Read Online Billionaire's Pursuit (Billionaire Erotic Romance, Never Never Man Series) Book 1 by Sloan Storm - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Sloan Storm
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personal stuff. Really, it’s nothing for you to concern yourself over.”
I nodded as I finished a bite of my perfectly salted, rare, filet mignon. After swallowing it, I glanced at Maddie for a moment and then picked up my own wine glass. Deep red, near crimson, liquid streaked along the interior of the glass as I swirled before I took a sip. I rolled the heady mix across my tongue and allowed the oak notes to permeate my senses as I contemplated a response.
My study of her didn’t go unnoticed.
“What?” she said. “Why are you looking at me like that? Don’t you believe me?”
After placing my wine glass back on the table, I leaned back in my chair a bit and looked at her without a response. Maddie held my gaze for a few seconds and then shifted in her seat before attempting to match my posture by leaning back in her chair as well.
“Greyson. What is going on? Do you think I’m lying to you?”
I winced a little at the question.
“Lying?” I said, as I folded my hands on the edge of the table. “No, I wouldn’t go so far as to say you’re lying, Maddie, no.”
“Thank you,” she said with a sincere tone to her voice. “Well, I’m glad to hear that at least.”
“Hang on,” I interrupted. “I said I didn’t think you were lying to me. That’s doesn’t mean I think you’re being truthful , however.”
“You’re talking in circles, Greyson. Either I’m telling you the truth or I’m not. Which is it?”
Sensing a change in her negotiating tactics, I decided to make my suspicions plain. I leaned forward, brought my hands together and tapped my index fingers against one another.
“Okay,” I began, as I studied her. “I think you’re covering up the real issue by claiming it’s a personal problem and hoping I’ll drop it because of that.”
Maddie’s eyes widened a fraction and a hint of bright red flashed across her chest.
“I… that is not true , Greyson. If you must know, I had a fight with my ex-boyfriend, okay?”
As I listened to her, I realized this was the first time I’d considered her relationship status. Based on the way she’d flirted, I naturally assumed she was single. And now, hearing that was indeed the case, it pleased me. On the other hand, and I couldn't explain it, but the idea of her with someone else, even talking to her ex on the phone, I didn’t like it-- not one goddamn bit.
As I ruminated, the incessant sounds of the busy restaurant — knives and forks hitting plates, bottles being uncorked and the occasional blowhard recounting the success of his big business deal--all faded away into nothing as I looked at her.
I felt my jaw flex as I began to speak. “What did he say, Maddie? Did he threaten you in some way?”
“What? Threaten me?” she replied almost instantly. “No, he didn’t threaten me. Don’t get the wrong idea, Greyson. It’s nothing like that at all.”
Her tone conveyed sincerity, at least on this issue. I relaxed a bit but I still didn’t like the notion of her in harm’s way. There was nothing to do about it now however, so I accepted her statement as fact.
“Very well,” I replied. After I spoke, I looked past her for the waiter and motioned for him to come over.
“What’s going on?” she asked. “You haven't finished your meal.”
“We’re done. I’m getting the check. Get your things. We’re leaving.”
MADDIE
The limo ride back to the hotel couldn’t have been more awkward.
What the hell was going on with Greyson all of a sudden? There was no way I could tell him the truth about running out of money. He’d think I was probably the biggest idiot he’d ever met and certainly the worst business woman.
And, uh, he would tell Katy and then that would be a whole thing.
Remaining as still as possible, I kept my gaze focused beyond the tinted glass window in the back of the limousine and hoped I could get through the rest of the evening, and the rest of his trip, unscathed and out of bankruptcy
I nodded as I finished a bite of my perfectly salted, rare, filet mignon. After swallowing it, I glanced at Maddie for a moment and then picked up my own wine glass. Deep red, near crimson, liquid streaked along the interior of the glass as I swirled before I took a sip. I rolled the heady mix across my tongue and allowed the oak notes to permeate my senses as I contemplated a response.
My study of her didn’t go unnoticed.
“What?” she said. “Why are you looking at me like that? Don’t you believe me?”
After placing my wine glass back on the table, I leaned back in my chair a bit and looked at her without a response. Maddie held my gaze for a few seconds and then shifted in her seat before attempting to match my posture by leaning back in her chair as well.
“Greyson. What is going on? Do you think I’m lying to you?”
I winced a little at the question.
“Lying?” I said, as I folded my hands on the edge of the table. “No, I wouldn’t go so far as to say you’re lying, Maddie, no.”
“Thank you,” she said with a sincere tone to her voice. “Well, I’m glad to hear that at least.”
“Hang on,” I interrupted. “I said I didn’t think you were lying to me. That’s doesn’t mean I think you’re being truthful , however.”
“You’re talking in circles, Greyson. Either I’m telling you the truth or I’m not. Which is it?”
Sensing a change in her negotiating tactics, I decided to make my suspicions plain. I leaned forward, brought my hands together and tapped my index fingers against one another.
“Okay,” I began, as I studied her. “I think you’re covering up the real issue by claiming it’s a personal problem and hoping I’ll drop it because of that.”
Maddie’s eyes widened a fraction and a hint of bright red flashed across her chest.
“I… that is not true , Greyson. If you must know, I had a fight with my ex-boyfriend, okay?”
As I listened to her, I realized this was the first time I’d considered her relationship status. Based on the way she’d flirted, I naturally assumed she was single. And now, hearing that was indeed the case, it pleased me. On the other hand, and I couldn't explain it, but the idea of her with someone else, even talking to her ex on the phone, I didn’t like it-- not one goddamn bit.
As I ruminated, the incessant sounds of the busy restaurant — knives and forks hitting plates, bottles being uncorked and the occasional blowhard recounting the success of his big business deal--all faded away into nothing as I looked at her.
I felt my jaw flex as I began to speak. “What did he say, Maddie? Did he threaten you in some way?”
“What? Threaten me?” she replied almost instantly. “No, he didn’t threaten me. Don’t get the wrong idea, Greyson. It’s nothing like that at all.”
Her tone conveyed sincerity, at least on this issue. I relaxed a bit but I still didn’t like the notion of her in harm’s way. There was nothing to do about it now however, so I accepted her statement as fact.
“Very well,” I replied. After I spoke, I looked past her for the waiter and motioned for him to come over.
“What’s going on?” she asked. “You haven't finished your meal.”
“We’re done. I’m getting the check. Get your things. We’re leaving.”
MADDIE
The limo ride back to the hotel couldn’t have been more awkward.
What the hell was going on with Greyson all of a sudden? There was no way I could tell him the truth about running out of money. He’d think I was probably the biggest idiot he’d ever met and certainly the worst business woman.
And, uh, he would tell Katy and then that would be a whole thing.
Remaining as still as possible, I kept my gaze focused beyond the tinted glass window in the back of the limousine and hoped I could get through the rest of the evening, and the rest of his trip, unscathed and out of bankruptcy
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