Page 26 of The Playboy Billionaire

“I meant what I said at the meeting,” I say quietly. “I want you to come into the office. See if we can come to anarrangement. When I said Frazer Development does not look at kicking out local businesses, I meant it. Especially ones that offer a service to the community.”

“Look, Mr Frazer,” she says, raising my heckles. I want to hear her using my name. Not my bloody title.

“Mr Frazer was my dad,” I say, plastering a fake smile.

“Fine, Cal or Caleb, or whoever you are?—”

I almost sigh as the words leave her mouth.

“I’m Caleb to most people, but I liked the way you screamed, Cal,” I add, my tone lowering.

“Don’t even say it, that night was…” she snaps, and I instantly regret my words when she gets up and puts some distance between us. This woman does strange things to my body and sends my mind into turmoil.

“Amazing? Unforgettable?” I say before I can stop myself.

“I was going to sayregrettable.And nothing to do with our current situation.”

Her eyes once again flash fire, shooting sparks of desire south.

I lean back against the mirror, stretching out my legs. And watch as April’s fists clench by her sides.

“Let’s be honest about New York, Cal. I won’t give you a cliched response and say it wasn’t me or that I’m not that kind of girl. I slept with you,” she says, although the fact she hadn’t done it for a while tells me she’s not being entirely truthful.

“There wasn’t much sleeping as far as I recall,” I say, finding I want to get a reaction out of her. I want her angry enough that she doesn’t roll over and walk away.

She grits her teeth, and I bite back a smile.

“I had sex with you—whatever. But that was it, one night, two strangers, working off their sexual frustrations in a different city,” she says, shaking her head. “Look, Cal, you’reMr Big Business. We’re from different worlds. I’m just a dance teacher, you’re a CEO of the biggest property development firm in the city. Our worlds are poles apart.” She shakes her head and looks at me. “In terms of why you walked through that door. You and your company have all the power here. Whatever I say to you is meaningless. Your business is about your bottom line. Every business is. Hell, my business is.”

“That’s why I’m inviting you to a meeting. I mean it, April. I want to find a solution.”

I push up off the bench and move towards her.

She steps back, but then something makes her stop and hold her ground.

“You forget, Cal. I’ve just been toyourmeeting. Seen your plans. My dance school doesn’t exist.”

Shit,she’s right. That must have been hard to swallow.

This space has been carved up into smaller retail units.

“That’s fair enough. Until today, I didn’t know you were here. That there is an issue. Agree to a meeting, April. Give me a chance to put this right.”

Her eyes widen as she looks at me.

She remains silent, and my head begins to spin with possibilities.

“Look, I think we’ve got off on the wrong foot. Can we start again?”

I hold out my hand, but drop it when she doesn’t even look at it.

”Meeting again was a shock—for both of us. But, April, I want to find a solution. Come to my offices. Discuss your business and its future. Something that should have happened five months ago if Finnigan hadn’t tried to con us both.”

She looks taken aback, but remains silent, so I try again.

“How about this Thursday or Friday?”

“I…” she says, her arms wrapping around her waist. April defeated is not something I want.

---