The Billionaire Ritual Read Free Page B

being asked during work hours.
    “I know this is inappropriate, but I thought it was even less appropriate to call you out of the blue.”
    There was another pause while Lynn stared at him, wide eyed. Have I miscalculated her interest?
    “Uh…If you’re not interested, we could pretend like this never happened. I just --“
    “Yes!” Lynn blurted out, a little embarrassed at how quickly and enthusiastically she had accepted - even in the current circumstances. Cameron seemed to relax immediately.
    “Good. Good. I’ll call you this evening. Don’t worry, I’ll clean up first,” he said, sm iling. Lynn smiled back.
     
    Later that evening the two met at a cocktail bar downtown for drinks. Lynn wore a simple pink evening gown, and Cameron dressed in a suit and bowtie. He normally wore ties, so it was nice to see him change it up a little. He had picked her up from her house, and the two had settled into talking casually surprisingly naturally. Cameron was a completely different person outside of work, she found. Although, she supposed, it was possible that she just didn’t really know him at all and had made many assumptions.
    The bar was an up scale affair at the top of some building or another. Lynn was unsurprised to find that she’d never heard of it. After leaving his car with the valet, they took the elevator to the bar.
    Lynn tried not to seem like a bumpkin, but couldn’t help smiling at the view as they entered the bar. It was a beautiful wooden affair with track lighting and glass doors leading out onto a wide patio with an open view of the city. Opting to sit outside, Lynn leaned onto the rail and watched the sun set as Cameron went to get their drinks.
    They sipped their cocktails. Cameron had told her the name of hers, but she didn’t remember it. When she did go out, it was usually one of the same few drinks she ordered - or beer. Frankly, with the way her work schedule was, she rarely felt like doing anything but resting on weekends. After the night had passed on, and they had each gotten a few drinks into them, Cameron said:
    “So I have to admit, there was a reason I asked you out Lynn?”
    “Oh really?” Lynn asked playfully, genuinely curious.
    “Yes, really,” Cameron said, smiling intently. He waited, letting the silence draw out as he stared into her eyes. When she couldn’t take the tension anymore, she looked away.
    “And what might that be,” she asked, forcing herself to look back at him. Scared and exhilarated at the same time.
    “I’ve noticed you looking at me in the office,” he said.
    A jolt ran through her. There it was again. That animal gleam, as if he saw and read her every detail.
    “Well, you are the boss. Everyone is looking when you walk in,” she said, wondering if he would believe her. Hoping he didn’t. Cameron merely chuckled.
    “You would think that was the case, but mostly it’s just the opposite. People pretend not to notice me. They sneak one initial glance, and then pretend like they’ve been caught working. But not you. This may sound presumptuous, but I know that you aren’t the only female in the office to desire me,” he said, teasingly.
    She blushed, embarrassed. He might be her boss, but just who did he think he was?
    “And who says I like you?” she said, defiantly. Cameron’s smile faded slightly.
    “I apologize. Don’t get me wrong, I’m interested too. I said that only to explain part of the reason why,” he said. She was dizzy a moment, and it wasn’t just the alcohol. But never mind that. What was the reason?”
    “Alright, I’ll bite,” she said, trying to seem mildly intrigued. “Why?”
    “Aside from being a stunning woman, you are physically honest. That’s what caught my eye about you,” he said, smiling at her with intent as he let a hand graze her bare shoulder. Tingles ran up her arm, making everything seem and feel fuzzy. Cameron knew better than to talk about how she wore very little perfume, letting her natural