Page 11 of My Arrogant Millionaire

»How was the job interview?« I asked.

»I got the job,« she replied nonchalantly, as if she hadn’t expected anything else. I liked her confidence. Or was it just her way of masking insecurities? It felt all too familiar.

We stopped at a traffic light, and I looked at her. »Well, congratulations. I guess we’ll be seeing each other more often at work now...« I lowered my voice slightly. »And in the elevator.«

The traffic light changed, and I shifted my gaze back to the road ahead. »If you’re implying that I would risk my new job and engage in indecent acts within the company building, you’re quite mistaken.«

»Am I?« I lifted our hands and gently kissed her palm. The city lights glided over the glossy finish of my car, swallowing every single star in the dark sky. I liked New York, but I liked it even more being here with Grace. »Relax, I wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize your new job. So, when do you start? And what’s your new job title?«

»Event manager, but I’ve been one all along.« Would she confide in me now what she had been fleeing? She definitely was fleeing something; I recognized the signs from myself.

»Will you tell me what happened to your old job?« I asked. Grace untangled her fingers from mine and placed her hands in her lap. Okay, understood, that was a clear no.

»It’s... was complicated. Turn left here!« I followed her directions until we rolled onto a dimly lit parking lot, and I looked at her with raised eyebrows after parking. Only the faint glimmer of a streetlamp at the far end of the lot and the blue illumination of my dashboard provided a hint of light.

»Do I want to know why you’re leading me to a dark parking lot?« I leaned a bit towards her, the leather creaking under my movement. She turned to face me, struggling to suppress a grin.

»Probably not for the reasons you’re imagining in your rather dirty thoughts right now.« She gently tapped my forehead, and I quickly grabbed her fingers. The playfulness vanished from her face, and with a deep gaze into her eyes, I brought her index finger to my lips, breathing a kiss onto it before releasing her.

»Am I confusing you, Goldilocks? You look so bewildered.«

She snorted, which I responded to with laughter, then pulled away from me and exited the car. I couldn’t describe how much fun I had spending time with her. She distracted me from all the relentless stress hammering down on me. According to my company, I should have been back at my laptop already. But I wouldn’t let those thoughts steal tonight from me.

I got out, locked the car, and followed her across the parking lot before catching up to her. »So, where are we?«

She pointed to the opposite side of the street. »Right where we should be. I hope you like tequila!«

With a wide grin, she took off running, and I didn’t know whether to bolt or follow her, impressed.

8

Grace

It had been a rather spontaneous idea that I had followed this evening. Dragging Baron to my favorite hangout, shared with my friends Will and Ceci, instead of being taken to one of New York’s most expensive restaurants, would have been incomprehensible to anyone else. But I wanted to pull Baron out of his usual orbit and genuinely get to know him. And I could only do that if I had the home-field advantage.

He caught up with me and insisted on holding the door open. The delicious aroma of baked enchiladas, quesadillas, and sweet cocktails greeted me, and I inhaled it deeply. Instantly, I felt at home. In the background, Spanish music played, wrapping me in a calm sense of security amidst the murmur of people seated at almost all of the twenty tables.

»Gracie!«

I waved in the direction of the bartender. Baron took off my jacket and hung it next to his coat on the coat rack, while I felt his gaze on me. Was he trying to fathom me, just as I wanted to see through him?

I gifted him a smile and linked my arm with his, giving him the feeling of being just as welcome here as I was. Then, I pulled him to the bar, where Alejandro mixed cocktails with artful twists and exaggerated movements. Two women in skimpy dresses sat in front of him, admiring his performance. I winked at him behind the backs of his spectators, and he reciprocated the gesture.

»Hey, Jandro, how’s it going?«

»As always, fantastic, Belleza!«

He poured the liquids into the glasses and slid them across the counter with a breathtaking smile. Then, he wiped his fingers on his black apron and rounded the bar to greet me. I had no idea when I first came here, but it felt like an eternity ago.

I embraced Alejandro, who then extended his hand to Baron in greeting. Pure curiosity shone in his eyes, and I knew that I would have to endure hundreds of questions later when I came here alone. Alejandro was like a big, annoying brother who wouldn’t back down.

The two shook hands firmly, their gazes probing one another, before releasing their grip. Instantly, Baron placed his fingers on my back, eliciting a grin from Alejandro. Inwardly, I rolled my eyes, perhaps it had been a mistake to bring him here. For a first date, I was revealing too much of myself, even by my own standards.

»Gracie doesn’t often bring someone here,« Alejandro blurted out, dropping the bombshell. »Or to be exact, never.«

»Does she?« I could hear the curiosity in Baron’s voice.

»And that’s why I’m all the more delighted that you’re here. You can take some pride in that, man.«

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