“Are you nervous?”
“Just a little,” she said. “It’s my first big event.”
“The first of many. You’re going to do great. Just let me get all the way out and take a few photos, then I’ll help you out of the limo and we’ll stand together for photos. It’s very Hollywood-esque. Once they’ve gotten pictures of us arriving, it will be pretty easy to forget that there are cameras everywhere and just be your natural self. They only publish the best pictures of the night, so there’s no need to worry about getting caught in an unflattering pose.”
“Excellent tips,” she teased. “Anything else I should worry about?”
“Not until you’re headed home. I would worry about that return trip in the limo. Your escort probably has plans to ravish you right here in the back of this limo.”
His hand was on her thigh, sending a thrill of electricity through her already tense body.
“I’ll watch out for him.”
“Maybe he can contain himself until you get to the beach house, but there’s no way he’s going to make it to the mansion in Bonita,” David said, his words setting her nerves on fire.
“I thought we couldn’t go to the beach house.”
“The update on the beach house is done.”
“See? That’s what I mean. You talked to your friend yesterday, and now your beach house is completely revamped.”
“Technically, I talked to him about all that the night before. He put in the panic room this morning, and the system is up and running. Julia had a bit of trouble getting into the house to stock the fridge and do her regular Friday cleaning, but she texted me a little while ago that everything was good.”
“That’s exciting,” Kelissa said.
“I’m just impressed that she finally learned to text. Julia’s a little older and she hasn’t really gotten on board with communicating by text. I usually get a voicemail from her.”
“Some people just take longer to catch up with the times. Progress can be scary. But, I’m glad she has everything ready. I’ve been dying to go the past two weeks, but you didn’t have time.”
“I have the entire weekend,” he said. “Julia made sure there’s enough food to survive the apocalypse. We can crash there when we leave the fundraiser tonight and stay until Monday morning.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“That sounds fantastic. I can’t wait.”
“First, you have to get through the fundraiser.”
“I’ve got this,” she said.
“I know you do. We’re almost there.”
She saw the lights down at the end of Rio Vista Road long before she could see the actual house. When they finally pulled up to the massive house situated on at least five acres of manicured grass, it took her breath away.
In front of the house was a wide, circular drive that could hold several cars side by side. On the hill that rose behind the house was a beautiful barn, strategically placed lights illuminating it from all angles. The entire property looked like something out of a storybook.
“This is amazing,” she said, looking at David excitedly. “How much does a place like this cost?”
“Fifty-two million and change.”
“Wow. That seems like so much.”
“Actually, it’s a steal. The original owner was asking sixty and I got him to drop his price down to a more reasonable level.”
“You sold this house?”
“I did. They were looking for something that could contain the wife’s charity balls and the husband’s love for polo.”
“I didn’t see a swimming pool.”
“That’s water polo. Polo is played on horseback. They hit a ball with a mallet.”
“That sounds difficult.”
“It is. The owner is team captain. If you mention that you heard he plays polo, you can get him to talk nonstop all night long. Otherwise, he’s a little aloof, even for someone as wealthy as he is.”
The limo stopped and David got out, stepping away from the limo for a brief moment to take pictures, then returning and holding out his hand.
“Take your time,” he said just loud enough for her to hear. “The wait builds excitement.”
She stepped out of the limo, and the instant her foot hit the walkway, the cameras started going off. She planted a warm smile on her face, but she kept her eyes on David. She was there for him, and even though they weren’t a serious couple, focusing on David would add to the mystery surrounding her identity, and David had assured her that curiosity would have everyone talking. If she turned to the cameras too soon and looked like she was after their attention, she would be ignored. It didn’t make much sense, but she knew David was right. The best way to get people talking and the cameras flashing was to pretend that the last thing you wanted was attention.
He leaned in, whispering against her ear about his plans for her and sending shivers up her spine. Her smile widened and then he turned, arm around her, giving one quick pose to the cameras before he whisked her up the stairs and into the house.
The entryway was huge, opening up into a formal sitting room that doubled as a library. People milled about the area, chatting with acquaintances and catching up on celebrity gossip. Kelissa recognized several celebrities, but she kept her excitement in check.
“Would you like something to eat?” David asked, guiding her expertly through the throngs of people.
“I’m too excited to eat,” she whispered.
“Good. Let’s work off some of that excitement so you can relax and enjoy yourself.”
A man in a crisp tuxedo opened the door in front of them, which was situated between double staircases that led to the second and third stories. Kelissa inhaled sharply, the beautiful scene before her beyond surreal.
“I don’t know how to dance,” she said, the music from the string quartet on the small stage filling the room. “I mean, I can dance, but I don’t think you want me twerking up here.”
“Save the twerking for later,” he said, winking. “Don’t worry, I’ll lead the way. Just relax and let me guide you.”
He pulled her into his arms, one hand settled on her hip, the other holding her comfortably away from her body.
“I feel like I’m on one of those dancing shows,” she sighed, swaying along with him as they stepped onto the dance floor.
“It’s exactly like that,” he said. “Just keep your eyes on me and don’t worry about anything else that’s going on around us.”
“You have no idea how easy that is.”
“I would say that I do. The view is stunning from where I’m standing.”
“You’re too much,” she said, resting her head on his shoulder and sighing happily.
“And you, Kelissa, are more than I deserve.”
Chapter8
It was almost midnight when the limo slid to a stop in front of the beach house and David helped Kelissa out of the back seat. She was buzzed, though she’d only had one glass of champagne. It was the excitement of their night together, and everything that had happened at the ball that had Kelissa feeling like her career was about to take off.
David leaned over the driver’s side door, talking quietly to the driver and letting him know the plans for the weekend. The driver left, his usually on-call weekend now completely free. Kelissa was sure he was just as excited as she was about the weekend, but for different reasons.
“That party was amazing,” Kelissa gushed as they walked up the sidewalk to the front door arm in arm. “I feel like this is the calm before the storm.”
“I would agree. There were a lot of people interested in you.”
“I handed out all my cards. Thank you for making those for me. I didn’t think that the fundraiser would be an appropriate place to get my name out there.”
“Why not?” he said, putting his index finger into the scanner at the front door.
“I’m there to escort you, not work the room.”
“You can do both, though I think
that you did well letting people come to you.”
“It didn’t hurt that Rich was showing my pictures off.”
“He’s something else. He was very impressed with you, and it takes a lot to impress Rich.” He moved his finger again, scowling at the entry pad, then smiling when the light finally turned green. “There it goes. I was starting to think something was wrong with the new system.”
“I think it’s more picky now, right?”
“It would seem that way. I need to pay more attention to how I’m doing it. Before, even a small section of my fingerprint would open it. But this system is more sensitive.”
“How does Julia get in?”
“This part under here is for a key fob,” he said when the door opened, pointing out a little slot in the bottom of the reader. “She just passes it under there and the door opens. Each fob has its own frequency, so if she loses one, or if for some reason I lost my mind and fired the best cleaning lady I’ve ever had, I can immediately disable the fob, making it useless.”
“Seems like a great system.” She followed him into the house, taking in a deep breath and wrinkling her nose. “You can tell she cleaned today, but the cleaner is really strong.”
“I think it’s the lavender. If you don’t like it, I can have her use a different scent.”
“It’s fine. It just smells weird.”
“It could be coming from the ocean.”
“I didn’t think about that. I bet you’re right.” She sighed and looked around the kitchen. “I know we talked about ravishing each other, but I’m exhausted.”
He chuckled, pulling her close and kissing her gently.
“It’s been a really long night,” he said. “It can wait until the morning.”
“Perfect. I’m going to take a shower and get ready for bed. Do you want to join me?”
“No,” he said. “I want to send Aaron a quick email and see about getting you a bodyguard Monday morning. I don’t want to leave for work and have you here alone, even with the beefed-up security.”
“Maybe I can ride in with you.”
“I have a lot going on that morning. It would be better if you could sleep in and come back home when you’re ready. And I would feel better about that if there was a bodyguard.”
“I guess there’s no point in arguing with you. I just think you’re being a little too paranoid.”
“Trust me. Salvador Chacon is not a man you underestimate.”
“You do you, I guess,” she said, kissing him on the cheek and making her way up the stairs.
Her legs were heavy, but her heart was light as she stripped down and chose a pair of loose shorts and a pink top from the clothes in the dresser. She ripped the tags off as she went, surprised that Julia seemed to have thought of everything. She could only imagine the conversation he’d had with the older woman when he’d sent her a picture of her favorite style of panties along with her sizes for the woman to act as her personal shopper.
“Hopefully, he gave her a raise,” she muttered, laughing and getting into the shower.
If he hadn’t given her a raise, Kelissa was going to make sure that he did. She’d gone above and beyond, even if the cleaner she’d used did leave a strange scent. It was stronger in the master bedroom, but the more she thought about it, the more she realized it was probably coming in through the vents. She hoped whatever it was, was gone by morning.
She hurried through her shower, skipping her hair and spending the most time on her face, making sure all her makeup was washed away. She was blessed with naturally good skin, but a night in old makeup could wreak havoc on even the best complexion. It wasn’t worth the risk, especially if her career was about to take off.
She dried off and put her necklace back on, pulling the loose shirt over her head and deciding to leave the necklace inside her shirt. She didn’t want the pendant getting caught in her hair while she slept. She would ask David for a jewelry box to put it in later, but for now, she loved the weight of it against her skin. It wasn’t “I love you,” but it said more about how David felt about her than he had so far. He had deep feelings for her, and that was what was important right now. The words she was longing to hear would come in time.
She was still getting dressed when she heard a noise downstairs that startled her.
“David?” she called out, but she realized there was no way he could hear her from the second story.
She pulled her sandals back on and finished dressing in a hurry, thinking that what she’d heard was him knocking the ceramic fruit bowl off the counter. She didn’t want to step on glass helping him clean up.
The room went dark as she opened the door, and she heard muttering in the room below.
“David,” she called out. “Is the power out?”
She was feeling around in the dark, her eyes adjusting to the scant amount of moonlight coming from the quarter moon. Rolling blackouts were common in California, and they’d already had one in the short time she’d been in the state. It was annoying, but a normal part of Southern California existence. She remembered seeing a flashlight in the dresser.
She heard David on the steps as she felt around in the top drawer of the dresser closest to the bed, then she felt it, and pulled it out triumphantly.
“I found a flashlight,” she said as David’s silhouette appeared at the top of the stairs across the huge room. “I didn’t freak out this time.”
She clicked on the light and turned it in his direction, careful not to blind him so he could see the floor in front of him. When the light hit him and the man smiled, she stared at him for a beat before the realization hit her.
The man at the top of the stairs was not David.
“No!” Kelissa shouted, turning on her heel and running for the master closet, which she remembered had a panic room.
Now she wished she’d taken the time to look in it and learn its features before she needed it. She flung open the door to the closet, flashlight bouncing around as she ran, the man close on her heels but not running after her.
The smell hit her just as Julia’s body slid out of the closet and onto the floor at her feet. Kelissa shrieked in fear, retching at the strong smell, and spinning around to look for another exit.
“Not so fast,” a man with a heavy accent said, reaching for her in the dark.
She swung hard at his head with the flashlight, but the plastic casing didn’t even slow him down.
“I’m sorry we have to do this,” the man said, grabbing her and shoving her hard against the wall so that she slammed the back of her head and saw stars. “But El Jefe was clear. We don’t take ‘no’ for an answer.”
He pushed her against the wall again, but this time she was ready. She kneed him in the groin, pulling out of his grasp and running for the stairs as he rolled in pain.
“David!” she screamed, hoping that the man hadn’t killed him.
Why wasn’t he there, coming to save her?
Another man appeared in the shadows, but Kelissa didn’t need a flashlight to know that the man wasn’t David. He was short and round, and she could smell his foul breath from several feet away. She tried to change directions, but it was too late, and the man was surprisingly fast.
“Gotcha,” he yelled, grabbing her wrist and yanking on her.
She was ready to kick him, but he surprised her, pulling her forward and shoving her towards the stairs instead of trying to pull her against him. The momentum was too much, and she toppled over the edge of the stairs, tumbling gracelessly down them and sprawling onto the floor below.
She could see David now, in a crumpled heap on the floor, the fruit bowl smashed and scattered around his head where they’d taken him by surprise. He was groaning, which meant he was still breathing, but he was in no condition to help her.
She was trying to get up onto her feet, but the fall had knocked the wind out of her and she was struggling to catch her breath. Both men were coming down the stairs, the shorter one in the front and the other man sti
ll gasping in pain but making his way down the stairs.
She was up on her hands and knees, pulling herself off the floor and running for the door that led to the beach. They were behind her when she hit the sliding glass door and undid the lock, yanking it open with the men right behind her. She took two running steps and slammed into a large man standing on the deck, bouncing off him and onto the deck floor without him moving a muscle.
“Going somewhere?” the man asked, taunting her.
She didn’t answer, tilting up her chin and preparing herself for the worst.
“Your boyfriend is going to learn not to cross Salvador,” the man said, still gloating. “It’s such a shame when he helps someone get rich only to have them forget their debt to him later. He’ll learn now.”
Everything suddenly fell into place and with a sinking heart, Kelissa realized that she was going to die. It all made sense; the secret conversations, the note, David’s paranoia. He had worked for a drug cartel, then quit when he’d started making real money in real estate. It didn’t matter how long it had been because the cartels never forgot. Even Kelissa knew that. They were going to hurt her to send a message to David, and Kelissa was going to pay for David’s mistakes.
“Make it quick,” she said defiantly, willing her voice not to shake.
“Oh, I’m not going to kill you, señorita,” the man said. “Well, not yet. We’re going to use you to teach David a lesson, and then we’re going to give you to Salvador as a gift. I’m sure he’d love to have a woman like you on his arm.”
“I’d rather die,” Kelissa said.
“That can be arranged. But Salvador will want to kill you himself. He’s a real hands-on kind of guy.”
The man hauled her up onto her feet and held her steady while one of the men tied her hands behind her back roughly. He threw her over his shoulder, holding her so that she felt like he was going to drop her, even though she knew he wouldn’t. They walked past David, still moving around, but knocked out cold. It would be a few minutes before he started to come to, and by then, Kelissa would be long gone.
The Billionaire From San Diego Page 7