Page 29 of Seduced By a Billionaire

Alarge pile of discarded clothing lay on her bed. She had finally decided on a short-flowered sundress with spaghetti straps, belted at the waist with a loose flirty skirt. The soft silky material was sexy and flattering. Her legs were bare, and she wore a pair of slip-on black patent-leather flat-heeled sandals. She had even painted her toenails a bright fire engine red. As she was applying matching red lipstick there was a knock at the door.

“Come in.”

Richard stood at the door holding a small brightly wrapped gift box.

Her eyes went round. “For me?”

“Yes. Kyle wanted me to deliver this to you before dinner.”

“What for?” she wondered aloud.

“Mr. Bennett doesn’t need any reason.”

“Thank you for the delivery.”

“You are most welcome. I’m leaving for the night. Enjoy your meal.”

“I’m sure I will. Night.”

Ella quickly ripped the paper from around the fancy box. The lid had gilded letteringClive Christian Imperial No. 1 Majesty. Opening the lid of the walnut box, she saw a small bottle nestled in red velvet, that looked like a mini decanter of the finest crystal. She knew she wasn’t looking at your run-of-the-mill department store perfume. She would google it later. On second thought, maybe she didn’t want to know.

She sniffed first then dabbed the perfume behind each ear. She could smell sandalwood and musk with hints of bergamot and a nuance of something sweet and citrusy. She couldn’t deny that she had never smelled a perfume this divine.

Curiosity aroused, she decided to google it after all. She stared at her phone in disbelief and sank down onto the chair in front of the vanity table, thunderstruck. Twelve thousand seven hundred twenty-one dollars and eighty-nine cents an ounce! She felt like gagging. That was over two months of her wages. She marched out the door, fuming.

She knocked, then entered Kyles room. He sat on a chair waiting for her to help him finish getting dressed. His eyes flashed when he saw her.

“Ella.”

Eyes blazing, she thrust the wooden box toward him and said, “What the hell is this?”

“An apology gift?” he said tentatively.

“I don’t need a twelve-thousand-dollar bottle of perfume! That’s almost enough to pay off my student loans! What’s wrong with you?”

“I thought you would like it.”

“Of course I ‘like’ it. That’s not the point.”

“Whatisthe point?” he asked, seeming genuinely confused.

“The point is you are trying to buy your way out of your back-stabbing betrayal! You ruined my reputation at work, jeopardized my career, strong-armed me into complying with your wishes even though I had clearly saidno, and now you are trying to fix it with a twelve-thousand dollar band-aid.”

Kyle held out his hand for the perfume and she snatched it back, “Oh no you don’t, I’m keeping it!”

His mouth hung open, now utterly lost. “You’re keeping it?”

“Yes, it’s been opened. You can’t return it now.”

“And youlikeit,” he said, trying to contain a grin, fearing for his life.

“Yes, and you deserve to be out the twelve-grand on principle.”

“Can I put some pants on now? I’m feeling pretty vulnerable.”

She bit her lip on a smile, “Sure. Where are they?”

“On the hanger over by the closet.”

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