Still the Billionaire's First Choice - Chapter 4

'I do appreciate your accommodating my request.’ Felipe smoothly masked his fury at his regression.

In the three minutes he’d been back in her presence, he’d lapsed into making reactive demands. She unleashed uncontrollable emotion in him. Not just anger but lust.

‘I’m only doing it for my boss,’ she replied cuttingly.

‘You mean because you’re being paid to.’

‘Right,’ she agreed loftily.

As if without money on the table, she wouldn’t be near him otherwise? Felipe gritted his teeth. That might be true for other men, but he itched to prove how near to him she really wanted to be. He could do it. He remembered. Instead, he drew a steadying breath while her gaze narrowed.

‘Why do you work for Benedetti?’ she asked. ‘Isn’t he too establishment for you?’

Eduardo Benedetti was a loner who’d turned his back on his wealthy family background. He was also a financial genius. Felipe respected the man for both those counts.

‘I owe him and I’m loyal,’ he said softly.

She stiffened. Yes, she’d not been loyal. Like all those in her society she’d just used those she considered ‘beneath’ her. Just like the other women who’d sometimes holidayed in that villa—the ones who’d wanted him to be their good-time guy. They would discuss his attributes within his earshot—assessing him like he were some prime cut of meat. One suitable to sleep with, but never settle with. He’d learned to escape their advances without insulting them—without incurring repercussions. Because back then he’d only wanted her.

‘Are you sure you can stomach being seen with me?’ he muttered. ‘Ordinarily, you wouldn’t acknowledge me around other people.’

Shadows flickered in her eyes. ‘I can handle you.’

Sadly, he still wished she would.

***

Two hours later he gritted his teeth and tried not to stare. Sophia Dimou supposedly brought class and connections to that events-management company. Annoyingly, she’d actually done a good job. He’d held several events here before, but she’d made tweaks that elevated the guest experience, and she’d clearly built a good relationship with the staff quickly—he’d seen her reassuring a couple of staff members already.

Yes, she did more than a good job now—she did all she’d been bred for. He stood alongside her as she charmingly conversed, making his guests relax and laugh. She did it with an easy smile on her lips but daggers in her eyes when she glanced up at him. Which was too often. He just wanted to strip the facade from her—rip away the demure dress and free her hair from that too-chic coil.

Unable to stand it, he stalked off to down some ice water.

She’d been his first kiss. He’d been hers, too. There’d been so many secret kisses in that last summer when he’d hoped she was finally old enough. When he’d been unable to resist any longer. Two weeks before she was due to leave, she’d snuck to see him, tearfully babbling some farrago about a betrothal. He’d laughed, never thinking she would take such a thing seriously. He’d kissed her, told her she would marry the man she wanted eventually. She’d burrowed into him—all passion and pleas and he would never know how he’d stopped that night. But she’d been too upset and emotional for him to take all she’d offered. He’d thought they had all the time in the world. But then he’d discovered it was true. Sophia was expected to marry some quasi-cousin. The jerk had actually arrived at the villa. And then Felipe had seen her with him. He’d finally understood why his mother had long warned him that women like Sophia Dimou were not for him—that she was not of his world. But he’d still been naive. He’d thought she’d fight for him, tell both her father and the Ares guy to go to hell. He’d thought that what he’d offered—everything he could offer—would be enough. It wasn’t. She’d wanted everything that wasn’t him.

His anger built as from across the room he watched her talk to an older man. The pair was deep in conversation for ten minutes. Suddenly, he was moving—stalking across the floor before cutting in, taking her hand, all but dragging her to the dance floor.

‘That was rude,’ she whispered furiously.

‘I’m saving you time. He’s already married.’

She gaped. ‘He’s seventy-eight.’

‘Yes, no wonder you’re keen, given he’s so close to the grave.’ He nodded soothingly before snapping, ‘Can you honestly not think of another way to get security other than by scoring a rich man?’

‘It’s how I was raised.’ She jerked to slip free of his grip. ‘I’m going to circulate amongst the more civilised guests.’

Jealousy savaged him. It wasn’t just her betrayal, but her denial of their attraction now that burned. He would prove her a liar. He grabbed her waist and pulled her flush against him. In an instant her beautiful body softened against his. He stared into her stunning, defiant eyes and bent closer—so close to kissing her as he whispered, ‘You never wanted civilised.’