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

“Are you asking me to come over?”

“Well, it looks like I need to be clearer about what it is I want in a woman.” David couldn’t stop himself from smiling.

“Oh, I see. This is a business meeting.”

He sensed she was warming to the idea.

“With chocolate fudge cake, indeed.” David instinctively licked his lips as he anticipated Emily’s reply.

“As it is, I haven’t had dinner yet. Send across your address and—”

“If you give me yours, I’ll have a car come and get you,” David offered. Henry, his driver knew the best routes to get across town in optimal time. There was also something about Emily being in his car that excited him.

“They’re not going to blindfold me and make me swear not to tell anyone where you live, are they?”

“Who is ‘they’?” David laughed as he poured a drink.

“I don’t know… you know what I mean.” Emily laughed too.

That laugh again! What a wonderful sound.

“All right, sending the address now. I hope that steak is well-done. I hate the sight of blood.”

David hung up the phone grinning to himself and looked down at his watch. The night was still young and dangerous ideas were starting to brew.

Chapter Three

A Change of Plan

Emily stared at the stack of bank statements lying on the kitchen table to her small apartment. Living in New York was exorbitant and truth be told, it would make financial sense to live in New Jersey. It would also make sense to shop at the designer outlets, rather than on Fifth Ave. Emily had mastered the art of putting up appearances long ago. From the very first day she arrived in New York, with just $200 in her fake Gucci wallet and her sister’s hand-me-down designer clothes… she knew she needed to use smoke and mirrors to “get to the top” of the food chain.

She placed a pink candle in one of the cupcakes she ordered from her favorite bakery and closed her eyes.

“Happy ten-year anniversary,” she whispered aloud. It was ten years to the day since she first arrived in New York to set up her business, Find My Companion. It had been labor of love. And now it was a local “hot spot” for wealthy singletons to find their soul mates. Or, a date for an upcoming event. A lot of her clients were celebrities; actors, NBA players, the occasional Wall Street journalist. Word of mouth brought new business in, but keeping up with the image of a money-rich, successful company hit Emily’s platinum cards hard. What did she have to show for it? Matthew’s words echoed around her mind like a tin can rolling down an empty alleyway. What do you know about love?

A full week had passed since that conversation with the investor. Emily’s new plan was going perfectly well. David had endured several dates that did not turn out as well as he hoped. He was primed and ready to be introduced to the allure stage of her plan. All she needed to do was convince David that she was perfect for him. Once they were officially together, she would call the investors, open up her business in LA, and move to the sunny state of California.

She needed a fresh start. Moving to LA was just as much about being by the sea as it was about expanding her business. Was she going for domination in the match-making world? No. She just needed to get out of the city and be free from the debts dragging her down. With the raving success of her LA office, she’ll be debt-free. Then she could let David go, to find his true love, and she’ll live happily ever after… alone. Or maybe she’d get a little dog to carry around in her handbag.

With the vision clear in her mind, Emily opened her eyes and blew out the candle. At precisely the same moment, her phone rang.

The dark of night blanketed across the city, illuminated by embers of light from the streetlamps, and blurred by the pouring rain. Emily strained her eyes to catch a glimpse of an approaching vehicle as she waited under the covered doorway.

After a few anxious minutes, the damp, cold evening air chilled Emily to the bone. A black limousine pulled up beside her.

A short gentleman, wearing a full black tux and carrying an umbrella got out of the driver’s side and walked over to Emily.

“Ms. Stewart.” He touched the front of his driver’s hat. “I am Henry,” he said, holding out his arm for her to take.

Emily slid her arm through the crook of his elbow and clutched onto the cotton jacket, careful not to snag the fabric with her long, painted nails.

At close proximity, Emily could see lines along his forehead and greying sideburns sticking out from under his hat.

“Nice to meet you,” Emily said as politely as she could. Henry opened up an oversized umbrella and held it above their heads as they walked across the path to the limousine.

“Mr. Marks is expecting you.” He opened the door and Emily stooped down to enter.

Emily had been in a limousine before, on more than one occasion, in fact. But this was not just a limousine with fancy leather interior and champagne glasses propped up on little tables. This limousine had two large armchairs facing a flat screen TV with an expensive-looking surround sound system.

“Oh, this is fancy!” Emily said as she sidled past the minibar and collapsed into the armchair. The leather squeaked as it stretched to support her weight and cushioned her slim frame.

“New car?” she asked Henry, his head appeared in the doorway as he bent over to smile at her.

“Quite new.”

Emily nodded with approval as she looked at her surroundings. “It’s got that new car smell.” She flashed Henry a charming smile; he nodded and closed the door. No expenses were spared on the interior, Emily noted as she eyed the plush carpeted flooring and the piano black marble edging.

The engine started