Page 42 of Prince of Darkness

“Really?” Mia perks up. “We've been trying to reach you all day and well-”

“Youhaven't been trying to reach me.” I cut her off. As much as I love to hear her speak, I want her to know it’s only her I’ll be taking calls from.

“He’s been hanging up on everyone until we got you on the line!” This time her friend doesn't whisper at all.

“Amelia,” Mia half shouts at her friend.

“I’ll pay a quarter of the collection,” I tell her.

“Okay. Then we can set up payment plans for the rest?” I hear her clicking away on what I assume is her computer. I picture her in a horrible cubicle with no windows.

“I wasn't finished. There was anifcoming.” I sit up in my chair readying myself for battle. I know this might be a fight. Who agrees to meet with a man they have only talked to on the phone? Furthermore only about collecting a debt on lingerie? I am already at a major disadvantage but I didn't build my company into what it is without knowing how to face a challenge. No matter the problem put in front of me I refuse to lose. There’s always a solution. Mia becoming my wife is the only one I’m interested in.

“An if?” Even confused she’s still fucking adorable. My sister thinks she’s making my life harder when really this is the most fun I’ve had in a very long time. I should have Mark buy her a little thank you present—after I meet Mia and make her mine, of course. I don’t need Kim interfering and ruining my chances.

“If you meet me for dinner, I’ll pay the first quarter of the debt.” The line goes quiet. I can hear her whisper to her friend what I said.

“That is a terrible idea,” her friend responds. Well shit. Maybe this plan isn’t going to work. Not that it will stop me. I’ll just have to adjust and approach this differently. Where there is a will there is always a way. When I set my eyes on something, nothing can stop me. Even though I haven’t actually seen my little angel, I know she is perfect for me. “What time are you going to meet him?” She adds half a beat later. I think I like this friend of hers after all. She is going to be rather helpful.

“I can’t go on a date with you. I don’t think that’s even allowed. I’m sure it’s against company policy.” She ignores her friend’s advice. I could buy this company and change the rules I suppose, but all that paperwork would take so much time. Either way I should get those wheels going. I scribble it down for Mark to handle when he gets back.

“Hey, give me that.” There is a small scuffle before the friend’s voice comes onto the line.

“You pay a quarter now and a quarter after the date and you got yourself a deal.”

“Okay,” I agree.

“Really?” she asks, not buying it. “Coffee only,” she adds.

“I don’t like coffee,” Mia says in the background.

“Then get a hot chocolate,” she tells Mia. “She likes extra marshmallows,” she informs me before spouting off a time and place, then hangs up on me before I can even pay. My phone rings a second later.

“No backing out, Mia,” I inform her before she can even try to.

“I’m not.” She almost sounds shyer now. “It’s weird calling you back to collect the first quarter of the money now that we have a date.”

“You sound like a hooker.” Her friend laughs in the background.

“Shut up,” she growls at her friend. I fight a groan. Even upset, her voice still does it for me. I can’t imagine what she looks like. It doesn't matter really but I still want to put a face to that voice of hers. I’m sure she’s as soft and sweet as she sounds.

I give her the information she needs, waiting on the line until the money clears. “Maybe you should stop buying so much ahh—”

“Lingerie?” I supply for her.

“Yeah.”

“Maybe I’m just getting started.” I try and lightly tease her. Somehow, I know she’s blushing. “I’ll see you later, sweet Mia.”

“Bye.” She hangs up. I sit here hating that the call is over and her sweet voice is no longer filling my ear. I look at the clock, jotting down the hours until I get to put a voice and a name to a face. I smile knowing that I’m going to meet my future bride today. My sister really did me a huge favor by putting that wedding announcement in the paper. Now that’ll be one less thing Mia and I have to do before we get married. It just might have to be tweaked a little to add her name. I want the whole world to know that she’s mine.

“Sir!” I look to the blonde in my doorway, wondering when Mark is going to be back. “The phone is ringing off the hook about your engagement. Everyone is wanting to know who the woman is.”

“Then shouldn't you be answering the phone if it’s ringing?”

She narrows her eyes at me for a minute. I look away from her, pulling up an old friend's email. I want to know more about Mia Montgomery. If I want to win her over I’m going to need every advantage I can get.

10

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