The Millionaire's Convenient Bride

by Anderson, Larisa

  She had forgotten that Amanda was still waiting in the next room. She had forgotten about the whole wedding idea. Would Dominic even still be willing to go through with it now that the firm would need even more money to remain running? She couldn’t think like that. She had to have faith. Louisa gathered what hope she had left and went to help Amanda pick suits.

  Chapter Eight

  Dominic ended the call and pushed his phone into his pocket. It had been two days since he had left Louisa, and he was strangely missing the familiar feel of her at his side. He shook the feeling and approached the woman at the desk in front of him.

  “I'm Dominic McKillip. I need to speak with Cassandra Giles.”

  The smile on the woman's face dropped with almost comical speed. Her eyes darted to the closed office door and back to his face. She didn’t meet his eyes, he noticed as she spoke, but they darted up and down his body as if she were sizing him up. He knew he had a certain effect on women, but fear was one he only used in business. The effect was not lost on this woman, Page Thompson, her name was, if his assistant had been correct.

  “Miss Giles is busy at the moment. Can I take a message?”

  “No, I will wait.” He left her looking as if she was on the verge asking him to leave. He took a seat on the leather couch directly opposite the office door not giving her a chance to try to talk him out of staying.

  He listened as Page hurriedly typed a message on her computer. Dominic knew she didn’t dare call and risk him overhearing what she had to say to her employer. He waited, reviewing the information he had discovered since leaving New York and what he already knew from his search on the plane when Louisa had first heard of her clients leaving. What Margaret had told Louisa was true. It did appear as if someone was enticing her clients to leave her. A trick Dominic himself had never used, it was low and only earned you enemies in a world where you never knew whom you would have to do business with in the future. He had used other methods to gain clients, of course, some he wasn’t proud of, yet none had been for such petty reasons as he suspected Cassandra’s were. The intercom buzzed to life, and Page’s eyes flicked to him as she responded.

  “Miss Giles will see you now,” she said, getting up to open the door for him. As she swept past him he felt her hand him something before she hurriedly closed the door behind him. He could tell she had handed him a small thick envelope, its contents still warm from the printer. He stuffed the envelope into his suit pocket and went forward to speak to the woman who was currently smiling at him from behind her desk. He wondered if she would still be smiling when he left the office. He didn’t move to shake her hand, nor did she offer. He sat opposite her and timed his words carefully.

  “Do you know why I am here?” he asked.

  “Of course, Mr. McKillip. I assume this has something to do with Miss Callum going out of business.” Her smile grew wider.

  “Good, then let’s get straight to business. So you don’t deny disgracing Louisa Callum’s name?” he asked watching her hand close into a fist on the desk. He couldn’t decide if he was relieved or on edge that she had come right out and admitted to her part in this.

  “I don’t know what you are talking about. I have not seen Louisa since college.”

  “I know for a fact you have recently signed two of her clients to your firm. You must have known they were hers as her office produced their history for you just yesterday.”

  “I have not had a chance to review those documents. I’m very busy, as you must expect with two new clients.”

  “Of course, so you claim to not have sent emails to both of those clients whilst they were still with the Callum firm? And why did you expect to see me if you have had nothing to do with this?”

  “I would never do such a thing. I heard it around the business that she was being targeted,” she said. “And that you were paying her ‘special’ attention.”

  Dominic ignored her last comment. If she wanted to play that card that was her business, but he wouldn’t take the bait that easily. He was older, smarter, and a better business person than she was. Not to mention Dominic had taken on people much more frighting than she was. Compared to them, she was a mere child in this world, and she had no idea what she was getting herself into. “That is interesting considering I have spoken to both clients, and they claim that they did receive emails from you. I also informed them of your attachment to Louisa and the fact that you are not the closest of friends after you blocked her offer of acceptance to one of the top firms in the country shortly before you graduated.”

  Her smile wavered but remained in place.

  “What would I do something like that for? I had three offers which were more than flattering.”

  He watched as her nails dug into the leather topped desk and her breathing grew slower and more purposeful. Dominic smiled to himself. He knew he had been correct. What still puzzled him was why she had brought his name into the mix. Surely she was not still hanging onto that one night they had spent together? It had hardly even been more than a few hours. He watched as her throat worked to swallow the lie she was about to tell. Dominic had sat through enough board meetings to know when a person was lying, and even if they didn’t speak he could read their body language well enough. Cassandra was not only lying about being a part of this, she was angry, if the pinched skin between her brows was any indication. The question was, was she angry with him, or with Louisa?

  “Yes, you did receive excellent offers, but your father worked for the firm that offered Louisa a position, and not you. I expect he was not pleased with you for that.”

  “How did you—my father supports everything I do. If you will excuse me I have a meeting in half an hour which I need to prepare for.”

  He had done what he came for. He stood and gave her a last wavering look before turning and leaving. When he was back in the waiting hired car outside he remembered the envelope Page had given him. He opened it and inspected its contents. Smiling to himself he pushed the document back into his pocket. It appeared that Page was in the market for a new job, one that was far away from Miss Giles, and she had a little unfinished business to tend to before she left. He picked up his cell and dialled his brother’s number. He would need to double check the information before he made any moves. It wouldn’t do for Miss Giles to have planted this information for him to be made the fool. He didn’t think she knew her assistant had access to it, but he would leave nothing to chance, not where Louisa was involved.

  ****

  Louisa looked out over the city from her new office window. Her desk and files had been delivered that morning, but she couldn’t bring herself to organise them just yet. Margaret would be coming as soon as her rent was settled for her new apartment. She had asked her where she had gotten a new place so quick and so close to the new office. Dominic hadn’t been lying when he had said he had settled everything. She had come to the office to find not only her office things in the space already, but a credit card with her name on it and a note from Dominic informing her of the limit and that she was to furnish the office as she saw fit.

  He hadn’t rung since he had left. Tomorrow was Saturday, the day they were supposed to be married. The day this whole mess would come to an end, or spiral out of her control she reminded herself. Everything was planned. Sophie had flown in that afternoon and was staying at the hotel they planned to hold the ceremony in. She had been to see her for lunch and had gushed about the wedding details and how happy she was to have her in the family. It had been hard not to be as excited as her future sister-in-law, yet her stomach churned knowing how upset she would make everyone when, after just a few weeks they had the marriage annulled. She had decided that it was easier to think of it as a business merger. She would be in and out without thinking of it as a wedding but as a contract just like any she had passed over her desk every day. She would win this battle, and she hoped she would still have Dominic at the end of it.

  She had tried not to fall for him again, but she knew
she had. It was the familiar pull she felt when he was away from her that made her nervous. The pull that signalled she had grown accustomed to his face, his smell, and the very male way he touched her.

  Her phone vibrated in her pocket, she pulled it out glancing at the caller ID.

  “Margaret, finished moving house?” she asked, wondering what other reason she could have for calling.

  “Louisa, there is a man here. He—he won’t let me leave. I don’t know what to do.” Her strong voice broke on the last word, and Louisa’s heart dropped.

  “It’s okay. I’m on my way over now. What’s your address?”

  Fortunately, it was only two blocks away, and Louisa set off at a run. She didn’t think she should ring the police just yet, not until she knew more about what was going on. She couldn’t just turn up alone either. She would be no match for a grown man if he decided to start a fight, and Margaret was not easily rattled. She tried Cole first but got his machine. She was a block from Margaret’s new apartment when a familiar shock of dark hair drove past her in a dark car with its windows rolled down. She dialled Dominic’s number.

  “Margaret is in trouble. Meet me at her apartment,” she said as he picked up. She couldn’t run and talk at the same time and hoped he had understood her through her puffing. She found the building and sprinted past the doorman and into the elevators. She could hear the man at the desk calling for her to check in, but the doors had already closed him out. The door to Margaret’s apartment was open. Louisa blessed the fact that she had worn flat shoes today as she crept closer to the open door to see inside. She could hear a man talking and Margaret arguing with him. That was good. If she was talking he wasn’t hurting her. She heard a small scream before it was muffled. Louisa prayed Dominic arrived soon, or she was in a lot of trouble. A hundred thoughts ran through her head as she threw herself across the wooden floor and latched herself onto the man’s back, wrapping her legs around his waist and beating every part of him she could reach. She put it down to shock as it was clear he hadn’t heard her come in, but he dropped Margaret, whom he had been holding pinned to the lounge with one hand with his other over her mouth.

  “You okay?” Louisa got out as the man swung her around whilst she held on for all she was worth, praising God that she had enough height that she could cross her ankles around him to hold on.

  “Yep,” Margaret said, as she, too, launched herself on her attacker with one high heel raised. He seemed to find this more alarming than the petite brunette that was holding it. Just before she struck she seemed to pause. In one motion she ran past him and Louisa and out of Louisa’s line of sight.

  Louisa wondered what she was doing when a deep and commanding voice spoke just inches behind her.

  “Get off him, Louisa.” She untangled her limbs and dropped to the floor as Dominic gave the attacker one firm punch to the temple and watched as he dropped to the floor.

  “Are you okay?” he asked both women. Louisa was staring at the man on the floor. She hadn’t been able to see his face before as she had taken him from behind. He had fallen on his side with part of his face turned up.

  “Louisa, are you okay?” Dominic’s hands drew her to her feet as she stared at the man. It couldn’t be.

  “Dominic, that’s Cassie’s father,” Louisa said as she faced him for the first time.

  “I know,” he said a look so dark in his eyes that Louisa had never seen anyone look so terrifying. He placed an arm around Louisa’s waist and used his other hand to pull his cell phone out and call the police.

  Louisa had forgotten about Margaret, who was standing in the kitchen doorway watching both of them. She pushed herself away from Dominic. It was harder than she had expected. Her legs were weak with the strength it had taken to hold onto such a big man for so long.

  She checked to see if Margaret was hurt before pulling her into a hug. “Are you okay?” Louisa asked. “Did he hurt you?”

  Margaret shook her head and detangled herself from Louisa’s arms. She walked up to the man and paused for a second before kicking him hard in the ribs. Louisa gasped in shock then broke down into a fit of giggles. She blamed it on the adrenalin. The whole situation had been terrifying, yet when she had heard Dominic’s voice she had felt such relief.

  Margaret looked at Louisa before she, too, let out a brief laugh.

  “Come on, you two,” Dominic said, hanging up his phone. “You are both coming back to my apartment for the night. I need to be able to keep an eye on you both.”

  Margaret nodded and went to find some clothes for the night. As soon as she was gone Dominic drew Louisa to him and held her tight against his body.

  “Don’t ever scare me like that again, you understand!” he said, before claiming her mouth. She gave into herself, gave into him. She never wanted or needed a person as much as she needed Dominic right now. His warmth filled her, and the fear that had gripped her body since Margaret’s phone call melted away.

  When Margaret returned Dominic didn’t wait for the police to arrive, he led both women to the street. The police arrived just as they were climbing into his car. Dominic had a hurried word to them before climbing into the car after them.

  “Won’t they need a statement from me and Margaret?” Louisa asked.

  “You can do that on Sunday. It will wait.” Louisa wondered what strings he had had to pull to make the police wait. They were cramped in the back of the car. Margaret had gone silent and sat staring out the window. Dominic was watching Louisa. She could feel his eyes on her, yet she didn’t turn to acknowledge him. She was still riled up from all that had just happened. Her hands shook in her lap, and she felt faint yet heated from anger at how a person, a man who was respected, could attack a woman like that. What could have been going on in his head?

  Louisa had met him once, at one of Sophie’s charity balls. He had seemed so balanced and good-natured. For him to turn up now, just when everything else in Louisa’s life was centred on his daughter? Could it be possible that he was behind this, not Cassie? Dominic slid his hand between them and grasped her hand, his firm grip steadying her more than his words could. She stared straight ahead, wanting more from him, but she knew that she had to stay strong until Margaret was safe and they were alone again.

  When they arrived at the apartment Dominic took Cole to one side and explained what had happened. Margaret and Louisa went to the kitchen to make some strong cups of tea. Margaret was still shaken, a frown creasing her young face.

  “What are you thinking?” Louisa asked.

  “That there is something you aren’t telling me,” she said. “Why was your old college roommate’s father in my apartment tonight? Does this have something to do with the company?”

  Louisa didn’t answer at first. What could she tell her? Louisa was not even sure she knew what was going on. She could not decide why Cassandra’s father would attack anyone. She had heard during college that he had a hot temper, but that didn’t make someone attack a complete stranger, and how did he even know where Margaret lived? Handing Margaret her tea Louisa decided she had to give her some kind of answer.

  “I don’t know why he attacked you. I suspect it does have something to do with everything that is happening to the company right now, but I just don’t understand how he found you.”

  “I do,” Margaret said, gazing into her mug. “I left my forwarding address with the movers and the office. He would have to call the old office to know where I was. He thought you would be with me, or at least that I would know where you were. I didn’t think that anyone would come and find me. It was more for the clients to contact me whilst the new office is being set up.”

  “It’s not your fault, Margaret,” Cole said, coming into the kitchen and laying his large hand on her shoulder. “He would have found out where you both were sooner or later. From what I have heard you were very brave tonight.”

  Margaret just nodded. They all moved to the lounge and put an old black and white movie on whilst they talke
d late into the night. Cole seemed to have a calming effect on everyone. Margaret even laughed at one point.

  It was midnight when they were finally alone. Dominic had ordered them all dinner and had explained the situation to Cole, who was a great help in making Margaret smile again. Louisa didn’t like the tight, stressed look that her friend had as she sat eating her dinner. The food had helped to still the last of the shakes that were in Louisa’s body. The whole thing had been a scene that most lawyers were on the other side of. Defending those who had been attacked, she had never thought she would literally defend a person. The whole thing had worked to make her more determined to put a stop to this ridiculous game that someone was playing with her, before someone got hurt.

  She looked around the room until she spotted Dominic’s laptop and sat back down on the lounge with it. She opened a new email and set about writing down her thoughts and emailing them to herself. Everything she knew about the Giles family, all that she had learnt about the events of the past few weeks. She worked as she would for a case, laying down the facts and joining the evidence she had. She was too tired to make the connections tonight however.

  “You know that you frown when you are working?” Dominic said from the other side of the room. She hadn’t heard him come in. She sent the email and closed the computer.

  “How long have you been standing there?” she asked. He smiled and came forward to pull her to her feet.

  “Not long, I wanted to show you something before we go to bed. I’m afraid you will have to sleep with me tonight as Margaret has your bed.”

  The thought sent a pleasant tingle through her body. The excitement of the evening had made her more alert and awake than she had felt in days. The thrill of the chase, of the logic behind a case always thrilled her. Now she had this incredible man standing here, protecting her, and offering her the world, even if it was only for a few weeks.

  “Come on, I want to show you something that I had built a few years ago.”