HACKING THE BILLIONAIRE: Part 3 Read Free Page A

have to pretend to be anything but a consultant.”
    Yikes. That was a jab just for him. “Okay.”
    “I’m working with a friend from college.”
    Dirk’s heart leapt. A friend? He didn’t have to worry about this guy. He was already in the friend zone if she was mentioning it to him. “A friend?”
    “Someone I knew in school. We haven’t talked since he graduated.”
    “He?”
    She looked at him square on. “You don’t get to say who I see or don’t see, Dirk. We’re done. Remember?”
    “Well, now that you’ve brought it up. We don’t have to be done.”
    She shook her head. “You’re too much, Dirk.”
    “Too handsome?”
    She put down her fork. “Too controlling. Too in my face. We’re not starting up again.”
    To her that was probably her final word, but Dirk was a man used to getting what he wanted. He never stole anything. He never demanded. He just made it so the other person wanted to give it to him.
    Riley wouldn’t be any different.
    “I can tell you’re plotting, Dirk. Forget it. I’m done.”
    “Fine. We’ll talk about business.”
    That was the last thing he wanted to talk to her about. He liked how her hair was down. She’d put highlights in it. Made her look younger. She talked about her new assignment, her face animated.
    He could watch her talk like this all day. He was enjoying himself even though he knew that sex was off the table. Still he was getting hard. Down boy. No release tonight.
    Sadly, he had to admit that he’d never looked at her quite like this. He’d been the one in charge, and now she had all the power. If they ever had another relationship, it was up to Riley. He’d never been in this position.
    What a stupid man he’d been. Dirk had taken her for granted. Tried to control her when she was such an independent spirit. How awful for her.
    This other guy was no threat. That he knew, but he’d have to figure out how to do this whole thing properly. Change his ways. Not assume that just because he snapped his fingers, someone would jump. Riley wasn’t jumping.
    She was her own person, and that was one of the things he found sexy. He couldn’t change it, and he didn’t want to. His usual ways of getting a woman were not going to work.
    Riley waved a hand in front of his face. “Where did you go?”
    “Sorry. Just deep in thought.”
    “Plotting again.”
    He shook his head. “Actually not.”
    She eyed him, but he could tell she didn’t believe him. “Doesn’t matter. Won’t work.”
    He began to clean up the mess they’d made. “Maybe we could talk another night. I’ve had a long few days doing damage repair. This way you can work on my project for me. Let me know when you have something.”
    He could see the mistrust in her eyes, but he was going to play it cool. Hopefully he’d outlast her.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

Chapter Three
    Justin stopped at Riley’s cubicle. He did every morning. Some days he brought her coffee. One day a donut. She was being romanced, and she liked it. No pressure. No changing what she wore. No criticism of how she was doing her job or living her life.
    How refreshing.
    Justin stopped by her cubicle later in the week. “Are you free for lunch?”
    “Yes, I am.”
    She smiled up at him.
    “There’s a new taco place I want to try out.”
    “Sounds yummy. I’ll be ready in half an hour. Does that work for you?”
    Justin nodded then left her. She met him at the elevator at the appointed time. They took her car this time. He directed her, and they parked.
    A car pulled in right behind them. Maybe she was being paranoid, but no one got out. At lunch, most people didn’t linger. They had to get the meal done and be back to work. She thought it odd that no one had left the car. She glanced back at it, memorizing the license plate.
    She wanted to see if it was there when they finished.
    “Is something wrong?” Justin asked as he held the door for her.
    “Uh, no. Just had the sense I was being