Page 4 of Flirting with My Billionaire Enemy

“I thought you learned your lesson while you were in Dubai,” my dad says from behind me.

I sigh and turn back around. It looks like Corey’s entrance hasn’t been enough to distract him from the lecture I feel coming on. I was pretty mad when my dad sent me to Dubai, but I made the best out of the situation. The place grew on me, and that was when Dad decided to bring me back to Georgia. “I did. But what’s wrong with a little fun now and then?”

“I need you to be on top of your game. There’s a long list of candidates who’d kill for your spot in this company. Don’t make me regret my decision to bring you back to the head office. Now is the time to be buckling down. Not wasting energy at the club.”

My dad often lectures me like this, but there’s an edge to his voice that isn’t usually there. “What’s going on?” I take a bite of my bagel and chew.

My dad drops his feet to the ground and stands. “We’re in trouble.”

“What do you mean?” I sink onto the couch.

He walks around the desk and begins to pace. “I just got the reports back from the finance department. It’s not good. We need to reform the program, and you’re going to be the man to do it.”

“But I thought you brought me back home to expand the business.”

“This is more urgent. Until we get our finances in order, we’re going to be bleeding out money, and I can’t have that.”

I led up the finance team in Dubai, so it makes sense that he wants me to take over at our headquarters, too. But this is a much bigger responsibility. Instead of being over the Dubai office, I’d be working on the finances for the entire company worldwide.

“When do I start?”

“Today. We have a meeting in five minutes, so I suggest you eat quickly.”

I wolf down the rest of my bagel and chase it with some coffee before heading to the conference room with a notepad and pen.

The room is packed with mostly men, all from the finance department. My dad is sitting at the head of the table, and I take a seat in the empty chair next to him. On his other side is a woman I don’t recognize dressed in a navy suit with big glasses and her hair tied back in a knot. She has a fierce look to her, like she could eat me alive. When she looks up and sees me, her eyes widen, and an unfriendly look crosses her face before she quickly schools her features into a controlled, professional expression.

What did I ever do to her? We haven’t even met, and she doesn’t like me already?

The meeting starts, and my dad says, “Everyone, welcome Ariana.”

Ariana. Where have I heard that name lately? I could have sworn I’d just met someone with the same name. Right, the girl at the club last night. Boy, she was something else. Sassy and fiery with gorgeous eyes I can’t get out of my head. Come to think of it, this Ariana has nice eyes, too. Very similar, though this woman is nothing like the one I’d met last night. She’s wearing light makeup, if any at all. Although she does seem to hate me just as much. I’m still not sure what I’ve done to deserve that.

My dad continues, “She’s the new software developer we hired to revamp the finance department. She created a highly successful program for Davis Corp, and it revolutionized their company. It cut hundreds of hours from their processes. That’s what we need for our department if we’re going to clean up the mess we’re in. She’s brilliant, and we’re lucky to have her.” I’m familiar with Davis Corp. They’re another commercial real estate company in Atlanta, but they’re much smaller than we are.

“Thank you, Mr. Keith,” she says to my dad. “I’m honored to be a part of the company.”

“We’re expecting big things from you.” He smiles and points both pointer fingers at her. “No pressure.”

She returns his smile, and her eyes sparkle. There’s something familiar about her, but I can’t place it. “I think I’m up for the challenge.” She’s plenty nice to Dad. I guess it’s just me she hates.

“Kaison, you and Ariana will be working together directly as this software is being built.”

I have to work closely with this woman who hates me? Won’t that be fun? Yeah, not so much.

“Ariana will need your help getting familiar with how we run things here. That’s where you come in with your team, Kaison.”

I nod, hiding my apprehension about working with her.

He turns to Ariana. “How long did it take you to develop the software for Davis?”

“Three months.” She smiles proudly, like she’d completely rocked it, and I can only assume that’s crazy fast for what she did.

“I’m going to need you to do it in one if we’re going to get our numbers on track.”

Her proud smile disappears, and something like panic flashes across her face for a moment before she composes her features. “Yes, sir.”

“She’s going to need all the help she can get. The entire company is counting on this team, or we could lose billions.”

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