$10,000,000 Marriage Proposal Read Online Free PDF Page B

after walking from the library.” She ushered Suze in. “By the way, my name is Alicia. Congratulations on making it to this stage.” This stage, Suze noted. She hadn’t won yet.
    As she talked, Alicia led Suze to the left, down a wide hallway. They passed a large formal living room with a wall of sliders opening out onto a well-lit backyard. There was a dining room with an obscenely long table and several paintings that certainly belonged in a museum. They turned again, into another wing—the house seemed to be U-shaped, with a courtyard in the middle. The rooms along this hallway were clearly more lived in: First there was a comfortable game room with a pool table, bar, and a few retro pinball machines. Then they came to a library with floor-to-ceiling built-in bookshelves, overstuffed reading chairs, and a wide antique desk.
    “Please have a seat here,” Alicia said, directing her to one of the chairs. “What can I get you to drink? A glass of wine? Coffee or tea? Water? Whatever you want.”
    “Just water is fine, thanks,” Suze said, then thought better of it. This wasn’t a business meeting! It was a date—or if all went well, it might turn into one. “On second thought, a glass of red wine would be perfect.”
    “You got it,” Alicia said. “And don’t worry if it takes me a little while—the kitchen is at least a mile away.”
    Suze waited. This had to be Mr. Moneybags’ house, right? It certainly fit the bill. Was he lurking here somewhere? Scared to meet her, or just biding his time? She looked around. Was she being observed? Filmed? She stood up and started looking at the books that lined the shelves, pulling out one on Renaissance art. Might as well learn something while she waited. Plus, not to be calculating, but it didn’t hurt to clue him in the minute he entered that she was no bimbo.

Chapter 14
    Another woman came into the library—Suze recognized her as the woman from the Staples Center who had counseled her to smile at Mr. Moneybags, as if that opportunity would actually someday arrive. Apparently, it now had.
    “I’m sorry,” she said. “Alicia had to step away. But I brought you your wine.” The woman lowered the shades on the sliders. “Here, this is cozier, isn’t it?”
    Suze had a thousand questions she wanted to ask, but she sensed she hadn’t gotten far enough to earn that. When entrepreneurs came to Redfield seeking funding, they were expected to make their case, presenting all the information in a coherent and convincing way before Redfield gave them any indication of interest or partnership. Suze knew where she stood. But that didn’t mean it wasn’t worth a shot.
    “How many of us are there at this point?” she whispered to her presumed ally.
    “It’s not a competition,” the woman said. “Not in the traditional sense. He’s not comparing women. He’s just looking for one. The one. It’ll just be a moment. Good luck. And don’t be nervous—just be yourself.”
    Easy for you to say, Suze thought. But the wine was an excellent idea. A few sips in, Suze’s doubts and mild paranoia fled, and she was left to appreciate the luxurious setting and romantic scenario in which she found herself. This was a real-life fairy tale. Somewhere out there was a man. Would he sweep her off her feet? Did she even believe in love at first sight? He seemed to have confidence in this process—otherwise, how could he trust that from it his perfect mate would emerge? She herself had a mental list of what she wanted in a man, but she wasn’t wed to it. There had to be variables; anyone with half a brain knew that.
    Suddenly, without fanfare, a man dressed casually in jeans, loafers, and a pullover came out and sat down across from her. He was in his midthirties, handsome, with a warm smile. Suze felt an unfamiliar combination of relief and disappointment. Here he was at last—the man who had sparked all this drama and speculation, the owner of this dream estate, a person who