Page 31 of Off Limits Billionaire

“What was that?” Paul asked Hunter, who replied with a shrug and went back to eating his food.

“From now on, I’m working with who I want. I don’t want any opinions outside of what I ask for and hopefully, I can use some of the contacts I met in London to drum up some business. I don’t even know where to start. How would I get Montclair’s or another auction house to put me on retainer? The steady income would mean never having to settle for an Adler handout.”

“That wasn’t exactly a handout,” Hunter said. “After everything you told me that happened, you earned every penny.”

“Why don’t you guys tell me what happened and stop talking about it in code language?” Paul asked, his annoyed eyes darting to the faces around the table.

“Because you have poor impulse control,” Nina giggled toward Sonia.

“It’s nothing you have to worry about or fix,” I told Paul. “Eventually, we’ll have to get the families together and settle this thing once and for all.”

My brothers huffed and rolled their eyes. Nina and Sonia kept their smirks and commentary about me and Marcus to themselves. My grandparents didn’t want to hear any of it.

“What will that solve?” Grandpa Augie grimaced.

“It will solve the lingering and unnecessary animosity that’s keeping us from using the family we’ve known the longest and their extremely wealthy contacts to our advantage. They were obviously really good friends at some point to even agree to do a deal together. Money always complicates things. I just want this scenario uncomplicated.”

“Yeah, so you can bang—” Nina started to say something when Sonia kicked her under the table. I shot my friends the dirtiest glare I could summon before laughing it off with a shake of my head.

“Grandpa, Gran-gran, please? It’s just dinner. If any members of the Adler family try to do a shady business deal with you, I’ll make sure it’s stopped immediately.”

“You hear the sarcasm with this one, Augie?” Gran-gran smirked with a finger shaking at me.

Grandpa nodded. “She gets that from you.”

The sigh that came from them both told me I’d gotten through. They agreed to the dinner, which would hopefully lead to the end of this ridiculous feud. Then I would be free to work with whomever I chose. The only problem was, I only wanted Marcus.

* * *

After we finished dinner, Nina and Sonia went out for a night on the town with my brothers. I decided to stay home because I wasn’t in the mood to socialize. But, when my phone pinged, I damn near fell off the sofa, tangled in my blanket trying to grab it from the coffee table.

Marcus:A horologist that can’t tell time isn’t a very good one. You’re late.

My stomach flipped as I looked at the message on my phones. What the hell was I late for?

Me:Late for what?

Marcus:For our first date. I have something elaborate planned and you’re

ghosting me again :(

Me:Liar.

Marcus:Never to you.

Please?

This is me begging.

Me:LOL. I’d pay to see that.

Are you on your hands and knees?

Marcus:Open your door and see.

My heart skipped a beat as I looked around the place.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

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