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

A phone flashed in the darkness––the only source of light inside the dark car––and his wipers lazily swept across the windscreen every few seconds.

“Good,” Sam’s deep voice crackled on speaker. “I want to grab a bite to eat before we go.”

Edward swerved sharply into the entrance to an underground carpark. If he had not known it was there, he would have driven past it like the rest of the traffic, unaware of its existence. He parked up, locked the car and hummed to himself as he entered the elevator.

“Sammy boy,” he said with his arms outstretched as the elevator doors opened to his penthouse suite. “How are you liking my digs?”

Sam stood with a drink in his hand and grinned as he gestured for Edward to enter.

“You mean how do I like my digs? We both know you’re handing it over to me for good in ten days,” Sam said, closing the door. The two men embraced in a brotherly fashion and Edward ignored his comment with a shake of the head as he walked into his bedroom.

“Sam, I’ve met the one,” Edward declared a few minutes later, dressed in his favorite Armani suit. Sam was sat reclined in a leather chair facing the marble fireplace. He swirled the drink in his hand.

“I think you misunderstood our deal. You are supposed to get a woman to fall in love with you in ten days.”

“And she will fall in love with me,” Edward said as he fastened his tie. “She’s the most gorgeous creature I’ve ever laid eyes on.”

Sam’s eyes turned into slits as his face broke into a grin. Deep lines adorned his cheeks and forehead and for a moment Edward was reminded of a wrinkly Shar Pei puppy. Sam Ardent was his best friend through school and worked in investments. His prematurely aged skin gave away the fact he had spent far too much time out in the sun on remote islands and too little time applying sunblock. Despite only being in his early thirties, he could fool people he was much older.

“Are you ready?” he said placing his glass on the coffee table and coming to a stand. Edward grabbed the handle of his luggage bag and took one last look around his apartment. The fire was burning, sending a golden glow across the room. And the large windows overlooked the city; all lit up at night. The city lights looked like twinkling stars in a blanket of darkness. He had spent many evenings deep in his thoughts as he lost himself in this scene.

“Remind me why I agreed to swap apartments again?” he said with a sigh. Sam pulled on his leather jacket and swept his blonde hair away from his forehead.

“Because, if you bring a lady back to this place, she’ll never believe you’re a struggling mechanic.”

“Right, and it’s believable that a mechanic owns a club?” Edward cocked a brow at Sam with a wry smile. Sam shrugged.

“Just tell her you rent the apartment above it.”

“Well, that’s sort of true in this case.”

“Don’t tell me you’re growing a conscience, Eddie?”

“Don’t call me that.”

“We’ve got to work on your accent. You sound too much like a public school boy.”

“Won’t that defeat the object of our challenge?”

“Our challenge? Your challenge you mean. But maybe you’re right. How can you know a woman has fallen in love with you if you change everything about yourself? Fine, keep the accent. But if she susses out you’re rich, the deal is over, you lose, and this apartment––” Sam gestured to the room as they stood at the doorway, “––is all mine.”

Edward ate his steak dinner in silence while his friends Sam and Anthony had a heated discussion over climate change.

“We’re reaching a point of no return, something must be done to stop temperatures rising and keep this planet safe for future generations,” Sam said, his face flushed pink and eyes narrowed on Anthony, who shrugged with a huff.

“You’re never going to convince the world to convert to veganism. If you believe that, you’ve lost your mind.” Anthony Fisher worked in the same building as Sam, as a stockbroker at Wall Street. He and Sam shared an interest in current affairs and politics and often entered heated debates over dinner, while Edward would inwardly roll his eyes and answer work emails on his phone.

Anthony did not share Sam’s enthusiasm for saving the planet. Nothing was going to get him to sell his McLaren and give up on red meat.

“Back me up here, Eddie,” Sam said as he dabbed a napkin to his thin lips. Edward raised his brows with surprise at being addressed and glanced down at the juicy steak on his plate, a twinge of guilt in his stomach as he realized, he too could not envision trying a vegan alternative.

“I agree with Ant, I’m not giving up meat to save the planet,” he said heavily. “But I did read an article about renewable energy the other day. I think that’s something I could invest in.”

Sam’s eyes lit up like an excitable puppy.

“You’ve just reminded me. You know my mate Frederick Wallace? He’s speaking at a climate change event this weekend. Everyone will be there. It’s thirty grand a seat. I could introduce you to him.”

“I’m not sure it’s my scene,” Edward began as he scratched his chin. He swallowed and looked at Anthony who snorted into his drink before he coughed and placed his glass on the table.

“You’re always looking for a good investment Ant. Are you going?” Edward asked him. Anthony’s inky eyes stared blankly at him as he hummed.

“There’s a silent auction too,” Sam said with a mouthful of mushroom risotto.

“I already have plans. Say, shouldn’t we be going?” Anthony said gruffly as he looked at his smart watch. Sam glanced down at his own and jumped.

“Yikes, the show has already begun. Juliet––put this on my tab, will you?” Sam said as he discarded his fork with a clatter and the three gentlemen came to a