Fascination: (Billionaire Venture Capitalist #9): A Friends to Lovers Romance

by Ainsley St Claire

  “I understand. Will you be able to get any sleep on the plane?

  “Jack and I are going to try. It’ll be a short night, but it’ll be worth it,” I tell him.

  “Great news. We’ll be watching, and my team in New York will be meeting you. Jack has briefed them on your itinerary, so you should be good to go. Call me if anything comes up. Now, before you go, I have something I wanted to run by you.”

  “Yes?”

  I hear him take a big breath over the phone. “I think Annabelle may have surfaced at her sister’s.”

  I sit up straight in my chair and become hyper alert. “What do you mean you think she surfaced?”

  “We’ve caught some activity at her sister’s home down in Orange County. Someone just showed up last night, and with a hyperbolic mic, we were pretty positive someone was moving around inside the house, and that it was her.”

  “Are you calling the FBI? The police?” I don’t know if that’s good or bad. My stomach clenches.

  “I think it’s something worth investigating. Before we call the FBI or police, we’d like confirmation. We were thinking you could talk to her and see if you can’t get her to come in on her own. It’ll play better for her in the long run.” Jim always did share my soft spot for her. He was protective like my team, worried she was a gold digger, but he’d spent time with her, and we weren’t sure if she was involved in this mess. “How about instead of coming back to San Francisco from New York, you meet me down in Orange County. You can fly into John Wayne Airport. I’ll pick you up, and then we’ll head over to her sister's place in Anaheim Hills.”

  “Do you think we can just knock on the door?”

  “I think that’s a good place to start.”

  I think about it. I would rather her explain to me and the FBI what happened and why she disappeared. “I can meet you. I don’t want a big tactical force on her. Hopefully we can talk her into getting a lawyer and talking to the FBI at the very least.”

  “Great. We’ll see you when you can get to the OC.”

  “That’s the tricky part. Tomorrow’s Tuesday, and I’m in New York all day. I’m having dinner tomorrow night in New York and want to see a couple people while I’m in town. If I come on Thursday, will that give us enough time?”

  “Absolutely. My team will stake out the house 24-7 and maybe have more of a routine.”

  “Okay, that works for me. Maybe we can get her to talk.”

  “Great. I’ll watch for the flight plan and expect to see you Thursday morning. I’ll also get you set up in a hotel.”

  “Not the Disney Hotel, please. Maybe something in Newport Beach?”

  Jim lets out a hearty laugh. “Has someone made a reservation for you at the Disney Hotel before?”

  “Cameron talked my admin into making the reservation there since it’s the ‘happiest place on Earth.’ They thought I needed to lighten up.”

  “Mary did that? I can’t see her falling for one of Cameron’s practical jokes.”

  “Yes, it was Mary, but she hasn’t done it again since. Of course, telling her that I would book her in a cheap motel the next time she traveled and make sure there were crying babies on both sides of her on the flight convinced her I was serious.”

  “You can be brutal. But you know Cameron was behind it.”

  “Of course. I got him back. I might have sent roses to Hadlee—they were newly dating, and she’d just lost her house to a fire.”

  “I bet that got him upset.”

  “It was fantastic.”

  He’s laughing, and I know he would have done something similar. “See you Thursday. Call me if you need me.”

  The office is emptying out, and we need to get going. I see Jack pacing out in reception. “Jack, let me make one final call and then we’re good to go.”

  “You’re the boss.”

  I pull up FaceTime on my phone and dial CeCe. She comes on, and she looks stunning. I’d like to think I’m behind the glow, but she’s always beautiful. I don’t know how I got so lucky to land her. Every time I see her, my heart goes pitter patter. I’m so excited and ready for the rest of our lives to start; I just need this other crap to stop. “Hey, are you ready to go?”

  “Getting there. I’ve got my schedule set. I won’t be back until late Friday or maybe Saturday.”

  “Were you successful in getting a meeting with Angus Morgan?”

  “I was, thanks to you and Greer.”

  “That’s all Greer. Vanessa may be my PR person for Fashion Week, but she’s Greer’s cousin and essentially her sister.”

  “Meeting with him is a great way to expand our relationship since Todd from his team is on our advisory team. I’m also talking to people from several of the big financial houses who are interested in possibly taking future investments public.”

  “Oh.” She smiles broadly. “You’re going to be wined and dined.”

  “I am.”

  “Angus has told stories about strip clubs. Just so you know, you can look, but you can’t touch.”

  I throw my head back and laugh really hard. That’s not my thing. “When I have perfection at home, why would I need to look anywhere else?”

  She blushes, and I can’t help but fall further in love. She just doesn’t understand how beautiful she really is. I know the papers have told her that for years, but she always felt like there was some other reason they were always saying nice things about her, because it was always followed by a ‘but.’ It’ll be my mission in life to make sure she knows that she’s truly a beautiful woman.

  “Why are you trying to butter me up?”

  I try to act all indignant because she isn’t too far off. “I’m totally not buttering you up, but I’m hoping that while I’m gone, we can maybe do a little bit of naked FaceTime.”

  “You are funny. But if that’s what it takes, I’m all in.” She looks around, and then I see her pull her breast out of her scoop-neck top. She fingers her nipple. “Is this what you’re hoping for?”

  “Ces, you know I’m in an all-glass office, and now I have a raging hard-on.”

  “I miss you already.”

  “I’ll talk to you tomorrow, and then I’ll show you what naked FaceTime is.”

  She bites the corner of her lip, and it drives me crazy. “I may not be able to wait for you.”

  “You’re killing me, woman.”

  “Just making sure you know what’s here and waiting for you.” She points the phone down, and I see her slowly moving her skirt up to her innermost sanctum. If she doesn’t stop soon, this woody in my pants will take time to go away.

  “I’m hanging up now,” I warn.

  “Talk to you tomorrow. Fly safe. I’ve got to go take care of myself now that I’m all amped up.”

  “You and me both. Good night, sweetheart.”

  “Good night.” She moans just to tempt me.

  Once we disconnect, I have to take a few deep breaths. I think of my mother, then my aunt, and my dick begins to deflate. I’ll need to stroke it off at some point, but I’d much prefer to do it while I’m alone and with CeCe on FaceTime, not with my bodyguard in the same room.

  When the bell rings at the close, I’m exhausted, but overall it was a good day. Dinner tonight is with James Patrick, the CEO of Stanley Morton, one of the largest banks on Wall Street. I’ll need to pound some serious caffeine and be grateful for the time change. I’ll be running from one meeting to the next for the next three days, but it does feel good to be back at work and doing what I love, knowing that when I go home at night, I have a stunning woman in my bed.

  Chapter fourteen

  Mason

  My trip to New York was thankfully uneventful. I rang the bell with my client, and it was a nice celebration. In our first day, we made back our investment and then some. That’s always a good sign, to watch our investment be embraced by the public.

  My dinners with James Patrick and Angus Morgan were very productive. With Angus, we talked about making some aggressive m
oves, but having advice from him and Todd really makes me feel more comfortable with that. I shouldn’t doubt Dillon. He’s a brilliant financial mind.

  When we take a company public, we tend to do so with the same two banks. One of them is struggling to keep up with the number of offers we have. Sara is a machine, and they have huge legal departments, but they struggle to meet their own deadlines. Stanley Morton would like to replace them. I’m not sure I’m ready to make such a big change, but it’s nice to be courted. I committed to doing two deals with them next month. They make money on the shares we put up for sale, so banks are often making us promises. I’ll let Sara figure out if they’re a good fit, but for now, they have my blessing.

  When I step off the plane in Orange County, the warmth and smell of the Pacific and orange blossoms are like a blanket. I love it here. If I could, I’d move SHN down here. The weather is consistently good, and the cost of living is a little lower for our staff. Maybe one day, but now that I have CeCe to consider, that may not be as easy.

  A member of Jim’s team is parked on the tarmac at the base of the stairs. I’ve been sitting for the last five hours, and I could walk into the terminal if they’d let us, but in the VIP section, we’re allowed this perk. We discussed this on the way out, but Jack insists it’s safer.

  Jim and Jack flank me as they drive me to my hotel. “We’ve had a team of two sitting on the house around the clock since she’s returned. We’re listening to conversations she’s having over the phone.” Jim hands me a large manila envelope. “Those are the transcripts. Look them over and see if anything stands out to you. You know the players and my team doesn’t.”

  I nod.

  “Jack and I will meet you for breakfast tomorrow morning, and then we’ll make our way over. Traffic will be heavy, but we should make it within an hour.”

  I blanch. An hour? I forget the traffic here sucks. Maybe San Francisco isn’t such a bad thing. Who cares about the endless gray days when the longest you’re in a rideshare is thirty minutes?

  “So what’s the plan? Just go knock on the door?”

  “Yep. We’ll knock and hope she answers,” Jack says simply.

  “Will we call the FBI or the police?”

  “I don’t want to be too aggressive with her. We know where she is, and my goal would be for us to talk her into giving herself up.”

  We pull into the hotel driveway, and once we’ve climbed out of the SUV, Jim leads me into the elevators along with three others. I look at a wall of shoulders, which is shocking given I’m a tall guy myself. I’m starting to feel a bit claustrophobic when the elevators open into the living room of my suite.

  “We set you up over there.” Jim points to the room on the left side of the suite. “There will be two men up and working here in the living room at all times. The other room will be used by my team.”

  “Thanks. What time do you want to go down and eat in the morning?” I ask.

  “How about eight? I’d like to be on the road by nine at the latest.”

  I nod. “See you then.”

  I put my bag on the bed. My business suit I used in New York is worthless here in Orange County; the summer weight wool is too much for even winter here. I pull out khakis and a dress shirt for the morning, stopping to think about the shirt. I realize Annabelle picked it out. Maybe that’s a good omen for tomorrow.

  I try CeCe over FaceTime, but she doesn’t pick up. I send her a text instead.

  Me: Hey. I made it to Orange County. Nice to be in the same time zone, but I’m exhausted and going to bed. Sorry I missed you. Hope you’re having a good night. Talk to you tomorrow. XOXO M.

  My body clock is so disjointed after starting the week on the West Coast, working like crazy for three days on the East Coast, and then heading back to the West Coast—but not at home. Honestly, it doesn’t faze me much. I’ve been tired since I was sick. I can’t wait to get back to my presickness energy.

  When my head hits the pillow, I think about CeCe for half a second and then pass out. She does appear in my dreams. Sometimes it’s a seductive sex dream, and other times we’re running from Annabelle. That’s the part that worries me.

  The following morning, I wander out of my room at eight in need of an IV of caffeine.

  “Are you ready for today’s gymnastics?” Jim asks.

  “I’m ready as I’ll ever be. Have they seen her?”

  “Yes, she does a few small errands but mostly stays at the house. She talks to her sister almost daily. Her sister is working out of town, so she’s by herself. What do you know about her family?”

  “She has two sisters and a brother. Their father was an alcoholic and could be abusive, but I don’t know much more than that. I wanted to meet them at the beginning, but she always pushed back. I figured she was embarrassed by them and didn’t press it. I can’t even tell you I know their names.”

  “Have you decided what you want to say to her?”

  “You mean besides why the fuck did she disappear after I was poisoned?”

  “Well, that’s a start, given that she may not have been behind the poisoning.”

  “As you know, we broke up before it all went down, so maybe she’s down here licking her wounds. Do we know if she’s using her cell phone?”

  “No. It may be here, but it isn’t on or doesn’t have its GPS chip activated.”

  We start the drive across Orange County, and the 55 freeway is jam-packed and slow. “How do people do this every day?”

  “The Bay Area is worse.”

  “Yes, but if you don’t want to deal with it, you can always take a train or a bus. That doesn’t really happen down here.”

  It’s almost painful that we go less than fifteen miles and it takes over an hour. It isn’t even rush hour.

  As we exit the freeway and head toward her sister’s home, the guys who are watching the house call Jim. “She’s just left. We’re following her,” they say on speakerphone.

  We pull to the side of the road until we know at least the direction she’s headed. If she’s just going to get coffee or running a quick errand, we can remain here for when she returns.

  “She’s heading for the 55.”

  “Let’s see where our little friend is going this morning,” Jim muses.

  The guys pass us going the other way, but I didn’t see her. We swing around and join the tail. She drives in the same ugly traffic we were in to a huge mall just blocks from my hotel.

  “This is South Coast Plaza,” Jim announces.

  “I think I can see our hotel from here.”

  “Not quite, but almost.”

  She parks and walks into Neiman Marcus. One of Jim’s team gets out and follows her in. She lives for shopping, and I know from experience this could be a while. We park and head in to find the team in the store.

  Once I’m inside, the men tell me where to find her. I’m nervous about confronting her. I don’t want a scene, and I’m hoping I can convince her to turn herself in.

  I spot her looking through some clothing racks of sundresses, and I walk up. “Hello, Annabelle.”

  She turns and stares at me, clearly startled with a look of fear on her face.

  “Mason, what are you doing here?”

  “Annabelle, we’ve been trying to reach you. Are you okay?”

  “Yes, I’m fine. You can’t be here.”

  “Annabelle, we need to talk about what happened. I was in the hospital and was in bad shape, and no one could get a hold of you.”

  “You broke up with me. I didn’t want to return anybody’s phone calls or have anything to do with you or your snobby friends. I didn’t know what was going on, and I don’t care.” She tries to walk away from me, but I follow her.

  “The police and FBI in San Francisco want to talk to you. They want to make sure you weren’t part of what happened to me.”

  “I don’t even know what happened to you.”

  “I was poisoned with wolfsbane. The person who poisoned me had access to my h
ome. Please, can you take some time to talk to the FBI and the police?”

  She spots Jim and begins to move quicker. She’s superfast and has the advantage that she knows the footprint of the store better than we do. “Mason, go away! I’m not interested in anything you have to say to me.”

  Trying to remain calm, I attempt to reason with her. “Annabelle, why are you threatening CeCe?”

  “I can’t talk to you anymore. Go away!” She runs around me and heads to the women’s restroom, quickly ducking inside. She’ll have to come out eventually.

  As we wait, I share our brief conversation. Jim looks over at me and asks, “What do you think?”

  “Something’s not right. She’s glossing over her threats to CeCe. I hate to admit that I think she’s more involved in this. I wouldn’t say she’s behind it, but she certainly knows something.”

  It’s been a while. Jim sends one of the females from his team into the bathroom. She’s gone a few moments and then comes back out. “No one’s inside.”

  “Where did she go?” Jim gets on his earpiece. “Does anyone have eyes on her car?” He listens for a few seconds. “It’s still in the parking lot?”

  Chapter fifteen

  CeCe

  “There’s a Miss Cora Perry here to see you.”

  I hadn’t put her on my schedule, but I was expecting her. It’s interesting that she didn’t identify that she works for the FBI. “Please send her in.”

  Cora follows Christy into my office. She’s a pretty woman. Probably has a nice figure under her bulky navy pantsuit. I’ve always noticed that she wears blouses with a bit of color with her black and blue pantsuits. Today she has a soft pink blouse that makes her blue eyes sparkle, her fair complexion rosy in comparison. Her short blonde hair is curly and cute. She smiles warmly as she enters. “Wow! What a beautiful view!”

  I can’t help but like her. “Thank you. It’s pretty stunning, particularly on a clear day like today. We can see into the North Bay beyond Berkeley, and we can see a touch of Piedmont and a little bit south of Oakland.”