The Wager: A Billionaire Romance (8 page)

"Don't even try to talk me out of it, you two," I said. "I'll be back in an hour."

I walked out of the door smiling to myself. Those two were like two yentas sometimes, but I knew they only wanted the best for me. Checking my watch, I hurried my steps towards the subway station entrance one block away. I was supposed to meet Mel in 20 minutes for lunch.

Since the bistro wasn't far from Roman's offices I decided I would drop it off on the way. I had no idea if he was even going to be in, or if he ever even worked from his building. Truthfully, I probably couldn't even get past the security, but at least I could leave it with his secretary or someone who could get it to him. There was no way I felt comfortable leaving such a valuable item in the hands of a random delivery person.

I suppose I could have waited until I saw him again on Monday night, but I was getting nervous palpitations just having those books in my possession. I'd never held something so valuable before and the threat of losing it or having it stolen terrified me.

The trek to his office didn't take much time at all and even though I wasn't able to leave it with him personally, the woman at the front desk on the ground floor assured me she'd get it to his secretary. I made sure to let her know it was a valuable item and Mr. Conrad was expecting it, so she knew the gravity of the situation. She gave me an insincere smile and assured me he'd get it. I think she just wanted to get rid of me and thought I was some crazy stalker, but there was nothing more I could do.

I left the building and walked down two blocks to the restaurant. Mel was already waiting for me at a table when I showed up. She smiled brightly at me and stood up as I walked over.

"You're looking good," I said looking her over.

"Thanks, Lily. You too!" she beamed.

"Seriously though, something's different about you," I said studying her closer. "Did you get your teeth whitened or something?"

"No, I'm just happy," she said.

I raised my brows at her in enquiry. "Let me guess. Does this happen to have anything to do with a certain Chad you met last weekend?"

A huge grin split Mel's face before she answered. "Might have."

"All right, let's hear it," I said.

"Oh Lily, he's so amazing. We've been pretty much inseparable since Saturday. He actually calls when he says he will and he's honest and kind, and not to mention handsome," she gushed. "Even Mother likes him."

"Wow, he sounds like a paragon," I said. "I can't believe your mom gave him the seal of approval."

"I know, right?! She's hated every one I've ever dated."

"When did she have time to meet him? You and Chad only met a few days ago," I said.

"Oh, she's met him before. He's kind of a big deal," she said, immodestly.

"I'm surprised she hasn't scared him off, no offense."

"I was thinking the same thing," she laughed. "It just proves he's special."

"So, this sounds pretty promising."

"He's asked me to go with him to China."

"What?!" I was so shocked, I nearly choked on the sip of water I'd just taken.

"Shh, calm down Lil. It's just for three weeks. He's going away on business and it's a long time to be apart especially since we only just got together."

"Exactly. You only just got together. I thought you were going to take it slow," I reminded her.

"I was...I mean I am...I mean...oh you just don't understand Lil. When you fall head over heels for a guy, you'll know what I'm talking about. Even though we just met, it feels right. Sometimes you just got to live a little and take a risk," she said.

I was a little stung by her comment and bit my lip to keep from firing back and saying something I'd regret. There was a very good reason why I'd never been in love or even gotten crazy over a guy. My experiences with them just proved to me time and again that they couldn't be trusted. From cheating to lying and even to humiliation, I'd had my fair share of shitty boyfriends. Even in high school, boys that I didn't even know that well would go out of their way to make my life a living hell. I shook my head to cast off the bad memories.

"What I
do
know and understand is that I've seen this before. You're always falling for guys you just met, and you end up getting hurt in the long run. I just don't want that to happen to you again."

Mel reached out and put her hand over mine. "I know you're just looking out for me, but it feels different this time. And besides, if I do get hurt and Chad turns out to be a jerk, at least you can say 'I told you so'."

"I take that to mean you've already made up your mind then?" I said.

"Pretty much."

I released a heavy sigh and dropped my shoulders. "I just hope you know what you're doing."

"For once in my life, I do," she said.

"So when do you leave?" I asked.

"This Thursday."

My eyes widened in shock and I stared at her, sure that I had heard wrong. "Did you just say this Thursday?"

Mel had the grace to blush, but her chin stuck out in determination. "Yeah, I know it's soon, but I'm already packed and everything."

I knew that look and it signaled that there was no more use in arguing. Once Mel had made up her mind, it was like trying to move a mountain to change it. In other words, it was near impossible.

"You know I'm always here for you no matter what?" I finally said.

"I know and that's why you're my best friend," she grinned. "But enough about me. What's been going on with you?"

I took a sip of water, buying myself a little time before I told Mel about all that had happened with Roman. I knew I had to tell her. We never kept secrets from each other, and she would find out eventually. Besides, I needed her advice. Miguel and Doris had run away with the idea that Roman was somehow interested in me and I just couldn't wrap my head around it.

She stared at me, a furrow forming on her brow.

"Are you going to say something, Lil? You're starting to worry me," she said, half jokingly.

"This is going to sound weird, but you remember that guy we met on Saturday? Roman Conrad?"

Mel leaned forward in her seat, her eyes wide with interest. "Um, yeah I remember Roman Conrad. Who wouldn't? He'd kind of hard to forget."

"Well...now don't freak out," I said. I chewed on my bottom lip wondering how I was going to say this. It was harder than I thought trying to explain all that had happened.

"Oh my God, now you're really starting to scare me. What the hell happened?" she asked.

"After the gala on Saturday, he came to my book shop on Monday--."

"What! Are you serious?" she asked.

"Let me finish," I said, holding up my hand. "So he came to the shop on Monday and asked me to go out to dinner with him."

"Did you say yes?" she asked eagerly.

"Yes, I went."

"How did it go?"

I took a deep breath, smothering the annoyance I felt at constantly being interrupted. "Are you going to let me finish the story or not?" I asked.

"Oh, sorry."

"So, where was I? Oh right, dinner. I went to dinner with him and it actually wasn't that bad. After the dinner he dropped me off at my apartment, and no, I did not invite him in," I said, reading Mel's mind and forestalling her question. "But he asked me to go out with him again to the opera next Monday."

I could tell Mel was bursting with excitement and it was killing her to remain silent.

"Can I talk now?" she asked.

"Not yet. There's something else. This morning, I got a delivery at the shop," I paused, not quite sure how to say this part.

"Well, what was it?" she asked, sitting on the edge of her seat.

"It was a first edition copy of Jane Austen's
Pride and Prejudice
."

Mel's mouth hung open, trying to form words, but she looked like a fish out of water. "Who sent it to you?" she finally managed to asked.

"Who do you think?"

"No!" she said dragging out the word. She looked like she almost didn't believe me and I couldn't blame her.

"It's true. I couldn't believe it either. I mean those books are worth a small fortune. What's he mean by sending it to me?" I asked.

"Maybe he wants to impress you," she suggested.

"Why would he want to do that?"

"Because he likes you?"

I shook my head, "Don't tell me you believe that either," I said.

"What do you mean?"

"Doris and Miguel are convinced he's got the hots for me, which sounds so ridiculous, it's not even funny," I said.

Mel held up her glass of water, looking at it as if deep in thought. She remained silent so long, I was beginning to get antsy. "Well?" I finally said. "You must have some other kind of insight. After all, isn't Chad a friend of his? Has he said anything?"

"No, Chad hasn't said anything," she said, placing the glass on the table. She looked up at me, a serious look in her eye. "He could really like you, you know? Don't be so quick to write people off. Sometimes there's no secret plot or ulterior motive. You've got to start trusting people...some time."

I knew what she left out was that I've got to start trusting people or I'll end up alone. I didn't want Mel to see how unsettled I was by her words, so I tried to play it off like a joke.

"This coming from someone about to head off to China with a guy she just met a few days ago. Not everyone can be so trusting or naive," I laughed. The sound felt hollow in my throat.

"At least I'm taking a chance. I'd rather get my heart broken than live with regrets," she said stiffly.

"Let's not fight about this, okay?" I said, regretting my rash words. "You're leaving in a few days and I'd rather not leave on bad terms."

"You're right, Lily. I'm sorry for what I said. I know you've been hurt before, and you have every right to your feelings."

This was not where I wanted the conversation to go. I held up my hand to stop her from saying any more. "Don't even worry about it," I said. "Let's just forget I ever brought it up."

"But what are you going to do about the books?" she asked.

"I already returned them to his office."

She looked at me with wide eyes. "Why?"

"Because they were giving me hives just looking at them. I've never held something so valuable before and I didn't feel comfortable having it in the shop."

"Well, I'm sure he'll have something to say about it when you see him on Monday. You
are
going to the opera, aren't' you?" she asked.

"Yes, I said I'd go."

Mel smiled widely at me, her enthusiasm returning once again. "Good! It'll be good for you to get out, Lily. You're too young and beautiful and full of life to be holed up in your book store or at your apartment every night. You've got to live a little."

"Here we go again," I said rolling my eyes.

It was always a point of contention with Mel and I how I chose to spend my free time. I didn't think there was anything wrong with a 26-year-old sitting at home after work eating a home cooked meal before settling in with a good book or movie. Mel, on the other hand, thought people our age should be out partying, getting drunk and hooking up with guys. I sometimes wondered how we ever became friends in the first place. If that was what a typical 20-something did on the weekends, then you could gladly count me out.

"Listen, all I'm saying is to just enjoy yourself. Don't try to see some nefarious plot in everything he does. He might really like you for you and I for one don't find that hard to believe at all. And that's all I'll say about that," Mel said, zipping her mouth shut with her thumb and forefinger.

I let the subject drop, not in the mood to discuss it any further. Once lunch was over, I stood up and pulled Mel in for a hug. I was surprised when I felt the sting of tears in my eyes. It was such a silly thing to cry about. It wasn't as if she were moving to China for Christ's sake.

"I'm going to miss you so much," she said, her eyes shining with unshed tears as she looked up at me.

"Me too! You stay safe, don't drink the tap water and bring toilet paper with you everywhere," I said.

She laughed as she wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. "Now, how would you know about that?"

"Oh, I've heard stories," I said, mysteriously.

Once Mel and I said our goodbyes, I headed back to the shop. There was a lot on my mind and my conversation with her just made me more confused. I knew I had a habit of being standoffish and unapproachable with guys. I'd been acting this way so long, it was almost second nature to me. It was like I couldn't believe any guy would ever be interested in me so there must be some other reason they were talking to me or showing me any attention.

I knew I was doing the same thing with Roman. He was someone who could literally have any woman he desired. So why would he show any interest in me? That was the one question that kept popping up whenever I thought about him. Maybe everyone else was right and he really did like me, and I'd been writing him off as some eccentric billionaire who was bored and amusing himself with me for the moment. I wondered if I should just throw caution to the wind and take a chance and open myself up. The thought sent a tingle of fear and dread through me. Somehow I knew if I let Roman Conrad in, he could end up crushing me.