Page 21 of The Billionaire's Rival (Bad Boy Billionaires)

As soon as we sat down, a server approached the table to take our drink orders. I asked for a seltzer with lime. Jay ordered a gin and tonic. I nearly told the waiter I’d changed my mind and would have the same as Jay, but I fought the urge. A drink might calm the butterflies in my stomach and make it easier to eat sitting across from Jay, but I would not let him fog my brain again.

“You said you had a proposal for me,” I said as soon as the server left the table. “Let’s hear it.”

“You know,” Jay said. “I enjoyed talking to you last night.”

“You enjoyed getting me drunk last night.”

He glanced away. Was that hurt I’d seen in his eyes? I shouldn’t worry about it. If I’d hurt him, it was no more than he deserved.

“You’re rather amusing when you’re drunk, but just so you know, you didn’t spill anything important, not that I remember at least.”

“Thank you so much for letting me know.” I meant to keep my tone sarcastic, but I ended up sounding much too sincere. Jay looked away again. He was confusing the hell out of me.

“We’re here for business,” I said. “So let’s talk business.”

“I want you to hear me out before you comment.”

The waiter arrived with our drinks. Jay ordered the calamari as an appetizer, and the server disappeared once more.

“I spoke with my client today. I know Miles wants to take possession of the warehouse.”

I nodded. “That’s right.”

“Why does he need that particular property?”

Exactly what I had been asking myself. “Because it’s the one he signed a contract for.”

“What if he could have a larger property of equal or higher value for the same price?”

I shook my head. “That was not in the contract.”

“My client has access to other properties.”

“But my client is not interested in that access. He’s interested in ownership of the property for which he’s already signed a purchase agreement.”

“He signed an initial offer, that is not the same as having possession. There has been no closing.”

“Your client has no legally legitimate reason not to do as promised in the initial contract. She is obligated to sell this property to my client.”

“If what your client needs is a warehouse for storage, and he can be provided with one that will fit his needs, then—”

“That’s not going to work for us.”

“And why not?”

That was a question I couldn’t fully answer. I knew Miles was trying to shut out a competing business of a shady nature, but he wouldn’t give me the details. All I knew was that the people Jay’s client was working for had no concern for whom they hurt with their business. Miles only dabbled in illegal sales, and what he did harmed no one except other businessmen who were nearly as rich as he was.

“There must be a reason,” Jay insisted.

“The reason is as simple as this. That is the warehouse my client wants, and that is the one he signed a contract for.”

“Surely one warehouse in the same area is as good as another.”

“Not if you’re Miles Montgomery. He always gets what he wants.”

Jay huffed.

The calamari arrived a moment later, and our waiter asked if we were ready to order our entrées. Before I had a chance to answer, Jay shook his head. “We need more time.”

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