Page 33 of The Billionaire's Temptation

“Now that we’ve given you a brief breakdown of your assets, what questions do you have for us?” Ian Montrose asked, lacing his fingers together in front of him as he turned to look expectantly at her.

Clarissa was startled by the question. She hadn’t been paying attention and, as she looked at the man, she wondered if that had been his intention. Had he thrown a huge amount of information at her, using industry jargon, in order to hide something? Or was she being paranoid? Wouldn’t this accounting firm be doing what was best for the corporation and for herself? Or would they put their own interests first?

Clarissa smiled tightly and clasped her hands together, trying to hide her nervousness. “Thank you, everyone, for such a…comprehensive explanation of my father’s assets.” She relaxed her hands and let her fingers slide over the thick notebook of information they’d provided to her. “It is very kind of you to go through everything in such great detail on my very first meeting.” Had she kept the sarcasm out of her tone? She certainly hoped so. Until she knew if this group of mostly men had been trying to hide something, she didn’t want to alienate them. She would need this firm to keep doing the accounting for all of her father’s companies.

“It is our pleasure, Clarissa,” he replied.

She noted that he’d never asked her permission to use her first name, nor had he offered her the use of his name. She suspected that he’d purposely kept that vague as a way to make himself appear intimidating.

“Ian,” she turned to face him, purposely using his first name. She noticed the tightness appear around his eyes and felt a touch of amusement. “I would like to start a foundation. Something that will allow me to do some good around the city. I know that I inherited a great deal of wealth. So I’d like to–”

Before she could finish her statement, Ian reached out and put a patronizing hand over hers. “Clarissa, if you want to start a business, feel free to submit a business plan to me. I can look over the plan, examine your marketing strategy, go over the financial obstacles you will face, and advise you on the cost to benefit issues.”

Clarissa’s jaw dropped and she stared at the man. Suddenly, she felt her cheeks heat from embarrassment.

“Right,” she whispered, lowering her head. She took a deep breath, still not sure of how much control she had over her father’s empire. Because there were so many people in this conference room, one of whom even snickered as she tried to rally, Clarissa wanted to just hide under the table.

Instead, she lifted her chin and nodded. “Thank you. I will deliver a business plan for your review.”

Ian smiled condescendingly and she had the sudden urge to slap him. What a patronizing ass, she thought resentfully and closed the heavy notebook full of financial information.

Tucking that under her arm, she stood up. “I appreciate all of you taking the time out of your day to brief me on my father’s holdings.” She tapped the notebook. “I’ll review the information and-”

“Clarissa,” Ian interrupted, “it would be better if you left that information here in the office.” He started to reach for the notebook. “We don’t want anyone to learn about your vast holdings, now would we?”

Clarissa was sick of feeling inadequate. As soon as he reached for the notebook, she pulled it back out of his reach. “I’m sure that I can properly protect the data about my holdings,” she emphasized the possessive, “from anyone who might want to rob me.” She left the last few words hanging for a moment. “I’m taking this information to review it in more detail.” She turned away from Ian, who didn’t look particularly happy with her sudden assertiveness, and looked at the rest of the meeting participants. “I have your contact information,” she said, tapping the notebook with her finger, “So I’ll contact you with my questions.”

Ian stood up as well, buttoning his suit jacket. “I would feel much more comfortable if you would leave that information here with us, Clarissa.”

“Well, Ian,” she replied, emphasizing his name, “from what I understand, I inheritedallof my father’s assets.” She paused to look at him. “Is that not the case?”

“Of course you did. You are his only surviving relative.”

She smiled slowly. “Exactly. However, while the flood of information you provided today was good, it only scratched the surface. If I’m going to be an adequate manager of my father’s empire, then I need to more completely understand what that empire entails. So a two hour meeting is insufficient to help me fully understand everything that I inherited.” She stepped back. “I’m going to take this information and will review it carefully. I will get back to each person with questions.”

With that, she turned and walked out of the conference room, tucking the precious notebook filled with information under her arm with her purse. She didn’t want to deal with these people any longer. She wanted to head back to “her” home and dig through the data and figure out exactly what was going on with her father’s money. She had a sneaking suspicion that something wasn’t right. Hopefully, she would be wrong.

As she walked past the receptionist, Clarissa wondered if she would ever truly understand the complex details that were her father’s estate. Perhaps she simply didn’t have the education or the intelligence to grasp all of the various problems and intricacies.

Taking a deep breath, she pressed the call button for the elevator, trying to stand still while she waited for the elevator to arrive. Tense, worried that security would appear and demand that she return the notebook back to the conference room, she tightened her hold on the notebook as she heard the door to the accounting firm open and close behind her.

Out of the corner of her eye, she watched as one of the three women from the conference room came out of the accounting firm, walking through the elevator lobby area. She looked very businesslike as she reviewed a document as she walked.

But as she passed by, the woman whispered, “Meet me at the Green Coffee Café on the corner.” Then the woman disappeared around the corner and into the restroom.

Clarissa replayed the woman’s words in her head. She wanted to speak to her at the coffee shop?

Burning with curiosity, Clarissa stepped into the elevator, glancing at the glass partition that separated the accounting firm from the elevator lobby. Several of the men from the conference room stepped into the firm’s lobby, all of them shooting curious glances in her direction. They lowered their heads, speaking in hushed tones.

Clarissa tightened her arm around the notebook, wondering if the men were talking about her.

Probably, she thought with resentment.

When the elevator doors opened up on the ground floor, Clarissa stepped out and looked around. Taking a deep breath, she walked out the doors where she’d come in several hours ago, wondering about the woman. Coffee shop. Should she go? Why would she?

Glancing at the time, she seconded her question with, “Why not?”

So, instead of turning towards the guest parking lot, she hurried up the cement stairs that brought her up to street level. Looking around, she wasn’t sure which direction she should go to find the coffee shop. But just as she was about to turn away, Clarissa saw the woman heading toward the right, rushing down the sidewalk.

---