The Billionaire's Masquerade: Betting On You Series: Book Two (4 page)

Her frustration was building as he refused to take her seriously. But she was serious. She’d just spent the night in the arms of her boss. “I’m glad you find humor in this, but I don’t. My reputation will be ruined if anyone ever finds out about this.”

“I don’t kiss and tell, if that is what you are worried about.”

“You might not, but eyes are always on you. If I’m going to work for you at Takes One, no one can ever find out what happened last night. You need to promise me this will never happen again.”

Trent just looked at her for a moment then said, “I can’t promise that, and I don’t believe you can either. There’s an attraction between us. We are adults. What we do behind closed doors is no one’s business but ours.”

“That’s easy for you to say. I see your rendezvous posted all over the tabloids. I refuse to be one of them. No one would ever give me the respect I’ve earned if they thought I slept with my boss. My career would be over.”

“Is that what you’re worried about? People talking about you? People always talk; just don’t listen, and you will be fine.”

Oh, this man is infuriating!
“That might work for you; no one expects anything different. But they do from me.”

“I would like to argue that statement, but I can’t. So what are you telling me? Are you backing out of the job?”

There would never be a job offer like Takes One again. Only a fool would back out. “If you promise no one will ever know there is anything more than a professional business relationship between us, then I would love the opportunity to work for Takes One.”

“You have my word I will not grope you in the office. Is that fair enough?”

“No!”

He smiled at her and said, “Okay, I will do my very best to keep the appearance of a purely business relationship. Better?”

She couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed he hadn’t fought for more, but she knew that was the lustful side of her thinking.
Interesting he thought I would be more tempted to continue things with him than take the job. Arrogant ass.
No, this was for the best. She didn’t need a relationship, especially one with him or anyone else. Working hard on her career was her best plan.

She extended her hand. “Yes, that’s better.”

Smiling at her he said, “I would rather seal the deal with a kiss.”

Tempting, Trent. But no.

Then he shook her hand and said, “Agreed.”

Elaine knew it was going to be a shock to the staff when she informed them she would be leaving Another Chance to work for Davis Enterprises, but that was an understatement. One person even said she was going to work for the enemy. She couldn’t deny that. If she was actually going to work for Davis Enterprises she would have been working for a company that created some of the issues she worked daily to fix. Trent had made it very clear, no one was to know the truth about Takes One or what she truly would be doing. Lying was not something she agreed with, but when she thought of taking what she does to a global level, well . . . the lie was worth it.

The intercom buzzed as Jill announced, “Lizette is here to see you.”

She was not sure if the lie was going to be as easy to deliver to Lizette. For all she knew, Jon had told Lizette about Takes One. And if he hadn’t told her, Elaine knew she would not be the one to inform her. That secret was one Jon would have to tell himself. “Thanks, Jill. Please send her in.” She would soon have her answer.

Lizette entered her office all smiles. It was great seeing her so happy, so in love. A lot had changed for her in such a short time. Not just finding her Prince Charming, but something more, something within her.
What was it?
Ah . . . she saw it now; she looked at peace, totally stress-free. This was the first time Elaine had seen her wear her hair down at the office. Yes, it was nice that the happily-ever-after romance had at least found one of them.

“I’m sorry. I meant to make it to the staff meeting, but I was so tired after the party and overslept this morning.”

Elaine was suffering from lack of sleep as well, but had no intention of mentioning that. “I purposely didn’t include you on this one; I wanted to talk to you privately.”

“Is everything okay?” Her concern was evident.

Forcing a smile, Elaine said, “Yes, Lizette, everything is fine. Actually, it’s better than fine. I have been offered a fantastic position elsewhere and will be leaving Another Chance.”

“What, you’re leaving Another Chance? Why? When?”

“In two weeks. I’ve been offered another job.”

“This must be one great job because I never thought you would leave here.” Lizette let out a short sigh then continued. “Guess I shouldn’t talk, look at all the changes in my own life.” She smiled. “So what agency was lucky enough to steal you away from us? Is it the one in Providence? I hear they are looking for new leadership.”

“No, I’m not staying in Rhode Island.”

“Leaving the state? Where are you moving to?”

“New York,” Elaine said with forced enthusiasm.

“Seems to be a lot of that lately. Hopefully you won’t be far from Jon and me. The only people I know there are Jon and his friends.” Laughing, she continued, “I’m glad I will have one of my friends close by; I’m totally outnumbered by male egos.”

That was an added benefit of the relocation. “I like that as well.”

“So what charity stole you away?”

“Davis Enterprises.”

Judging by the shocked breath that escaped her lips and the raised eyebrows, she guessed Lizette was more than surprised by her answer.

Why shouldn’t she be?
Every time Elaine heard herself say it she almost choked.

“Davis Enterprises? As in Trent Davis?”

“Yes,” Elaine said, trying to sound confident but knowing she failed miserably. Lizette and Jill knew her better than anyone else here, and it was not easy to fool either of them. She could only hope they respected her decision and friendship enough not to question her too deeply.

“Elaine, are you sure about this? You know the reputation of Davis Enterprises, never mind his. You’re headed into the lion’s den.”

“You don’t have to worry about me. I know what I’m doing. Besides, I believe I can add something new to that company.”

“Like ethical behavior? Oh, I shouldn’t talk about him like that. Not only is he your new boss, but he is one of Jon’s closest friends, so there must be something good about him we don’t know. And if not, well if anyone can handle it, or him, it is you.” She laughed. “Funny, Jon hadn’t mentioned anything to me. I wonder if he knows yet.”

And there laid the answer to her question: Jon kept the secret from Lizette. She didn’t know about Takes One. “I just accepted the job last night.”

“Hmm. Last night when you and Trent disappeared from the party? Anything you want to tell me?”

Absolutely not. No one can ever know.
“Sorry to have skipped out without saying goodbye. We had to finalize the offer, and I had to prepare for this morning’s announcement to the staff. I hope you understand.”

“Of course. Don’t worry about it. I just thought the way you and Trent were dancing maybe you two had hit it off, and a romance was brewing.”

“He is my boss. Nothing more,” she stated plainly.

“What a shame. I would have loved to watch you put him in his place. Do you think he’s the arrogant ass he appears to be?”

“I wouldn’t know.”
Oh yes, he is that and more.

“You work so many hours here. I’ve never seen you date. Since there is nothing between you and Trent, maybe you’ll find someone in New York.”

“Maybe. But that’s not why I’m relocating. This job will keep me just as busy, if not more so.”

“Look at me. I wasn’t looking when I found Jon. Actually, if you’d told me I would end up with Jon, I would have said you were crazy. But now I’m engaged.”

It was time to change the subject because she didn’t want to think of anything that even resembled a future with Trent. That would only lead to heartbreak, something she’d been able to avoid all these years. She was not about to break that streak now.

“Let’s take one thing at a time. There is still a lot to do regarding Another Chance. Let’s work on the transfer of responsibility that will need to take place over the next two weeks.”

“I’ll help in any way I can. It will not be as easy from New York, but we’ll manage until a replacement is found.”

With that she opened her laptop and began going over the list of duties Lizette would need to take on in the interim.

***

“Guess she wanted the job enough to ignore your charm,” Drew joked.

“Something like that,” Trent responded. “Elaine will be here in two weeks.”

“Here? As in New York? Why?” Jon asked.

“Jon, you should be the last person to ask Trent that question,” Drew commented.

“Point taken, Drew,” Jon said. “She is aware of total discretion regarding Takes One and our involvement, correct?”

Trent couldn’t help but laugh to himself. Elaine lived by the word discretion. “She understands clearly what we are asking of her. I even set her up with a position at Davis Enterprises as a cover story.”

“How long do you think she will last there? The team you built isn’t known for being nice,” Drew asked.

Trent had hired people who could get the job done. In his line of business, it didn’t pay to be nice or live in a world of regrets. He motto was,
it’s only business
. If it hadn’t been for the fact Elaine stood her ground with him he might worry about her, but he should worry more about his team if they decided mess with her. “I’ve got it covered.”

“I bet you do, Trent. Just don’t piss her off so badly she quits on us,” Drew said.

Trent knew what Drew was implying. He had left a trail of woman who didn’t think too highly of him, even though he had always been honest with them. Somehow they believed they were the one who would change his ways.
That person doesn’t exist.
He didn’t have to worry about that with Elaine. They seem to have an unspoken understanding, neither looking for anything serious. Finally he seemed to have met someone who was as driven to be as successful in business as he was. Granted, their view on what successful meant seemed to vary. What they had, worked.
At least for now.

Trent was thankful Ross brought sanity back to the conversation. “I assume you will be providing her all the additional information needed.”

“Already taken care of,” he replied.

Ross continued, “I look forward to seeing what she brings to us for our meeting this month.”

“This should free up a little time for us each month. What do you say we start meeting again once a week to play pool and shoot the shit. It’s been awhile since we haven’t needed to talk business,” Drew offered.

“We’ve got some wedding things coming up that will require us all to get together,” Jon added.

Trent laughed. “That sure doesn’t sound like the wild times of our past. But let me know when, and I’ll be there.”

“Count me in for the bachelor party. I’ll even plan it,” Drew said.

“Maybe you should let me take care of that, Drew. There are places we still can’t show our faces, thanks to you,” Trent joked.

“Exactly, Trent. The word is
we,
not only me,” Drew defended.

“Okay, guys, no rush to plan that. There is plenty of time for you to argue about it later,” Jon stated. “I have to jump on another call. Trent, let us know if you need anything from us.”

He always knew he could count on them, but he had everything under control.

Elaine couldn’t believe how quickly the two weeks went by. Things had transitioned much easier than expected for everyone who would be covering her role at Another Chance. That was a perk of being part of such a strong team. They could always rely on each other at a moment’s notice. She was going to miss that closeness. She was not so sure about Jon, Ross, and Drew, but she was sure Trent worked differently.

It hadn’t taken long for her to relocate and set up her new apartment in New York. Her condo in Rhode Island had come furnished and so did her new apartment. Since she wasn’t someone who collected much of anything, it made moving around simple. Pack her personal items and off she went. It was how she’d needed to live growing up in foster homes, moving from one place to another. Some of the homes were better than others, and she’d been fortunate to have met some wonderful families along the way. But like many youths, she was too young to appreciate them at the time. The kindness she’d received over those years was one of the reasons she decided to work for Another Chance, and she had been lucky enough to help several families facing serious financial difficulties stay together. Especially if there were children involved. She didn’t want other kids to experience the loneliness she’d felt over the years.

Elaine made her way around her new apartment. The rooms were much smaller than her condo but perfect for a person living alone. It was a one-bedroom with a living room and a very small kitchen. She opened the oven and laughed. It reminded her more of a toaster oven.
Good thing I don’t cook.
She turned on her iPod, and after selecting her favorite playlist, spent the next two hours unpacking her clothes and settling in.

Trent had called her several times to ask how everything was and to confirm she was still on target for the move. His calls had been short and strictly business. It appeared he was capable of holding his promise to keep their relationship strictly professional, at least from a distance. The test was going to be when they saw each other in person. On his last call, Trent asked if she would join him for dinner Sunday night. Now as the time approached, Elaine questioned agreeing to his offer. As she hung the dress she’d wore to Lizette’s party, the memories of the night they shared at her condo flooded back. It wasn’t the first time, as she couldn’t seem to close her eyes without picturing him above her. Though the memories were sweet, they were a constant reminder of what she could not let happen again.

She heard the doorbell ring.
Behave tonight, Elaine. Behave.
She felt a flutter of both nerves and excitement as she walked to the door. She wasn’t expecting to see him holding a bottle of wine in one hand and what appeared to be Chinese take-out in the other.

“Are you going to invite me in?”

Stepping aside, she answered, “Sorry, did I misunderstand? I thought we were going out.”

“You must be tired after moving these last two days. I thought we could relax by eating in.”

Relax?
Alone with him and a bottle of wine did not equate to
relaxed
. A better way to describe it would be risky.
Step one: stay off the couch.
“Thanks, I’m tired. A quiet dinner is just what I need. Let’s eat in the kitchen.”

“I hope Chinese and wine are okay with you. I wasn’t sure if you would rather have beer since we didn’t get to drink it last time.”

There was no way she was even going talk about their last meeting, as it would, no doubt, reignite the passion. Perhaps on her side anyway. “Chinese sounds great,” she said, not meeting his gaze.

They sat, and while they ate, Trent asked, “Are you moved in?”

“Nothing beats a furnished apartment. I finished unpacking a few hours ago. I’m looking forward to starting at Takes One, I mean Davis Enterprises, tomorrow. What exactly did you say my cover story was again?”
Keep it safe, talk about work.

“I told them you would be working directly with me in customer relations. If anyone asks what you do, just tell them you are the liaison between me and upcoming acquisitions. Your role is to ease the transition for the employees.”

“I think that’s believable, and with your track record, probably necessary,” she added with a snarky smirk.

“I’m very good at what I do.”

She couldn’t dispute that. The numbers didn’t lie—he was beyond good. He was excellent at what he did. Her only problem was how he went about achieving his success. “Will I have a desk in your building or be working off-site?”

“Your office is a few doors down from mine.”

At least he didn’t put her right next to him. She would’ve preferred to be on an entirely different floor, but she was planning on being so busy it wouldn’t matter. Even sitting with him at the kitchen table was a distraction. Her thoughts continued to return to how unbelievably good it felt when he touched her. She wasn’t sure working on different floors would be enough distance. Maybe another state would be in order.
Although, I can’t exactly fix that now.
“I don’t need much space; most of my research can be done on my laptop from anywhere.”

“For appearances it would be good if you worked at least a few days a week in the office. But if you get lonely in that big office all by yourself, you can always make your way down the hall and come and visit me in mine,” Trent said with a wink.

“Trent . . .”

“Don’t panic, I was only joking.”

She didn’t believe that for a moment. There was something in the way he looked at her when he said it. He probably was thinking,
We could do it on my desk.

“Of course, I know you were joking. I was only going to ask if you wanted a cup of coffee,” she lied.

He raised his wine glass and said, “How about a refill?”

She lifted the empty bottle. “Sorry, we are all out. So your choices are coffee or tea.”

“I’m more in the mood for something to nibble on. Any suggestions?”

Elaine took the dirty dishes and turned to place them in the sink. There was no way she could bring herself to look at him. “Sorry, I haven’t been shopping yet.”

Her body jumped as she felt his hands on her shoulders. He gently caressed her arms and then returned to her shoulders. One hand brushed her long dark hair from her neck and replaced it with the warm touch of his lips. She gripped the edge of the sink when her legs began weakening. His kisses trailed higher to bite her ever so softly on her earlobe. His hot breath sent chills through her body. She should turn around, tell him to stop, make him stop, but she was powerless to do so. The need for him was overwhelming. His hands reached in front of her and cupped her breasts, and she leaned her back against his chest.

“I want you so much.” His words erased the last shred of resistance she had. “Tell me you want this.”

Breathlessly she replied, “Yes.”

His hands slid up her dress and pulled her panties down to her feet. Then his hands slipped back under her dress and cupped her bare butt. She ground herself against him. He pulled away for a moment. Before she could turn around she heard the sounds of his zipper, followed by the opening of a condom. His sheathed hot shaft was against her backside. She leaned back, and his hands came around to her front and cupped her breasts. She needed him inside her. As though he read her mind, he used his foot to spread her legs apart.

She didn’t resist. Then she felt him teasingly stroke her from behind. His heat rubbing her wet softness was driving her wild. She was at the brink when he slid deeply inside her. She moaned in pleasure as he moved slowly. When she thought it couldn’t get better, he eased her forward and put a hand on her back to steady her. They joined together again and again in an increasing rhythm. Each thrust sent a flood of heat through her. As she bent over slightly, gripping the edge of the sink, his thrusts sent her over the edge, into a sobbing state of mind-blowing waves as she climaxed.

He paused briefly then slowly began to move again, deeper and more powerful than before. She’d barely recovered from her first orgasm when he reached around her and claimed her clit, rubbing with an ever-increasing speed as he took her from behind. She gasped for air, crying out, “Trent,” as they came together with one final, shuddering thrust. Still recovering from her multiple orgasms, she hardly noticed him pulling out of her. They were still panting when Trent picked her up into his arms and carried her to the bedroom.

As he laid her on the bed, her senses began to return. She was doing exactly what she had told herself she wouldn’t do. The blame couldn’t be put on Trent. He had asked her if she wanted it; why didn’t she stop him then? The answer was complex and yet very simple at the same time. It was because she didn’t want him to stop. He’d haunted her dreams the past two weeks. No matter how many times she’d tried to convince herself otherwise, she wanted him that first night as well. If only she wasn’t so damn attracted to him, everything would be so much easier. “Trent. We need to stop, we can’t do this.”

He pulled away slightly and said, “It’s a little late to have second thoughts now.”

“I mean, we can’t keep doing
this
. We agreed never to let this happen again.”

“No, we agreed not to let anyone know we were sleeping together.” He brushed the hair away from her face. “You can’t tell me you didn’t want that as much as I did.”

Probably more.
“What we have is only a sexual attraction and one we need to control.”

“We will work on that tomorrow.”

Before she could argue he claimed her lips again. Moaning, she pulled him onto her.
Yes, tomorrow.