Page 2 of The Billionaire's Masquerade Ball

“I know. That’s why I’m glad you’re around to keep me in line, Judy. Don’t forget that your Christmas bonus will reflect that.”

She stood and slipped on her gray flats. He liked that she felt comfortable enough in his office to take her shoes off. “If you hang that Christmas bonus over my head one more time to try and get me to do things for you …”

Xander smiled. “Your Christmas bonus was sent via direct deposit this morning. I think you’ll be quite pleased.”

“In that case, I’m leaving for the day,” Judy said, heading for the door.

Xander laughed, knowing full-well that she would be there as late as he was tonight. Typically, he ended the day accompanying her down to the parking garage below their building. When he couldn’t, he sent Wyatt or someone from security. Not that the building wasn’t safe. But after years of this routine, Xan felt odd about letting her walk alone.

“Is Jake coming?” Judy said, pausing in the doorway.

“He’ll be here,” Xander said.

“Good. Tell him to stop in and see me if he has time. I won’t be at the gala. I have no desire to rub elbows with Chicago’s elite and I don’t need a gala to open my wallet. Now if we could only get you to settle down with a nice girl like his Shelby…”

Xander chuckled. “Nice? That’s probably the last word you should use to describe Shelby. Fiery is more like it.”

“I’ve heard the stories. I appreciate a woman who carries a gun and has a pet alligator. Plus, I saw that lovesick look on Jake’s face before he moved to Texas.”

Xander smiled at this. Jake did return from the trip to Texas where he met Shelby looking miserable. He had fallen hard and fast. Xander didn’t resent the relationship, even though it meant that Jake resigned, but jealousy sometimes flashed through him. Jake had a happiness that Xander had once known and never would again. Which is exactly why Xander kept his feelings locked up tight. No sense in even hoping for a second chance at love. He’d had his day and lost it.

Judy continued. “I didn’t mean ‘nice’ as in boring. I meant ‘nice’ as in not one of those high-society strumpets you’re always out and about with. Different one for every event. Don’t think I don’t notice.”

Wyatt coughed, but it sounded more like a choked bit of laughter he was trying to hide. Xander’s mouth was already hanging open, but almost dropped to the floor when Wyatt spoke up.

“I’m pretty certain that the purpose of the ‘high society strumpets,’ as you so adequately called them, Judy, is to keep Xander from actually meeting a nice girl,” Wyatt said. “They’re his shield.”

Wyatt was even sharper than he’d realized. Xander knew everyone was aware of his playboy reputation. Hard to avoid with photos in the society pages and on local blogs. But he wasn’t trying to avoid them. He’d carefully crafted this public image, even though that’s all it was: an image. Better that than people being all up in the business of his personal life. It kept him from having to answer questions about relationships truthfully.

The truth was that his relationships were shockingly G-rated. Women didn’t ever get a second date or more than a kiss on the cheek, despite what many of them claimed publicly. Some women had claimed a lot of things to get their fifteen minutes of media attention.

He didn’t really care about what people thought about him. Or, rather, he didn’t care if they thought he was a playboy. There were other things he very much hoped would stay forever hidden from the public gaze.

But hearing Judy about his bad-boy reputation filled Xander with shame. And with a longing that he forced back down. No room for that.

He steeled his face and leveled a look at Wyatt, who cowered a bit, dropping his eyes. “I had no idea that psychoanalyzing me was anywhere in either of your job descriptions.”

Judy shook a finger at him. “I may not know why, but I do know a man running from his past when I see one. You’ve got a mystery to you, Alexander. I know if you wanted to talk about it, you would. But I just hope you don’t let whatever hurt you suffered in the past stop you from having a future that’s happy. I think it’s time you ditch the bimbos and gold-diggers and let yourself fall in love.”

Hearing the words “bimbos” and “gold-diggers” come out of Judy’s mouth was too much. Xan put a hand to the back of his neck. “I, um…”

Judy chuckled as she left the office. “I love seeing you speechless. It happens so rarely, too. I should take a picture, but I’ve got an ice sculpture order to amend.”

Xander’s cell phone was buzzing in his pocket as Judy closed the door. He was thankful for the interruption until he saw the caller ID, which read Olivia Prescott DO NOT ANSWER. His lips curled and he let it ring in his palm for a moment, weighing his options. Olivia was one of his more recent dates and harder to shake than most. Judy’s words echoed in his mind as he answered.

“Olivia, dear. To what do I owe the pleasure?”

Her laugh grated in his ear. When she spoke, it was in a soft purr that he knew she meant to be flirty. It was almost as hard to listen to as her laugh. “Speaking of pleasure …”

He should have been more careful with his choice of words. “I’m actually at work, so unless this is business, I’m going to have to go.”

“Why choose? Business and pleasure go well together.”

“Cut to the chase, Liv. I’ve got a meeting.”

She sighed, and he could almost picture her full lips pouting. “Fine. I’m covering the masquerade gala for the Tribune and just wanted to make sure I had an invite.”

“I can issue you a press pass and have it at the door,” Xander said.

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