Billionaires in New York Boxed Set: Billionaires in the City Books 1-3 by Laura Burton (learn to read books .TXT) 📕

“Excuse me, Mr. Marks.”

Startled, David looked up at Joffrey.

Mandy twirled her hair as she looked up at him curiously.

“I apologize for the interruption, but I’ve just received word that they need you to call the office.” Joffrey’s nostrils flared as he spoke. David knew he was lying, and considered giving him a raise.

“I’m so sorry, Mandy, I’ll just be a moment.” The chair scraped across the floor as he got to his feet. Mandy shrugged and pulled out her phone again as David followed Joffrey out of the room.

“You took your time,” David murmured to him once the door closed behind them.

“Sorry, sir,” Joffrey said. David couldn’t tell if he truly was sorry, though he thought not as his guard tried suppressing a laugh.

“What do you want to do?” Joffrey asked as he scratched the red bristles of his beard.

“Go in there and apologize for me. Say I had to go, um… you can eat my food and—”

“What? I’m not having dinner with her!” Joffrey whispered frantically; his wide eyes were full of fear.

“I can’t leave her on her own! Besides, you love sushi. And hey, maybe you two will find something in common?”

“I’m allergic to cats,” Joffrey said frankly.

“Well, luckily I’m not paying you to take her home.” David clapped a hand on the shoulder of his suit jacket.

“I’m not—”

“Isn’t it your job to protect me from people?”

“But, if I’m in there with her, who’s going to—”

David raised his finger and smiled.

“Robert is waiting outside,” he whispered triumphantly. He gave him a hard look and bit the inside of his cheek.

“Do this for me, please.”

The two men stood in the cramped hall to the sushi restaurant having a silent staring contest. After a few moments, Joffrey blew out his breath and his shoulders slumped in defeat.

“Yes, sir.”

“You can call me David, you know.”

Joffrey laughed.

“Tell you what, I’ll go in with you and say goodbye.” David clapped him on the shoulder again and the two men strolled back into the room.

David paced the bedroom of his penthouse suite as he replayed the conversation he had with Emily. It had been a long week since their meeting. He had been on several dates since then, each one more disastrous than the other. He couldn’t figure it out. Emily was the best matchmaker in the city, or so Harold said. He had to see her again, he’d already wasted time… time he didn’t have. In theory, this plan was going to be easy.

But then he met Emily; a confident, gorgeous woman, who was also from England! The way she blushed when she dropped the pen on the floor… and tried to pick it up discretely. Her sleek dark hair reached the small of her back, right where her waist narrowed. How could he tell her that she was exactly the type of person he would want to date? How could he persuade her to be with him within the deadline? David swallowed against the dryness in his mouth and coughed.

Snap out of it.

He hatched a plan and picked up his phone.

“Find My Companion, Jaqueline speaking,” a sing-song voice echoed out of the speakers in the room.

“Yes, hello. This is David Marks. I need to speak to Emily Stewart.”

“I’m sorry, Mr. Marks. Ms. Stewart left the office an hour ago, can I assist you?”

“You can have her give me a call, it’s urgent.”’

“Of course. Ms. Stewart will be in touch as soon as possible.” David threw his phone on the king-size bed and cracked his knuckles as he kicked off his designer shoes. What was he planning to say?

“Hi Emily, so these women you’ve set me up with are crazy. Are you single?” He shook his head and laughed at the ludicrous thought. Before he could gather his thoughts, the phone vibrated on his bed.

“Aren’t you supposed to be on a date right now?” Emily’s musical voice flooded the room after David answered the call.

“About that,” he said frankly. Already, his irritation was fading just hearing Emily speak.

“Oh dear, don’t tell me you’ve left poor Mandy all alone, have you?”

“I didn’t. Joffrey is having dinner with her,” David admitted, sheepishly.

“Your bodyguard is on a date with Mandy? That sounds like a great movie premise.” She laughed. The sound was so much more charming than David expected it to be.

“Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. Your dates have to sign a non-disclosure agreement before they find out who they are meeting. Your secret will be safe.”

“Honest question, do you think Mandy is the type of woman who would care about legalities?”

“I think she is the type of woman who has a lot of experience in the courtroom.” Behind Emily’s professionalism, David sensed a hint of amusement.

“So, you knew she was married?”

“Yes, is that a problem?”

“Three times. That’s a red flag, yes.” David sighed and rubbed the back of his neck with frustration.

“Why? I’m sure she would be open to signing a prenup.”

“I’m not looking to have just any wife! I’m concerned you’re not really—”

“Not what?”

David swallowed at the strength in her voice, then paced the room again. A rustling sound interrupted his thoughts and the doorbell rang; the sound ricocheted off the walls of his penthouse.

“Hold on, please,” he said as he put Emily on hold. He marched across the suite and opened the door.

“Evening, Mr. Marks. I made sure the chef cooked the steak rare for you.”

David smiled and nodded as the portly man walked through the doorway pushing a trolley laden with food.

“Thank you, Joseph.”

“Is there anything else I can get for you, Mr. Marks?”

“No, Joseph, thank you.”

“Give me a call, anytime.”

The door closed behind him. David lifted up the domed silver cloche covering his dinner. The mouth-watering aroma of meat juices flooded his senses. His stomach rumbled in response.

“Are you hungry?” David asked after he took Emily off hold.

“Hungry? That’s the last thing I thought you would say to me.”

“Well, I’m looking at a steak dinner that’s big enough for two here, and I