Page 26 of Off Limits Billionaire

I caught a glimpse of her seductive grin through the reflection, wondering how we’d get any work done if I couldn't keep my hands off of her. I shook away the fantasies to focus on anything but demanding the driver to pull over so I could feel her wrapped around me again.

The driver pulled in front of a warehouse in South Philly. It was a part of a waterfront development my family was investing in. I didn’t care what they did with the other properties … this three-story warehouse was mine.

Ana stopped in front of a billboard advertising this was an Adler Investment. I took her by the hand, pulling her away from the reality waiting for the both of us. The weight of our families' history was a burden like no other, now that it mattered. Her apprehension seemed to melt away once we stepped inside.

“This place is enormous!” She smiled ear to ear as we stood in the center of a large empty warehouse. 15-foot ceilings can make any space feel big.

“Thank you, Anabella.” I took her on a mini tour. “This first floor is where the museum will be. There’s a basement level too. I want to have it converted into a members-only parking garage. There’s going to be a larger building somewhere else once we secure our permits. Umm, anyway, I want there to be a workshop and storage room, which are already sorted out. That’s where you can work on the Godschalk.”

I led her through the space and into a large room about 20 by 30 feet. There was a closet and a long desk in the back facing a large window. I wanted to share this with her, all of it.

“You’re going to have to use your imagination a bit,” I told her, my excitement getting the better of me. “I want to use this room for restoration projects because it has the best ventilation flow.”

I continued on, seeming to ramble until I actually stopped to look at Ana. I ran my fingers through my hair, realizing that I’d talked her ear off for a good while.

“I’ve been ranting. I’ll shut up and let you tell me what you think.”

She strolled toward me, her smile spreading wider with every step. When Ana wrapped her arm around my waist, it felt right. Us together felt right and I didn’t want to deny it for the sake of what our families thought.

“You’re wealthy, already successful, and you still get excited about a venture.”

“It’s a challenge. I love collecting antiques. Turning it into a business model that’s charitable and profitable will force me to jump through new hoops.”

“Kind of like dating a member of the Pierce family?”

13

ANABELLA

Being able to leave Marcus speechless was something I was starting to enjoy. However, his ideas and vision for the warehouse were exciting. His energy was contagious as he showed me where I’d repair the masterpiece.

“I had an idea that I wanted to run by you for when I get started.” I’d begun seeing my own visions for the space, especially where the windows were. I had to imagine where the light would shine, but I knew the camera and station setup I wanted.

“I’m all ears.”

“I wanted to record the restoration process and use it to make social media content.”

Marcus grabbed me by the shoulders, pulled me in close, and kissed me firmly before stepping away to dig inside a closet of sorts. He started to set up tripods, walked over to the desk and pulled out a laptop.

“It’s not fancy right now, but it’s able to livestream and edit multimedia. I had the same idea of recording how this space came together as the renovations are complete.”

“What’s the longest stream you’ve done?” I asked him, looking into different cameras he’d pulled out of the desk as well.

Marcus shrugged. “I haven’t really tested it out yet. Right now, I just have those security cameras posted. You can watch those all day. It’s not much right now, but you get to see the sunlight change positions throughout the day.”

“Yes, that sounds fascinating! When should I start?”

“As soon as possible.”

I moved around Marcus, looking at his equipment, and while it wasn’t the most expensive set of items, it was more than I could get doing this with my phone. “Do you mind if I tap into this setup? The security cameras too? There might be some decent outtakes I can screenshot and post.”

“The place is all yours. I’m having the second and third floor renovated for residential units. I have so many ideas for events and a few organizations I want to reach out to. I hope you’ll consider staying on retainer. I’m thinking one of my first exhibits will feature clocks and other timepieces. I’ll call it Standing Still.”

“Which time never does,” I chuckled. Of course he had a knack for this kind of thing. He was the billionaire lawyer.

We spoke a little bit more about the space, and finalized my pay rate and schedule. I promised to come back the next day to start on the clock as soon as possible. The only thing left for me to do was convince my brothers to help me.

Arriving at my apartment, I expected to see Nina, but the place was empty. Just as well. I didn’t feel like recounting the events of the weekend. Instead, I unpacked my bags, ate a quick meal and let everyone know I was back home. I collapsed onto my bed for another Marcus induced coma.

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