Page 17 of A Billionaire's Secret

“Thank you,” she blushed and glanced down at the menu. “It’s not a secret that I’m not used to places like this, but I’ll play along.”

“I don’t come here too often anymore,” I explained. “But I thought you deserve the best.”

She stared at me and paused as if holding back her next words. “Christian—” she paused again. “Please don’t feel obligated to court me after the other night. We’re consenting adults, it doesn’t have to be anything more than what it was.”

I looked at her with a sense of urgency and confusion. She had totally misread me.

“Victoria, you’re misreading the room,” I smiled. “Believe me, this is not what obligation looks like. This is me enjoying your company and your elegant, timeless beauty.”

We stared into each other for a moment until the waiter’s voice broke the silence with a thousand-dollar bottle of ‘Montrachet Grand Cru’, which he poured into Vitoria’s glass for tasting. She sipped carefully and nodded her head in approval.

“Do you mind if I order some appetizers for us to share? Or do you already have a favorite in mind?” I inquired.

“Please do. I trust you know the best ones,” she agreed.

“So, Vicky—” I began once the waiter walked away. “Can you help me figure something out?”

“I hope so,” she smiled, her eyes widening. “What is it?”

“How long have you been a member of the Barrington club? Do you like training there?” I inquired.

“I’ve only ever been there since I started training with my grandfather. He was an honorable member there.” Her eyes brightened at the mention of her grandfather, and she traced her fingers around her bare neck.

I remembered the pendant that Diana had found and shifted in my seat, wondering what she had done with it and if I could ever find it and give it back to Victoria.

“I heard your grandfather was a pretty big deal around here,” I continued on a more pleasant note. “Just like you will be very soon.”

“Yes, he was,” her eyes darted past me in reminiscence. “I miss him dearly. He taught me everything I know.”

“That’s really special,” I affirmed. “My grandfather only taught me how to be grumpy and greedy. We are so different, aren’t we?”

“Yes, Christian, we are.” Victoria frowned. “I have to wonder what we have in common?”

“You mean besides the fact that we find each other stunning and astonishing?” I attempted a smug joke to relieve the tension in my chest that her comment had induced. “I think that’s more than enough, don’t you?”

“We’ll have to see,” she curled her lips into a half-smile and swiped a strand of hair behind her shoulder.

“So, listen—” I circled back to the topic at hand, beginning to feel sweat beads down my back as I approached the uncomfortable topic. “I’m very close friends with James and Margot Barrington.”

I examined Victoria’s reaction to the mention of the club’s owners. She swallowed an invisible lump and took a sip of wine, her eyes growing weary.

“They said you’re a valuable asset to their club since your wins also put them in the spotlight.”

“Well, I doubted they still feel that way after my recent loss, and—” she choked up and froze. “Anyway, I’m glad they still want me around.”

“There is no doubt about that,” I assured her. “I just wanted to tell you what they said in case they don’t say it to your face. They love you.”

I hoped my reassurance would ease her mind and eliminate her fears about being in debt, but I kept the fact that I had paid off her dues to myself.

“How is Diana?” Victoria changed the subject and reached for an appetizer that had just been brought to our table.

“She seems to still be riding the high of her victory,” I shook my head. “And now she’s slacking.”

“How long has she been in this sport? I don’t remember seeing her in the club much until recently. Where did she practice before that?” Victoria unleashed an array of unexpected questions.

“This sport is not her first obsession,” I explained calmly. “Ever since my divorce, she’s been trying to find herself. It’s like she tries to find her identity through different sports and hobbies. This is just the latest one.”

“It’s quite amazing that she’s so good at a hobby that she recently picked up,” Victoria squinted her eyes and put down her fork. Her intense stare made me think she already knew the truth.

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