Billionaire Games Boxed Set 1-3 (53 page)

Lecie was going to find herself a husband. Just not a real one. This marriage was going to be one that would expire in say, six months.

Bring it on, Papa!
Lecie could handle anything he threw at her now, because she had a fix.

T
he next morning when Lecie entered the kitchen, Gerard was already in there standing at the counter, scribbling on a tablet. She cleared her throat and his eyes lifted to meet hers.

“Good morning, madam,” he said, and went back to his scribbling.

“Good morning, Gerard.” She opened the refrigerator and grabbed the orange juice. “I trust you slept well?”

“Very well, madam. Thank you.”

She plucked a glass from a cabinet near the counter. “Now we talked about this,” she said in a light, scolding tone. “My name is Lecie.”

“Yes, we did.” He paused. “Miss Lecie.”

If Gerard was anything like Soren or the other staff she’d encountered, that was about the best she could hope for in dispensing with the formalities. She poured herself a glass and put the juice back in the refrigerator. She peeked at the paper, and asked, “What are you doing there?”

“Our first order of business is to hire a cook.”

Our?
Lecie laughed. “A cook? We don’t need a cook.” She shook her head. “We usually eat cereal for breakfast. Sometimes, Deidra jogs down to the pastry shop a few blocks away. It makes her feel like she’s exercising those extra calories off before she even eats them.” Lecie used a comical tone, hoping to get Gerard to lighten up, but it didn’t work. “For lunch and dinner, we either dine out or have something delivered. See…” She shrugged. “There’s no need for a cook.”

“Be that as it may,” Gerard’s eyes fell back to his list. “Mrs. de Laurent thinks it’s best if you have a cook at your disposal.”

“Mrs. de Laurent?” Lecie wanted clarification on which Mrs. he was speaking of.

He said, “Your mother.”

Lecie snorted. “Papa probably told you to say that.”

Gerard’s eyes remained stuck on the notepad. “Your parents only want what is best for you, madam.” He cleared his throat, and corrected himself. “Miss Lecie.”

Yeah.
Lecie laughed to herself.

Well, she’d better start looking for a husband. Quickly. Especially now that Papa had managed to plant his very own spy inside her house.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

THE SUN PEEKED OVER THE Santa Monica Mountains. And why shouldn’t it? Today was going to be a beautiful day. With the help of Walter’s foundation, Nick would begin to dig himself out of debt today.

He hurried toward the entrance of the ten-story building and the glass doors swished open, wafting cool air over him. He stepped inside, happy to get out of the morning heat.

Inside the lobby, Nick headed for the elevators. A handful of people were already waiting and the up button was already lit. Nick joined those waiting, offering smiles to the ones who’d look him in the eye.

Finally the doors slid open. Nick slipped inside with the crowd and punched number eight on the panel. As the lift moved upward, the compartment began to fill with office-politics chatter. Someone, a woman behind him, was pissed off about being passed over for that ‘
no-good scoundrel down in advertising’
. Nick supposed this sort of thing went on at Hang Ten in the employee lounge behind the supply room. He chuckled softly, wondering if the same kind of backstabbing went on between the waitresses and bus people.

The doors parted on floor eight, Nick’s stop. He stepped off the elevator and headed down the hallway to the left. He knew where to find Phil’s office. He needed no direction.

Nick was still feeling good, although a bit anxious, by the time he opened the door. Phil’s secretary greeted him with a smile. She was new. Approaching her desk, he cut his eyes stealthily to her name plate—Janine—then gave her a smile. “Good morning, Janine. I’m Nick Matthews. I’m here to see Phil.”

The whole time he’d been talking, she’d been giving him an obvious look-over. Based on the smile tipping the corners of her mouth, she liked what she saw.

“Mr. Matthews,” she said, standing. “He’s expecting you.” She led him to the door on the far wall, gave it a quick double knock before opening it, and said to Phil, “Nick Matthews is here.”

“Come on in, Nick,” Phil’s voice echoed into the outer office.

Janine stepped aside and waited for Nick to go on in. When he did, she closed the door between them.

“Nick…” Phil stood and moved around the desk, extending his hand out. “How’s the restaurant? How’s Ginny?”

Nick sucked in a breath of courage as they shook hands. It’s not that he was nervous about his chances, he just didn’t know where to begin. And truth be told, it was a little ego-bruising to admit to anyone what Ginny had done to him. Nevertheless, Walter’s foundation was his only hope. “Well…” Nick said as Phil went back to his chair behind his desk. “The restaurant is fine.” Nick took one of the two chairs in front of the desk. “Ginny…? Well, that’s what I came to talk to you about.”

“Oh?” Phil gave him a concerned look. Nick hoped it was genuine, rather than practiced. “So the rumors are true then?”

“Depends on what you’re hearing,” Nick said.

“I’m hearing the wedding didn’t happen.”

“That’s true.”

“Perhaps you’ll reschedule in the future?”

Nick almost laughed. “That’s not likely.” It took him a few seconds, but finally he managed to say, “To be quite honest, Phil, Ginny took me to the cleaners.”

Phil listened intently, while Nick detailed the particulars of every bad deed Ginny had perpetrated during her process of not only wiping Nick out financially, but also leaving him in deep debt. When Nick was done, he shrugged, sighed, then went silent.

It took Phil a second or two before he asked behind a friendly smile, “How can we help?”

Nick felt the burden practically lifting off his shoulders. He hadn’t realized just how anxious he’d been, until now. “I need a loan, Phil.” Nick waited, feeling confident that Phil would say,
how much do you need?

But instead of asking how much, Phil said, “That’s quite a debt you’ve incurred, Nick.”

“Yes.” Nick nodded, feeling his confidence getting ready to make a run for it. “But the restaurant is strong and solid. I could pay it back, I’m sure.” He handed Phil the portfolio of Hang Ten’s financial reports.

“What about the banks?” Phil left Hang Ten’s file on the desk, making no move to open it. “What do they say?”

“Nothing positive.” Nick shook his head. Truth was, he owed too much money, and none of the banks were willing to help Nick Matthews put himself deeper in debt.

The silence lingered between them for what seemed like forever. All the while, Nick’s confidence was taking a hard hit.

Finally, Phil said, “Tell you what I’m gonna do.” He nodded and gave Nick a half-hearted smile. “Since Mr. Moreland was so fond of you, I’m going to take this to the board.” He picked up Hang Ten’s financial folder and tapped it on the desk a couple of time. “We’re going to find a way to help you.”

Moments later, Nick left Phil’s office and by the time he was out of the building he’d managed to regain a large chunk of his confidence.

Everything was going to work out. The foundation would step in and help him, where no one else would. Because of Walter, they wouldn’t turn him down, would they?

Nick cast that nasty thought out of his head. Walter’s foundation was going to help. They had to. If they didn’t, Nick was sunk.

L
ecie couldn’t believe she’d agreed that she, Deidra, Camille and Tasha should go for lunch at the Hang Ten. And if that wasn’t enough, they’d insisted on going in the limo Camille and Tasha had hired for the duration of their visit. Velma and the kids would stay behind at the house. Gerard had ordered pizza for their lunch, and that had made the kids happy.

“Guys…” Lecie said in a hushed voice when they were no more than two blocks from the restaurant. “Do you think it’s prudent to roll up in front of Hang Ten in a limo?”

“Why wouldn’t it be?” Camille laughed.

“I’m trying to keep a low profile,” Lecie said.

“Not anymore,” Tasha said. “You’re after a husband now.”

“I don’t get it.” Lecie shook her head. “I can’t get used to the idea that Julian and Andre are okay with me
marrying
someone just so Papa can’t have me deported.”

“Your brothers are certain you’ll do something…shocking when Maurice pushes you into a corner.” Of course, Camille probably meant
stupid
rather than shocking. “They’d much rather you do it on their terms.”

“Yeah, I know.” Lecie almost laughed. “They want to make sure I don’t
lose
my inheritance.” Her gaze drifted to the window as the limo rolled up in front of Hang Ten. She wondered if Nick and Ginny had returned from their honeymoon. The thought left her feeling nauseated and a bit sullen.

Tasha elbowed Lecie’s side. “They have good food here, or what?”

“That’s not all they have.” Deidra chuckled.

“Do tell…?” Tasha got serious.

The driver, whose name Lecie hadn’t caught, opened the door and Camille climbed out first, followed by Tasha, then Deidra, and finally Lecie.

When Keri, the hostess, saw Lecie and Deidra she smiled. “Ladies, looks like you brought us some friends today.”

“Indeed we did,” Deidra said.

Keri grabbed four menus and said, “I’ve got your favorite table ready for you.”

They followed her to the booth back in the corner near Nick’s office, Lecie’s favorite place to sit because she could always catch glimpses of Nick as he was coming and going about the restaurant’s business.

As the party slid into the booth, Lecie and Deidra on one side and Camille and Tasha on the other, Keri said, “Are we having lemon-drop martinis today?”

Lecie was about to object, thinking it might not make the best impression on her sisters-in-law, when Camille said, “Ooh, that sounds delicious.” She nodded, looking at the others at the table. “Am I right?”

“We’ll have four,” Lecie said.

“I’ll get those started for you,” Keri
said. “Diane will be your server today. She’ll bring your drinks right over.”

Lecie watched the hostess walk away and did a quick scan of the restaurant. She didn’t see Nick, or Ginny for that matter, anywhere. She never saw much of Ginny this early in the day, but Nick was usually always here. Maybe they were still on their honeymoon.

Lecie looked back at the table. Camille and Tasha were busy perusing the menu. She swept the dining room once more—still no Nick—before settling her gaze on Deidra.

“I don’t think he’s here,” Deidra said.

That pulled Camille and Tasha away from their menus. “Who’s not here?” Camille asked.

“The owners,” Lecie put in, like it was no big deal. “They’re probably off on their honeymoon still.”

“Ah…newlyweds.” Tasha beamed at the prospect.

“Yeah,” Lecie said, dejected. She brightened up though when she saw Diane headed their way with a tray of lemon-drop martinis. That was sure to distract Tasha from talking about the grandeurs of being a newlywed.

The martinis came. Orders were placed. Another round of martinis, and everybody was feeling good.

Tasha sipped her drink and gazed around the restaurant pensively. “I think you should conduct your interviews here.”

“Definitely.” Camille raised her glass as if toasting.

“What interviews?” Lecie asked.

“Husband interviews.” Tasha giggled.

“Why would I conduct interviews?” Lecie peered at Tasha through narrowed eyes.

“How else are you going to find a husband for hire?” Camille asked.

“You can’t seriously expect that to work out well.” Lecie cringed.

“Worked out fine for Julian.” Tasha snickered.

Deidra elbowed Lecie. By the time Lecie looked at her, Deidra was staring toward the front door with this mischievous grin spreading across her face. Lecie followed Deidra’s gaze and saw Nick and his friend Dean heading straight for them.

Well, not straight for
them
. They were probably going to Nick’s office, but they’d have to pass right by their booth to get there.

When Nick’s eyes met Lecie’s he smiled and stopped in front of the booth. “Ladies…” He gave the table a friendly once-over before settling his gaze back on Lecie again. “It’s always a pleasure to see you. I do hope you enjoy your lunch.” Nick nodded and he and Dean moved on toward the office.

Lecie looked away shyly.

“Who’s he…?” Tasha asked, practically drooling.

“That is Nick Matthews. He owns this place,” Deidra said.

“Hire him.” Camille said, still gazing at the office door long after he’d closed it.

“Can’t,” Deidra said.

“Why not?” Tasha asked.

“Married.” Lecie sucked in a breath and blew it back out in a long, sad sigh. “Honeymooners. Remember?”

“Oh, yeah.” Camille turned back to look at Lecie. “What about the other one?”

“His friend?” Lecie asked, pointing toward the office. “Dean?”

“Yeah. He married?”

“Not that I’m aware.”

“Ask him then,” Camille said.

“Are you serious?” Lecie asked.

“Yeah. The married one seems like a nice guy. His friend must be a nice guy, too.”

“How do you figure?” Lecie asked.

“Birds of a feather,” Tasha said.

“What do birds and feathers have to do with it?” Lecie asked, a bit confused.

“It’s simple. Nice guys hang out with other nice guys.” Tasha sipped her martini, then added, “So do jerks. You’ll rarely find a jerk and a nice guy hanging out together.”

This whole marriage thing sounded a lot better when they were talking about it the other day. But today, Lecie wasn’t so confident that she could actually find someone to marry her, even if it was temporary.

And Nick’s friend…?

N
ick leaned against the desk in his office, folded his arms across his chest and stared at Dean. “Beecham is taking it to the board. Everything’s going to be fine.” He did a one-shouldered shrug. “I’ll be able to pay off what I owe the bank and my suppliers, then it’ll be business as usual.”