Page 53 of The Billionaires' Prize

And the more prominent you become, the more personal the questions get.

“You want my advice?” I ask as the water washes my sweat down the drain.

“Give it to me.”

“Let your team handle it. Relay your messages through them. It’s what you pay them for.”

Towels around our waist, we head around the corner. The hot sauna air billows out the door, and luckily, we’re alone. We pick a spot on the back bench.

“I just wish the paps would stay out of it. We went to the auction and donated a hell of a lot of money. Why can’t that be the story?” His nimble fingers fiddle with the towel around his lean hips.

My tongue feels two sizes too big.

And I’m pretty sure I just flat-lined. The gorgeous geek is so adorably casual. I don’t know where Alex is this morning, but it’s obvious Gabe needs a friend. Someone he can trust.

And he picked me.

I nod. “You’d hope the charity would be the story.”

“Maybe that’s what I need to do. Make a statement about the foundation and remind people of all the good work that money is going to do,” he says. Then, “It makes me look bad.”

“What does? Not speaking directly to the piranhas?”

“Not talking to my family. The media will twist it.”

He’s obviously thought a lot about this situation. Maybe even written a few stories in his head.

I run my fingers through my hair.

“I’m sure you have a good reason. Don’t let anyone make you feel guilty about that.”

“You’re right.”

“Of course I am,” I tease.

“How’d you get to be so smart?”

“Practice and experience.”

He’s quiet for a few minutes and I tip my head back, letting myself enjoy the moment. Being okay with silence and stillness is an art I’m still perfecting. And let’s be honest, I might never be good at it, but I try.

“Was thinking of going out to the house this week. Maybe rethinking what I want.”

“You should.”

He nods. “Wanna go?”

I roll my head along the wall and take in the billionaire tech tycoon. He doesn’t seem as relaxed as he did earlier. This invitation is important to him. I can see the wheels spinning and the gears grinding. He thinks I might shoot him down. Which is endearing as hell.

I bet no one turns him down these days. Not that I’m going to.

“Absolutely. Just tell me when.” I do love a good design challenge.

His smile is slow and relieved. Then he rubs his hands together and settles back against the wall. “Sure. Now, tell me a secret about Katherine.”

16

KATHERINE

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