BILLIONAIRE'S DESIRE

5. Obsessed

CHAPTER FIVE: OBSESSED

The way her curvy body moved, slow and deliberate, like every

step was part of some erotic choreography; yeah, that image had branded itself

into my brain. I couldn't get her out of my mind. That dance. Those hips. The

way she looked at me like she knew exactly what kind of chaos she was leaving

in her wake.

All night long, she was all I thought about. I didn’t remember the last time I’d been this fixated on a woman. Well, okay, maybe the Nicole phase, but that had been different. That was a different kind of obsession; more infatuation than intrigue.

“You good?”

Dominic’s voice cut through my thoughts, snapping me back to reality. I blinked and looked around, taking in the sleek, polished interior of the private dining lounge at one of his hotels. Right. It was Saturday. Lunch with the family.

“I’m fine,” I muttered, shaking off the haze of memory. For a second there, I’d slipped into that dance again, reliving every breathless second of it.

Dominic raised a brow but didn’t press. “You’re early.”

“So are you,” I replied, offering him a half-smirk.

“True. Nicky ran into a group of fans at the entrance,” he said, giving me one of those guy-side-hugs before settling into his chair across from me.

“Yeah, her new book really blew up.”

“She still doesn’t believe it’s because of her talent. Thinks it’s just because she’s married to me.” He sighed, rubbing his jaw. “I keep telling her it’s all her. The way she writes, people connect to that. It’s not me.”

“Yeah, that’s tough,” I said, meaning it.

Dominic nodded. “So how’s working with Scarlett? Still hate her guts?”

I groaned, letting my head fall back against the booth. “It’s only been one damn week. We haven’t even officially started working together, and I already want to fire her.”

Dominic chuckled, a glint of mischief in his eyes. “You’re not going to fire her. In fact, I bet you’ll end up keeping her.”

I snorted. “Not a chance.”

“What are my two favorite Valiente men whispering about?”

Nicole’s voice was as smooth as ever, sweet and teasing as she approached the table. And, okay, she looked stunning as always. Glowing skin, a sleek black jumpsuit that somehow made six months of pregnancy look like a fashion accessory. It was honestly unfair.

“I’m on your favorite list now?” I asked, rising to give her a hug. Oddly enough, I wasn’t as dazzled by her perfume as I used to be. Not that I didn’t notice it. It just didn’t have the same hold on me.

“The baby insisted,” she replied with a wink. “Apparently, he likes you.”

“One more reason to name him after me,” I teased.

“Who said it’s a boy?” Dominic chimed in.

“Oh, it’s definitely a boy,” I said with confidence.

Nicole shook her head with a laugh. “I am literally the one growing this baby. Maybe I know something you don’t?”

“Then do a gender reveal already! The suspense is killing me.”

“Not happening,” she replied with a smirk. “I already know the gender, and I know one of you is right. You’ll find out soon enough. Now, enough about the baby. How’s work, Reed?”

I sighed dramatically. “Big brother here went ahead and hired a new CMO without telling me. And guess what? She’s infuriating. She breathes, and I want to throw a stapler at the wall. We’ve only interacted for an hour total this week and I’m already fantasizing about firing her.”

Nicole tilted her head. “Anyone I know?”

“If you know her, Dominic’s told you about her at some point. Scarlett Simpson.”

She blinked. “Scarlett Simpson?”

I exchanged a look with Dominic, who rolled his eyes.

“Don’t tell me you don’t know her either,” he said, exasperated.

Nicole frowned, thoughtfully. “Is she... related to Taylor Swift? Or maybe Nick Bateman’s ex? Wait, is she one of the Jonas Brothers’ cousins?”

I laughed. “Seriously?”

“She’s one of the best CMOs in the fashion industry,” Dominic said, clearly shocked. “I figured, with how often you two hang out with Jade, at least one of you would recognize her.”

“Jade has no idea who she is either,” I muttered. “If she did, she’d have given me a detailed PowerPoint presentation already. You know how she gets.”

Dominic shook his head. “Unbelievable.”

Right then, our parents walked in, saving us from further debate.

The rest of the two hours were spent in conversation, laughter, and a few unavoidable jabs about my lack of a personal life. I smiled and nodded at all the right moments, but my mind? Still trapped on that dance. On her.

God help me. I needed to see that woman again.