Read Online Mad for the Billionaire by Charlotte DeCorte - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Charlotte DeCorte
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prying. “Not in particular. Just planning on taking it easy this weekend. You?”
“Same. I’ll go down with you.” Mark reached around me and hit the elevator button.
Shit! He’s going to make this hard. Of course he is—it’s Mark and that’s what he does.
I pushed the button going up, knowing what was coming and all the more annoyed because of it. Mark immediately asked, “What are you doing?”
“I’m not leaving just yet.”
The doors opened. Mark scowled. “Why?”
My CFO’s nosiness into my personal affairs had definitely escalated past aggravation. I kept my voice nonchalant as I walked into the empty elevator. “Upstairs.” A large part of me hoped he would stay on our floor and wait to make the trip down.
He followed behind me. “What for?” he demanded, gold brows snapping together in curiosity.
There was nothing else but to answer him truthfully. If I evaded answering him, Mark’s paranoia would lead him down paths of his own making. Being he had very little tact, Mark would grill me until I was on the verge of screaming. He was damned persistent that way.
“I’m going to see the new boss.”
“Draven? Again?” He punched the 10 th floor button before I could. The doors closed, keeping us locked in the box together. “Didn’t you see enough of each other at lunch?”
Calm thoughts, Sophia. This is your boss you’re talking to.
I kept silent, unable to think of anything that wouldn’t betray my exasperation.
“I’ll go with you.”
I looked up at him, knotted brows giving away my irritation. “I don’t need an escort.”
Mark shrugged. “If you’re having a meeting then there’s no harm in me sitting in on it.”
“We’re not having a meeting, Mark. It has nothing to do with work.”
The elevator stopped and the doors opened. “Then maybe you should’ve said that from the beginning.” He walked out, leaving me to follow. I didn’t scurry behind him as I was sure he expected. My gait remained relaxed, even when Mark arrived at Alexander’s office first and knocked on the door.
His hearty “Mr. Draven! I saw Sophia on her way here and decided to tag along. I hope you don’t mind!” was a clever move. Argue against it and you looked guilty and/or rude, which Mark was shameless enough exploit. Agree and he got his way without lifting a finger.
Either way he won.
Mark was seated by the time I entered. Alexander stood up and extended a hand to the other chair in front of his desk. “Please have a seat here, Sophia.”
He noted Mark hadn’t risen. Alexander sat back down only after I did. “Where are you from, Mark?”
“Pennsylvania.”
“Born and raised?”
“Yes, Sir. What about you?”
“South Carolina.”
“A true Southerner then.”
“Yes. Where I’m from—where Sophia and I are from—a gentleman always rises when a lady joins us. Please remember that when you’re in my presence, Mark.”
I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from smirking. Mark easily hid any sign of discomfort at having his lack of manners pointed out to him. Instead, he chuckled and said, “Sure thing, boss.”
Alexander nodded. “So what can I do for you, Mark?”
“Oh, like I said—I’m just tagging along with Sophia.”
“Really? And nothing else?”
“Well, I’m here ready and able to add my opinion or provide any bit of knowledge you might need.” Mark shifted his seat, apparently settling in for a lengthy conversation.
Alexander smiled. “In that case, you can leave.”
Mark’s grin disappeared. He definitely wasn’t used to being shown the door. “Excuse me?”
“I didn’t invite Sophia here to talk about anything more pressing than her grandmother’s health and the expansion of our old high school. Unless you’re familiar with either?”
This time Mark’s agitation came out in a quick foot jiggle. “Can’t say I can help with that.” He lurched up and looked over at me. “I’ll give you a call later on. Maybe we’ll meet up
“Same. I’ll go down with you.” Mark reached around me and hit the elevator button.
Shit! He’s going to make this hard. Of course he is—it’s Mark and that’s what he does.
I pushed the button going up, knowing what was coming and all the more annoyed because of it. Mark immediately asked, “What are you doing?”
“I’m not leaving just yet.”
The doors opened. Mark scowled. “Why?”
My CFO’s nosiness into my personal affairs had definitely escalated past aggravation. I kept my voice nonchalant as I walked into the empty elevator. “Upstairs.” A large part of me hoped he would stay on our floor and wait to make the trip down.
He followed behind me. “What for?” he demanded, gold brows snapping together in curiosity.
There was nothing else but to answer him truthfully. If I evaded answering him, Mark’s paranoia would lead him down paths of his own making. Being he had very little tact, Mark would grill me until I was on the verge of screaming. He was damned persistent that way.
“I’m going to see the new boss.”
“Draven? Again?” He punched the 10 th floor button before I could. The doors closed, keeping us locked in the box together. “Didn’t you see enough of each other at lunch?”
Calm thoughts, Sophia. This is your boss you’re talking to.
I kept silent, unable to think of anything that wouldn’t betray my exasperation.
“I’ll go with you.”
I looked up at him, knotted brows giving away my irritation. “I don’t need an escort.”
Mark shrugged. “If you’re having a meeting then there’s no harm in me sitting in on it.”
“We’re not having a meeting, Mark. It has nothing to do with work.”
The elevator stopped and the doors opened. “Then maybe you should’ve said that from the beginning.” He walked out, leaving me to follow. I didn’t scurry behind him as I was sure he expected. My gait remained relaxed, even when Mark arrived at Alexander’s office first and knocked on the door.
His hearty “Mr. Draven! I saw Sophia on her way here and decided to tag along. I hope you don’t mind!” was a clever move. Argue against it and you looked guilty and/or rude, which Mark was shameless enough exploit. Agree and he got his way without lifting a finger.
Either way he won.
Mark was seated by the time I entered. Alexander stood up and extended a hand to the other chair in front of his desk. “Please have a seat here, Sophia.”
He noted Mark hadn’t risen. Alexander sat back down only after I did. “Where are you from, Mark?”
“Pennsylvania.”
“Born and raised?”
“Yes, Sir. What about you?”
“South Carolina.”
“A true Southerner then.”
“Yes. Where I’m from—where Sophia and I are from—a gentleman always rises when a lady joins us. Please remember that when you’re in my presence, Mark.”
I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from smirking. Mark easily hid any sign of discomfort at having his lack of manners pointed out to him. Instead, he chuckled and said, “Sure thing, boss.”
Alexander nodded. “So what can I do for you, Mark?”
“Oh, like I said—I’m just tagging along with Sophia.”
“Really? And nothing else?”
“Well, I’m here ready and able to add my opinion or provide any bit of knowledge you might need.” Mark shifted his seat, apparently settling in for a lengthy conversation.
Alexander smiled. “In that case, you can leave.”
Mark’s grin disappeared. He definitely wasn’t used to being shown the door. “Excuse me?”
“I didn’t invite Sophia here to talk about anything more pressing than her grandmother’s health and the expansion of our old high school. Unless you’re familiar with either?”
This time Mark’s agitation came out in a quick foot jiggle. “Can’t say I can help with that.” He lurched up and looked over at me. “I’ll give you a call later on. Maybe we’ll meet up
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