Acquired

by Charlotte Byrd

  “Wait!” she said. She pushed the door and let herself in. I plopped down on my coach and I waited for her to talk until she was done bothering me. She followed me to the coach and sat beside me. “Let me just talk to you. It won’t take long.”

  I said nothing. I walked further into my house. She followed. I was starting to regret not locking my door. I would always check the peephole from now on.

  “Talking to me is the least you could do after ignoring all my calls and texts. Besides, driving here by myself is probably the boldest thing I have and will ever do so this is your one chance to hear me out.”

  I turned back to look at her. She followed me everywhere I went. I should have gone on vacation the minute I got back. I decided there was no more point, and I went back to the coach. I would be gone soon. I laid with my face down.

  “You have five minutes. Anymore, and you won’t be able to afford me.”

  She sounded annoyed. I might have hurt her by saying that. “Ouch, okay. That’s mean. But fine.”

  “Time starts now.”

  “Okay, so originally when we went away, I was using you. And what I wanted to happen happened exactly.” She wasn’t helping herself. I considered cutting her time short. “But that isn’t what I wanted after all. When you saw me downstairs with Tom, I’ll be honest, he came on to me. He said he missed me. He said that he wanted what we have and I couldn’t let him think that. I didn’t want him to miss me anymore. I just wanted to be done with him. And now I am done with him, but I don’t have you anymore.”

  I turned my head to look at her while she spoke. She picked at her nails, but she looked me in the eyes with sincerity. I thought about the drive from her place to here. It had to have taken at least 4 hours. I didn’t know how she got my address. I didn’t care at this point. I just wanted to hear what she had to say until there was peace in the world again. “Keep talking.”

  “So, when we went away, I was already confused. I have had an awful two years, and just when I think that my life can’t get worse, it does. But then, with you, I was having a really great time. I didn’t worry about the next day, and I didn’t worry about the day before. You made me feel like I didn’t have anything to worry about at all. It was so easy to hang out with you.”

  It had been easy to get to know her. I still didn’t want to talk to her. She made me feel used. I knew that that had been my job, and it was my fault for being emotional, but I didn’t think that she would have been the type of person that took advantage of another person like that.

  “The whole time I was getting to know you, it seemed like we spent most of that in front of other people, so it was hard to tell if you were acting or not. And then we had that dumb fight, and I knew you weren’t acting. I knew that maybe we did have something after all. I was pretty sold. I don’t know why I decided to listen to Tom. I was going to tell him off. I didn’t even let him talk me into seeing him again. He has been calling me nonstop all week, and I haven’t answered him once. That is so unlike me. When he and I were together I would wait on him hand and foot, and now I see him groveling and begging for me to come back. The only difference is that now that I have seen him, I don’t feel that way anymore. He wants me, but I don’t want him.”

  I was starting to get frustrated. I had heard enough about Tom in the past two weeks for me to write a novel on how big of an asshole he was. It made me think back to that morning. I checked all around the room for her. I looked out on the balcony, even, and she wasn’t there. When she didn’t come back with breakfast I started to worry. I went down. I was betrayed. She hadn’t done anything wrong, but she didn’t do anything right either. “Well, what exactly do you want, April? It seems like you and Tom are both confused by each other and you’re taking down other people in the process. If you know you don’t want him so bad then tell me, what is it that you do want?”

  I sat on the edge of the couch, staring at her. My breathing had come erratic and I wanted to disappear. I didn’t want her to come visit me. I didn’t want to see her. I didn’t want her to know how much she effected me, how much she hurt me. She looked back to me. I saw the sadness in her eyes. I had no idea I meant anything to her.

  I could feel her starting to lose her patience. I asked again. “Tell me, what do you want?” This time I said it softer. I crossed my fingers and prayed for the best. My wish came true.

  “You.”

  27

  April

  I couldn’t believe those words came out of my mouth. I had gotten caught up in the heat of the moment again. Again, I wanted to take the words back, scooping them into my mouth and swallowing them like a magic trick. I didn’t babble over it this time. I just looked back at him.

  I had shocked myself, and I could tell that my answer shocked him too. After the silence filled the air for a few moments, I saw a smile spread across his face. I became nervous. Had I used the right combination of words? Did I win him back?

  I didn’t know what to say, and I wasn’t sure why he wasn’t saying anything either. I had laid all I had on the table. I drove over 5 hours to get here to apologize, and now I wasn’t sure he deserved or wanted an apology. I still wanted him. It was true. He was what I wanted.

  If I could go back and time and change it so that I never went to the lobby to meet Tom, I would have. If I could have just stayed in bed and kept my eyes and mouth shut, I would have. It was too late now. I messed up again. He didn’t have to date me in the first place, he certainly wasn’t going to after I hurt him.

  Grant had called it, though. I don’t know if he had a premonition or just experience, but he had known from the beginning we were going to have sex. Maybe it happened because he said it would. Maybe it happened because I actually wanted it to, too. Even when I looked at him now, I still wanted him.

  I noticed the suitcases around the room. The furniture stayed here, but it looked like most of the things around here were being moved. The inside was just as fancy as the outside. His place was well furnished and finished, even when it was bare of all decorations. Was I too late? How long had he known he was going to be moving? He never mentioned it to me before. I guess we really never talked about much before.

  I wanted to know him better, though. I wanted to be able to tell everyone his favorite movie, his pet peeves, and I wanted to know his birthday. I wanted to know if his family was as crazy as mine, and I wanted to know about what he has been doing the past 27 years. But I wasn’t going to be able to learn anything new because I blew it. Even when I didn’t do anything, I still messed things up. I was just a walking wreck. He was smarter for avoiding me. I saw that now.

  A few more silent moments went by and I stood to leave. I didn’t want to stand here and be mocked by him. I had had enough damage in the past week to need to buy a new life. If he could be an escort, maybe I could too. It would get my parents off my back about money, for sure. It might even get Tom off my back for good. I clearly didn’t know what to say or do to win him back, so I was going to have to give up my dream. I turned and walked to the door. I had never done anything that soul baring before and it still didn’t work out for me.

  “Wait.” I stopped and turned around. He was standing up, but wasn’t looking at me. He looked at his nails and began to pick them. That was my nervous habit, too. “I don’t know if you can have me.”

  I looked at the boxes again. I wasn’t sure if he meant that in an escort way, or a timely since. Maybe neither. Maybe he thought he couldn’t handle me. He was starting to get on my nerves. “Is it because you don’t think I can take it?”

  “No. It’s because I know I can’t.” He smiled at me when he said it. I felt my heart flutter. Was he beginning to flirt with me again, or was I just getting my hopes up?

  “That’s too bad for you.” I flirted back, inching my way back into his apartment. “Because I wasn’t going to hurt you. I just wanted to have a little piece of you.”

  “Just a little piece, huh?” He walked closer towards me too, moving as s
lowly as I was. He walked with meaning, but he was very playful when he did it. “How big of a piece is that?”

  “Oh, I don’t know. If you can’t handle it then, I understand. All I really wanted from you was one measly date. That’s all.”

  “That’s all?”

  “Yep.”

  “You aren’t going to tear me apart, or force me to go to another engagement party?”

  I giggled. “Nope. I was just hoping to maybe go get some dinner with you. I have never been to Vegas before. But I see that that might be too much for your little heart.”

  “My heart? So you aren’t using me as an escort Grant? You aren’t just trying to get me to chaperone you around the city?”

  “Nope. Just trying to get you to go one a date, as date Grant and date April.”

  “And there is no business arrangements? You won’t pay me for holding your hand or anything like that?”

  “I won’t pay you a cent. I couldn’t if I wanted to.”

  “Good.” He smiled and we were inches away. “Because you’re awful at business arrangements.”

  “I know.” I was pressed up against his body and I could feel his abs through his shirt. “I’m no businessman like you.”

  He quieted me with his lips. It had been too long since we had last kissed. I felt the butterflies be release more and more in my stomach, being sent out by the thousands. The way he moved his lips in mine made my legs turn to jelly. My heart was weak for him. I couldn’t have pushed him away if I had wanted to, and I knew I never would have.

  He kissed me again and again, moving to my neck. He was beginning to make me gasp. I put my hands around his shoulders. He moved back up to my face and gave me one final kiss.

  “So then how do you feel about sushi?”

  “I love it.”

  “Because,” his eyebrows perked and he looked mischievous, “we could just stay inside tonight, if you really want to.”

  “As tempting as that offer is, I have never been to the city, and as soon as you said the word sushi my mouth began to water.”

  “Sushi it is. But I’m paying this time.” He grabbed his billfold and stuffed it in his pocket.

  “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

  THE END

  Climax

  I'm a cocky and self-indulgent billionaire. I own one of the hottest casinos in Vegas. I love women, but I use them. And I do NOT believe in love. Oh no, and I don't apologize for anything.

  Enter Jane. She's designing our social media campaign. She couldn't be more plain. She's pretty, yes, but not model-hot like I'm used to. And yet, there's something about her. I can't stop thinking about her.

  But Jane doesn't want me. At least, she's acting that way. and I'll do anything to make her beg...

  **WARNING: Steamy scenes, NO Cheating, HEA!

  Chapter 1 - Sebastian

  “Do you work out?” One of the girls asked me. She unashamedly touched my biceps without permission. I liked girls like this. They were easy to figure out and even easier to manipulate. I was not into games or running after women that like to play hard to get. I liked girls that made it easy for me. Because why should I waste any of my time or energy on anyone else but myself?

  “I’d like to tell you that all of this comes naturally to me. But, while some of it does, most of it is from hard work and dedication at the gym. I’ve got to look good so that pretty little girls like you will show some interest in me.” The girl giggled. This was so easy.

  “Well, it’s paying off. You must work real hard to get muscles like this.” She stroked my arm, up and down, up and down. It seemed she also knew what she was doing.

  “Oh I do. I do.” I was sitting at the edge of the pool, my legs dangling in the cool water. She was in the pool, holding onto the ledge and giving me a fantastic view of her cleavage.

  “You’re Sebastian, aren’t you?” Of course, it was obvious that she already knew the answer to this one. Everyone here knew who I was.

  “That’s right. The one and only.”

  She sighed, her bosom bobbing up and down in the water. It took all my might not to reach over and pull her bikini off for a full view of her breasts. The funny thing was that she would probably let me. But while I loved flirting with all the visitors, I preferred to keep my intimate moments a bit more private. It was easy to see that I’d be taking her back to my room later that evening. And it was just as easy to see that she would say yes. “Oh wow. I’ve heard so much about you. All my friends have told me how cute you are. But you’re even cuter in real life. I’m Susie, by the way.”

  “Pleasure to meet you Susie. So tell me Susie the Cutie – what else have your friends been saying about me? Tell me everything. I hope they are good things.” I hoped they weren’t friends that I’d slept with. That had happened to me before and it was always a little bit awkward. On the plus side they generally tried to outdo their friends in bed which always made for a very interesting experience. But I had a sneaking suspicion that this little one wouldn’t need any help in making it interesting.

  Susie was all giggles. “They just told me who you were. That you’re only 27 and you already run Sunrise Casino – one of your family’s casino’s - all by yourself. That you’re a billionaire and that you have two other brothers. But that you’re the best looking of them all. They only told me about the good things but that’s because I think there are only good things to tell.”

  “Oh you flatter me. How about you then? Tell me a little bit about yourself.” I couldn’t care less about her, but I knew the protocol when it came to picking up women. Most of the time they really just wanted someone to listen to them talk about themselves. It worked like a charm each time. I saw her face light up. In her smile read ‘oh my goodness, he wants to talk about me.’

  “Oh wow. Really? You want to know about me? Okay. Well, I’m Susie. But you know that. I’m 21 years old and I’m here on holiday with my family. My parents. They spend all their time in the casino which gives me plenty of time to lounge around in the pool and fill myself with cocktails. This pool is absolutely beautiful by the way.” She was certainly right about that. I had been the one that had the vision for the pool. When I first took over this casino it wasn’t nearly as big and luxurious as it was now. I had to convince my parents that in order to make money we had to spend money. Especially since we actually had the money to spend. They had agreed and allowed me to take over the renovation of the casino – making it the biggest and most lavish casino in the country. The pool ended up becoming one of the main features of the place – it wrapped around the entire casino and sparkled with a deep blue at any time of the day or night. It was my pride and joy, and probably the place I spent the most time at. It was no secret at all that I liked to party hard. And my parents didn’t mind at all. As long as I got my job done. And to be honest, I was doing a better job than even they were doing.

  “You’re right Susie. This pool is wonderful. It is the best part of the hotel in my opinion and the best place to hang out. Especially when I get to meet someone like you. Now listen here, I have to go do a bit of work, unfortunately. But I like you Susie Cutie. I like you a whole lot. Would you like to come visit me say in about an hours’ time? In my apartment? It would be an absolute pleasure to have you all to myself. There are just far too many people around here for us to truly get to know one another.” I loved how her eyes widened at the pure mention of the words my apartment.

  “Yes. I’d love that Sebastian. Please.” I could see that she regretted saying please at the end, but it had just slipped out of her eager little mouth. The very same mouth which I would be kissing in a few hours.

  “Great. Just come right up. I’ll tell reception that I’m expecting you. I shall say Susie the Cutie is coming to see me, let her in.” She liked that.

  “Okay, I’ll be there for sure. Which room must I come to?” I had no doubt that she would be there. This is not a deal a girl would turn down. Especially a girl like Susie.

 
“Why, the penthouse of course.”

  “The penthouse?! Oh wow. That’s amazing. See you later Sebastian. Thank you.”

  I got up and dried myself off, thankful that I was able to hold off my excitement in front of the girl for later. On the way out I spotted a few of my friends and I waved to them.

  “Got yourself a hot date I see?” Martin shouted out, thankfully not loud enough for the girl to have heard.

  “Better believe it.” I replied.

  “Ah, what it would be to be like you.”

  “Well, you don’t look like you’re doing too bad yourself.” It seemed as if just being associated to the Taylor name could get a guy many women. Martin was not the most attractive guy and yet here he was with beautiful girls hanging onto his every word.

  He winked at me. It was his silent way of saying thank you.

  Inside I went straight to one of the many customer computers in the foyer. It was just easier than going up to the penthouse and it was a great way of watching all the women go past. I’m always amazed at how confident some of the women are – walking right by me in bikinis that do very little to cover their bodies. I grinned as one of the girls ruffled my hair as she walked past.

  My inbox was full. My parents had been begging me to hire someone to deal with my emails but I didn’t like the idea. I preferred being the only one at all times to know what was happening in the casino. Afterwards I was happy to delegate the work to others, but I always had to be the first to know. Also, I received quite a few dirty emails that I would prefer others not to see. The first email was from Tom, the Design Director who was helping me with a big new project. He wanted to meet up with me to discuss everything that was going on. He was never a big email person and so I quickly replied and set a date. The other meetings I ended up setting up were with the Food and Beverage Senior Director regarding my proposal for new food and drink options at the casino as well as the Manager of Planning and Analysis to discuss the possibility of expansion. I had big plans to make this hotel the biggest and most talked about casino in the world, and in order to do that I had to make sure that we grew exponentially in size and implemented state of the art furniture and concepts. I also wanted people from all over the world to visit us for our food and I had a few chefs on board all collaborating to make this happen. It was costing me a small fortune but I knew that the returns would be worth it. Halfway through one of my emails, a girl came to sit on my lap. I bounced her up and down and watched her breasts jiggle. I leaned forward and took a little nibble on each one and growled at her hungrily.