Billion Dollar Bad Boy (Big City Billionaires)(51)

“Oh. That's probably why he paid me extra to give you this.”

Stunned, I looked down at the small black satchel Kerie held. I couldn't make myself reach out and touch it. “Why did he give you that?”

Pointedly, he nodded at the crushed letter. “I'm guessing he figured you'd react like that and didn't want whatever this is to get ruined.”

Silver was too smart for his own damn good.

But not smart enough to leave me alone.

Shaking, I opened and closed my hands at my sides. My instinct said to take the gift and see what it was. The alarmingly sharp part of my mind said to walk away and stand firm. Silver was trying to buy me back.

I wouldn't let him.

“Hey!” he shouted, chasing after me as I stormed out to my car. “Where are you going?”

“He's determined to get me to talk to him.” Climbing into the driver's seat, I revved the engine. “I'll give him what he wants.”

Kerie inched forward, then back again. I wouldn't have run him over, but he was acting like I might. “What the hell happened between you two?”

I spared him a single glance. “Everything.”

And it was the truth.

When he moved out of my way, I burned rubber in my wake.





- Chapter Twenty-three -


Alexis

A business card and Silver's jacket were my only companions in the car. I'd stopped at my place just long enough to grab them.

Touching the jacket had been a shocker. His essence was all over it, and the weight reminded me too much of how his hands felt on my shoulders.

Parking my car, I went to pick up the jacket... and I stopped.

Am I really doing this?

In the mirror, I saw the circles under my eyes. Kicking Silver out of my life had been a futile effort. I couldn't sleep because he was a constant in my dreams. Waking with the memory of his touch was torture.

Running away had always been the answer to my problems. Except it had never solved anything. It had taken me years to realize that.

The only way to end this is to face him.

With great control, I scooped his jacket up and climbed out into the purple light of the evening. Lifting my eyes, I stared at the building. It was blackened stone, modern-style windows running down the front like buttons on a suit. It had a buzz that just screamed money.

Money and sex.

Pushing my hand against the door, I walked into Pure Pleasure Incorporated.

The waiting room was glossy white, a series of small, round chairs set to one side. There was a water cooler as well as an impressive little machine that seemed to make single cups of coffee or tea. One man was mixing a drink as I watched.

I knew instantly that this wasn't a place people just walked into. Pure Pleasure didn't sell their products here, they made them here.

I probably look like a tourist. But tourists didn't have the singular intensity in their eyes like I did.

The statuesque and painfully gorgeous red-head behind the front desk waved at me. “Can I help you?” she asked.

Stepping forward, my eyes tracked along the nearby hallway. Was he down there? “I'm looking for...” I nearly spilled the name Silver. “Keswick. Is he here?”

“Mr. Silverwell?” she asked, her pouty lips scrunching tight. She flicked her eyes down to the jacket I was holding. Did she recognize it? Then, she gave his location away by peeking over her shoulder. “Um, let me just make a call and see if—”

I was already marching down the hallway.

“Hey!” she shouted, following behind me. “Wait! You can't just go down there!”

Watch me. Clenching my hands, I moved faster. I was done not understanding his motives.

I was going to get answers.

And I was getting them now.

Rounding the corner, I entered a new room. It was big and wide, a long staircase crawling up the other side. Computers filled several counters, people hunched and typing away. Some were drawing on gigantic screens, and one look had me blushing.

Dildos are obvious from any distance.

Everything was a whirl of faces and colors, a low murmur of music and voices. This was no sweatshop, people were smiling and joking from their chairs as they worked.

“Excuse me, Miss!”

Ignoring her, I spun on my heel, head swinging. Where is he? He had to be here, I was sure. So why didn't I see him?

“You need to...!” She reached for me; I darted away, infuriating her further and not caring one bit. I didn't feel like myself, I'd slid out of my own skin somewhere along the way. The old me, the shivering and traumatized me, was on the sidewalk outside.

His face was turned away, speaking to someone who was hunched over their laptop.

But I knew him with miles between us.

Silver lifted his eyes, catching me from the corner of one. I watched with amazement as his sure smile shattered. I saw it drip lower and lower, almost sliding from his jawline.

The person sitting next to him perked up, sensing Silver's sudden change in mood. The other man twisted his chair, looking between us curiously.

Pet, Silver mouthed, but no sound came out. It should have felt so f*cking good to see him shocked. But standing there under his powerful stare, I began drifting.

Hold on, I told myself. My internal voice was hollow. Focus, get angry! He ruined everything you were! You need to hate him!