Read Online Mad for the Billionaire by Charlotte DeCorte - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Charlotte DeCorte
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for drinks. How’s that sound?”
Tricky move, you clever jerk.
He refused to concede control even when being tossed out. “I’ll have my cell on.”
Mark gave me a short nod and then addressed Alexander. “See you on Tuesday.”
“Have a good weekend, Mark.”
“You too.” He walked to the door and asked, “Open or closed?”
“Closed. Thank you.”
Mark’s storm-blue gaze met mine. His promised an accounting. I promised nothing.
The door closed, leaving me alone with Alexander. He pressed his finger to his lips and mouthed “Wait.” Getting up, he strode over to the door and locked it for good measure. “Just in case he conveniently remembers something else he had to say.”
“Good move then.”
“At first I thought you brought him with you on purpose.” Alexander strolled back to his desk and sat on the corner. “I was this close to taking you over my knee.”
“You’re joking!”
Alexander smirked. “Is he always that nosy?”
“Worse.”
“Just with you? Or everyone?”
I crossed my legs, feeling a bit uncomfortable with having to admit “Mostly me.”
“Ah, I see.” He moved from his spot and took the empty seat to the right of me. “You’re going to cause me to alienate my CFO, Sophia. That’s not a good thing.”
“Alienate? How’s that?”
“Don’t be a flirt, little chick,” Alexander admonished in a soft drawl. “It’s obvious he’s staking his claim on you and I’m going to have to pull up all his markers. You always were trouble, girl, and I shouldn’t be surprised that hasn’t changed.”
“Since when have I been trouble? I’m as good as good can be!”
“Sure. And that’s why I’m always having to fight someone whenever you’re around.”
“Oh.” I bit my lip and peeked up at him from under my lowered lashes. “I see what you mean now. I can’t deny that.”
“Oh,” he mimicked. His gentle smile took away any sting that might’ve been inflicted. “You know I got into my first fight because of you.”
“Jaime was really sorry afterwards.”
“Of course, he was. He didn’t expect me to know how to fight and thought beating me into the ground would sway you back to his side.”
“I never was on his side and that’s why I think he was sorry.”
“Hmm, if you say so.”
I reached out and tapped his arm. “Now you’re just being ornery.”
He laughed and agreed. “You’re right. It was the déjà vu of the situation that got me riled. That and Mark’s rudeness—a terrible combination that does little to make me sweet.”
“He doesn’t mean to be rude. Politeness and good manners are almost out of fashion. It’s a sign of weakness in business.”
“Don’t defend him. There’s rarely an excuse for a lack of good manners.”
“Not everyone was raised like you, Alexander,” I teased. “The rest of us are peasants in comparison who still don’t know the difference between the salad fork and the dinner one.”
“Hardly,” he scoffed with a raised eyebrow. “I was living in what is commonly referred to as genteel poverty. Not that much money to be had.”
“Maybe compared to your ancestors. Still, most of us aren’t living on the same land and plantation since the 17 th century, you know. We also didn’t have all the nice stuff you had growing up.”
“So you’re saying I’m still a stuck-up little brat, huh?”
I shook my head, gaze soft with memory. “No, you were never stuck-up, Alexander. Not that—just blessed.”
“Not as blessed as you think.” His mouth tightened and sadness swept across his handsome face.
“I know.” I wanted to reach out and hold his hand, much as I used to do when memories about his family darkened his mood. Instead, I patted him on the knee.
Alexander’s hand immediately engulfed mine, tightening when I tried to draw it back. “No need for pity, Sophia. We all have crazy families.”
“Ours might be a little bit crazier than most.”
“Just a bit.”
I couldn’t
Tricky move, you clever jerk.
He refused to concede control even when being tossed out. “I’ll have my cell on.”
Mark gave me a short nod and then addressed Alexander. “See you on Tuesday.”
“Have a good weekend, Mark.”
“You too.” He walked to the door and asked, “Open or closed?”
“Closed. Thank you.”
Mark’s storm-blue gaze met mine. His promised an accounting. I promised nothing.
The door closed, leaving me alone with Alexander. He pressed his finger to his lips and mouthed “Wait.” Getting up, he strode over to the door and locked it for good measure. “Just in case he conveniently remembers something else he had to say.”
“Good move then.”
“At first I thought you brought him with you on purpose.” Alexander strolled back to his desk and sat on the corner. “I was this close to taking you over my knee.”
“You’re joking!”
Alexander smirked. “Is he always that nosy?”
“Worse.”
“Just with you? Or everyone?”
I crossed my legs, feeling a bit uncomfortable with having to admit “Mostly me.”
“Ah, I see.” He moved from his spot and took the empty seat to the right of me. “You’re going to cause me to alienate my CFO, Sophia. That’s not a good thing.”
“Alienate? How’s that?”
“Don’t be a flirt, little chick,” Alexander admonished in a soft drawl. “It’s obvious he’s staking his claim on you and I’m going to have to pull up all his markers. You always were trouble, girl, and I shouldn’t be surprised that hasn’t changed.”
“Since when have I been trouble? I’m as good as good can be!”
“Sure. And that’s why I’m always having to fight someone whenever you’re around.”
“Oh.” I bit my lip and peeked up at him from under my lowered lashes. “I see what you mean now. I can’t deny that.”
“Oh,” he mimicked. His gentle smile took away any sting that might’ve been inflicted. “You know I got into my first fight because of you.”
“Jaime was really sorry afterwards.”
“Of course, he was. He didn’t expect me to know how to fight and thought beating me into the ground would sway you back to his side.”
“I never was on his side and that’s why I think he was sorry.”
“Hmm, if you say so.”
I reached out and tapped his arm. “Now you’re just being ornery.”
He laughed and agreed. “You’re right. It was the déjà vu of the situation that got me riled. That and Mark’s rudeness—a terrible combination that does little to make me sweet.”
“He doesn’t mean to be rude. Politeness and good manners are almost out of fashion. It’s a sign of weakness in business.”
“Don’t defend him. There’s rarely an excuse for a lack of good manners.”
“Not everyone was raised like you, Alexander,” I teased. “The rest of us are peasants in comparison who still don’t know the difference between the salad fork and the dinner one.”
“Hardly,” he scoffed with a raised eyebrow. “I was living in what is commonly referred to as genteel poverty. Not that much money to be had.”
“Maybe compared to your ancestors. Still, most of us aren’t living on the same land and plantation since the 17 th century, you know. We also didn’t have all the nice stuff you had growing up.”
“So you’re saying I’m still a stuck-up little brat, huh?”
I shook my head, gaze soft with memory. “No, you were never stuck-up, Alexander. Not that—just blessed.”
“Not as blessed as you think.” His mouth tightened and sadness swept across his handsome face.
“I know.” I wanted to reach out and hold his hand, much as I used to do when memories about his family darkened his mood. Instead, I patted him on the knee.
Alexander’s hand immediately engulfed mine, tightening when I tried to draw it back. “No need for pity, Sophia. We all have crazy families.”
“Ours might be a little bit crazier than most.”
“Just a bit.”
I couldn’t
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