Page 30 of My Arrogant Millionaire

I turned to Mel. »And what would you like?«

»Oh, a champagne, please.«

»You heard the lady,« I said to him, and he nodded, getting to work.

»Thank you, Mr. ...«

»Baron, just call me Baron.«

She inched closer and gifted me an extra view of her cleavage. Pretending to struggle with focusing on her face, I actually thought it was far too easy to lure her into the trap. Grace hadn’t exaggerated when she had told me everything about her.

»Baron,« she whispered my name. The bartender slid the champagne across the counter, and she sipped while maintaining her fixation on me. She had this act down pat; one had to give her that. No wonder she was successful with it. As an actress, she could have made millions herself instead of swindling others.

»Why don’t we go somewhere... quieter?« I asked softly, and she nodded, dazed.

I picked up my drink and reached for her hand. It felt wrong and cold as we moved through the crowd towards the door leading to the private upper rooms.

»Mr. Spencer!« Betty suddenly stepped in front of me, and I froze. No, no, no, not now. She was worse than a watchdog and could ruin the entire endeavor if she just mentioned Grace’s name once. Her eyes almost disgustedly glided over Mel, and internally, my grin widened, appreciating her protective instinct she had developed towards Grace. »Where is...«

»Betty!« I cut her off. I’d clarify this scene later. »I’ll be back for you shortly.«

I slipped past her and left her standing as I looked back one last time and pushed Mel through the door into the hallway. There, I pressed her against the wall and sipped my drink while observing her. Her face was pretty, but her eyes were as cold as the lake in Central Park during winter. She couldn’t hold a candle to Grace.

Her eyelashes fluttered as she lowered her lids, waiting for the first kiss I certainly wouldn’t give her.

Gently, I took the champagne flute from her fingers and placed it, along with my glass, on a narrow table in a corner.

»Come,« I replied, reaching for her hand again.

»Can you just go missing at your own party?« she asked as I pulled her through the hallway.

»I can do whatever I want.« She gasped as if she had been waiting precisely for this response. Once again, I realized how lucky I was to have found Grace among all these women. Before her, I hadn’t even been remotely searching, merely thinking my life, as it was, couldn’t get any better. I was so wrong.

I reached the room I had aimed for and pulled Melanie inside. With a swift motion, I spun her around and closed the door. As I looked into her eyes, I recognized every one of her smallest intentions. She didn’t care about me or who I was; she only cared about the money I exuded.

I raised my gaze, and my eyes found Grace, leaning against a table with her arms crossed. This room functioned as a conference room for smaller events and was practically furnished for that purpose.

Mel sensed I wasn’t engaging with her, followed my gaze, and slowly turned around. »Grace,« she choked out, and my girl flashed her a devilish, superior grin that made me instantly forget my own name. Damn, she was breathtaking.

»Mel, what a surprise. I can’t say I’m pleased by your presence at an event I’ve planned.«

»You... you planned this evening?« she stuttered, taking a step back. She probably wanted to escape, but she bumped into me and sprang forward. I would stay out of it; my only job was to ensure Grace could get off her chest what she wanted to tell this deceitful snake.

»Surprised I’m still in the industry? After you took everything from me?«

Mel gasped for air, and Grace pushed herself away from the table. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, and her heated satisfaction tinted her cheeks pink. »No, no, Grace,« Mel pleaded. »That’s not how it all is, we never had a chance to talk about what happened again...«

»Because you took off, you mean? And changed your number? Hell, you even moved just to disappear with the money you swindled from me through fake invoices and clients! How cold-hearted can one be?«

Mel raised her hands placatingly. »I get it, okay! I understand that I made a mistake...« Grace snorted. »But my mom...«

»Oh God, don’t give me that story about your mom again! I’ve met her; she’s doing great! Apart from having a greedy liar for a daughter, that is.«

Mel’s shoulders slumped, and unfortunately, I couldn’t see her face to read it, but I could imagine how she must be feeling right now. And that was good; she should regret what she had done.

»You know, I’m slowly coming to terms with everything. Now that I see you’re still a little crook and I have so much more than that.« She glanced at me briefly, and warmth immediately spread through my chest. Mel followed her gaze and turned to face me. The moment of realization seemed almost tangible.

Grace turned her attention back to Mel. »I actually wanted you to pay, every single penny. I wanted to see you suffer, just like I suffered because of you, but now...« She took a deep breath in and out. »I forgive you.«

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