Page 14 of Savage Bosses

That was my favorite, and I was glad he liked it too.

“Yes, but just in case something goes wrong, and we can’t get that one, we need a backup.”

Nico leans back in his chair. “Something you will find out about me, Ms. Best, is that I always get what I want. No matter the obstacles.”

The way his gaze stays on me after he finishes speaking has my stomach doing somersaults. I swear this man is doing something to me. Sometimes he says things that makes me think he’s interested in me, but then I come back down to reality and realize I’m being crazy. Niccolo Basille is a billionaire with access to some of the most beautiful women in the world. He is definitely not flirting with me.

Clearing my throat, I glance down at my lap before looking back at him. “Mr. Basille—”

“Nico,” he says cutting me off. “Youcall me Nico.”

I let the name Nico slip one time. He went completely rigid. I thought I had made a mistake. However, since then, he only wants me to call him Nico.

Pushing my knotless braids behind my ear, I start the conversation again. “Nico, you may always get what you want, but in my world, things don’t always pan out.”

“Looks like I need to change your world.” He winks at me, and I squeeze my thighs together. I should not be feeling this way about my client.

I quickly change the subject to something safer.

“I have a bit of good news. You were right about Martin Hovier. I gave it a few days and went back to see him, and he was much more agreeable this time.”

I’d been trying to work with the furniture maker on chairs that would perfectly fit the theme of the hotel. The man was a complete asshole and sexist. He was trying to charge me ten times more for the chairs than I wanted to spend. After talking to Nico about it, I told him we may have to choose different furniture. However, he suggested I give it a few days and try Martin again.

“That’s great. You were able to get a good deal?”

Nodding my head, I grin. “Not only are we getting the chairs for a significant price cut, but he’s throwing in those tables I liked as well for free.”

The smile on his face has my pulse racing. “I knew you could do it.”

I shrug. “Well, I had help. Apparently, Mr. Hovier was in some type of accident. His face is busted up and he has a broken arm. He said the near-death experience changed his outlook. It made him a much easier man to deal with.”

Nico only nods his head.

Mr. Basille and I spent the rest of the day working on plans for the hotel. Around lunchtime we took a tour of the resort. He walked me though all his ideas for the building. I love to listen to him talk about design and architecture. After lunch we went our separate ways. He had meetings while I went back to the office to check on the tile I ordered for the foyer of the Resort.

At six that afternoon, I shut down my laptop and prepared to leave for home. I’d gone all day without hearing from Marcus. Mira had cake and ice cream in the break room for my birthday. She even got me a spa package for this weekend. Yet, nothing from my boyfriend. I still have hope that I’m going to show up at home to a big surprise party.

I say goodnight to the few colleagues that are still hanging around the office. As soon as I step outside, I’m met with a nice surprise, just not the one I thought.

“You didn’t actually think I forgot your birthday, did you?”

Standing in front of his black Mc Laren P1 Spider is Niccolo Basille with a single red rose.

“Nico.” His name is the only word I’m able to say.

“Happy birthday, Tiffany,” he says, making his way over to me.

He hands me the flower. I bury my nose in the red petals.

“It’s beautiful.”

His eyes remain on me as he replies. “That it is.”

I’m not blind, I know there is some attraction between him and I. However, he has never done anything disrespectful. Nothing more than a few compliments here and there. I don’t believe anything will ever come from it—obviously, I’m with Marcus.

“Shouldn’t you be on your way to Japan?” I ask remembering he has a meeting in Tokyo in the morning.

He runs his hands through his hair. “I do, but I couldn’t leave without celebrating your birthday. I’m not sure what Marcus has planned, but I made reservations for both of you at Le Cherie. And don’t worry, it’s all paid for.”

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