Page 13 of The Billionaire Babe

“Get them in, Tommy,” I bark, wanting her removed from the open where anyone can see her. She and her friends didn’t appear to want the cameras last week, and now I can understand why. I feel a little bad for putting her through it all last weekend.

I grind my teeth as I watch a few of my boys push the photogs out of the way, and Valerie’s face contains a little more fear. It shouldn’t be there. She has nothing to fear. She fucking owns everyone around her, including the three blond women who fall out from her car after her, the same ones who were with her last week. They all hold hands, and I watch her some more. She doesn’t have a hair out of place. Her lips are glossy, her low-cut dress teasing me, with her tits looking too perky, too perfect.

“Ladies, welcome to Club Vine,” Cody says, giving them direct access inside. “No need to wait in line when you’re looking this fine.” Her friends giggle as I watch Cody wink at the tall blonde. Valerie smiles, but her eyes search the landscape, looking for something.

A camera flashes, and on instinct, I step forward, ready to stop anyone who hassles her. Ironic, really, since last week, I couldn’t wait to kick her out. She hasn’t seen me yet, but I watch her like a hawk and notice every other motherfucker doing the same. My men all stand aside and let her group through the crowd. It is like she is parting the seas as the line into the club that is almost a block long gawks at her.

Valerie Van Cleef.

Her smile is small and gracious, but then she looks up. Her big blue eyes hit mine, and her smile falters a little as she swallows.

“Hey,” she says breathily as she steps toward where I am standing near the entrance. I didn’t realize that I had moved and walked right up to meet her. I grit my teeth as her sweet floral scent digs into my chest, and I clench my hands, giving her a small nod but offering nothing else. “Are we going to have any issues tonight? Because if so, I would rather just leave again now,” she asks with her eyes locked on mine. Her friends stand around her, all of them now waiting for my answer.

“We’re good,” I murmur. That is as close to an apology from me as she is going to get.

“Great. Let’s go, then,” she says, breathing out what I think is a sigh of relief. I open the door for her and watch her walk in, looking at her fucking fantastic ass in the skintight dress.

Fuck. Me. Right the fuck now.

I am obviously so hard up for her because I haven't been with a woman in months. She is nothing but a rich, perfect little princess who wouldn’t know a day's work or the resilience needed to fight for survival. She is a guest of Jimmy’s and nothing more.

Only, my body is moving before my head catches up, and I follow her and her friends from a safe distance. Her group walks in like they own the place, straight to the stairs to go to the small VIP area that is reserved for people like her. Jimmy obviously got ready for them, because I notice we now do full bottle services in the VIP lounge and there are champagne coolers that reflect the light positioned on a large table, lounge chairs all around. Just for them.

“So your lady came back, huh?” Brady says as he steps up to me.

“Let’s keep an eye on this crowd,” I murmur, ignoring his comment as I look around.

“There are a lot of people tonight,” he says as the two of us canvass the crowd.

“A lot of people and too much liquor.” I look at the dance floor, seeing a lot of single men and not enough women. The ratio is a little out of balance.

I look back at Valerie as she climbs the last few stairs, leading her posse, and I don’t miss when she turns her head, her eyes finding mine again. She raises her eyebrow in challenge, and I grit my teeth and force myself to walk away.

I can’t go touching someone like Valerie. She is not a woman for a man like me. The thought reminds me of the signs I used to see in the gift shops as a kid. Breakages need to be paid for.

I will break her and I can’t afford to fix her when I do.

7

VALERIE

After a few drinks in the VIP lounge, I start to relax. When I saw the big guy out the front as we arrived, I didn’t know whether to ignore him, smile, or slap him. But I offered a small smile, a peace treaty, one he ignored and has all night. No apology, although I wasn’t expecting one. A man like him doesn’t apologize. He also isn’t going to get one from me. I look over the balcony to see if I can spot him, but he is an enigma. Sometimes you see him, sometimes you don’t.

“He was looking right at you when we walked up here,” Chloe says.

“Who?” I ask, pretending I don’t know what she is talking about.

“The big, burly security guard who looked like he wanted to fling you over his shoulder and take you straight to bed.” I splutter on my champagne as she sends me a wicked grin.

“She isn’t lying. I noticed,” Simone quips, taking a sip of her drink and giving me a naughty wink.

“Oh, stop it. It is his job,” I tell them, dabbing my lips with a napkin.

“It’s his job to look you up and down like he wants to eat you whole? I wonder what that job pays these days…” Chelsea teases and wiggles her perfect eyebrows at me.

“Oh, stop! He kicked me out last week, remember?” I whine, thinking about the horrible photos in Society News. “Why is it always pick on Val night at this place?” I ask them all as I smile, trying to get my racing heart under control. The minute I saw him tonight, my body was vibrating. He makes me equal parts frustrated and flustered.

“Well, cheers to our amazing friend, Val, who in one day manages to raise half a million dollars for heart disease, get a kick-ass opportunity with the Rothschilds, and eye fucks the sexiest man we have ever seen,” Simone says, smiling, raising her glass.

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