Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 28810 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 144(@200wpm)___ 115(@250wpm)___ 96(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 28810 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 144(@200wpm)___ 115(@250wpm)___ 96(@300wpm)
“I’m not cosplaying anything…”
“The Dark Manhattan Series?” I asked, glancing at his watch. “No, the Midnight Billionaire series.”
“You’re not speaking English anymore…” he said.
“They must have spent a lot of money finding a replica of that Audemars Piguet for you. If I didn’t know any better, I might’ve believed it was real.”
“It is real.”
I stared at him.
“Oh, okay then.” I nodded. “It’s good that you’re staying in character, and they really did an amazing job casting you. I’ll write a good review for you at the end of tonight, if I remember.”
“Actually, I’m looking for someone particular,” he said. “Can you let me know where I can find the owner of Slow Burn Books?”
Whoa, what?
“Uh, depends…” I glanced at his tie and his cufflinks.
Everything about him looked a little too expensive to be a costume, but there was no way some random billionaire was wandering around a romance convention.
“What do you want with her?” I asked.
“I just want to chat about a few things,” he said. “She doesn’t have a personal social media or a picture of herself on her website.”
“Because she took a page from a certain asshole chain CEO’s book,” I muttered. “He hardly ever shows his face, so why should she?”
“You’re talking about Adrian Sinclair?”
“Yeah, him.” I nodded. “Do you know his middle name is Sebastian? That means his initials spell out ‘A.S.S.,’ which fits him and his business practices perfectly.”
“I didn’t know that at all.” He smiled again. “So, you know the owner of Slow Burn personally?”
“No.” I shook my head. “But I know how to get her a message if you want.”
“That’s okay, I’ll keep looking until I have to leave,” he said. “What was your name?”
“I never gave it to you.”
“Can you give it to me now?” His eyes darkened, and for a split second I pictured myself riding his face in a penthouse suite. “I told you I was intrigued.”
“You are…” I stepped back, my heart racing a mile a minute at an acting performance. “Really, really good at your job.”
“I’m aware.” He stepped forward. “Your name?”
“I have to go handle the thing, so uh…” I took two steps back. “Good luck and thanks for the good cosplay moment.”
I turned away and felt him staring at me until I left.
Against my better judgment, I returned to the room an hour later—hoping the billionaire cosplayer was still there.
I couldn’t find him, though.
I took my time slipping in and out of every rented space, but he was long gone.
THE CEO
ADRIAN
Ican’t believe this shit…
I could count on one hand the number of times I’d been kicked out of an event in my life.
One.
Tonight.
“I’m so sorry, sir, but you can’t just trespass at a private romance event—especially not one at this level.” A blonde shook her head at me and my bodyguard as the hotel’s security escorted us through the exit. “It’s a safety issue, understand?”
“I’m not used to being told no.”
“Well, that’s a personal problem.” She crossed her arms. “You don’t have a ticket or an active registration for our party, so try to submit your acting application a lot earlier next year, okay?”
I shot Tyson a confused look.
“I came here to talk to someone,” I said, trying one last time. “Well, two someones.”
“Did these someones know that in advance?”
“Given my status, they don’t need to.” I glared at her. “They should be honored I’m even taking the time out of my day to track them down.”
“Okay, you wannabe Christian Grey.” She stepped back and signaled for the hotel guards to shut the doors. “Have a good night.”
I stared at the doors as they shut, knowing—just knowing that they’d open back up within seconds. And then that woman and the woman who’d ratted me out would apologize.
“Um, I don’t think they’re coming back, Mr. Sinclair,” Tyson said. “Want me to get the car?”
“How do they not know who I am?”
“You’re very private and you don’t typically attend events, or—”
“It was a rhetorical question, Tyson.”
“Oh.” He shrugged. “Stay here, then. I’ll be back with the car in five.”
The entire event had been a waste of my time.
Except for the seven minutes I'd spent with the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen.
She'd uttered more nonsensical sentences than anyone I'd ever met, but her face was already etched into my brain.
I could still envision her perfectly—long dark hair that fell past her shoulders, a pouty pink mouth I couldn't stop thinking about, and her eyes were a lighter shade of green than mine.
I should’ve gotten her goddamn name…
Tyson swore he overheard her say it was “Solar,” but I refused to believe that. There was no way…
The headlights of my town car flashed from the street, and I made my way toward it.
Moving into the backseat, I pulled out my phone and texted Benjamin.
Where are you?
Benjamin
Um…at home.
Good. I’ll be there soon, so open the door. I have questions.