The Proposal Problem: A Billionaire Royal Hangover Romance

by Natalie Knight

  I stare at him in disbelief. His request actually forces me to sit down in the oversized leather chair.

  I don 't want him to know it, but the thought of being so intimately connected with Sienna again makes my body burn with desire. My cock is instantly rock hard, when Jax’s intrusion today was the one thing that kept me from remaining hard while I tried to trudge through paperwork.

  I try to remind myself that I'm over her, it could never be. Our chance has passed. But here’s her brother offering her up to me on a silver platter.

  "I can't do that," I say, despite my overwhelming desire to say yes. "It's like opening Pandora's box. The past is the past, and it should stay there."

  Jax’s face grows increasingly anxious, and I can see that he really needs me to do this for him.

  I don't owe him a damn thing.

  He cut me out of his life a long time ago and now he comes crawling back asking a favor?

  I don't think so. I'm not somebody you can just jerk around and manipulate like his voters. I’m not a pawn in his game.

  I’m another player in this fucking game…but the play he wants me to make is so damn tempting.

  "I couldn’t agree more,” Jax says. “But this won’t be a repeat of the past. Unless you’re lying and you think you still have feelings.” Again with the sarcastic emphasis.

  Jesus Christ, I want to slam my fist into his face just as much as I did ten years ago.

  I ignore that jab because there’s enough rage running through my veins already. "Why don't you just tell her to stop?"

  That's what I would do in this predicament. Luckily, I don't have a sister to worry about and keep tabs on.

  He looks at me like I'm crazy. "Do you remember anything at all about Sienna? You can't tell her to do anything. In fact, she'll probably do the opposite of what you tell her."

  Ah, Sienna. The memory of her feisty nature isn’t hard to find. I saw it in full force last night. It's one of the things that I loved about her, and while it drives me crazy, I'm also glad to hear she hasn’t lost that, even all these years later. And with everything she’s been through.

  But I stand my ground. "Well, I can't help you. Sorry, Jax."

  I'm not sorry. This fool doesn't deserve any of my time and he's already been here too long. "Carly, my assistant, will show you out."

  I'm about to press the call button for her, but Jax pleads with me one more time.

  "Please Leo. Come on, you know I wouldn't be here unless it was important."

  I do know that. And I mull over in my mind all the reasons this is such a terrible idea.

  For starters, Sienna brings out things in me that are best left buried. It took me a long time to cover those emotions with a steely, impenetrable exterior, and I have no intention of taking that down now.

  Secondly, my sexual nature has become a bit too depraved for her.

  We've both grown up since I took her virginity.

  Now my tastes are much harder to fulfill. I require a lot from a woman, and that's why I go through them so quickly. No one can keep up with my demands.

  Besides, escort or not, Sienna will always be an innocent girl in my mind. I've already corrupted her once. No need to make it worse.

  I want to protect her from who I’ve become…and that won’t fucking work if I’m supposed to have her at my personal, sexual beck and call. How do you keep from indulging every filthy fantasy you have when you have a personal slut on your payroll?

  I know she doesn’t have to sleep with her clients.

  She’s an escort.

  I wouldn’t just be some client. Not with our history. Not with our chemistry. I couldn’t hold back.

  Still, I don’t let these thoughts read on my face. Let Jax think I won’t take his fucking deal.

  Jax stands up and he's almost to the point of begging. "Please man. You're the one that made me aware of what she's up to. And you’re in the perfect position to help fix it. As long as she's getting paid, she won't care who's in charge of her. It's the only way to navigate her ridiculous plan."

  In charge of her…

  Fuck, the notion of owning Sienna and of having her under my thrall whether she wants to be or not is appealing. I can think of several depraved things I’d do to her just to get her acquainted with my style. This idea of being her...master shall we call it? Well, it's overwhelmingly tempting.

  Ultimately, I have to say no.

  I have a business empire to run and I don't have time for any unforeseen complications.

  Especially the kind I know Sienna would bring.

  "I can’t help you, Jax. I have too much going on to keep track of your black sheep little sister. I hope you find a solution. I really do."

  He turns on his heel and leaves without saying one more word. I can tell he's angry about my refusal, but that’s his problem.

  I can’t worry about Sienna. I did my part by telling Jax. If he wants to do something about her, it’s his responsibility.

  I know I made the right choice, but it doesn’t make it any easier to get her off my mind.

  5

  Sienna

  Night number two as part of Roger’s Inner Sanctum and I've been hired by another high roller who’s just in Vegas for the night. While he's old, lecherous, and kind of creepy, business is business, I guess.

  I don't know what I thought being an escort would look like, but I must have been hoping it would be a lot more glamorous.

  You know, getting to spend time with rich, hot men...not gross, ancient ones.

  Reality is crashing down on me as I realize the life of being an escort may not be as fantastic as I thought.

  I'm trying to be strong, though, and pull through and not back out of my commitment before it even begins. I need this money.

  I force myself to breathe in and out steadily. I grip the sides of the sink in the casino powder room as I try to compose myself to play the girlfriend of this nauseating man, Robert, for the next few hours. My stomach turns at the way he looks at me.

  You can do this. Come on. Get it together.

  I give myself the pep talk as I reapply the deep red lipstick that matches my frilly little red dress.

  I look like the perfect mix of sexy and sophisticated. I have a fresh spray tan and my hair is expertly highlighted by my stylist so that the combination makes me look perfectly desirable.

  I decided to forget about the wig now that Leo’s recognized me. He’s why I chose to wear it...and he knows I’m here. Knows what I’m doing. There’s no point in disguising myself now.

  I take a sip of water and prepare to make my entrance. Walking through the casino to the Inner Sanctum, I see that all eyes are on me. I'm used to the attention and I take it as a compliment.

  Maybe I'll at least make a worthwhile profit tonight.

  I hear my date for the evening wheeze before I see him.

  "Hi, are you my honey for tonight?" Robert says.

  I spin around and see the eighty-seven-year-old man dressed in a crinkled brown suit and mismatched socks. No one would think this guy had any money, but by the sizable check he hands me straightaway, I know he’s definitely loaded.

  "Well, thank you, sir. So nice to see you. I can’t wait to spend tonight with you." Fake it ‘til you make it. "How shall we begin our evening?"

  "Well, I want to show you off so let's go to the cocktail lounge first. I want everybody to see my new lady." His laugh devolves into a fit of coughs, and I just smile as I awkwardly reach out to pat him on the back.

  What have I gotten myself into?

  "Okay," I say when he finally stops coughing, grimacing at the thought of him calling me his lady.

  We enter the lounge and sit at the glitzy bar on plush velvet seats, and I catch my reflection in the glass behind the many bottles that line the bar.

  I see another young woman with a very old man. It seems like that’s the way things work here.

  I sip my bourbon and let the warm feel add to my melancholy at my predica
ment, thinking that there's no saving this night. That’s confirmed as Robert places his bony hand way too high on my thigh.

  Is he serious? I’m debating pushing it away when we’re interrupted.

  “Good evening.” The smooth, deep voice slides right under my skin and warms me up far better than the bourbon ever could.

  After last night, I never thought I'd be so glad to see that face.

  "Leo! What are you doing here?" I swivel in my seat, and Robert’s hand falls from my thigh.

  Leo closes in on me and there’s virtually no space between our bodies. He's at my side and the old man is on the other. It's like he's trying to claim me, even though I'm technically on a date.

  I draw in a sharp breath, filling my nose with the masculine scent emanating from Leo. It masks Robert’s mothball stench.

  He ignores my question but says to my date, "I'm Leo. I own this casino. Please let me know if there's anything you need."

  The man chuckles and says, "Finally, some top of the line service here."

  Robert obviously thinks that Leo’s here to be at his beck and call, but I know he's here for another reason.

  Leo is checking in on me. At least that's the way it seems. Why else would he be lurking where he doesn't belong?

  Leo’s also giving Robert a death glare. I almost feel bad for the old guy, even though less than a minute ago I couldn’t think of anything I wanted more than to get away from him.

  Leo’s just taken the number one spot on that list, though.

  I’m a strong, independent woman and I can take care of myself, as evidenced by the last ten years. I didn't need him then and I don't need him now.

  Frustrated, I turn to him...and on him, no longer wanting him as my savior from an evening with my ancient date.

  "You know, Mr. Asher, is it? We’re doing just fine here," I say as I cozy up to old Robert. "We're on a date in case you haven't noticed, and I think a little privacy is in order."

  Robert is clearly appreciative of my advances, squeezing my thigh under the counter.

  I want to smack him and pull away, instead I plaster on a big fake smile for Leo’s benefit.

  Leo narrows his eyes at me like he’s trying to get a read on the situation.

  I just lift my eyebrow expectantly, wanting him to make the next move.

  The last thing I need is him thinking I can't handle myself.

  Leo shrugs and takes his leave, and I do my best to ignore the pang in my chest as he flippantly discards the situation and moves to something I suppose he feels is more deserving of his attention.

  Robert suggests we make our way over to the poker tables, and I gladly follow, happy that it won't just be me and him. Maybe he’ll keep his hands to himself.

  We place our bets and Robert wins pretty big.

  As the night wears on however, he becomes more and more aggressive with me. The alcohol he keeps imbibing emboldens him to put his hands all over me.

  Pretty soon his hand is on my ass and he delivers a vague threat that he expects me to go home with him. He’s joking, right? Being the token dirty old man?

  But no. It quickly becomes apparent that he’s dead serious. “I paid for you, girl,” he snarls. “And I plan on getting my money’s worth.”

  This makes me really nervous and I know that whatever happens, I cannot leave with this man. Though he's old and kind of weak, he still seems dangerous. Something about him gives off a menacing vibe and I’m not just disgusted by him, now.

  Now, I’m afraid.

  I can feel Leo's eyes watching me from across the room. I’ve felt them all night, just like last night, he hasn't let me out of his sight since I spoke with him at the bar.

  I want to ask for Leo’s help, but doing so would mean admitting defeat to the man that jaded me.

  I catch his gaze, and in that split second, we’re connected, both aware of the painful past that's transpired between us. Something else is there too...the electric chemistry between us that seems insulated from our frustrations we’re both battling. I don't know what Leo’s thinking and at this point what I am, but in seconds I see Leo making his way over to me.

  I pretend not to notice, unsure of how I feel about this development.

  "Everything going okay?" he asks smoothly.

  Robert is beyond drunk by this point, and he slurs something incoherent at Leo that neither of us understand.

  I'm okay with this because the drunker Robert is, the easier I'll be to ditch him without notice.

  Leo whispers in my ear, "come with me. Let me take you out of here."

  "No, thank you," I say defiantly. "I’m working."

  He glares at me and speaks through gritted teeth. "I can see that, but I can also see you're getting yourself into trouble."

  "I'm fine," I tell him haughtily.

  I grab Robert's arm, even though doing so makes my skin crawl. "Aren't we fine, Robert?"

  Robert has all the ammunition he needs in this touch to put his hands where they don't belong. He strokes my hair and my face, his hands clumsy and bumbling in his drunkenness.

  I cringe despite my best efforts to keep control of this situation. The conflicting disgust with Robert and my will to keep Leo from rescuing me, like I can’t handle myself, is escalating this situation out of my control.

  "Oh yes," Robert says. "This sexy little thing and I are going to make a night of it."

  My eyes dart toward Leo’s involuntarily, wide and anxious.

  Leo's eyes turn to black fire.

  His skin flushes red and his tone is heated as he grinds out, "Sienna, the gig is up. You’re not going anywhere with this creep."

  He grabs my arm aggressively but I pull out of his grasp.

  "Leave me alone, Leo. I have nothing to say to you."

  Though the feeling of his hands on my skin makes my heart pump wildly, I know that any desire I allow myself to feel for Leo is far more dangerous than old Robert here.

  Robert could take my body, but Leo could break my heart.

  The damage dealt when I let Leo take my virginity left me with painful scars. The trust that I offered him was the first step in the pain, because then Leo never came back, despite his promises. He went to college and we never spoke again.

  It took me years to get over him because he wasn’t just my lover, he was my friend first.

  I never expected him to be such a heartless ass to me.

  I never expected to be just some girl to him. But he threw me out like yesterday's garbage and that hurt more than anything I’d experienced before or since.

  The lies mark themselves over every inch of trust I ever granted Leo, so no matter how much I want to be as far away from Robert, I don’t know how much I’m stepping out of one frying pan and into a fire that could tear me apart.

  Even though Leo is radiating raw, powerful sex appeal with the way he's exerting his authority right now, I know that I can’t allow it to affect me. Leo’s untrustworthy and I can never let myself forget that. Lust clouds my thoughts and my heart aches at what hurt me, so it’s no wonder I suck in a breath and wonder what the hell I’ve gotten myself into right now.

  Leo stalks off but I notice he doesn't go far.

  I lay it on thick with Robert and am sure to feed him more and more drinks while keeping myself sober. It's my only recourse to get out of this mess.

  Unless, of course, I want to ask Leo for help, which I will never do unless it’s a last resort. I have more dignity than that. I’m owning more than my financial future with this job; I’m taking care of myself.

  Running to Leo is me saying it is okay to discard me and then be my saving grace. I’m more than that.

  I see Leo over Robert's shoulder, still staring daggers at me. The air in the room is thick, electrifying, and I feel my body throbbing and pulsing just by being near him. No matter what my head thinks, my body is on pure instinctual lust and our attraction is raw.

  "So," I say to Robert, "how about we call it a night? I've had a really great
time with you," I lie. Swallowing, I hope that I’m pulling off a relaxed response.

  "No, honey, you're coming with me. I've paid for the night and I intend to get my money's worth."

  His hands make their way to my waist, and I push him off. As much as I hate to admit it, I'm kind of in trouble here.

  I mean, I could probably take the old man if it came down to it, but I don’t want to cause a scene, and I definitely don’t want to get fired.

  I glance at Leo but see that he's no longer there.

  Fuck.

  What do I do now?

  I stand up and try to walk away, but Robert tugs at my arm. "No, you're not going anywhere."

  "Like hell I'm not!" I jerk my hand away.

  The poker dealer looks at us awkwardly, and so does the other couple at our table. They have no idea I'm an escort and they likely think I'm a gold digger dating this older man. No one comes to my aid.

  I try to walk away, and Robert gets up to follow me.

  Then just as I'm starting to feel a wave of panic, a pair of strong arms come around me from behind. I immediately feel safe in the familiar grasp.

  "She's coming with me, sir. I suggest you take a cab or a limo or whatever else brought you here and leave." Leo’s voice is harder than I’ve ever heard it, almost unrecognizable.

  The professionalism in his words and the power in his voice undoes the conflict I have. I want out of this situation, and this is the way…and I want Leo to be the way right now.

  "You think you can stop me? I've paid for this whore and I intend to get my due."

  “What did you just say?” Leo’s face is flaming red now.

  I’ve never seen him so angry.

  It almost frightens me, but at the same time the danger in him is directed at protecting me and it makes me feel safer, not scared.

  Leo picks the old man up by his collar and personally pushes him through the high limit room and out the door. He tells the security guard to escort him the rest of the way out and never let him on the premises again.

  "I'll get you for this," Robert yells to Leo's back. "I’ll turn you in for being complicit in the prostitution ring being run out of this casino."