Page 267 of Billionaire Temptations

Rolling my eyes, I ended the call and threw my phone across my desk. I leaned back in my chair and brought my hands up to my chin.

“You look deep in thought,” Samuel spoke as he strolled in.

“Just got off the phone with my father. He ripped me a new one for buying the buildings on East 9th.”

“If you want my honest opinion, it was a stupid deal on your part. But I understand why you did it. You can keep calling it an investment, but I know you did it for Emily. And you know why you did it for her? Because you love her.”

“Shut the fuck up. I do not. She’s a friend who wanted to expand, and I could make that happen. If it were you, I would have done the same thing, and you fucking know it.” I pointed my finger at him.

“Whatever, bro. Keep denying it. I’ve been in love a couple of times, and I know the signs. Anyway, I’m heading over to the Preston property. Are you coming?”

“No. Take Elie with you, get the numbers, and report back.”

“Okay.” He walked out of my office.

I was feeling stressed, so I grabbed a cab and headed over to Emily’s shop to see the new espresso bar that was finally finished. When I walked through the door, I saw her standing by the back room in an embrace with another man—a younger man. I swallowed hard as I watched the smile on her face grow when he kissed her cheek. Anger ripped through me, and it took everything I had not to go and rip his face off. His hand rubbed her arm, and her body language told me that she enjoyed it. I turned and left the shop before I did something I would regret. This feeling inside me was something I couldn’t control, and it was making me crazy. I went to the shop to see her because my day sucked, and I knew she could change that. Obviously, I was wrong. We were supposed to see each other tonight, but I didn’t want to see her now. I was afraid of what I might say if I did.

Pulling my phone from my pocket, I sent her a text message.

“We aren’t going to be able to see each other tonight. Something came up at the office, and I need to stay to deal with it, and I don’t know how long it will take.”

I waited for those three little dots to tell me she was typing. They didn’t. She was probably still flirting with that guy and too busy to look at her phone. Was this a complication? It sure the hell was, and I didn’t like it one bit.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Emily

Seeing Jake again was the highlight of my day. I hadn’t seen him since Parsons, when he dropped out and moved to Italy to study fashion. Now he was back in New York to stay after scoring an editorial position at Cosmopolitan magazine.

Grabbing my phone from the counter, I looked at it and saw Jackson’s text message. It seemed cold and flat, like he was pissed off.

“Okay. I understand. Are you okay?”

I waited a few minutes for a response, but one never came. Maybe he was in a meeting, and he’d text me later.

“What’s wrong?” Katie asked as she walked past me.

“Jackson sent me a text message saying he had to cancel for tonight because something came up at the office.”

“Oh. Then let’s go out. Alex is working late at the firm.”

“Okay. How about a movie? We can go see that new one with Blake Lively.”

“Sounds fun. I’ll check to see what time it starts.” She smiled as she walked away.

The movie ended at eight,and since neither one of us was hungry because of the large popcorn and box of Milk Duds we devoured, we decided to hit up a bar for a couple of drinks before heading home. We entered through the door of The Heights Bar & Grill and found a table along the wall amongst the crowd of people who were also there.

“What can I get you ladies?” the tall redheaded waitress asked.

“I’ll have a frozen watermelon margarita, sugar rim.” I smiled.

“I’ll have the same,” Katie spoke.

“Can I get you an appetizer or something?”

“No. Just the drinks.” I smiled.

“Two frozen sugar-rimmed watermelon margaritas coming right up.” She grinned as she scurried away.

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