Page 1 of Mr. Billionaire's Second Chance

Prologue

Katherine

4 Months Ago

I ran my fingers along the seam of my satin dress as I felt the heat emanate from the grand fireplace before me. In the warm glow, I heard two glasses clink together and I turned to see him standing there with that decadent smirk on his face. The scent of his cologne wafted through the air, lulling me, and in that moment I truly believed it couldn’t get any better than this.

“1996 Chateau Latour. Only the best for a woman as beautiful as you,” he said. I rolled my eyes at him playfully, feeling my skin heat up as he inched closer.

“I’m sure you have a bottle ready for every woman you bring through here. Isn’t that right, Preston?”

“I do, but I don’t waste a bottle like this on just anyone. You’re one of a kind, Katherine.”

I smiled, watching as he poured us both a glass and handed one to me. My freshly painted fingernails wrapped around the stem and I sipped lightly, enjoying every bit of it.

“You surprised me, Preston Clarke. I never thought you’d be capable of holding a real conversation, much less one that has lasted this long,” I teased.

“You really don’t know much about me, do you?”

“Besides what I see in the papers, not really. I know better than to think your scandalous lifestyle and the rumors about which next big business venture you’re looking into are all you have to offer. If it wasn’t, I wouldn’t be sitting here. You remember that night, don’t you? The night we first met?”

“How could I forget?” he asked, with a smile.

“You did a number on that dress. I never did manage to get the stain out,” I responded, chuckling.

“If I hadn’t spilled my drink, I would’ve never gotten the chance to know you. You’re the first person that spoke to me like a human being in ages. It was refreshing.”

“Something tells me you spilled it on purpose,” I said.

“Well, you know what they say about us Clarkes. We see an opportunity and we run with it.”

“I should’ve known.”

I couldn’t hide the flush in my skin, the light buzz I felt from the wine, or how much he made me want him. There was a time I promised myself I’d never get involved with any of New York’s corporate types, because I’d heard time and time again that they were trouble. Preston Clarke was the last person I expected to run into that night at that new bar opening downtown.

It was a quaint little place, hardly the kind that had a line going right out the door. If I hadn’t let Poppy drag me out that night, I never would’ve met you. I’m still trying to decide if she did me a favor, or if all of this luxury will still melt away and leave nothing behind. There was something about it all that felt a little too good to be true. I still wondered what a man like Preston would want with someone like me; a nobody in his eyes.

He held my gaze, not breaking it for a moment as he sipped on his wine. I watched as he ran his fingers over his stubble, and I felt it hard to catch my breath. I toyed with the small diamond pendant that sat proudly on my decolletage. He looked down on it, smiling brightly.

“You never did tell me what you were doing in Brooklyn anyway. With someone like you showing up, I would’ve expected there’d be more of a turnout than there was,” I said, as the memories of that night came flooding back.

“The bar owner is a friend of mine. We’ve known each other for years and I told him I’d show up once he actually got that place open. I offered to help him out a while back but he refused. He said he wasn’t going to be accepting any handouts. He finally did it,” said Preston.

The smile on his face was genuine and it was one of the reasons he drew me in as quickly as he did. The past few weeks of incredible nights out, seeing the city in a way I never did before, made me wonder what his life really looked like. I wanted to know the Preston that was hidden underneath that lavish suit and perfectly tousled hair. I wanted to know what kept him up at night, what his dreams were, and all that made him the man he is today.

I got a little too caught up in the whirlwind that was the life of a Clarke, but I knew there was still so much I wanted to see. I glanced down at his lips, and the tension between us grew as he lifted my chin, kissing me softly. It ignited something inside of me that I was sure hadn’t been there before. I ran my fingers through that perfect head of brunette hair as I kissed him, feeling him eventually pull away. He smiled, getting up and smoothing out the creases in his suit pants before offering me his hand.

He led me straight to the double doors of his bedroom. My heartbeat started to quicken again knowing how incredible he felt, how the intensity between us grew every moment we were together. I wanted him. I wanted to feel every inch of him again. The softness of his lips on mine, the way his jaw tensed as he thrust deep inside of me, it left me needing more. I watched as he shut the doors behind him. He undid his belt buckle with a smile, and I took to the bed, running my fingers along his luxurious silk sheets. It was clear then that it was going to be yet another night that I absolutely wouldn’t forget.

“It’s time we get you home, Kat.”

I didn’t argue with him. Part of me wished that I could stay and let this feeling go on forever, but the other part of me knew I had to look out for myself. I knew I had to reel myself back, because if I ever did get lost in him, I wouldn’t be able to find a way out. He led me down to the lobby, holding the door of his black town car open as he slid inside next to me. He drove me back to my apartment, and as I got out, he rolled the window down, smiling softly.

“Until next time.”

“I’ll be seeing you, Preston Clarke.”

The window rolled back up and his car took off into the night. At home, I opened up my front door to hear the television on and I set my things down on the entryway table just as Poppy came rushing over to me. Her chiffon blouse was slightly undone and she pulled up her pencil skirt with her free hand, sipping on a glass of wine with the other.

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