WIFE WANTED (A Billionaire Bad Boy Romance) (10 page)

He led the way into his office and closed the door behind them. Riley didn’t give him a chance to get comfortable before he laid into him. “You took my program, Yancey. Don’t sit there and deny it. I want to know who gave you the intel and how you managed to poach my client.”

“Riley, it’s just good business, but I must reassure you I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“You were a horrible liar when I first took this job and you've only gotten worse,” Riley said. “What’s next? You going to go after my merger with the CIA?”

Yancey’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Why would I do that?”

“It’s the next logical move. Who’s your informant?”

Yancey leaned back in his chair and smiled slowly. “You have nothing. That’s why you’re here. You’re just fishing to see if I’ll give you anything to run with.” He laughed, then slid the file he’d taken from archives across the desk. “Here, have a look. Dated and timestamped with what my people accomplished. No help from you.”

Riley took the file and flipped through it. “What? This is from two years ago… That was the same time our R and D department started this project. How did you get this?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about. My techs started this project on that date and finished it only a week ago,” Yancey said, standing to pour himself a drink from his corner table. “I put the information out there on what we had and our price. Your client came to me, Riley. I’ve been a businessman as long as you have been alive. Poaching is not something I do.”

“Please, don’t preach to me about your morals.” Riley tossed the file on the desk. “Your records are incomplete. Where’s the actual research? Where’s the programming template?”

“That I cannot show you.”

Riley’s eyes narrowed when Yancey didn’t turn back around to face him. “Because you don’t have them. When I find out who’s behind this, they’ll wish they’d never tried to work both sides of a deal.”

“I’m afraid you will never find this person,” Yancey said coolly. “But you are welcome to try.”

“I will, don’t you worry about that. I’ll see you at the function tonight? Perhaps by then, I’ll have more information on this spy of yours who doesn’t seem to exist.” Riley left the office after a single scornful look. The man was lying. But who in his building would consider working for a man like that? None of the people loyal to his grandfather. Maybe one of the younger techs? Trying to make a name for himself? He didn’t want to start interrogating his people, but if it came down to it, he would.

Unless…unless it was Diane. Did all of this really trace back to her?

There were still a few hours until the function that evening where his board would be trying to cozy up to all the businessmen they could get funding out of. Riley hated the things, but maybe if he went, Yancey would slip up. Let him get a glimpse of this so-called spy.

Then Riley could make his move and end this before Yancey took more than just a client from him.

Chapter 12

Phoebe spun around in her dress and stared at the person in the mirror. “This is so not me.”

“Are you kidding?” Charlotte called from the kitchen. “You look hot! Damn, I wish I could wear something like that. Afraid the ladies wouldn’t fit too well.”

“I think your ladies would fit just fine.” She twirled again and couldn’t help but smile. The last time she’d worn a dress like this…well, she’d never worn one. This wasn’t just a dress, it was a gown. Something rich people wore on their typical nights out. Yet here she was, in her tiny, shabby apartment, wearing something this gorgeous.

Charlotte’s reflection appeared next to hers. “Now, you remember what I told you?”

Phoebe nodded and picked up the small satin purse that had come with the dress. “I have my mace. If he gets obnoxious or does anything else, I spray him in the face, call you for a ride, then call the cops.”

“Yes, and I’ll be at the café right around the corner.”

“Really, Charlotte, you don’t have to do this. I think we just got off on the wrong foot. This is his chance to try and get it right. If not…then I’ll cut him loose and get a restraining order.”

They laughed together before there was a knock on the door. “Well, at least he’s punctual.”

Phoebe nodded and let Charlotte answer the door. She listened to them exchange pleasantries—though Charlotte’s were a bit on the threatening side—before she stepped forward from the hallway.

“Phoebe,” Mitch said, dressed in a snazzy tux with a bowtie, “you look amazing. Really, that dress…it fits you like a glove.”

She smoothed down the front and hung her head with a shy smile. “It really is a beautiful gown. And you look very handsome, too.”

“Thanks, but I’m afraid you will be drawing all the attention tonight.” He held out his arm for hers, and she picked up her small clutch. Charlotte said she’d lock up behind them, and the two headed down the hall to the stairs. “You really do look amazing tonight.”

Phoebe smiled and felt her cheeks warm. Charlotte had helped get her hair up and pinned back with curls trailing around her face. The jewelry was on loan from her, too. Costume, but still, the stones sparkled against the dark fabric. As she’d been getting ready, her thoughts kept going back to her pirate and how it would’ve been nice if he was standing beside her instead of Mitch.

“A limo?” she asked, surprised, when they reached the curb.

Mitch shrugged. “Trying to make up for my behavior the other night.”
“Well, you’re doing quite well so far.” She waited a second before they got in the limo. “Mitch, I don’t want you to not act like yourself around me.”

“Even if myself is that pompous ass from the other night?”

“Well, no,” she said, frowning. “But if that’s the case, then I’ll head back upstairs right now.”

Mitch took both of her hands gently and sighed. “I’ve been alone for a long time. Never really had a chance to have a serious relationship. But now, I’m at a point in my life…I need to get serious, settle down. That me you saw the first night…I don’t want you to see that again.”

She squeezed his hands and smiled, trying to believe him. “All right, then. Shall we go? I don’t want you to be late.”

“If I’m late, it’s for a good reason.”

When they were comfortably settled on the leather seat, the limo pulled away from the curb and they headed to the function. Phoebe played with her clutch and tried to keep a smile on her face. Mitch sat close but didn’t do anything except brush his shoulder against hers. Maybe he was telling the truth, but Phoebe wouldn’t trust him that easily. They were almost there when her phone buzzed.

“Do you need to get that?”

“Probably just an e-mail,” she said and dug her cell out. “Sorry.”

“No, please. We still have a few moments anyway.”

Phoebe unlocked her phone and opened her e-mail. There was a new message from the dating website, but she’d worry about that later. There was also a missed call. She put it to her ear as it played, wondering why she hadn’t heard her phone go off. But when the voice started speaking, she had to hide her surprise by turning to look out the window.

“So, yes, I called you earlier than anticipated,” her pirate said, “but I couldn’t wait. I was hoping maybe Friday night, we could bump into each other again. Get that ice cream I tried to get you that first night? Just please, call me back. I would really like to see you again, Anna.” Then the message ended and she was left with the sudden urge to hit redial. She’d barely even met the man, yet there was something in his voice when he spoke to her, a glimmer in his eyes that she wanted to keep staring at. Those arms that had caught her twice now had left their mark. To feel them again…feel his lips on hers. They’d looked so soft. And his muscular body with the tattooed arms…

“We’re here,” Mitch said, interrupting what was quickly turning into an R-rated fantasy.

“Oh, right,” Phoebe said and tucked her cell back in her clutch, hoping she wasn’t blushing too much. Things were getting a bit heated in her head, but the second Mitch took her hand, they all fell away. He was her date for the night. This was the man she had to focus on. At least for the moment.

If she got bored, she’d sneak away and call the pirate back.

Ben the pirate…doesn’t really fit too well
.

“Phoebe, if I may?”

Mitch offered her his hand and helped her out of the limo. There were paparazzi lined up outside the black velvet rope that blocked off the main entrance from anyone except invited guests. Phoebe had never been to an event like this. Bright lights flashed all around her, and she felt completely out of her element. It took everything she had not to jump back into the limo and tell the driver to take her back home. Praying she wouldn’t trip on her heels, she let Mitch guide her towards the front doors. She kept her face turned from the cameras as best as she could until they were through the doors.

“Wow…holy shit,” she whispered as she stared at the ballroom.

Mitch laughed. “Yeah, you could say that. These guys like to go all out. Think it actually impresses people.”

“It’s incredible, the flowers, the lights…it’s like a fairytale.”

There were tables scattered around the outer edges of the large ballroom, fresh roses and dahlias in tall glass vases. The smell was intoxicating. Candles were lit all around them and music played on a platform in the back, all strings. There were several couples already dancing—dancing in a way that Phoebe knew she never could. Waiters in tuxes walked around, carrying trays of champagne and scotch, appetizers and bottles of wine.

“Come on, I have to mingle with some people, but I promise, I’ll get you a dance soon,” Mitch said, and together, they headed over to another group of men and women dressed much as she and Mitch were. Except those women wore real jewels.

She snatched a glass of champagne as a waiter walked by and started to sip it. This night was going to be a long one.

***

Phoebe slipped away two hours later when Mitch was still busy talking to…hell, she didn’t even know who they were anymore. They’d spent time with so many people, and she’d hardly said two words. First, she didn’t know what she should even say to people like this, and second, none of them so much as looked at her. She might be pretty, but the other women were socially qualified for these types of events. Phoebe was not. She scurried away, out of the ballroom and down the hall, trying to find a quiet place to sit for a few minutes and kick off her shoes.

“I know that look,” a woman about her age said, stepping out of the bathroom.

“Excuse me?” Phoebe asked.

The woman smiled and pointed at her bare feet. “New shoes. Never a good idea to break in the heels at these damn things. You’ll have blisters for days.”

“Yeah, really didn’t think that part through. They just looked so good with the dress.”

“I’ll give you that one.” She sat down on the bench next to Phoebe and kicked off her own silver heels that matched her dark grey dress. “Other than the shoes, are you enjoying yourself?”

Phoebe tried to smile, but whatever look did appear on her face made the woman laugh. “That obvious, huh?”

“If you could see your face, you’d be thinking the same thing.”

***

Riley grabbed Ben by the arm and dragged him out into the hall. “I’m leaving. I can’t stand listening to that damn man prattle on any more about my grandfather. And why the hell is Diane here? I thought you checked the guest list before we left?”

“I did. And I have no idea. But you need to relax, seriously. If you bug out now, the board members will throw a fit, and I’m not covering for you.”

“Fine, but I need a break for a few minutes.”

They strolled down the hall until he heard voices. Linda had disappeared to the ladies’ room what seemed like an hour ago. She was there as Ben’s date after Riley spent an hour convincing them both that he didn’t mind if they dated. As long as he didn’t catch them doing it in his office, he couldn’t care less. They turned the corner to find Linda sitting on a bench with—

“Anna,” he breathed and put his arm out to stop Ben.

But they had drawn the attention of the ladies, who both turned.

“Ah, there you two are. I was beginning to think you’d run off and left me,” Linda said.

“Wait,” Ben whispered as the two women headed over. “Did you call her Anna? Is that
the
Anna?”

Riley nodded as his chest tightened in panic. He didn’t want her to know who he was yet. She was the one woman lately who had treated him normally, not like she was going to eat him for dinner. If she found out who he was, it could ruin everything.

“Ben, where’s my champagne?” Linda asked, frowning.

But Anna wasn’t watching her face. She was too busy staring at Riley.

“I’m sorry, I must’ve forgotten to have Frank get it,” Riley said, smacking the real Ben on the arm as he spoke. “Frank, it seems you were to fetch your date champagne.”

Linda glanced between them, confused. Riley raised his brows and subtly tilted his head towards the young woman standing at her side. Thank God his assistant was smart. “Yes, Frank, you did forget my champagne.”