Still the Billionaire's First Choice - Chapter 3

Amusing—because he enjoyed laughing at her expense?

Sophia shot him a death stare as the bitter insult he’d hurled at her six years ago echoed in her head. It wasn’t just unforgotten, but as fresh as if he’d just snarled it.

‘You seriously want me to be your date for the ball?’ Sophia questioned scathingly.

Why insist on something so obviously unpalatable? He clearly hated her as much as she hated him.

He gazed down at her. ‘Why not? Or is there some impediment—a new billionaire fiancé lurking in the background?’

Of course he’d reference that—no doubt he’d revelled in her humiliation two years ago. ‘The impediment is that I have a job to do.’

‘Most of the work’s already done,’ he said dismissively. ‘You’re only supervising in case something goes wrong. If that happens—and I highly doubt it will—you’ll attend to the issue and then return.’

So he wasn’t going to take no for an answer?

Her new boss had been at pains to stress the importance of delivering tonight—EDB International was a big client. But the event staff was impeccably trained and knew how this place worked better than she. Still, she tried an excuse. ‘I’m not suitably dressed.’

But that only gave him reason to inspect her body again. ‘Just remove the badge. You’re still pretty enough,’ he muttered, then paused. ‘Though you really ought to make the most of your looks before they fade, Sophia. Bag the billionaire husband you’ve always been determined to acquire.’

He still thought she was a gold digger, willing to sell herself for the highest price. He still didn’t understand.

‘You’re so right, Felipe.’ She shot him a saccharine smile. ‘Thank you so much for this opportunity. I’m aware there’ll be plenty of wealthy men in attendance tonight.’

‘Shame about that other guy,’ he retaliated softly, stepping dangerously closer. ‘He really didn’t want to marry you, did he? Rushed off to elope with some random to escape your family’s pressure.’

Sophia stared up, determined not to let him intimidate her into stepping back, determined to ignore her crackling sensual awareness of him.

The fact was her father and aunt had become so desperate to expedite her engagement they’d actually planted gossip stories in the press. Sophia had waited—spinelessly—until one day Ares Vasiliadis had arrived in Athens married to a woman from London no one had ever heard of. His betrayal had plummeted Sophia into a bottomless hole of shame and social ostracisation. Her ‘friends’ had commiserated to her face while relishing her humiliation behind her back. But her father had been furious and still wanted a return on his ‘investment’ in her.

‘Apparently, Ares’s wife hasn’t been seen these last two years,’ Felipe added acidly. ‘Perhaps it’s all on paper, no passion.’

Sophia wasn’t so sure about that because perpetually wintry Ares had actually smiled when he’d been decent enough to tell Sophia about his Bethan before dropping the bomb publicly.

Felipe’s gaze narrowed as she didn’t respond.

‘Are you still prepared to live without passion, Sophia?’ he muttered.

Her breath stalled.

The last summer she’d spent at the villa, she and Felipe had finally kissed. Those kisses had swiftly gone from innocent to intense, pushing her to tearfully—guiltily—confess her family’s intentions for her future—that she would marry a man of their choosing. He’d actually laughed, tried to reassure her. But he’d not really understood. She’d lost herself in his arms, would have slept with him that night, but he’d not wanted it to happen in the heat of the moment. He’d pulled back. That hesitation had caused her heartache. In the past she’d heard the talk amongst the women who stayed there—the friends of her father’s—they’d considered him a stud.

Only days later she’d learned her father expected her to marry Ares. That shock, combined with Felipe’s hesitation, had made her question everything. The rash decision she’d made that night had ruined everything.

‘Of course you are,’ Felipe eventually answered for her. ‘You’ve nothing but ice in your veins.’

Unfortunately, that wasn’t entirely true.

She’d kissed several other guys since Felipe. Quite desperately, in fact. But none had made her feel the way Felipe had, and Ares definitely hadn’t. But she would never let this arrogant, wilfully obtuse jerk know it.

‘I am prepared to do my job, Felipe,’ she said as icily as she damned well could. ‘If that means pandering to your ego and standing beside you at this party, then that’s what I’ll do.’