by Erika Rose
Table of Contents
Prologue
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
CHAPTER 21
CHAPTER 22
CHAPTER 23
EPILOGUE
The Billionaire's Legacy
By Erika Rose
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Text copyright © 2017 Erika Rose
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
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PROLOGUE
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
CHAPTER 21
CHAPTER 22
CHAPTER 23
EPILOGUE
YOUR FREE BOOK
Prologue
A wealthy bad boy.
A sheltered good girl.
An undeniable attraction.
The chase is on.
Stefan Kelson is rich, handsome, and undeniably sexy. With the world vying for his attention, Stefan is used to getting what he wants … until he meets Sasha Morris.
Sasha, daughter of a New York Senator, is used to being in the public eye. Sheltered and coddled her whole life, Sasha is finally experiencing freedom for the first time. Though she finds Stefan irresistible, she knows better than to mess around with someone with his reputation.
Stefan is intrigued and excited by the only woman who has ever turned him down. He’s determined to win her over. She’s just as determined not to let that happen.
CHAPTER 1
The kettle whistled on the stove, bringing her out of the daydream she was having. She startled and laughed at herself before she poured the boiling water over the chamomile tea bag. She sniffed the air as the heavenly scent filled her senses.
It might be Friday night and New York was about to come to life, but for Sasha Morris it meant sitting down at her scarred and faded desk in front of the window overlooking Broome Street and studying.
And she didn’t mind any part of it. Not the scarred and faded desk, not the studying or the noise filtering in through the open windows on the balmy spring evening. Even though she was accustomed to only the best, Sasha loved the apartment she shared with her friend Kris on Campus. Her father had surprised them with only the best appliances and a brand-new leather sofa, but Sasha kept the scarred and beaten desk.
When she had signed up for pre-law at NYU her father had insisted that she would stay at home, but for Sasha that wasn’t an option. She had spent twenty-one years under her father’s roof and watchful eye and she couldn’t wait to start her life outside of his restrictions.
She didn’t mind having lunch or dinner with her parents once a week but the rest of the time was hers, to spend how she chose. No compulsory fund-raisers or dinners - where her mother had thought it well to invite yet another Harvard graduate with a bright future - to attend. At each of those dinners her mother paraded her awards and achievements and Sasha wanted nothing more than to hide under the table.
Sasha spent most of her time studying, adamant not to make a success of her life riding her father’s coat tails, and the little bit of time that was left she spent with whomever and wherever she chose.
She carried her cup of chamomile tea over to her desk and sat down. Lovingly she ran a hand over the scarred oak that had served many students before her. Where were they now? Did they make a success of their lives? Do they still remember the scarred desk overlooking Broome Street? Sasha doubted it; she was a sentimental romantic at heart.
Sasha opened her textbook and sipped on the chamomile tea as she started reading the legal jargon. At first it had all been legal mumbo-jumbo but over the past year it had started falling into place. She no longer had to look up legal phrases but understood them; her grades were testimony to that. She was at the top of her class and in her few vain moments she allowed herself to bask in it.
The sun started setting, allowing the balmy evening to cool down, reminding Sasha that Spring still fought for purchase in the cooler March evenings. She tugged the blanket over the back of the sofa over her legs and held the fresh cup of chamomile tea and looked out the window noticing the city was starting to buzz with Friday Night energy. As soon as her fingers had heated enough she picked up her pen and continued to take notes. Kris often teased her for being a study-holic, but for Sasha it wasn’t that she was over-committed; it simply made sense to study her work when the lectures were still fresh in mind.
What felt like a few minutes later her phone buzzed on the table; she picked it up and recognized Kris’s number.
“Hey Kris.” Sasha smiled knowing her friend would be asking her to join them.
“Okay, you’ve done enough studying for a Friday night, get your sexy dress on and get down here.” Kris said in a no-nonsense tone.
Sasha shook her head looking out over the lights of New York City. Every Friday it was the same story. Sasha declined the offer to join them at the latest club or restaurant and every Friday Kris would call and try to convince her. “Kris, I’ve just started. Maybe next time.”
“Bullshit!” Kris shouted into the phone. “It’s ten pm, which means you’ve been at it for hours. You need a break!”
“What?” Sasha asked surprised. “It can’t be…” She turned around to glance on the clock in their small kitchen, only to confirm Kris’s allegation. Where did the time go? “Kris! I can’t believe it’s ten, but I’m not coming out now. I’d rather finish this while it’s still fresh.”
Sasha could hear Kris moving through the crowd, the noise level increased for a short while until it quieted. Kris had probably moved outside.
“Now you listen to me, Sasha Morris. The semester is almost finished, you’re in the top of your class and you have no good reason to study on a Friday Night. I gave you your few hours to soothe your obsessive-compulsive study disorder, but enough is enough. Either you get your butt down here, or I’ll come and fetch you and drag you out in your pajamas.”
The line went quiet for a moment and Sasha envisioned Kris dragging her along the street in her comfy pajamas she loved to study in. The problem was that she knew Kris would do it.
“T
he choice is yours.” Kris’s firm voice came over the line.
Sasha heaved out a sigh before answering, “Fine. Send me a location.”
“Great, see you shortly.” Kris beamed before hanging up.
Sasha paid the cabbie and stepped out of the cab on West 21st. She tucked her hands into the long coat that covered the short purple dress that Kris had referred to and took a deep breath before heading into the club.
A hypnotic beat filled the club; bodies writhed together to its rhythm on the far end. Sasha handed in her coat and placed the ticket stub in her clutch before heading to the bar. If she was going to be here for the next hour she would need a drink. She would get a drink, find Kris, enjoy the drink and brief conversation and then head back to her apartment, pajamas and chamomile tea.
Squeezing through the crowd Sasha finally reached the bar. She tugged out a few bills and held them over the bar hoping to be held quickly. The seat at the bar where she stood was empty, but Sasha pushed up against the bar ignoring the empty chair.
Finally, the barman reached her; she briskly gave her order and watched him make it. After the exchange of bills and a drink Sasha stepped back, only to sit down squarely in someone’s lap.
Warm strong hands steadied her as she lost footing. The warm breath against her bare neck freaked her out until she heard his voice.
“Now that’s an entrance.” The husky voice washed over her. She tried to ignore the goosebumps on her flesh and the flicker of attraction in her stomach as she turned to face him. Met with the palest green eyes she had ever seen and perfect straight white teeth, the flicker turned into a throbbing. “Sorry,” she whispered, inches away from his face.
Dark hair that was overdue for a cut framed his face as he smiled at her. “No problem, you’re welcome to stay a while.”
For a moment Sasha considered staying in his lap with his voice in her neck and his hands on her hips before sanity prevailed.
“Sorry again,” she said, pushing up, grabbing her drink and rushing into the crowd to find Kris.
What was that? It was almost like her body had instantly responded to him. And those eyes, they were so light they appeared almost transparent. By the time she found Kris and a few friends among the crowd her heartbeat still hadn’t quieted.
“Sasha, you came!” Kris shouted before rushing over to hug her. “Oh good, I see you’ve got a drink already. You’re just in time.”
Sasha sipped her Cosmo, the sweet battled with sour on her tongue and she relished the taste. “Just in time for what?”
“We’re hooking up with that group of guys for a round of darts.”
“Darts? Kris, I don’t even play and we don’t know those guys.” Sasha said glancing over to the group of hot guys sitting across from them.
Kris laughed jubilantly. “That’s the point! You come out on a Friday Night, you meet people and spend time finding out if you like them.”
When Sasha only watched her with wide eyes, Kris played her joker. “Besides, look at it this way: at least your mother didn’t pick them.”
Sasha shook her head. One hour and that’s it, she thought as she followed Kris to the dartboard with their other friends.
“Hello ladies, we’re just waiting for Stefan. He’s just getting drinks.” The blond Adonis spoke to the group but his eyes stayed on Kris the entire time. So that was why they were going to play darts, Sasha thought as she was introduced.
“I’m Jason. Peter, Duke, and Stefan will be back soon.” Jason said pointing the guys standing around him.
Kris took the lead and stepped up to the line; she turned and winked at Sasha before wiggling her butt and taking aim.
Jason applauded her effort even though she pegged the dart at the edge of the board. Jason followed Kris and nearly hit a bull’s eye.
Sasha stepped up to take her turn. Just when she had taken aim she felt the warm hands encircle her waist even as the husky voice spoke at her ear. “Fancy meeting you here.”
One of the warm hands slid up her waist leaving a wake of tingles as it moved along her arm and took her hand.
Sasha heard a gasp from Kris standing only a few feet away. Somewhere in the recesses of her mind she knew should step away, but she didn’t want to.
She let him guide her hand pulling back and whispering in her ear to release as his other hand remained on her waist. To Sasha’s amazement she hit the bull’s eye.
She flung around ecstatically. “I did it!” From pure joy she grabbed the handsome stranger with the pale green eyes and hugged him. As soon as her body was flush against his, she realized her mistake. She pulled away hesitantly reeling from the brief touch.
Those green eyes watched her, fog lifting from a forest before a sexy smile showed his straight white teeth. “Like I said, you’re welcome to stay a while.”
CHAPTER 2
Stefan observed the package she made. On the short side with barely five foot two to her name and two large brown pools of chocolate for eyes. Waves of hair in shades of caramel, burnt sugar and ebony tumbled over her bare shoulders. The purple dress was made for her; it accentuated the slight hint of curvy hips and small firm breasts. With no shoulders and reaching to just above her knees it was merely a scrap of cloth.
She watched him hesitantly, Stefan couldn’t decide if she was hesitant to stay or hesitant to smile back. In the end, she smiled at him shyly.
“Thanks, again.” She said softly so only he could hear.
He nodded before sipping on his beer, still watching her. Even though she was small, she checked all his categories. Feisty, cute, sexy and of course she had waves and waves of hair Stefan couldn’t wait to run his hands through.
“Do you know each other?” A perky redhead asked moving from her spot beside Jason.
That had purple dress stepping forward. “No, uhm we met briefly at the bar.”
“We didn’t actually meet she kind of…”
“My name is Sasha Morris.” She interrupted casting him a warning glance.
Okay, Stefan thought, so she didn’t want her friend to know she sat in his lap. Shrugging he took her small hand in his for the second time. “Stefan Kelson, pleased to meet you Sasha Morris.”
She blushed and quickly focused on sipping her Cosmo
The rest of the night passed by quickly with Jason and Kris monopolizing the conversation. Although Stefan and Sasha barely spoke, knowing glances were exchanged every few minutes. Their hands brushed accidentally when he handed her a drink and he nearly got lost in her chocolate brown eyes.
Stefan knew they were playing a game, a game of glances and brief touches until one of them made the first move.
She stood to the side, speaking with her friend, when Stefan decided he was going to make that move. He walked over and placed his hands on her hips, becoming accustomed to the feel of her small firm hips under his hands.
“All right Kris, I’ll be right out.” She said to her friend who headed outside before turning to him.
“Kris isn’t feeling too well so we’re heading home.” Being much shorter than he was she lifted her chin and met his gaze. Her lips looked soft and were painted a luscious pink.
Stefan grinned and leaned in for a kiss when she suddenly pulled back.
“Aren’t going to say goodbye?” Stefan asked.
“I just did, goodbye Stefan.” Her voice was firm but her body was telling another story. Her hand remained on his from where she tugged it off her hip.
“At least give me your number?” He asked cocking his head and smiling. He’d love to get to know her and the curves under that dress better.
She narrowed her eyes for a moment before rattling off her number and disappearing into the crowd.
Stefan pulled out his phone and hastily added the number to his contacts before he forgot it. This was one girl he couldn’t wait to call.
Stefan closed the door late morning behind the tall blonde and slammed his fist against the
wall. Tiffany was what Stefan liked to think of as one of his fuck-buddies. She called or he called and they would hook up. There were no questions asked, plans made or expectations. An arrangement that suited her perfectly, except today. Tiffany had called this morning, asked if she could stop by, and like a good fuck buddy Stefan had agreed.
The whole time he was with Tiffany he couldn’t help but imagine Sasha’s small hips in his hands and her chocolate and caramel hair spread out on his pillow. Tiffany had left his apartment a satisfied woman, but the guilt angered Stefan. He should’ve just stopped and sent her home.
Why couldn’t he get Sasha out of his mind? It wasn’t like they had flirted overtly, it was mere an exchange of heated glance and brief touches and yet she kept milling about in his mind. Vexed by her running through his mind and even more angered by it he decided to text her. He grabbed his phone from the kitchen island and walked to the window to overlook the Soho skyline when Chopin’s funeral march started playing on his phone.
Great! His dad, the last person he wanted to talk to.
“Dad?” Stefan said irritably.
“Good morning to you too. I hope you’ve had a lovely morning and that your debauchery and drinking haven’t left you fragile this morning?” His father’s sophisticated voice sounded professional regardless of the mocking words.
Stefan clenched his teeth and bit back the words he actually wanted to say. “What can I do for you?”
“It’s about Monday; I’ve just got off the phone with a very irritated Roman who was kind enough to let me know you were only in the office for approximately three hours over the past week.”
Stefan grunted; he knew that geek was a clock watcher. “What, so now he’s timing me?”
“Stefan, you might be my son but that will only get you so far in life. You can’t expect me to pay you a salary when Roman has to do all the work.”