Building Billions - Part 2 Read online

  “And what if it’s some crusty little bitch in his momma’s basement?”

  “Then I’ll scare him. People need to know that their words come with weight. They can destroy things easily and all at the click of a few buttons.”

  “I’m with you if you’re serious about it,” he said.

  “Thanks.”

  “Oh, are you free for dinner tonight? You can bring Jamie too. I was thinking of taking Ross out, but I figured Ashley would like to get out for a bit too.”

  “Everything okay?”

  “She struggles with her mother. Alzheimer’s.”

  “Shit, I know how that is,” he said.

  “You do?” I asked.

  “Hell, yeah. I don’t talk about it or anything, but my mother had Alzheimer’s. It’s a shit show, especially in the later years. You know how long her mother’s had it?”

  “Fix or six years, I think?”

  “Damn. That’s rough. You’re giving her time off if she needs it, right?”

  “That’s why she was gone most of the day yesterday,” I said.

  “Good. Because her mother doesn’t have much time left. But yeah, I’ll come on out to dinner. My treat, though. You paid this past weekend.”

  “I know, I know. And I don’t go back on my word. Though, I wish we could do this more often.”

  “Well, you might get your wish.”

  “What do you mean?” I asked.

  “I’m fielding all that shit with my company, and it’s not looking good. I mean, it is looking good, but it’ll look better if I’m down here with it. So I might end up back on this side of the country.”

  “You're shitting me.”

  “Nope. You know I got my main set up in Miami. Headquarters is in Alberta, but my main office that fields all types of shit is right here.”

  “You’re moving back?” I asked.

  “Don’t get too excited or start drawing up announcements. Nothing’s set in stone. If I can resolve the issues and stay in Canada, I will. But the more I meet with the idiots I employed, the more it’s looking like I might have to move out here for a spell.”

  “Markus, I hate that your company’s struggling like that, but I can’t help but be excited at the idea that you might be coming back.”

  “I know, I know. I was in meetings about it all day yesterday. Figured a meeting at another company would lift my spirits apparently.”

  “Let me get a few things done around here, and then we can all go for dinner,” I said.

  Markus stuck around, meandering to all the departments and talking people up. Jamie came up to the top floor around four thirty and greeted him with a kiss. I caught Ashley’s stare from her office, and I could see the light in her eyes. She watched the two of them embrace in the hallway, and the smile that crossed her face filled my heart with joy.

  I wanted to give her that and so much more if she would let me.

  All of us headed out to dinner again, and it was wonderful, but it didn’t stay that way for long. I followed Markus’s eyesight as we sat down and watched his face fall immediately.

  And there was only one person on the planet who could suck the life out of him that quickly.

  “Jimmy, can we go somewhere else?” Ashley asked.

  I turned around and saw Nina, her eyes hooked on the table.

  “It’ll be fine,” Markus said.

  “We’ve got this,” I said.

  “I’ll handle it if she says anything,” Markus said. “You’ve had enough of a presence in the media for one year.”

  I heard Nina’s heels clicking over to the table, that light little sound that always sent the worst of shivers down my spine. I could feel her gaze on me as Ashley slipped her hand into mine, her arm trembling. I hated that she felt like this. I hated that I couldn't escape this woman and that I couldn’t enjoy a fucking dinner out without Nina popped up and ruining all this shit.

  How did she have the money to be here, anyway?

  “Hello, gentlemen,” Nina said.

  “Here we go,” Ross said.

  “Before you say anything, I want you to know something,” Markus said. “If you know what’s good for you, you’ll turn around and go take your seat.”

  “The last time I checked, I was free to walk up to whoever I wanted,” Nina said.

  “And that’s fine, but not tonight,” Markus said.

  “Just go away, Nina,” Ross said.

  Markus shot him a look, and Ashley gripped my hand tighter. I watched Nina’s eyes fall to our connection as her cheeks flushed with anger. I stared her down, letting her know she couldn't intimidate us out of here. Whatever she was looking for, she wasn’t going to get tonight.

  Or ever, if I had anything to do with it.

  “How much is he paying you a month?” Nina asked.

  “That’s enough. If you couldn’t handle the nature of your and Jimmy’s relationship, then that’s on you. But if you don’t turn around and get out of here, I’ll make you,” Markus said.

  “Is that a threat?” Nina asked.

  “Might be. I’d think it was more a promise, though,” he said. “Either way, you ready to find out? Because I’ve been waiting a long time to put you where you belong.”

  I looked over at Ashley, and I saw her eyes in her lap, shamed into a position she should never be in. I reached over and crooked my finger underneath her chin and lifted her head. Her eyes were filled with fear. Worry. Apprehension. What was supposed to be a lovely dinner had quickly become another fiasco because of Nina.

  I was ready to take out a restraining order on the woman.

  “You’ll pay.”

  I whipped my head up to Nina as Markus stepped in between us.

  “Time to go,” he said.

  “You’ll pay, Jimmy Sheldon. And if you don’t think you will, then think again,” Nina said.

  “I need a manager, please,” Markus said. “Someone to get this wild animal out from underneath our feet.”

  There was a commotion as a couple of people came over and took Nina by her arms. She tried to shake them off, stumbling in her heels as her hair flew everywhere. I shook my head as Markus stuck with her, making sure the two people could handle her flailing body all the way out the door. I felt Ashley’s forehead come down on my shoulder, and then a small sniffle hit my ear.

  She was crying.

  I had wanted to take us all out for a nice dinner, and now the love of my life was crying.

  Chapter 12

  Ashley

  I couldn't get what Nina said out of my head. She had been right there in the middle of a restaurant spouting the same threat she had when she’d seen Jimmy and me in his office. In front of all sorts of people who probably overheard her. The moment kept running through my mind. How Markus had to step in and how Ross was tired of her antics. We all were. We were all tired of Nina popping up out of nowhere and causing issues with everything.

  Something had to be done about Nina.

  Something drastic.

  If she kept up this bullshit, it was only going to cause more issues, and not just with Jimmy and me but his company as well. I was more than convinced she was behind all this stuff going on. The balance sheet issues and the “anonymous accusation” of Jimmy bribing people to favor his product. It had “vengeful sort-of ex” written all over it.

  If she had the money to continue frequenting places like that, then who knows what else she was capable of getting her hands on.

  I sat at my desk all day with my nose in some work. I had a full day of individual conference calls with all the investors. They were demanding them while Jimmy settled his public persona, which meant I got to rattle off twenty-one separate times that things were okay at the company, that their money was safe and would gross them the exact net profit I had projected for them over the next quarter. They really were a handful, and I could see how a career could be made from simply running behind these man-children.

  But I was good at doing it, so I kept my nose to
the grind.

  “Ashley?”

  “Hmm?”

  I lifted my head from the paperwork on my desk and saw Jimmy standing at the door.

  “Hey there.”

  “Hi,” I said.

  “How did all those conference calls go today?” Jimmy asked.

  “About as good and monotonous as you could expect. But they’re done, and I’m simply completing some paperwork to have on file about them.”

  “Are you free for dinner tonight?”

  “I kind of want to go home and hang out with Chipper.”

  “Are you sure? I’ve got a very relaxing evening planned for us,” he said.

  “Jimmy, I have a home I can go to and a dog I need to take care of. I can’t run off with you after every day simply because you want to hang out.”

  I knew how sharp it sounded the moment it came flying out of my mouth. I sighed and closed my eyes and then leaned back in my chair. Jimmy came in and shut the door behind him, turning his “boss mode” off. His eyes became compassionate, and his movements became gentler. He walked around my desk and sat on the edge of it, his hands shoved into his pockets and his eyes dancing around my face.

  “Chipper’s more than welcome at my place,” he said.

  “I know,” I said with a sigh.

  “You really could use a relaxing evening.”

  “We tried that yesterday, remember?” I asked.

  “In,” he said. “A relaxing evening in. I’ve got dinner ready to cook at my place, and a full-body massage is waiting for you.”

  “Man, that sounds good,” I said.

  “Then say ‘yes.’ Let me cook for you. We can pop open a bottle of wine, settle down after a long day. I’ll get you relaxed with a full-body massage, and maybe we can share a bath together.”

  “And where is Chipper in this equation?”

  “With Cass?” he asked.

  “If she didn’t love that puppy so much, I’d say you were trying to tell me to get rid of my puppy for the evening.”

  “Like I said, he’s welcome if you want to bring him. I’ll cook him up some rice and shred some chicken up for him.”

  “You’d do that for me? Aw, Jimmy. So sweet,” I said with a wink.

  “So, dinner in? At my place?” he asked.

  “Let me call Cass and make sure she can take Chipper. If she can, no worries. She’s got a key. If she can’t, I’ll have to go pick him up.”

  “Perfect. Now, what’s on your mind?”

  “Hmm?”

  “What’s got you so locked up?” he asked. “Do you want to talk about it? Is it your mother?”

  I felt that same pang of guilt rush through my body as I shook my head.

  “It’s not my mother. And it’s really nothing. This Nina thing is getting out of control is all.”

  “I agree with you on that, and I’m working on a plan. Right now, all we can do is know that the city is on our side. Her antics in public won’t be tolerated in places I frequent, so stick by my side and you’ll be okay.”

  “The first time it was ‘oh, you’re good. No need to worry.’ Now, I’m having to stick by your side to stay safe from her?” I asked.

  “I promise you, Markus and I are in the process of fixing all this. We aren’t going to live like this. Nina isn’t going to continue kicking up dust the way she is, not if I have anything to do with it.”

  I wanted to believe him, but a part of me couldn’t. For every good thing in my life, there was always a bad. There was always a karmic balance that took place, no matter what. And Jimmy was too much of a good thing, which meant there was too much of a bad thing I’d always have to put up with in order to stay with him.

  It was how things worked, and nothing more.

  “Let me call Cass and see what she’s up to. Then, we can go from there,” I said.

  “I’ll be in my office waiting for you,” Jimmy said.

  Cass was more than willing to take Chipper, and a part of me was relieved at that. The more I thought about it, the more a night in with Jimmy sounded like the perfect answer to my worries. I left my car in the parking garage and left in Jimmy’s car, watching the world pass us by. His hand was cradling mine, and I could feel his pulse throbbing against my wrist faster and faster the closer we got to his apartment.

  I was still in awe of how he could cook. The honey and basil-coated chicken smelled delicious, and the garlic green beans were as fresh as it got. I was tasked with picking out a bottle of white wine for us to share, so I popped it open and poured each of us a glass. It was nice, eating in with Jimmy and getting into a routine and getting comfortable as I gazed at him from across his little eating nook.

  “Why don’t you have a formal dining room?” I asked.

  “One couldn’t fit in this kitchen,” Jimmy said.

  “You’ve got space, even for a simple table that seats four.”

  “Do you not like the nook?”

  “It’s a bit small. Do you not usually have company over? Friends? Markus? Anything like that?”

  “Not where meals are concerned. I’ve never led the kind of life that gave me the ability to take pride in family dinners. If I’m not wining and dining a client, it’s me eating here alone. No point in a big table if it’s just me. Plus, the view from the nook is outstanding.”

  “Maybe one day you’ll have a reason to get a formal dining table,” I said.

  His eyes locked with mine as he took a bite of his chicken.

  “Maybe I will,” he said.

  Dinner was wonderful, and I was insistent on washing the dishes. We polished off the bottle of wine as I stacked everything in the dishwasher, and Jimmy turned it on so we could get out of there. We settled on the couch, and he started his massage, working his way up my calf and digging his hands into my skin.

  “Oh, you weren’t joking,” I said.

  “I never joke when it comes to touching you.”

  “Oh, that feels—oh. So good.”

  “If you turn over, I’ll massage your back,” he said.

  Up and up he went, his hands digging lightly into my strained muscles. The tension in my lower back melted, and the boulder on my shoulders slowly rolled off. Thoughts of the balance sheets and Nina and my mother’s problems melted away, and all I was focused on was the motions of his hands, how delicate his touch was and how firm his palms felt against my skin. My nipples were rising to painful peaks, and I could feel his cock pressing against my ass. His lips dipped to my ear, caressing the shell before he pressed a kiss to my skin.

  “If you remove your clothes, I could give you a more thorough massage.”

  The two of us were undressed in a matter of minutes. His hands ran along my sides before he picked me up into his arms. My head was swimming with the wine, and my stomach was warm with the dinner he’d cooked for me. He tossed me onto the bed as giggles spilled from my lips. His cock was thick and ready for my body, and my thighs were aching to have him between them.

  He wasted no time in giving me what I wanted.

  Our lips collided as his hand slipped behind my neck. My hips rolled into him as he sank between my legs. I wrapped my thighs around him and locked my ankles as the tip of his dick teased my dripping pussy. I was breathing his air, feeling his back twitch underneath my fingers as my hands rushed down his back.

  He slid into me effortlessly. He pushed my walls back, making my entire body shudder. My lips kissed his neck, nipped at his pulse point, and grazed along his shoulder. His face was buried into my neck, peppering me with kisses and lapping at the dip in my shoulder.

  “You’re beautiful, Ashley. So beautiful.”

  “Go faster. Harder. Please, Jimmy. Make me forget.”

  He pounded into my hips, my hands curling into his hair. I couldn't get enough of him, of his muscles contracting against my skin and his sweat dripping on my body. His lips kept devouring me, wrapping around my nipples and sucking them until they burned. His cock slid deep into my body, shooting electricity through my
veins and setting the tips of my toes on fire. His hands found mine and pinned them over my head, interlocking our fingers as he found my gaze.

  He held my stare, his hips rolling deeply as my feet dug into his backside.

  Thrust for thrust, I met him with my body. He kissed my chest and licked my neck and left bite marks I knew I would find in the morning. My body hummed for him. Shook for him. Jumped at his touch and gave into his undulations. My toes ran up and down the backs of his thighs, pulling goosebumps onto his skin and sending a shiver down his spine.

  I captured his lips, my throat swallowing his groans.

  My pussy lips folded to him and exposed my clit to his curls. The fire that burned in my gut raged throughout my entire body. My hands gripped his and my heels dug into the mattress. I pressed my body deeper, arching into him to find any friction I could. I felt his smile as he kissed me over and over until my lips were nothing but swollen, throbbing pillows. My body was covered in a sheen of sweat, desire dripping from my pores as my toes began to curl.

  “Yes. Just like this. Keep going. Jimmy, keep going!”

  I slammed my hips into him, and it threw me over the edge. I moaned out into his room, my cries filling the corners of his penthouse apartment. The skyline of Miami backdropped my body, his curtains open for the world to look in on us. I could feel my pussy clenching him tightly, milking him for the come my throbbing walls were greedy for.

  “Ashley. Shit. You make me feel ... oh, fuck.”

  He grunted and groaned, his knees scraping along the mattress for traction. His hands released mine, sliding down my arms and cupping my breasts. He fell into me, holding himself up with his forearms as his cock twitched against my walls. I could feel his threads of come painting me, marking me as his own once again like he had so many times before.

  He collapsed on top of me, our intermingled arousal dripping from between my legs.

  My lips found his jawline, kissing it endlessly until he could turn and capture my lips.

  “Now I’m all sweaty,” I said breathlessly.

  “I’ve got an idea for that, if you give me a second,” Jimmy said.

  “Take all the seconds you need. I love you like this.”