Bought: A Billionaire Romance Read Free Page A

cheer me up.
    “Now I definitely don’t want to go out.”
    “Come on. I won’t take no for an answer.”
     
    ****
     
    An hour later I’ve redone my makeup yet again and I think I’m ready to head out.
    “So, that’s definitely what you’re wearing?” says Kelly when I finally leave my room.
    I look down at the jeans and purple top I’m wearing and then at Kelly’s short, black dress. Her ample cleavage makes it look like she’s smuggling a couple of melons.
    “Well…not definitely,”
    “Great. How about that dress you bought when you found out you got the job? You haven’t even worn it yet.”
    “Well, yeah, but don’t you think it’s a bit…booby?” I realize the question is stupid when I look at Kelly’s dress. If anything she probably thinks it isn’t booby enough.
    Ten minutes later I’m wearing the dress and trying not to fall down the steps to our apartment in the highest pair of heels I own. Somehow Kelly always has a way of making me come out of my shell, and I usually don’t regret it. Usually.
    A short taxi ride later and we’re at The Cellar. The Cellar is one of those places that just screams ‘gentrification’. This neighborhood used to be run-down, the kind of place where girls like me and Kristy wouldn’t even set foot, let alone decide to spend an evening drinking.
    This particular street used to be all drug dealers and pawn shops a few years ago; but now coffee shops staffed by bearded baristas in the skinniest jeans imaginable and vegan bakeries nestle between wine bars and pubs serving the widest range of microbrew beers you can think of.
    The heat and noise of the dozens of people crammed into the small bar hit me the moment I push open the heavy door. The smell of beer and alcohol is thick in the air as we walk in. Kelly is right behind me and we head over to the bar to try and get Greg’s attention for some free drinks.
    The bar area is pretty packed but we’re soon at the front where the neon blue and pink beer sign casts a ghostly light onto us. The Cellar is one of those places with the shabby chic of a dive bar but with triple the prices. The perfect formula for ripping off hipsters.
    “My two favorite ladies!” yells Greg over the din of the bar when he sees us, “So, what can I get you. On the house of course.”
    “Shots!” yells Kelly.             
    “Not shots,” I say.
    “Tequila!”
    “Coming right up,” says Greg
    I know I shouldn’t go into work hungover tomorrow, but right now I really don’t care.
    “So, tell me about today,” says Kelly after we’ve had a couple of drinks.
    I tell her all about what happened. How I met Kyan in the coffee shop and he basically lied to me. Then, after being completely thrust in at the deep end, he asks for me to be thrown in as an extra on a business deal.
    “No way!” says Kelly when I’m done, “THE Kyan Ellis wants you to work with him? That’s amazing! Why are you upset about this?”
    “Because he’s a jerk! Not to mention that his company invests in the least green energy sources imaginable. Working for him is the opposite of everything I ever wanted to do.”
    “So what’s the deal that you’re supposed to be a part of?”
    “It’s a joint venture to provide carbon sequestration initiatives on Ellis Energy’s worldwide coal power plant holdings.”
    “Err…what the hell does that mean?”
    “Basically, we’ll be reducing the carbon emissions of the coal plants. You know, fighting global warming.”
    “And what happens if the deal doesn’t go through?”
    “Well, from what Kyan was saying it sounds like Greene Earth could be in trouble without this deal.”
    “So what’s the problem? Sounds like you’ll be taking one for team Earth if you make sure this deal goes through.”
    I couldn’t help but agree with her. I had been so wrapped up in following my dream that I hadn’t thought about the bigger picture. Maybe I was being selfish and if I really want to make a