How to Trap a Tycoon by Elizabeth Bevarly (thriller books to read txt) 📕

"Why does the introduction of love into a relationship change the balance of power?" a young woman who stood up a few rows in front of him asked.

The author seemed to give much thought to what she was going to say before she began speaking again. "Very few people would argue," she began slowly, "that men and women are entirely different creatures. There's all kinds of evidence to support the truth in that assertion. The genders simply approach life in completely different fashions. That doesn't mean one is better than the other," she hastened to qualify. "It just means they're different."

Hmm, Adam thought. This was sounding familiar, too. She paused for a moment, thinking, then continued, "Many theorists would have you believe that each gender's reason for entering into sexual relationships likewise differs, and that both reasons are engendered by basic instincts that are throwbacks to primitive times—the man because he needs to procreate, and the woman because she needs protection from natural dangers. I would propose, however, that, like so many other human traits and characteristics, through evolution those primitive urges have changed. They've evolved. Nowadays, I think men and women enter relationships looking to fulfill a need that is identical, regardless of gender—the need to give and receive love."

As he listened to Lauren Grable-Monroe discuss her hypothesis, Adam found himself conceding—with much reluctance—that he found the subject matter to be … well, fascinating, actually. More than that, he found the speaker to be fascinating. As irritating as he had thought the author before, he now found her to be more than a little intriguing.

She was clearly an educated woman. Nobody could expound this stuff with the confidence and articulation she claimed unless they were familiar with the subject matter on an academic level. She must have at least one college degree, but why would a professional mistress bother with an advanced education? Especially since Ms. Grable-Monroe's bio from her own publisher—which, granted, he was certain was complete hooey—had stated that her family had lost everything? How could she have afforded to go to college? And why would she have wanted to, if she'd already decided to make herself available to wealthy men for a living?

Moreover, she was, without question, a Chicago native, as Adam deduced from her distinctive accent, which was indigenous to this part of the Midwest . And why would a woman who'd made her living on her back—and who demanded anonymity—continue to live in a city where she could easily be exposed by one of her former benefactors? Especially since her book was turning her into a very wealthy woman, one who wouldn't have to make a living on her back anymore? She could be sunning herself in Rio de Janeiro or skiing the Alps instead.

Too, she was definitely one hot tomata, a fact to which Adam himself could testify. And hot tomatas were notoriously hard to keep under wraps. They were, by nature, attention-seekers, spotlight-grabbers, and paparazzi-bait. How could this woman be making a life for herself in Chicago yet be seen nowhere except at the public appearances arranged by her publisher? Because she was never seen anywhere else. Adam was certain of that. Although he hadn't been following her career with a microscope, he'd definitely taken notice of her appearances. And the only time Lauren Grable-Monroe appeared anywhere, it was at her publisher's behest, in order to promote her book. Otherwise, she was nowhere to be found.

And he himself had hit nothing but brick walls in his efforts to find out more about her. Her publisher guarded her true identity well, and no amount of investigation had turned up anything substantial that might offer a clue as to her real identity.

What he had determined, and only by personal observation, was that Lauren Grable-Monroe was a well educated and beautiful Chicagoan who was currently at the height of celebrity, yet she was never seen anywhere in town outside her arranged public appearances. At a time when everyone in the country wanted to know more about her, no one had come forward claiming to have any particulars about her background. No former schoolmates, no former boyfriends, no former benefactors. No distant relatives coming out of the woodwork in need of a buck. No disgruntled wives hoping to expose a home wrecker.

Just who the hell was Lauren Grable-Monroe? he wondered. He really, really wanted to find out.

Damn , he thought. This meant he was going to have to read her book. Then again, maybe it would give him a couple of pointers. Because even if he wasn't out to trap himself a tycoon, Adam was definitely looking to catch something. He just hoped what he caught, when he caught it, wasn't contagious.

"I think I have time for one more question," the author suddenly piped up. "Is there anything we haven't covered here yet today?"

"I have a question about something we haven't covered, Ms. Grable-Monroe," a woman called out from down front. When she stood, Adam saw that she was in her mid to late fifties, was stylishly attired and had an elegant demeanor. Her graying hair was caught at her nape in a sophisticated twist of some kind, her beige suit appeared to be haute couture. She rather reminded Adam of his own mother.

"Yes?" the author asked the woman, her smile encouraging. "What would you like to ask?"

"What I'd like to ask," the woman said, "is how can you sleep at night?"

The author's smile fell—which, Adam supposed, wasn't exactly surprising, all things considered. "I beg your pardon?" she replied quietly.

"I said," the woman reiterated, considerably louder than before, "I want to know how you can sleep at night. In fact, I'd like to know how you can live with yourself."

But still Lauren Grable-Monroe seemed to have no idea how to respond. Because all she did was stammer, "E-excuse me?"

"Oh, come now, Ms. Grable-Monroe," the woman taunted. "You've had no shortage of analysis and philosophy for any