Read Online The Billion Dollar Bad Boy by Jackie Ashenden - Free Book Online
Authors: Jackie Ashenden
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approaching the building now, Mr. Morrow,” the driver said through the intercom, breaking the suddenly tense atmosphere.
Donovan reached unhurriedly for the button. “Take us around the corner, Chris. We’ll let Ms. de Winter out there.” He leaned back in his seat. “There. And you don’t even have to be seen arriving with me. Aren’t you lucky?”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it.”
The car came to a stop, the sound of the driver’s door opening, then closing.
In a moment this would be over. In a moment reality would assert itself and the woman she’d been in Donovan’s limo would be gone. The hot, desperate, needy, helpless woman. The woman who was definitely not a de Winter.
That moment couldn’t come fast enough.
Abruptly the door opened, the sounds of the city flooding in.
Victoria tightened her hand on her briefcase, then leaned over and grabbed her laptop bag. Then she looked at him, brief and cool and impersonal. “Thanks for the ride,” she said. “I’ll give you an hour or two to mingle, then I’ll find you and we’ll talk more about the docklands deal.”
Then without waiting for a response, she got out, slamming the door behind her.
The moment was gone.
*
The huge bar of the 2nd Circle—one of the infamous Nine Circles clubs and New York’s most exclusive venue—was packed. Politicians, actors, rock stars, old money and new, the influential and rich all in one heaving, glittering crowd.
All here to view the scandal that had rocked New York the previous month: straight-arrow Jax Morrow’s engagement to Pandora Garret, the daughter of one of New York’s biggest crime bosses.
Donovan lounged against the bar, scanning the crowds, irritated with the décor that prevented him from seeing who was who.
Massive, luxurious red velvet couches had been arranged at intervals throughout the huge space, long fringes hanging from the ceiling creating the illusion of walls around each of the arrangements, giving the feeling of intimacy without cutting them off from the rest of the bar. Discreet lighting furthered the intimate atmosphere.
Nice from a style point of view but what with the fringes and the lighting, he couldn’t see a damn thing.
He’d spent the past couple of hours doing his thing, meeting and greeting, oiling the wheels, making sure everything ran smoothly and that everyone was having a good time. It could have been awkward, the Morrow past dragged into the spotlight again following Jax’s engagement to Pandora, but Donovan made sure it wasn’t. Easing fears and calming doubts.
Of course Morrow Inc. wasn’t going to be involved in any of “that kind of thing” again. Of course it didn’t mean Morrow had ties to Garret. Of course Pandora had nothing to do with her father these days.
But for the first time in his life, he couldn’t seem to concentrate fully on the party. He was too distracted thinking about what had happened in the limo. Thinking about Victoria.
Thinking about why the fuck he couldn’t stop thinking about it.
What have you done to me?
She’d lain on the seat after that orgasm he’d given her, thighs apart, flaming hair spread out like a sunset all over the leather, soft and warm and flushed with her arms flung up as if in surrender. That mask gone.
And for a second that’s all he’d wanted, too. Not to have to wear the mask.
To not be Donovan Morrow, the face of Morrow Inc., PR magician and professional playboy. To be himself.
As if you know who that is.
“What’s your problem? Did someone finally say no to you or something?”
Donovan didn’t turn as Jax approached. Like he needed yet another visual of a man sickeningly in love.
That his famously emotionless brother should fall for the lie that was love still surprised him. Clearly the guy’s capacity for self-delusion went further than Donovan had ever suspected. Yet he didn’t begrudge Jax the lie. Pandora was gorgeous and had improved his brother’s mood no end, which
Donovan reached unhurriedly for the button. “Take us around the corner, Chris. We’ll let Ms. de Winter out there.” He leaned back in his seat. “There. And you don’t even have to be seen arriving with me. Aren’t you lucky?”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it.”
The car came to a stop, the sound of the driver’s door opening, then closing.
In a moment this would be over. In a moment reality would assert itself and the woman she’d been in Donovan’s limo would be gone. The hot, desperate, needy, helpless woman. The woman who was definitely not a de Winter.
That moment couldn’t come fast enough.
Abruptly the door opened, the sounds of the city flooding in.
Victoria tightened her hand on her briefcase, then leaned over and grabbed her laptop bag. Then she looked at him, brief and cool and impersonal. “Thanks for the ride,” she said. “I’ll give you an hour or two to mingle, then I’ll find you and we’ll talk more about the docklands deal.”
Then without waiting for a response, she got out, slamming the door behind her.
The moment was gone.
*
The huge bar of the 2nd Circle—one of the infamous Nine Circles clubs and New York’s most exclusive venue—was packed. Politicians, actors, rock stars, old money and new, the influential and rich all in one heaving, glittering crowd.
All here to view the scandal that had rocked New York the previous month: straight-arrow Jax Morrow’s engagement to Pandora Garret, the daughter of one of New York’s biggest crime bosses.
Donovan lounged against the bar, scanning the crowds, irritated with the décor that prevented him from seeing who was who.
Massive, luxurious red velvet couches had been arranged at intervals throughout the huge space, long fringes hanging from the ceiling creating the illusion of walls around each of the arrangements, giving the feeling of intimacy without cutting them off from the rest of the bar. Discreet lighting furthered the intimate atmosphere.
Nice from a style point of view but what with the fringes and the lighting, he couldn’t see a damn thing.
He’d spent the past couple of hours doing his thing, meeting and greeting, oiling the wheels, making sure everything ran smoothly and that everyone was having a good time. It could have been awkward, the Morrow past dragged into the spotlight again following Jax’s engagement to Pandora, but Donovan made sure it wasn’t. Easing fears and calming doubts.
Of course Morrow Inc. wasn’t going to be involved in any of “that kind of thing” again. Of course it didn’t mean Morrow had ties to Garret. Of course Pandora had nothing to do with her father these days.
But for the first time in his life, he couldn’t seem to concentrate fully on the party. He was too distracted thinking about what had happened in the limo. Thinking about Victoria.
Thinking about why the fuck he couldn’t stop thinking about it.
What have you done to me?
She’d lain on the seat after that orgasm he’d given her, thighs apart, flaming hair spread out like a sunset all over the leather, soft and warm and flushed with her arms flung up as if in surrender. That mask gone.
And for a second that’s all he’d wanted, too. Not to have to wear the mask.
To not be Donovan Morrow, the face of Morrow Inc., PR magician and professional playboy. To be himself.
As if you know who that is.
“What’s your problem? Did someone finally say no to you or something?”
Donovan didn’t turn as Jax approached. Like he needed yet another visual of a man sickeningly in love.
That his famously emotionless brother should fall for the lie that was love still surprised him. Clearly the guy’s capacity for self-delusion went further than Donovan had ever suspected. Yet he didn’t begrudge Jax the lie. Pandora was gorgeous and had improved his brother’s mood no end, which
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