Chapter 15
“I don’t care what time it is in Switzerland, Billings, just get him on the line!”
My summons to the Taylor compound had come much earlier than I would have liked. Having gotten only three hours of sleep I was running on fumes, sucking down a cappuccino like a life raft as that demented peacock lurked somewhere in the beyond.
“I’m sorry, Rebecca.” Marcus held his phone away from his ear and apologized again. “I just have to get a handle on this whole article thing before it spins out of—yes, Billings? I told you I don’t need a translator, just get him on the damn phone!” His tone shifted night and day as he turned back to me. “Would you like a croissant?”
“Yes, thank you.” I kept my eyes down on the table as I snaked one off a plate and started picking off little bites.
A copy of Time Magazine lay on the table across between us, a picture of Marcus’ face splashed across the front with the headline, “PARTY LIKE A BILLIONAIRE: How a Business Tycoon Morphed Into a Party Animal.” I looked down at an image of Marcus standing on a yacht surrounded by all kinds of bathing-suit beauties. But Marcus seemed far more concerned with the article himself. I guess he didn’t like the negative spotlight.
“Fine,” Marcus snapped, “if it’s really so important, I guess he’ll just have to call me back. He’s only my fucking publicist after all.” He clicked off the phone and dropped it on the table in disgust.
I clicked my tongue disapprovingly. “The Marcus Taylor taking call-backs? Whatever could be more important,” I held the magazine up over my face, “than you?”
Marcus’ expression was dark. “His wife is having a baby.”
I tossed down the magazine in disbelief. “And you were seriously trying to get him on the phone?”
“It’s their second baby. He’s already been there.”
“Okay.” I avoided eye contact and sipped my coffee, wondering why he’d called me over for a rage-breakfast when we could have just met at the country club.
“I just can’t believe it,” he ranted on, his gaze fastening once more on the page. “Troublemaker playboy with anger issues?” In a swift move, he kicked a silver mimosa tray halfway across the terrace. “I’ve completely changed my ways!”
I raised my eyebrows and buried my face in my croissant. “Yeah, they definitely got that wrong.”
He waved a dismissive hand. “Forget it. You wouldn’t understand.”
“Clearly, you have some issues to work out. I’m going to meet you at the club, sweetie. If you could just call that butler of yours again to make sure the peacock is wrangled, I can get to my car.”
“Rebecca.” His hand flashed out to mine. “I’m sorry. Really.”
My eyes locked on our intertwined fingers as he sighed.
“There’s so much pressure right now for me to close this deal, but Takahari’s on the fence and stalling. He’s not taking me seriously. I can’t imagine this article will help my image.”
“Hey.” I cut him off, flashing an unexpectedly warm smile. “That was then, okay? Before you started to turn your image around. Before you started showing up at your own galas and charity events. Before you got this amazing new girlfriend who’s going to make all your wish
es come true.”
His veneer broke, and he offered me a soft smile. “Is that true?” he asked quietly. “Are you going to make all my wishes come true?”
My heart fluttered nervously, but I shook my head with a stern frown. “Unfortunately for you, that isn’t outlined in my contract. I did, however, think it prudent to throw in the occasional pep talk. For twenty thousand dollars, and all.”
He laughed aloud. “That’s quite some pep talk.”
“Just one of my gifts.” I took a huge bite of croissant and surveyed the grounds like a queen. “So what’s it going to be? Just the club today?”
“Yep—I’m having some clothes delivered for the occasion. We can change here and then drive to get there by eleven.”
“Clothes?” I repeated carefully. “Like...golf clothes?”
He paused. “Unless you’ve already got something you’d like to wear.”
“I’ve got an argyle onesie that I think would be appropriate.” When he said nothing, I flipped up the magazine and surveyed the photograph again with a frown. “Were you on vacation?”
“I’d closed a major deal. I was celebrating in Hawaii.”