Read Online Billionaire Romance: Darque Initiation (A Darque Billionaire Romance Book 1) by Diana Steele - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Diana Steele
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had ever seen. Probably because she seemed opposite most of the flashy and fake girls of the casinos, world famous bars and celebrity-stuffed nightclubs. Her hair was dark and wavy but with old Hollywood style curls. Her eyes were muted, grey but seemed purple, matching her floral blouse perfectly. And her smile, so sincere, so wide and toothy, and so hopeful.
“Why did you hire her?”
“We have a deal with the university. Usually students in journalism or marketing, they get an internship try out. She’s a bit shy, but I think she has potential.”
“Well, potential is ours to glean, isn’t it?”
Abrams smiled, as if what he had to say even mattered.
“I want her to work on this project. She strikes me as someone who…understands the idealism of what we’re doing here.”
“Ooookay. I think this project might be a bit of a reach for her. But it’s baptism by fire, eh?”
Darque smiled…gradually, always treating a client like the camera, if never quite listening to the whole conversation. “They’re here to learn. I’m confident you can teach her to do a swell job.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll make sure Miss Stone is informed.”
Abrams smirked at some of the other staff members. Cleaning up this womanizer’s reputation was going to go on their portfolio, rest assured.
*****
Chapter 2
Arabella had no idea her life was about to change. She had been spotted by Bastien Darque and once the man decided something, there was no arguing his logic or his stubbornness.
Not that she was going to be thrilled about the sudden promotion, if you could call it that. It hadn’t even been a week at the firm and she was overwhelmed at just how much information they expected her to learn and memorize. She had already worked for a few hours in multiple divisions all around the building. She knew they liked her and just about everyone complimented her attitude. Hope, the willingness to accept people at face value, it was such an important quality among panicking politicians, desperate CEOs and clueless movie stars.
Friday morning had come. This was the week she was going to be assigned a new task and actually gain some resume-worthy experience. Her nerves were on edge. Sure, it was the dream job she wanted but some tasks definitely seemed more grueling than others. Making statements to the press was nice. Writing articles was her forte and interviewing prominent figures, sure, that was the ultimate fantasy.
As long as she didn’t land in reputation management! She sighed, just thinking of the drudgery that is dishonest reporting. More like damage control. Everything about the job was unethical; protecting all these shady people—the kind of man who cowers and runs, hoping someone else will take care of his mess.
Abrams walked by, smiling convivially as he passed out the new positions for the internships.
Bella, as her friends called her for short, was up next. She smiled widely and nervously, hoping her new boss would find her enthusiasm inspiring, rather than the sign of an amateur.
“Bella, congratulations.”
Not reputation management…please not reputation management.
She smiled and begged him with her eyes. There was only so much lying she could take before her fresh and guileless spirit was crushed.
“Reputation management.” Big promotion.
And she smiled. And smiled. It took everything in her not to quit right then and there, or at least to bluntly complain and request a demotion.
Be professional. Be professional.
But her eyes did most of the talking and Abrams knew it.
“I know this is surprising, Bella. You made it clear what your aspirations were. But you were personally requested for this assignment a Mister Bastien Darque.”
“The guy? The relative of that senator who’s running?”
“Yes. Would you like to meet him?”
“I suppose that would be the professional thing to do.”
“He may be coming by on Monday. Possibly sooner, but definitely by Monday morning. Be sure to
“Why did you hire her?”
“We have a deal with the university. Usually students in journalism or marketing, they get an internship try out. She’s a bit shy, but I think she has potential.”
“Well, potential is ours to glean, isn’t it?”
Abrams smiled, as if what he had to say even mattered.
“I want her to work on this project. She strikes me as someone who…understands the idealism of what we’re doing here.”
“Ooookay. I think this project might be a bit of a reach for her. But it’s baptism by fire, eh?”
Darque smiled…gradually, always treating a client like the camera, if never quite listening to the whole conversation. “They’re here to learn. I’m confident you can teach her to do a swell job.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll make sure Miss Stone is informed.”
Abrams smirked at some of the other staff members. Cleaning up this womanizer’s reputation was going to go on their portfolio, rest assured.
*****
Chapter 2
Arabella had no idea her life was about to change. She had been spotted by Bastien Darque and once the man decided something, there was no arguing his logic or his stubbornness.
Not that she was going to be thrilled about the sudden promotion, if you could call it that. It hadn’t even been a week at the firm and she was overwhelmed at just how much information they expected her to learn and memorize. She had already worked for a few hours in multiple divisions all around the building. She knew they liked her and just about everyone complimented her attitude. Hope, the willingness to accept people at face value, it was such an important quality among panicking politicians, desperate CEOs and clueless movie stars.
Friday morning had come. This was the week she was going to be assigned a new task and actually gain some resume-worthy experience. Her nerves were on edge. Sure, it was the dream job she wanted but some tasks definitely seemed more grueling than others. Making statements to the press was nice. Writing articles was her forte and interviewing prominent figures, sure, that was the ultimate fantasy.
As long as she didn’t land in reputation management! She sighed, just thinking of the drudgery that is dishonest reporting. More like damage control. Everything about the job was unethical; protecting all these shady people—the kind of man who cowers and runs, hoping someone else will take care of his mess.
Abrams walked by, smiling convivially as he passed out the new positions for the internships.
Bella, as her friends called her for short, was up next. She smiled widely and nervously, hoping her new boss would find her enthusiasm inspiring, rather than the sign of an amateur.
“Bella, congratulations.”
Not reputation management…please not reputation management.
She smiled and begged him with her eyes. There was only so much lying she could take before her fresh and guileless spirit was crushed.
“Reputation management.” Big promotion.
And she smiled. And smiled. It took everything in her not to quit right then and there, or at least to bluntly complain and request a demotion.
Be professional. Be professional.
But her eyes did most of the talking and Abrams knew it.
“I know this is surprising, Bella. You made it clear what your aspirations were. But you were personally requested for this assignment a Mister Bastien Darque.”
“The guy? The relative of that senator who’s running?”
“Yes. Would you like to meet him?”
“I suppose that would be the professional thing to do.”
“He may be coming by on Monday. Possibly sooner, but definitely by Monday morning. Be sure to
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