The Billionaire's Wife (A Steamy BWWM Marriage of Convenience Romance Novel) (5 page)

Maybe I’d
just take a walk in the park at the end of the street and try to forget the
world.

I dropped the
little black usb stick to the floor and crushed it beneath the heel of my shoe.

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Chapter 6

Kiona

The rest of my day was pretty
surreal. Had any of that just happened? Really?

Fifteen
million. Half up front! He said yes and he didn’t even blink! The biggest
payment I’d ever seen was six thousand for catching the owner of a gym cheating
on his wife. Sure, Technolust Analytics was going to pay me twenty thousand for
getting that USB full of corporate secrets out of here, but
that
was small-time. I made a mental
note to send my contact there a message and let them know I’d failed at the
task. It might make it harder to get another gig… You don’t look for someone
like me on craigslist or in your local yellowpages. Corporate espionage is a
word-of-mouth kind of business. Of course, being out of work is a little easier
to swallow when you’ve got millions of dollars in the bank.

And all for
some pretend marriage to a freaking billionaire? Whatever Cole had gotten
himself into, it must be worth one hell of a lot more than fifteen million,
that much was certain. My mind swam with the possibilities.

I tried to
push the bizarre lunch with my billionaire boss out of the way to focus on my
job. I really did. But the rest of my work shift passed excruciatingly slowly,
and every glance up at the clock was another bitter reminder that I cannot
manipulate time with my awesome brain.
 

Luckily, some
last minute busy work fell into my lap around 3PM, and I happily submersed
myself into designing the foundations of a promotional campaign. This was more
of Tanya’s shtick – after all, she
was
the promotions manager of the department. Unfortunately, she was out with
her sick kid for the day, but I knew that I could get by without the specifics.
It’s what I do…

The work was
a little more than I could chew, originally. I had been under the impression
that I could tally up the budgets, slap a barebones campaign together, and call
that
done
. That’s before I realized
that the offices I needed to reach were closing fast.

I privately
made the calls I needed, throwing myself on the mercy of the poor soul who
picked up, studied some of Tanya’s notes from pre-existing work. In the end, I
barely scrapped the work together in accessible form with ten minutes to spare.

When I
stepped out onto the roof, the helipad absolutely
dominated
the area. The wind whipped at my clothes from the
altitude as I staggered towards the pilot, who waved me over with a delighted
grin. I could see myself in his sunglasses as I crossed the brief distance.

“It’s your
lucky day, Miss Walker!” The pilot shouted towards me, taking me by the
shoulder. “My name’s Patrick, and I’ll be your captain on this flight! Have you
ever been in the air before?”

I looked at
him oddly as he helped me up into the cabin. “I’ve flown coach a few times,
when I was a kid! Not since then, though!”

Patrick
leaned in, pulling a headset into my lap and indicating for me to buckle up. He
gave a brisk pair of tugs to the buckle, switched my headset on, and gave me
the thumbs-up.

“Forget
everything you know about that,” he chuckled. I could hear him clearly against
my ear.

“That good?”
I asked, staring him in the shades.

“Almost
nothing like it.”

The door
closed, and he climbed into the cockpit. Running his checklist, he started
talking to himself as I glanced out the window. The roof access door was a
small distance away…I could still call to the pilot over the headset and change
my mind.

Truth be
told, I had only partially taken Cole Andrews seriously. But now that I was
seated in his private helicopter, ready to depart for his home, I was suddenly
aware that this was
actually happening.

My breath
caught in my throat as the blade above us began to twirl above. The walls were
clearly soundproofed as well s they could be – the growing throttle
remained distant, and the helicopter barely moved an inch.

“All set back
there?”

Now or never, Key.

“Let’s do
this!”

“Finally!” He
laughed jovially into the mike. “If only I could convince Mr. Andrews to have
that level of enthusiasm…better hold onto something! Bit on the windy side!”

Immediately,
we lifted off, pulling straight forward off of the building. I gazed out the
window in horror as the roof disappeared out of sight, and we began to slowly
ascend.

“Wait, why
didn’t we go straight up? It’s always straight up in the movies!”

“Fuel
conservation and noise deterrence!” He chuckled. “Don’t worry, I spend every
day transporting the token billionaire of this city around in this little
hummingbird! You’re safe with me.”

“That’s…reassuring,
actually,” I agreed. “Thanks.”

“No problem.
Enjoy the view!”

That’s
exactly what I did.

The city
sprawled below as I listened to Patrick coordinate with local aerospace and the
airport control tower. We weaved around a building or two as the craft
ascended. After a few minutes, only the very tallest towers of the metropolis
could reach our height. Everything reached out far below, just barely
recognizable.

“Is it far?”
I asked the pilot.

“Not in this,
it’s not. Not far at all. Of course, this puppy can hit two hundred miles an
hour, so
far
isn’t exactly the same
thing up here…”

I nodded to
myself, entranced by the view again.

Not ten
minutes later, we were encircling a small manor, situated atop a high-rise
building. In front of it sprawled a large, lush garden with exquisite
landscaping. I could see a small pool in the back, part of a balcony just the
right size for a modestly large party.

“I’ve heard
of a penthouse apartment, but… He lives in a pent…
House?
”

“Yeah, that’s
about what I said too…”

We descended
on the helipad. Patrick removed the headset and released me from the cabin, and
I climbed out onto the pavement to see the home of the
Runaway Tycoon
for the first time.

Outside of
the walkways and this helipad, I was surrounded by a large, lush garden with
accent trees and a blend of aromas that invigorated my very soul. It stretched
to occupy all of the rooftop space in sight, giving way only to the manor
itself. You could almost forget you were on top of a skyscraper, if it wasn’t
for the stomach-dropping views in every direction.

The penthouse
was a stunning modern marvel, scraping the sky in luxurious fashion.
 
Choosing an elegant, futuristic design,
the architect had gone all out – half polished, white stone, half glass,
and all class. With the sun setting in the distance, the lights were already
on, giving the entire place a romantic ambiance that made my knees wobble.

The rotors
sped up behind me, and I turned on the spot to see the helicopter begin its
ascent. As the sunlight gleamed against the window, I barely saw Patrick
waving, and I waved back with slight indignation.

What the hell do I do now? I don’t see Cole
anywhere…

The way I saw
it, I had two options:

1.
  
Fling myself
from the rooftop.

2.
  
Knock on the guy’s
stupid sexy door.

I almost
laughed until some wind pulled at my dress and briefly terrified me. Squaring
my shoulders, I strolled around the fountain in front, made my way up the
stairs, and rang the doorbell.

A few seconds
later of shuffling from the other side, and the door squeezed open. Cole
Andrews stood in relaxed attire, a wide grin spreading across his face.

“Ever been in
a billionaire’s home?”

“…Can’t say
that I have,” I answered meekly.

Cole grinned.
“First time for everything. Come inside.”

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Chapter 7

Cole

I welcomed Kiona Walker into my home,
and she did her best to hide how absolutely out of her element that she was.
For a few seconds, her wide eyes darted around everywhere, taking in the
perceived opulence of the penthouse. As she composed herself, I smiled and took
it in stride, inviting her through the foyer and for a grand tour of the place.

It occurred
to me as I led Kiona through the penthouse that the only other employee of mine
who had been here was my executive assistant, Kylie.

For a brief
moment as the realization hit me, I reconsidered the entire thing. It was
possible that I was perhaps making a huge mistake with this entire ridiculous
plan. Alphonse was likely to see through the entire charade.

But under my
deceptively aloof eye, I noticed something interesting. When I had first greeted
Kiona at the door, it was the thinnest veneer of restraint that kept her from
collapsing onto the floor. However, as we moved further into my home, through a
hallway here and a few chambers there, she grew
visibly
comfortable with her surroundings. With a glance, I noticed
that her eyes were quickly scanning every last piece of expensive decorum
around, every tapestry and painting, building up an internal database of…
my belongings?

No, that
wasn’t right, she wasn’t objectifying my worth or focusing on the details. It
was apparent that she was
studying
the
general level of affluence, and adapting to suit it. Yes, she was walking
straighter now; her chin lifted higher and her gaze grew colder.

I suppose I shouldn’t be too surprised by now.

“Can I offer
you anything to drink, Kio–” I paused, correcting myself, “I mean, Key?”

“I’ll take
some water, if you’d please,” she smiled warmly with radiant, inviting eyes.

“How about
some wine?”

Something
changed in her eyes. “Red, if you’d be so kind.”

I nodded,
then stepped a few rooms over to the kitchen. Featuring an ultraviolet-proof
glass door with black interior and royal purple LED lighting, my premium,
stainless steel wine cooler stood at the ready for just this occasion. Opening
the door, I slid out one of the ten shelves of bottles, selecting a vintage
pinot noir, then carefully pouring two glasses before setting everything back.

When I
strolled back towards the hall where I’d left her, Kiona was nowhere in sight.
A glance through the staggered glass panes showed me that she had excused
herself outside, admiring the view from across the rooftop. Gripping both wine glasses
between my deft fingers, I let myself out through the nearby door, walking
across the grass towards her.

My guest was
standing against the concrete lip that surrounded this outer area, leaning with
her forearms down against the surface. The wind whipped at her hair, the
beautiful sunset only making her look more beautiful than before. I paused,
hesitant to disturb her as she enjoyed what must have been an exhilarating view
for her.

I began to
approach, before she could notice me staring. Pushing myself back a couple of
years, I tried to remember what it was like to see this view for the first time
– long before company buyouts and international corporate flights. I had
never had the time to dwell on the luxuries afforded my lifestyle now. I’d
spent maybe a few weeks total out of the last several months, constantly wining
and dining potential clients, going on tours of existing clients, and so on.
Despite my introversion, I believed in applying the personal touch – I
wasn’t averse to making the right appearances. My reputation for being a mere
flight away in the face of catastrophe had rewarded me handsomely, along with
distinct skills and razor-sharp intuition.

That
intuition was what led me to even consider this entire, stupid idea, but now
that I saw my next business partner admiring the urban landscape from my empty,
gilded tower top…I couldn’t help but feel that perhaps I had missed something
crucial all along.

“Your wine,
mademoiselle,” I offered politely.

“Why, thank
you,” she replied, turning her gaze and gratefully taking her glass from my
fingers. While she waved the glass beneath her nostrils, her eyebrows arched
and a small, seductive smile slipped effortlessly across her lips. Closing her
eyes, she sipped from the glass, savoring the taste before swallowing.

I joined her,
briefly swirling my own glass before pressing the lip against my own.

“How do you
find it?” I asked a moment later, curious to see how deeply her constant
transformation extended.

“Delightful,”
she answered modestly.

“Good.” Kiona
didn’t gush, nor did she show any but the slightest inclination that she wasn’t
used to this kind of treatment or that potency of wine. She was controlled,
constrained, and careful with her answer.

“How do you
find the view?”

Kiona glanced
back over her shoulder, exposing her delicious mocha neck for a moment as she
scanned the horizon. “Excluding your private little palace, this is the most
incredible sight I’ve ever seen.”

An answer not
meant to impress, but to show her gratitude. I could accept this.

“I’m glad you
appreciate it.”

“Do you?” She
asked suddenly, turning back to me.

“I am…I mean,
of course I do.”

Curse this woman’s perception.

 
Kiona gave me a sideways glance. “Nice
little castle you have up here.” Her lips curled into a soft, confident smile.
“Perhaps we should get down to me moving in.”

“Oh, you are…
definitely
not moving in,” I chuckled.

“I’ve heard
of separate bedrooms, but separate
altitudes?
Oof,” she chuckled. “That’s going to be a tough one to sell to your people.”

“You let me
worry about that,” I replied. “We should probably discuss the nature of this
arrangement, though…after all, you’re not
actually
going to be my wife.”

“Am I not?”
She tilted her head.

“No…you are
going to sign a document first.”

“Signing a
document for a relationship with a billionaire? I’ve heard of
that
kind of thing, mister. I’m not
really a
whips and chains
sort of
woman.”

I didn’t get
the reference, but I smiled politely anyway. “It’s a legally-binding document
annulling the marriage in advance. It is a page that legally restores both of
us to our present state, as if it had never happened.”

“You just
don’t want me holding out on the divorce and then taking half your money,” she
said with a smile.

“If I thought
you were going to stab me in the back, I’d have never discussed this with you
in the first place. Trust me, Key, I don’t plan on spending my time checking
every glass of wine I drink for poison…”

We shared a
laugh.
It feels good to laugh this often
.

“So, tell me
exactly
how that’s legal,” Kiona segued.
“I mean, what judge is going to honor that?”

“My judge,” I
answered.

“Your
judge
?” Her eyes narrowed.

“The judge
who helped draft up the document up for me. With significant input from my
legal team, that is.”

“This is
so
very wrong all around. You realize
you’re basically
tricking
someone
into buying your company with a fake bride and a silly contract…written by a
judge in your back pocket…that’s supposed to magically undo the marriage when
you’re ready...”

I grinned,
letting a glint of mischievous enter my eyes. “Well, when you put it that way,
you do make me sound bad.”

“You’re the
worst…”

We smiled,
sipping our wine.

“…But for the
right reasons, maybe.”

“What’s
that?” I was curious about the remark.

Kiona averted
her gaze, staring out across the open sky. “I just don’t see you doing
something like this unless it was really important, you know? To be so
desperate that you’ll pull out all the stops to make this deal go through…it
doesn’t line up at all with your history. You’ve trail-blazed your company with
a clear vision. Maybe I was just trying to get inside for the wrong reasons,
but I worked there and I saw it first-hand. You’re not struggling. In fact,
things at your company are fantastic…it just doesn’t make any sense to stoop
down to this when you’re firmly in your prime. The world’s yours, Cole.”

Her eyes
blinked onto me again. The ferocity was back from before – that caged
animal inside her that glared out through her gaze.

“So I guess
what I’m asking is… Why? Why do all of this?”

I took a deep
breath, studying her carefully. That sudden power in her eyes surprised and
intrigued me, but it didn’t budge me. There wasn’t a force on Hell or Earth
that intimidated me anymore, including Kiona Walker.

“I have to
keep that close to my chest for now,” I told her. “All you need to know is that
there is only a limited window for this to happen. I am meeting with the buyer in
three weeks. At that point, I will have to present the woman I’ve married.”

 
“Who is this guy, anyway?”

“A
traditional man.”

Kiona
narrowed her eyes again. “Why won’t you tell me?”

“The less you
know, the better.”

“That’s how
it’s gonna be?” She smiled.

I returned
with a smirk. “For now, yes.”

Kiona downed
the rest of her wine in a single breath, setting the glass aside. “Alright
then. Let me see the damned piece of paper.”