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

conversation with David over hot chocolate. He’d offered to tell his family the truth. He would end the charade and own up to the fact he was not married. Perhaps that was the right thing to do and the best for David. He could be free of any drama and they would go on with their lives. After all, if he knew the truth of her intentions, he would be justifiably furious and probably never want to see her again.

But then she remembered that kiss. She brushed her lips with her fingertips and swallowed. The glint in his eyes as he tugged at his tie and unbuttoned his shirt. Emily turned and pressed her grinning face into a pillow. They had only been in the same room together twice. Twice, Emily! Have you no boundaries?

Despite knowing that it was probably for the best if David told his family the truth, she wanted to see him again. Maybe she could have it all? Help David with his family situation, win over the heart of the investors… and their wallets. She grinned. And find… dare I think it? Love.

Chapter Six

Mrs. Marks

David stood anxiously with his hands clasped together as he shifted his weight. A string quartet played a whimsical Mozart melody, and the guests, dressed in their best clothes, were talking in their seats. The chapel was full of pink and yellow roses adorning the end of the pews, and a huge array of lilies sat on the table at the front of the chapel. David looked over to Joffrey, who was feeding Mandy shrimp. She giggled and adoringly stroked his red beard as she chewed. A sea of faces he did not recognize sat in the crowd, and FBI agents stood at the doors.

A moan caught his attention, and he looked back to see the female priest eating a steak dinner. The music stopped and David watched the priest cough and splutter as she hurried to finish chewing her food.

“Please stand,” she said with her mouth full of steak. David looked at the wooden chapel doors that were now thrown open, and a beam of sunlight flooded his vision. A figure appeared in the light and as it moved forward, he saw her. The chiffon mermaid dress shimmered and dazzled. Emily was walking with Jaqueline by her side. Her dark hair was tied back into a sleek bun. The bouquet in her hands was made up entirely of sunflowers. She beamed at him, her eyes twinkling. David swallowed and took her hand in his when she reached him.

“I love you,” she mouthed. When she opened her mouth though, a forked tongue flipped out and withdrew as quickly as it appeared. David frowned and shook his head. Then he looked back at Emily to find he was face to face with the biggest snake he had ever seen.

“I do,” the snake hissed.

David jolted awake and panted as he lay in the darkness. His heart pounded in his chest as he covered his face with his hands. He sat up and the covers fell away from his chest, allowing the cold air to blast against his bare skin. He shivered.

“Omeba, turn the A/C off,” he said through a yawn and rubbed the sleep out of his eyes.

“Air conditioning is now off. What else can I assist you with?” a robotic voice echoed around the room. David dragged his legs out of bed and hunched over with his elbows resting on his knees. He yawned again and dragged a hand through his coarse hair.

“Open the blinds.” The crisp grey blinds rotated open and a weak stream of sunlight filtered into the room. The sky was almost blue with a tinge of pink as the sun crept slowly into the sky. A new day was born, and David already had a lot on his mind. The previous day had been one of the longest of his life and he was still reeling from it. A vibration on his nightstand jarred him from his thoughts.

“Joffrey, how was your date?”

A resounding groan echoed out of the speakers and David tried to suppress a laugh. “I owe you for that,” he added.

“You don’t owe me anything.” Joffrey’s voice was gruff and defeated. “You said it, remember? It’s my job to protect you.”

“What’s the news?” David crossed his room and pulled a white towel from the linen closet.

“I got a message to call you.”

David draped the towel over his shoulder.

“Right, I’ll send you an address to collect Ms. Stewart. I need you to accompany her for the time being.” The room was still and quiet in response. “Joffrey?”

“I’m sorry––I’m not sure I understand. Am I going on another date for you?”

David rolled his eyes.

“No. Ms. Stewart and I have an arrangement, and I need you to be her security until I say so.”

“Yes, sir.”

David scratched the bristles on his chin.

“How did you end things with Mandy?” he asked, flashes of his nightmare crossed his mind. He recoiled at the thought of Joffrey feeding Mandy shrimp.

“You won’t be hearing from her again,” Joffrey said in a firm voice. Sensing that there was more to the story Joffrey didn’t want to share, David nodded to himself.

“Right, good luck with Ms. Stewart, and keep her safe.”

David had a quick shower and carefully shaved as his mind wandered off. Having a woman pretend to be his wife was not what he had in mind. He berated himself for getting into this mess in the first place. If he just had more time… if Grandmother had not written such a ridiculous clause in her will…. Emily was doing him a massive favor. But why? He wondered what was in it for her? He thought it would have been harder to get her on his side.

David dressed in a blue Armani suit and gelled his hair to tame the curls threatening to form. He surveyed his appearance in the floor length mirror and made a murmur of approval.

“Omeba,” he said as he pulled on