Theodore (Members From Money Book 25)

by Katie Dowe

  *****

  She was in the middle of dealing with a crisis the next day when the message came. “Mr. Amberville is requesting your presence in their suite, Ebboni.” The valet who brought her the message gave her a curious look. She schooled her features and called one of the other girls to come and sit in for her.

  She made her way swiftly up to the penthouse suite praying that his mother was there with him and this would be a purely professional visit, but she had seen the woman leave out shortly after she got there and she had not come back. She knocked on the door and it was opened immediately. “Come in.” She stepped inside and saw the suitcases.

  “You are leaving.” She made her way into the elegant living room and saw that he was already dressed to leave.

  “Yes.” He nodded as he looked at her. She was wearing a rose colored dress with a simple white jacket and slim black pumps. Her hair was brushed back from her face and her makeup was flawless. “Have you thought about what I said?”

  “Mr. Amberville-”

  “Ted.” He smiled slightly. “My mother still calls me Theodore and only my sister is allowed to call me Teddy. But it’s Ted.” He stood in front of her not touching her but it made no difference, his presence was getting to her. “Your problems could be over the minute you say yes. Think about it.”

  “Why me?” she demanded.

  He took one of her hands and laced her fingers through his. “I like you and I am attracted to you. I am not one to run around, not like my dad used to do. I have been thinking about settling down for some time now and I would like it to be you.”

  She tried to pull away but he held fast. “I can’t.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because you are – we are not suited. We are not in love. We do not know each other. And this is crazy.”

  “Is it?” He tilted her chin up. “I kissed you and my body felt alive for the first time in years. We could get to know each other during the time. I travel a great deal and you could come with me.”

  “So you are saying that I would be a trophy wife? A wife who would go to functions on her husband’s arm whenever he felt the need?”

  “Something like that.” His thumb moved over her bottom lip and caused her to tremble. He bent his head and his breath stirred her lips causing her nipples to tighten immediately. He tugged on her lip and nibbled at it gently sending shards of desire flying through her body! He responded to her moan by touching her tongue, playing with it slowly as if he had all the time in the world. He had told her the truth about himself. He had never felt the desire to play the field the way his father did. He respected women too much to do that. He had been looking for something special because he had seen it among his friends. He belonged to a club that had men who had found love with the women they married and were happy even after all the years and the children and he wanted that. He deepened the kiss, his body fragmenting with the astounding desire! He wanted her so much that it was almost overwhelming! She broke away from him and stumbled back, her eyes wide. He could see the nipples printed out from the dress she had on and knew she felt it too.

  “Say yes,” he rasped, his erection painful.

  “I have to get back to the desk.” She had to take several deep breaths to steady herself but it was not working.

  “Ebboni, I am not giving up.”

  “Please leave me alone.” She turned and wrenched the doors open almost running back to her desk, her heart racing. She made a beeline for the bathroom to check her makeup and almost cried out at the look on her face. Her lips were swollen and her eyes were wide. She looked quite unlike herself. She did what she could to and fixed what she could but inside she was a teeming mass of desire and uncertainties!

  *****

  He almost went after her but he decided against it. He groaned as he walked into the bathroom to try and appear normal. His mother had gone to check on some things and she would be back shortly. It was worse than he thought. He had seen her a year ago and it had been something fleeting like the wisp of a dream but he had not been able to forget her. Now he had decided to follow up on his feelings and never expected it to be so strong. He had to make her see that they belonged together and he had to make her see it soon. He was leaving to go back to his world and he realized that he would not be satisfied without her in it. It was crazy but it was the way he felt.

  He heard the door opened and realized that his mother was back.

  “Darling, let’s go. Our driver is waiting.”

  Chapter 4

  “What’s up with you? That’s the third guy you lacerated in as many minutes,” Andrea commented as she handed her friend the margarita. The club was noisy and crowded and was giving Ebboni a dull throbbing headache!

  “Their lines are getting more tiresome each time.” Ebboni sipped her drink and closed her eyes as the alcohol seeped into her stomach. “That brother who just left told me that he wanted to rock my world.”

  Andrea laughed. “What did you tell him?”

  “I told him I would really appreciate him rocking someone else’s world.” Ebboni shifted on her stool restlessly and wondered if she could tell her friend that she was ready to leave. She had spent the rest of week wondering if she would hear from Theodore Amberville. He had not called her and she found herself fuming that maybe he had been playing with her. He was this rich, hot billionaire who could more or less get any woman he wanted. He certainly could not want her and moreover to be his wife! He had played a cruel trick on her and had gone! She thought angrily.

  “Honey, are you sure you are okay?” her friend asked her curiously.

  No! She wanted to shout. I am confused and don’t know if I am coming or going but instead she smiled and said, “I am not sure I am cut out for this scene anymore. I am feeling every bit of my twenty-five years.”

  “I know what you mean.” Andrea looked around the packed club and shook her head at the couples gyrating on the small dance floor. “Not to mention it is a fire hazard.”

  Ebboni laughed in genuine delight at the sentence. “Always the medical personnel.”

  Andrea glanced at the large man-shaped wristwatch she was wearing and noticed that it was almost eleven. “Want to leave?’

  “Gladly,” Ebboni said with a grin. “I know it’s Saturday night and we single gals are supposed to be out having the time of our lives, but I am far from having fun.”

  “They are,” Andrea said, pointing to a couple not far them. The guy had his hands on the girl’s hips and his tongue deep into her throat. They were far from dancing and were oblivious to whatever was going on around them.

  “They need to get a room,” Ebboni muttered, feeling a little uncomfortable at the intimacy. For a moment, the kiss she had shared with Theodore flashed through her mind and had her shivering slightly. “Let’s go.”

  *****

  Theodore sipped his vodka slowly as he ate his meal. He had come to the club earlier on and had participated in several matches before taking a shower in one of the bathrooms provided. He had decided to spend the night and go home to his apartment the next day. It had been a rather enjoyable time spent with the men he considered his friends. Ryan and Alessandro had not shut up about what their children were up to as well as Bradley and Paul. He had found himself gripped with a fierce longing to have what they had and had walked away to be by himself. He had not called Ebboni as he was giving her time to think about his proposition. He had also not said anything to his mother and certainly not his sister. He preferred to tie up everything before announcing it.

  “Do you need anything else, sir?” A waiter came over to the table and asked him politely. Theodore had finished the meal and was having the after dinner drink.

  “No, thank you, Sheldon,” he said with a smile. “I will be sure to include your tip in the amount.”

  “Thank you, sir,” the young man said with a pleased smile.

  “I will be turning in for the night.”

  “Right, sir.” He nodded and walked
away.

  Theodore leaned back against the chair and looked around the room. At that time of the night the place was scanty with just a few men lingering on and enjoying the ambiance of the place. Faint dinner music whispered through the hidden speakers and the room had a comfort that was like a home away from home. Jeremy had certainly outdone himself since taking over from his grandfather, Theodore thought in approval. The Elite Club had been established several decades ago with the thought of catering to men wealthy enough to be able to afford the fee that was charged for the services provided. It had been a ‘men’s only’ club at first but had changed over the years to allow the wives of the members to be able to enjoy the amenities the place offered.

  He finished his drink and pushing back his chair he left the room and headed to the suite of rooms he had been assigned to for the night. His mind drifted to Ebboni and how the girl had felt in his arms. She belonged there and he was not going to give up until she was in his life!

  *****

  She stared at the email in her phone in shock! This could not be right. The email was from the administrative section of the hospital where her father had been a patient. The email stated that the bill had been cleared and expressed their thanks for paying off the bill before the time expected. She read it three times and was still no further from clearing the confusion pounding in her head. Monday mornings were usually very busy and today was no exception! Not to mention that a package had been delayed. It had taken over an hour to actually locate the package and by that time Mr. Louis Parcells, a particularly finicky resident, had been very irate. It had taken another fifteen minutes to placate him. She looked for the number and started to call when another resident came up to her to ask her something. It was another hour before she could deal with it.

  She made the call and was put through to the administrative area. “I received an email about the bill I had there,” she told the woman the number and name of her father.

  “What’s the problem, Ms. Lancaster?” she asked politely.

  Ebboni explained the email she had received.

  “Oh, yes. We mailed out a copy of the receipt.”

  “There must be a mistake. I have not paid the bill and if I had paid it certainly would not have been the entire amount.” Ebboni tried to keep the impatience from her voice.

  “I am sorry, Ms. Lancaster, but I am looking at the payment confirmation right here. Are you sure you did not pay it?”

  Ebboni bit off an impatient sigh. “I am positive. Where did the payment come from?”

  “Let me check.” There was a pause as the woman checked her records. “Ah, here it is. The payment was made from an Amberville account. Isn’t that where you work?”

  Ebboni sat there numb. It had to be him, she thought dazedly. “Yes. Thank you very much.”

  Next she called the student loan place and was told the same thing. He had paid off all her loans without saying anything to her. Other than the elation she felt about being finally debt free, she felt the anger at his highhandedness and could not wait to call him!

  *****

  She called him the minute she got home that afternoon. She had searched for his number and had gotten hold of all his numbers. She took off her shoes and jacket and took out her phone sitting at the counter for a few minutes wondering what she was going to say to him. “Thank you, but you went too far?” She turned it around in her mind and dismissed it immediately. “How dare you?”

  With an impatient sigh, she dialed the number. “Hello?” His deep voice sounded in her ear and she had to close her eyes at the memories it evoked.

  “Mr. Amberville, it’s Ebboni Lancaster.”

  “How are you, Ebboni?”

  “I have been better,” she said briefly. “Would you mind explaining the fact that I no longer owe money to both places I was indebted to?”

  “Ah! So they informed you.”

  “I got the message in my email. Why did you do that?”

  “I told you that we could have a very lucrative arrangement. I am just honoring my part of it,” he told her smoothly.

  “You had no right-”

  “I think the words you are looking for is thank you and then I will say to you that you are welcome. Then we will go on from there.”

  “You were serious?”

  “Why would I make jokes like that?” he chided her. “When would you like us to meet to iron out the details?”

  “You think you can back me into a corner by paying my bills to force my hand?” she asked him angrily.

  “How does it feel?” he asked her softly.

  “How does what feel?” she asked, puzzled.

  “How does it feel to be out of debt?”

  “It would feel so much better if there was not an ulterior motive attached,” she told him coolly.

  He laughed softly at that. “I can assure you that you being married to me will be lots of fun.”

  “I have not said yes,” she reminded him.

  “And I wonder why not.”

  “Mr. Amberville-”

  “Ted.”

  She shook her head. “This is ridiculous.”

  “Which part?” He was enjoying sparring with her.

  “Everything.”

  “I disagree. I think we will be very good together. It is now the end of August so I was thinking that we could announce our engagement. My sister is getting married in December and there will be a lot of flair and excitement. How about we have a quiet and simple ceremony in November?”

  “Are you crazy!’ she blurted out.

  “Far from it.” He laughed at her. “I just think we should get the ceremony out of the way and get on with the marriage. How about dinner tomorrow night at Pascal’s?” he asked, referring to one of the most exclusive eatery uptown.

  “No.”

  “Too soon? What about Saturday? As soon as you say the word I have to inform Mother and my sister. They are going to want to meet you officially.”

  Ebboni closed her eyes briefly as she felt the craziness washing over her.

  “I can’t,” she muttered and hung up the phone.

  Theodore smiled slightly as he heard the dial tone in his ear. He had been expecting the call from her and had prepared for it. He meant what he told her, he wanted it over and done with. He was not into the big society wedding like his sister and he hoped she was not into it either. He wanted to take her to Paris or even Italy or the Caribbean if she preferred. He looked up as his secretary came into the room. “Marj, darling, you think I am a catch, don’t you?” he asked with a grin as she walked over to his desk to hand him the file he had requested.

  “Of course, Theodore,” she said dryly a slight smile on her lined face. “If I was not twice your age and married to my husband for the past thirty-five years, I would have you in the flash of an eye.”

  “Just as I thought.” He grabbed her hand and kissed it lavishly. “If you were not already married, I would ask you to be my wife.”

  She boxed his hand away with a fond smile. He was such a charming man! She had worked for his father for years and had always disapproved of his carrying on, but she was so happy to see the son was quite different. “You have a meeting in ten minutes.”

  *****

  He called her the next morning at work.

  “You cannot call me at work,” she whispered, looking around to see if there was anyone nearby.

  “Why? You will get fired?” he asked her mildly. “I could not sleep last night with all these plans running around in my head. You are a size four? I was thinking of calling Monique for her to send several dresses for you to look at. Romano’s are famous for their designer wedding dresses.”

  Ebboni heard the casual mention of one of the top designers in the world and blinked in shock. “I cannot do this now, Theodore-Mr. Amberville-”

  “Ted,” he reminded her gently. “How about I come over to your apartment later tonight?”

  “Are you crazy?” she whispered. “People know who you ar
e.”

  “I need to see you, Ebboni, and I am not waiting.”

  She took a deep breath. “Look, I know you did this for me and for some insane reason you want me to repay by becoming your wife. I told you I would think about it, but I have no intention of allowing you to rush me into anything.”

  “How much time?” he asked her quietly. She breathed a sigh of relief at his acquiescence.

  “Two weeks.”

  “One,” he told her firmly. “I will leave you alone for seven days. I am looking at my calendar and that will take us into the first week of September. If I do not hear from you by next Tuesday, I am coming to Amberville Apartments and there is going to be little doubt in everyone’s mind of my intention. Good enough?”

  Ebboni hesitated and then responded, “Yes.”

  “Good,” he said briskly. “I am afraid I have this habit of getting what I want and I want you in my life. I promise that I will never disrespect you or disregard you in any way. I will be a good husband to you and will always listen when you talk.”

  “Goodbye, Ted,” she told him and hung up. She forced a smile to her lips as a resident came over to ask her help. For the rest of the time, she buried herself in work so she would not have to think too hard!

  *****

  Emma Amberville sifted through the box carefully. She had found it buried deep into the huge walk through closet she had shared with her husband. It had all sorts of memories and not particularly pleasant ones. She took out a photo they had taken when they had gone to Paris for the weekend. It had not been a romantic getaway but rather a business venture as her husband Theodore the Second had wanted to inspect some charming villas in Piedmont that he was interested in acquiring. She had been so surprised when he had asked her to accompany him and had thought that maybe he was trying to salvage their marriage, but he had wanted to present to the world that his wife was loyal to him and that they were happily married in spite of the rumors. He had left her in the villa by herself as he claimed to have gone out to meet with associates. She had ordered in and after the first days had gone exploring and had found the cutest little bistro where she had sat and had her meal. It was then she had met Manuel. He was an American living in Paris for the past ten years and was a school teacher. They had talked way into the night and had hit it off until she had told him that she had to go. She had seen him the night after and they had sat and talked again. She had not given in to the desire to be with him because unlike her husband she did not believe in extramarital affairs, but they had kept in touch over the years. It had broken her heart when he told her he had gotten married and she had wished him all the best. He had been married before when he was much younger but had lost her to cancer. She had told him that she was not going to keep in touch with him and he had reluctantly agreed. But he had called her two weeks ago. He was divorced and he wanted to see her.