said. I looked at Marshall and tried to determine why the gentle man had gone away so abruptly and the dominate decision maker had returned. He could switch gears in a single breath.

“I’ll be ready.”

“Excellent. Well, I’d suggest that you call it a night. I’ll make sure all these documents are packed and on the jet to make their way to Vegas with us tomorrow. Don’t keep me waiting when I get to your apartment.”

“Would it be easier for me to meet you at the airport?” I asked.

“No, I’ll pick you up at your apartment,” Marshall said. He turned and walked out of the room.

As ordered, I packed up my things and headed to the apartment to pack and get ready to go. I wasn’t excited about calling my father and telling him I’d be gone to Vegas for a week with Marshall Kent, but I had to. After all, it was firm business. My dad, like most people, had heard of the infamous personality of Marshall and was hesitant that this account was sending the lamb, in this case me, to the slaughter. I knew my dad trusted me and that was the way dads acted, but I couldn’t help but heed his warning a little bit. If Marshall made a move toward something other than business what would I do? And would he do to me what he’d been doing to that actress that one day?
I hope so
, I thought. I couldn’t have had more confusing signals going on in my brain at the possibilities that came with the question of Marshall making a move on me. Time would tell, I guessed.

Chapter 7

I’d eaten an early lunch before Marshall had picked me up—actually his chauffeur had picked me up. Apparently Marshall had some last minute details to attend to so he’d sent someone for me, which disappointed me. I guessed I was expecting him to show the sensitive sweet Marshall side I saw yesterday. Not the all-business one. The minute we met at the airport and boarded Marshall’s jet the attendant brought out a gourmet plate of lunch to him, which he began to eat greedily. I couldn’t help noticing that he looked incredibly sexy when he put the grapes to his lips though before tossing it in his mouth and chewing it hungrily. Finally, three platefuls later, he was done and he looked up at me, showing that he was satisfied. He ate as sensually and as enthusiastically as he had sex, I thought.

“A good lunch is just as essential as breakfast to a productive day,” he said.

“That’s why I ate.”

“I cannot help but wonder if you ate enough. Oh well, if you’re not hungry, you’re not hungry. Please do not hesitate to let me know if you change your mind though. There’s plenty of food for you here.”

“I won’t. Thank you, Marshall.” I smiled at him, wondering how he could eat the way he did and keep in such great shape plus keep his white shirt immaculate the entire time.
He should eat naked,
I thought. My thoughts of late had no sort of decorum at all. It was like my inner voice was trying to break through and tell me that I needed to ravage this man regardless of what happened afterwards. It would be worth it.

“What’s on your mind?”

“You,” I blurted. I immediately blushed, knowing that sounded rather suggestive. “I mean…um…I was wondering where we’ll be staying?”

Marshall cocked his eyebrow, and the corners of his mouth crinkled into a small smile. “I’ve gotten us two rooms at the Venetian, one of my favorite places to stay in Vegas.”

“I’ve heard it’s beautiful, but I’ve never stayed there myself,” I replied.

“Well,” Marshall said, his blue eyes staring intensely into mine. “Get used to it. We’ll be there for a few days, and I want you to be comfortable.”

* * *

Moments later, I was standing just behind Marshall as he talked to the hotel clerk, which was a good thing because I didn’t want Marshall to see the expression I had on my face. The clerk informed him that they’d overbooked and the two rooms were no longer available, but they’d given him the VIP suite—one room, which we could share. Could I stay in the same room with him and not be tempted to explore more than legal documents? I wasn’t so sure.

Marshall turned to me, looking at me with a whimsical expression. “Ms. Rowland, will you be comfortable sharing quarters with me? The suite is rather spacious—no closed quarters.”

That sounded like a challenge.
“We’ll just make it work,” I replied. I wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of showing him that I was the least bit nervous, despite my stomach doing flips inside of me.