BILLIONAIRE'S DESIRE

2. Rules

CHAPTER TWO

RULES

I peered at her from under my lashes, my glare sharp enough to cut steel but she didn’t even flinch. Not a twitch, not a blink. That neutral expression on her face was starting to piss me off and I have no f*****g idea why.

I exhaled sharply, dragging a hand through my hair, trying to keep it together. Something about her made me want to bite her head off and kiss her just to shut her up and that was a problem.

Finally, she set her phone down and took a sip of her coffee. Then, as if she’d been born to taunt me, she drained the whole damn cup in silence and signaled the waiter for another. Usually, I was the one making women wait. But somehow, Scarlett Simpson had flipped the script on me.

“I didn’t bore you, Mr. Valiente, did I?” she asked smoothly, her tone laced with mock innocence.

“Not at all,” I lied, forcing a tight smile even though my insides were simmering.

“Good,” she said, clasping her hands neatly in front of her. “I have a habit. When I start a new position, I sit down with my boss for a cup of coffee and lay out a few ground rules. Now that we’ve established that I’m indeed doomed to work with you, I’ll tell you exactly what I’ve told every other employer: You stay in your lane, I’ll stay in mine, and together, we get the company to the top.”

“Well,” I said, leaning back in my seat, “that’s the first thing I actually agree with you on. But let me make something very clear. I know my brother hired you, but you work for me now. So I’d appreciate it if you kept that razor tongue of yours in check when you speak to your superior.”

“Oh, Mr. Valiente,” she said with a sigh, “you are going to be one real pain in the ass, aren’t you?”

“Me?” I scoffed. “You’re the one who’s going to be a goddamn thorn in my side.”

“You flatter me,” she quipped, smirking. “Anyway, let’s get this out of the way. I want to hear your rules, personal ones. So we don’t accidentally step on each other’s toes.”

She leaned forward slightly, clasping her hands again, observing me like I was some experiment under a microscope.

“Rules?” I repeated, raising an eyebrow.

“Yes. That is what I said.”

I rolled my eyes. “Fine. Rule number one: Never screw a company employee.”

She scoffed. “When have you ever followed that rule?”

I shrugged. “Never. The CMOs before you were all ridiculously hot. But this time, for the first time, I think I’ll actually stick to that one.”

“Because I’m not your type?” she asked, unfazed.

“Clearly. And honestly, I doubt you could get any man into your bed, let alone me. No offense.”

“That’s highly offensive,” she said dryly, though her expression didn’t change. She was unreadable. Like the female version of Dominic, which made her all the more irritating.

“Rule two,” I continued, “No love. Period.”

She gave a small nod. “Agreed. Love is overrated. People cling to it like it’s some magical cure. It’s sickening, really.”

That made me pause. It was the first time I’d heard a woman say that and actually mean it. It was... unexpected. Kind of refreshing. Maybe even…interesting. Maybe that does make her a little bit different from Dominic. The man was whipped for his wife. But then again, its Nicole we are talking about. Why the hell can’t stop thinking about her?

“Why would you say that?” I pressed. “Someone break your heart?”

For the briefest second, something flickered in her eyes, too fast for me to catch fully, but it was there. Then she blinked, and it was gone.

“Any other rules?” she asked, effortlessly shifting the topic.

“Yeah. I never sleep with the same woman twice.”

She tilted her head. “I read my personal research file on you. That one actually checks out. You’ve never gone back for seconds.”

“Exactly,” I said.

“Alright,” she said, sitting back, “my turn.”

I braced myself.

“Rule one,” she began coolly, “I don’t tolerate playboy bosses parading their bimbos around the office. So from now on, don’t bring your playthings into the company premises. It’s a business, not a goddamn brothel. Rule two: no love. We’re on the same page there. Rule three: I don’t care if you get pissed when I contradict you. I say what needs to be said and do what needs to be done, regardless of your feelings. People say I have no heart. That’s fine by me. I still won’t give a damn.”

“Do you always cuss like a sailor?” I asked, slightly thrown off by her bluntness.

“Yes. And I lash out too, especially when I feel insulted.” She stood, leaned over the table slightly... and that’s when I saw it. A sliver of cleavage peeking from beneath her slightly unbuttoned blouse. It was subtle but damn, it was enough.

And now I had a problem.

Because my pants were suddenly tighter than they’d been ten seconds ago.

What the hell?

I wasn’t even into her. At least, I wasn’t supposed to be. She wasn’t my usual type. She was too stern, too composed, too... infuriating. But now, all I could think about was the way her shirt clung to her chest and how easily I could rip it off-

Nope. No. Stop.

“But I’m not going to lash out at you,” she said, interrupting my spiral. “You don’t look like you’d survive it. Instead, I’m giving you a challenge.”

I blinked. “A challenge?”

“You’ll find out soon enough,” she said with a sly smile. “Anyway, my coffee’s on you. You can finish what’s left in my cup.”

She picked up her bag and walked out, heels clicking confidently against the floor, leaving me in a daze.

By the time I got back to my office, I couldn’t stop thinking about that damn glimpse of cleavage. It had been less than a second, but it was seared into my brain like a brand.

What the hell is wrong with me?

I yanked out my phone and hit call.

“Yo, pretty boy,” Jade answered cheerfully. “Done with your new boss already? Or did she fire you instead?”

“I need to ask you something,” I said, pacing. “Is it possible to be sexually attracted to someone you actually hate?”

There was a pause. “Wait. Are you talking about her? The new CMO?”

“I still hate her,” I groaned. “But today I saw her boobs, well, a bit of them, and I got turned on. In a f*****g café, Jade. A public place. I’ve been trying to scrub it out of my brain and it’s still there.”

She laughed. “Wait, boobs? Since when have boobs been your thing? It’s always asses, long legs, and pretty faces.”

“Exactly!” I groaned. “So what the f**k is happening to me?”

“No idea,” she said, clearly enjoying this. “But the guys are going to love this story tonight.”

“Great,” I muttered. “See you at the club. I need to drink until I forget this ever happened. Maybe pick up a hot blonde and get my damn head back on straight.”

“Good luck with that,” she said, still chuckling. “But I’m telling you now, Valiente, this one's different. She’s in your head already.”

Damn it.