Page 11 of Billionaire Devil

I’m gripping my champagne flute so hard I have to make a point of not breaking it.

“What a way to sell your colleagues.” Lila bites back a smile.

“I mean, they’re notallassholes.” I know Sloane’s not including me in that half-compliment.

Lila laughs. “As if I’m going to have my first one night stand with some random guy just so I don’t completely embarrass myself in case I happen to connect with Troy, who’s actually with someone else but apparently they’re ‘not exclusive’, according to Jessie. It’s so pathetic. Someone please save me from myself.”

I grip the back of a bar stool to stop myself from yellingI volunteer as tributeat the top of my lungs. I can’t suppress the raging urge to save this stunning little stranger from the douchebag named Troy. What kind of Class A moron would overlook this drop-dead gorgeous girl when she was crazy about him?

“Wait,” says Sloane. “What do you mean, ‘your first’…?”

“It’s nothing. Forget I said that.”

But Sloane is nothing if not persistent. “Lila, do you mean you’ve never…at all…even once…?”

Lila’s face turns bright red and she glances at me before shielding her eyes from me, as though that’ll stop me from overhearing. To Sloane in a hushed plea: “Would you stop? That’s the very last thing I would want your billionaire devil of a boss to know about me.”

I can’t even get offended by that. Iama devil. And she’s an angel.

“Seriously?” Sloane squawks under her breath. Myassistant is good at her job, but tact is not one of her strong points.

Sloane takes Lila’s mortified silence as a yes.

“Holy shit,” Sloane exclaims in her hushed whisper. “You’ve beensavingyourself for this guy?”

“No. Well, not exactly. I just…haven’t found someone better yet.”

“Girl, you could cash it in now. Here. Tonight. Do you want me to introduce you to some of the lesser-assholes?”

“Of course I don’t.” Lila’s expression is layered. Sadness, almost. Exhaustion. “I decided only a couple of days ago that I’m going to drive back to California on what might end up being a one-way trip. I need to focus on that and not get distracted.”

“Lila, it’s such a long way. Are you sure you want to do this? God, I’d offer to come with you if I didn’t have work.”

I’m tempted to offer Sloane the time off. But another idea is gaining momentum and it doesn’t want Sloane anywhere near it.

Lila twirls a strand of her hair. “I thought things would fall into place for me here in New York, but the reality is, they haven’t. I think the open road and some head space is exactly what I need, to figure out my next move.”

Sloane contemplates Lila and I can tell Lila’s about to be lectured by my well-meaning but very bossy assistant. I’m on the receiving end of it every damned day, so I know the warning signs and when to run. Lila, it seems, does not.

“It all sounds very Thelma and Louise, Lila—without Thelma—but the reality is you’ll be spending your nights in shitty motels, eating dinner alone, spending huge stretches on the road with all those big trucks and endless traffic. All day every day of driving is extremely tiring. It’s not evensafe, Lila. Plus there are predators out there. Lots of them. Is your car even reliable? Maybe you should at least consider taking a bus. I don’t think you’ve thought this all the way through.”

Lila sighs. “I have thought it all the way through and unfortunately it’s my best option. I’ve given it a year, Sloane. You’re basically my only real friend. I’m still not even close to breaking into the industry. And my car only makes that clunking sound when I turn the air conditioner on. It’ll be fine. The weather’s cooler now. Iwantto take the time to drive, anyway. I think it’s what I need.”

Sloane begins to relent. “If you’re really sure, honey.”

“I am.”

None of this is remotely acceptable.

Anything could happen to her out there on the open road by herself. Even if she does make it to L.A. without breaking down or worse, the thought of her showing up to that wedding dressed in some sexy little number to try to win back a dim-witted asshole who most definitely doesn’t deserve her makes me feel like bending a crowbar in half before impaling him with it.

A waiter shows up with a tray of tequila shots he’spassing around. Sloane picks up two of them, handing one to Lila. “Well, if it’s our last night together for a while, we need to at least drink to your journey. And your conquest. You too, boss.” I grab one and Sloane clinks her shot against mine, then Lila’s. “To the fall of Troy.”

Lila giggles and shakes her head. “I’mreallygoing to regret this, but what the hell.”

They both drink their shots, Lila struggling with it. I tip mine back. They’re generously-sized shot glasses. Doubles, if I’m not mistaken.

As I watch Lila’s hair lift gently in a passing breeze and I catch the floral scent of her, I suddenly get the unfamiliar feeling that I’m in serious trouble. My brain is on auto-pilot and its plan is fully in place. I have no idea why I suddenly feel compelled to be this little stranger’s white knight but I’m feeling ithard.

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