Mad for the Billionaire Read Online Free PDF Page A

made up, I soon slipped into Mark’s office. He waved me towards a seat. I sat and waited; content to stare out the window while he finished up his call. Mark wrapped it up quickly, issuing several friendly “Gotcha!” and “No problem!” before disconnecting.
    Just as I was going to ask him what he needed, Mark cocked a thick blond brow and barked, “What’s going on with Draven?”
    My own slim eyebrow raised in question.
    “That was him on the phone. He told me he had an appointment with you in fifteen. So again, what’s going on with Draven?”
    “Is that why you had Connie tell me to come here?”
    “No.”
    My temper flared beneath his presumptuous prodding. “What are you really asking Mark?”
    “Why’s he meeting you for lunch? You’re just the Controller.”
    Just the Controller my ass! Who the hell juggled money around when there wasn’t any to juggle? Who the fuck managed to get a line of credit so we could cover payroll? Who the hell was in the trenches when our staff was cut by three-quarters?
    “You wanna rephrase that, Mark? Quickly?”
    He tapped his calloused fingers against the desk. Tap. Tap. Tap. “No offense. You know what I mean.”
    As far as apologies went, that was good as I was going to get. I sighed, frustrated to get entangled in a tug-of-war between my past and my present. “Look, we went to school together. That’s all. He probably wants to be polite and catch up on old friends.”
    The pinched set of Mark’s mouth loosened. “That’s it?”
    “Yes, that’s it.” I resisted the urge to shake my head at Mark’s territorial tendencies. “Now what did you need?”
    He held up one hand. “It can wait.”
    “You sure?”
    “Yeah.”
    “It must’ve been pretty important for you to send Connie.”
    “Hell, no! I just wanted to go over the meeting and get your feedback on how it went.”
    I relaxed and crossed my legs. “It went well. The troops are excited again. There’s hope now…the very thing we’ve all needed. Between the layoffs and the ones left migrating to more stable companies, it’s been brutal.”
    “I know. We were running the blade for too long.” Mark slapped the desk. It rattled the silver Newton’s Cradle toy I had gotten him last Christmas. “Damn but it feels good to think about the future. Now that Draven will be the acting CEO until he finds us a suitable replacement, I can focus on doing just my job.”
    “Tell me about it.” We laughed, wry humor tempered by longstanding fatigue. “I think I’ll finally be able to sleep without waking up in the middle of the night.”
    “Sleep? What’s that?”
    I chuckled again before eyeing the wall clock. Minutes expired while I contemplated an insurrection against my baser fixations. Mark and I chatted, conversation circling around subjects like weekend plans before zeroing back onto MLM.
    Two minutes left. Alexander, I’m not going to hop at your command. I’m really, really not.
    No. I’m not.
    No. I can’t.
    Shit!
    I shot to my feet. “Mark, I gotta go.”
    “Oh, that’s right.” He waved me off. “It wouldn’t do to keep the new boss waiting. Pass on anything pertinent, will you?” His sharp gaze held mine to press the importance of the statement.
    “Sure thing.”
    “Sophia?”
    “Yeah?” Mark regarded me another moment, keen stare sweeping across mine. I got the distinct impression he was looking for something secret and vulnerable to discover. I fortified my walls with a lopsided grin. “What is it?”
    Good luck scaling me, Mark. You were never going to get in.
    As if he heeded my silent challenge, he shook his head and waved me off. “Nothing. Enjoy yourself.”
    “Will do.”
    I left his office and swung by mine. Picking up my purse, coat, phone, and keys, I glanced out of the window, trying to see if I’d spot Alexander waiting outside seven floors down.
    You’re really not going to do this, are you?
    Hell, yes I was. Why? Because I still couldn’t resist the lure