Page 9 of Off Limits Billionaire

I grabbed Cam by the shoulders. “Bro, relax. I swear it’s fine. I’mintimatelyfamiliar with how to keep myself on Anabella Pierce’s good side. I’m worried about Paul finding out more than anyone else.”

He put the contracts back on my desk. “Fine, we’ll draw up the pay schedule for the consultation and authentication.”

“That works.” I grabbed the contracts and decided not to wait to bring them over to Priceless Pierce.

The bell chimed above the door when I stepped into the antique shop. There were so many fantastic pieces in there that I wanted to buy them all.

Anabella sat behind the counter, engrossed with the same watch she'd had out the day before. Her silky yellow strands were spun around in a bun on top of her head. She wore a set of glasses that looked more like goggles with bifocal lenses. She hunched over the piece, allowing the slightest view of her cleavage, and I had to adjust myself and my thinking. This was business.

“Good morning, Mr. Adler.” She smirked, but didn’t give me her full attention.

“Don’t start that again. I have the contracts for you to sign. I propose we leave Friday.”

“Friday?” She peered up, glasses making her blue eyes look enormous behind the lenses. Panic dripped over her words. “Friday as in two days from today, Friday?”

“Well yes, because the auction is Sunday—I’d rather not rush—and it will give you time to do a proper appraisal before the auction.”

She moved the glasses to her head. “Are we allowed to do that? Doesn’t the auction house have its own appraiser?”

“Yes we are and yes they do. However, I’m Marcus Adler. If I want an independent opinion on the authenticity of the entire collection, they’ll allow it because they know if my person signs off on it, I’m more likely to bid higher. Which is true. I want this clock.”

“That’s kind of short notice. I’ll admit that I didn’t give this much thought. When will we be back?”

“Tuesday? Wednesday? Sunday night? It doesn’t really matter. We’ll be flying private and can leave whenever we feel like it.”

“I can probably get Sonia to watch the shop for a day or two, and then Paul can do the other days.” She spoke softly, more to herself than to me.

I pulled the documents out of my briefcase and handed them to her. She read over them silently and just when I thought she was done, she read them again.

“There aren’t any crazy clauses in here, right?” she asked me. “Like if this isn’t the right clock you end up owning this building or something?”

“Of course not. You’re literally reading the contract. There isn’t any fancy legalese in there.”

“Well, you’re a lawyer and an Adler. Why should I just take your word for it?”

I sighed. “You don’t have to, Anabella. You can read it for yourself. Everything is there. There aren’t any addendums or appendices that you haven’t seen and are secretly attached. This deal is on the up and up. You have my word on that. How about you let me take you to dinner so I can explain the details?”

“Over my dead body!” Paul Pierce’s voice boomed from a narrow space. I hadn't realized there was an entrance to a hallway there. “Ana! I told you that you’re not working for this sleaze bag!”

“You can’t tell me what to do,” Ana replied to her brother.

“Get the hell out of here, Adler!” Paul yelled at me.

“Pierce, chill out. I need a horologist. If you haven’t noticed there aren’t many qualified experts walking around.”

Paul stormed out from the hallway to stand beside his sister. “I don’t care. You’re an asshole and you’re not going to get my sister roped into your bullshit.”

I tried reasoning with him. “I can’t believe you’re that stubborn, Paul. You’d rather let your family face bankruptcy than do a deal with me? She isn’t getting into business with Adler Realty. This is a personal endeavor and has nothing to do with you, our issues, or the family’s issues.”

“I don’t want her getting into bed with you, Adler.”

A smile spread slowly across my face, but before I said anything to reveal that secret, Anabella stood up. “I’ll work with whoever I want, Paul. But, if you don’t want me to take this job, then cough up the 14 grand we need to catch up on everything! A few days, one job, and we’re out of debt!”

Paul looked at his sister and shook his head. “You’re going to do what you want anyway, but working with him or any other Adler is a mistake. They’re crooks and Grandpa Augie knows that all too well. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

5

ANABELLA

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