Billionaire's Blackmail Bride: Billionaire Brothers Kent - Ridge's Story (The BAD BOY BILLIONAIRES Series) Read Free Page A

infect them or
something.”
    Chris gave a snort of a laugh. “I wonder if all those tattoos and
piercings have anything to do with it?”
    Minerva jammed a fist on her hip. “It better not or else they’ll
have a lawsuit on their hands. That’s discrimination.”
    While Chris and Minerva chattered away Lani was busy opening the
envelopes. So far so good. She was on envelope number three and all she’d seen
were a newsletter, a credit card solicitation and a bank statement that was so
depressing she barely spared it a glance. But envelope number four, that was
the killer. It was from the company from which she’d leased the building and
before she even opened it she knew what it would say inside.
    Gritting her teeth, Lani went ahead and opened it anyway. “Pursuant
to my letter dated February 15, this is to advise that your rent is now two
months in arrears. If payment is not made within seven days of the date of this
letter proceedings will be instigated to regain possession of the property and
recover all outstanding amounts, including fees. In order to avoid this, please
make arrangement to immediately make payment in full.”
    Despite herself, the hand that held the letter trembled. She’d
expected a reprimand, definitely a warning, but not this. Seven days to find
two months’ rent plus fees? Where in heaven’s name was she going to get that
kind of money?
    She knew she was at fault for paying the salaries – excluding hers –
before taking care of the rent but Chris was a father with two young children.
How could she tell him she wasn’t going to pay him this month? And Minerva was
working two jobs to put her little sister through college. How could she dash
that dream?
    Now, though, it seemed she would have to. She’d gone without a
salary for two months just to make ends meet but even that hadn’t been enough.
Without new funding the bank account had quickly run dry and even though she’d
promised the leasing company she would catch up on the arrears within three
months it was now obvious they weren’t going to wait any longer. And who could
blame them? When she’d made the promise she’d been sure something would have
come in. Now, over a dozen meetings later, nothing. Now she knew it had all
been wishful thinking on her part.
    “You okay, boss? You don’t look so good.” Minerva had turned toward
her, a slight frown on her face.
    For the second time that morning Lani found she had to explain
herself to a member of her team. “I’m… fine, Minerva. Just some business I have
to take care of.”
    And as she said the words Lani’s mind crept back to her meeting of
the day before. Before he would give her any money Ridge Kent wanted her to be
his wife. But only for one year. She guessed she could manage…as long as they
had a little talk first and she'd laid down the rules of this engagement. Under
the circumstances she could see no other way out of her dilemma.
    And so, that conclusion reached, she made up her mind. She would do
it. She would marry Ridge Kent. And, with all the wolves that were snarling at
her door, the sooner the better.
     
     
    CHAPTER TWO
     
     
    “So what do you think?”
    Ridge watched Rafe’s face, trying to judge his reaction. His brother
was all of six years younger than he was, only twenty-eight, but he had a good
head set on his shoulders. More important than that, he was good at taking risks
and winning. He had the nose for that sort of thing.
    Rafe cocked an eyebrow at him. “You’re asking me for advice? What
about Ransom? He’s the big brother, advice giver and everything rolled into
one. Why don’t you ask him what he thinks?”
    Ridge gave him a cutting glare. “Because, dear brother, I don’t want
to ask Ransom. And I don’t want to ask Ryder either so don’t even go there.”
Leaning forward, he rested his elbows on his desk. “When you were trying to get
Anya you asked me for help. Now it’s your turn to tell me what you think will
work.” Then