Decoding the Billionaire

by Meg MacRose

  As she approached, Elly saw but ignored the quizzical interest that sparked in the men’s faces. Their conversation stalled in anticipation of her arrival. Elly raised her eyebrows and gave Alex the broadest, sultriest smile that she could muster. “Alex? Talk about a blast from the past. I’ve wondered if we’d ever bump into each other again.”

  She tried hard to match her voice to the provocative woman she looked like. The slip of a dress she wore could suggest nothing but confident, sexy and bold. Against the music, her words came out as a suggestive whisper. Elly stood close enough to Alex so that his warm breath fanned her face.

  “Once I saw you, I just had to come over say hello,” her voice purred. “Oh, and to say thank you.” Her gentle laugh veiled her tense nerves.

  ###

  The azure green eyes of the woman next to him sparkled with a sense of mystery that teased him. Alex stood inert. His two best friends who stood next to him were well and truly forgotten. With bated breath, as he watched her make her way over to him, a rhythmic glide across the floor, he met her gaze. She was a sexy goddess on a mission. He had sensed her gaze on him and recognised her in milli-seconds. Then he had realised that he was her mission, and his body had tensed in anticipation.

  Alex’s friends would ask questions later, but he didn’t care. From that moment when he had recognised her face, he’d been unable to shift his gaze or concentrate on anything except her. A proud tilt of the chin and those large piercing green sapphire eyes had not changed whatsoever. Her eyes had always been expressive. Memories returned of how they had challenged him during their debates, or crinkled up when she’d concentrated, or glowed when they had made love.

  Oh, and those long legs. He’d had countless dreams about those long legs. Now they were accentuated in killer high heels he’d noticed right away. Over the years, every now and again, a memory would trigger of his reserved English rose who had blossomed with him in bed, her legs wrapped around his hips. She defined gorgeous and smart. She was probably much smarter than him, and there wasn’t a topic that they hadn’t deliberated or philosophised. He had met his intellectual match with her, not a trait he sought with his typical lovers. But she hadn’t been like any of his other lovers. She had an energy to her and was totally unaware of her own attractiveness. He was still embarrassed over how he’d treated her at the end. She must have been confused by his change of heart and abrupt new focus on someone else. But he’d been young and brash and fixated on growing his fledgling empire.

  He didn’t so much regret that he had finished their relationship, as all relationships had an expiry date. It was just the manner that he’d done it. The head of an international shipping conglomerate had communicated his desire to retire, and Alex had had his eye on the business. Only, the old Greek man had been impossible to secure a meeting with. He’d found out through some business connections that the old man vacationed every year with his grandchildren, several of whom were attractive and very social women in their early twenties. Alex had set his sights on wooing one in order to get access to the old man. He hadn’t planned on a holiday fling with a British student. His expansion strategies were the only reason he’d allowed himself time off in the Greek Islands in the first place. But he did have regrets about the way he had treated Elizabeth. He’d never shared with her any information about his plans, and she’d never deserved such a heartless breakup. Every now and again, he had wondered what had become of her, the type of man she had settled down with and borne children to.

  The unexpectedness of seeing her again, coupled with an unfamiliar look of sophistication that she wore so easily, threw him for a second. Was this really Elizabeth? His chest throbbed with a desperate longing to be with her again, to be inside of her, to taste her. Alex found himself drawn to the soft lilt of her voice He stared at her bright red lips as they moved. Her words washed over him. He Inhaled her scent, fresh and floral. It should be illegal for someone to smell so good. Without any idea of what he had done, Alex adjusted his body. His torso engulfed hers, almost in an embrace, with one arm wrapped protectively around her.

  With relief, the gap between their bodies was bridged, and not only could he hear her soft voice above the loud music; but more so, he rued, he could touch her and feel her in his arms. He wondered for the briefest moment if she also could hear his heart as it beat like a drum. Desire flowed through him as if he hadn’t been with a woman for years. Every sense was on alert, desperate to remain connected with her.

  As she spoke, he started to comprehend something about thanks. His fingers played gently with the bright silky material that she wore. Now that his brain was starting to catch up with his body, all he could think of was wow. Elizabeth had been amazing twelve years ago, in an understated raw way. She had been so unaware of her sexuality, dressing down in plain t-shirts and cotton shorts. She was one of the most intelligent people he had ever met, with a very becoming body. And he’d enjoyed discovering every spot of her responsiveness in bed.

  The metamorphosis from shy and reserved Elizabeth, to, well, the sexy woman standing next to him astounded him. She looked incredible. Those stiletto shoes coupled with her long shapely legs were every man’s dream. All he could think of was her, back in his apartment, dressed in nothing but those stilettoes. And that dress…it clung perfectly to every curve, and it was obvious she wore nothing underneath. Alex let out an inaudible groan. He wanted to explore further, but his mind told him it wasn’t the right place, or the right time. But his body was desperate. How he kept his hands just on her shoulders, and not groping like a lovesick teenager, he had no idea. He ignored his friends’ curious expressions. Part of him just did not want to share this moment with anyone else.

  “You know you really showed me a good time in Greece. Well, actually, you showed me much more than that. That’s why I have to thank you.”

  Her body swayed with the music, he hadn’t listened to her quiet words drowned out by the busy nightclub, but he must have absorbed some of what she said as he heard himself question her “thank me?”

  He held onto her with an almost firm grip and did not want the moment to be lost.

  “I do believe it was a mutually enjoyable experience.”

  Her vivid red mouth grinned back at him and revealed perfect white teeth. His heart contracted in a way that he couldn’t explain. Right now, he wasn’t interested in any examination of how he was feeling. If anything, her smile had ramped up his desire even further. He was desperate to see and feel more of this girl who, even after twelve years, made random reappearances in his dreams, day or night.

  A tap on his shoulder broke the moment.

  “So, do we get an introduction or something?” His friend Dan asked with a cheeky grin. Alex noted that Dan’s eyes were fixed on Elizabeth, too.

  Before he could answer, cold air infiltrated as Elly slipped out of his embrace. She turned and shook his friends’ hands with long bare arms. The music drowned out her voice, and he couldn’t quite hear what she had said to his friends.

  A voice that belonged to one of the many girls on the dance floor called out to her. With a wave of acknowledgement, she shrugged her delicate shoulders.

  “Looks like we’re on the move again.”

  She moved back to Alex as she spoke. He couldn’t make out who it was she had waved to and was reluctant to let her go. But she had already edged away. Could it be a boyfriend? No, she’d never have come on to him like she did if she had someone special tucked away. Besides, he could only see a sea of females in the direction of the voice.

  “Anyway, I’ve always just wanted to say thanks, Alex.” She leaned toward him, her words tickling his ears. Alex arched his brows in silence then asked, “For what? For being your lover?”

  Elly shook her head. “No, for the personal critique. Your rejection made me look at myself like I hadn’t done before. And I haven’t looked back.”

  While Alex had remembered her body and touch, he had forgotten her tendency to speak in frank and d
irect terms. His cheeks reddened and burned in shame. That had not been his best moment, that’s for sure. Before he knew it, she had turned with a flick of her glorious mane, her shoes sparkling in the neon lights, until she was engulfed in the throng of party goers as they exited the Phoenix.

  “So…?” Dan asked. “What was that all about? More importantly who on earth is she? Well, apart from one of the sexiest women here? I haven’t seen her here before.”

  Alex shrugged; his body still burnt from her touch. He wasn’t ready to share her yet. He turned to his friends and gave a sheepish grin.

  “We knew each other a long time ago. We were lovers.”

  He glanced over to the door one more time, just in case he could get a final glimpse. But she was gone.

  Nick, who had been silent until now, smirked. “Obviously not long enough. You two sizzled, and I mean seriously sizzled. I’ve never seen you like that before. I mean, I reckon you, my friend, have met your match. And, anyway, how come we never met her before? What’s the big secret between you two?”

  Alex shrugged his shoulders, trying to show a nonchalance that he didn’t really feel. He had shared a special connection with her. Why he’d never told his best friends about her, he couldn’t say. There was something indescribable about what they’d had in Greece.

  He remembered how pretty she’d looked perched on the side of the pool as they engaged in a variety of discussions. But they’d both stayed away from the personal stuff, apart from her first name. Even after weeks and weeks of them spending every day together, he still had no idea who she was. They had enjoyed summer in Greece together but never exchanged any contact details. So, when Nick had questioned who she was, he was being honest to say that he had no answer.

  Dan let out a low whistle. “That’s one fine looking friend you have there. Did you notice how she stirred up every male in the Phoenix and didn’t even bat an eyelid?” Alex’s face darkened at Dan’s appraisal of Elizabeth. As owner of the Phoenix, Dan always kept an eye on his customers. But Alex didn’t like that Elizabeth had stood out to him as someone who stirred up all the men. She wasn’t that type of girl.

  Alex replied truthfully. “I have no idea. Like I said, it’s been a long time. I don’t even know her last name.”

  Dan called over to one of his staff. He whispered something to the waiter, who promptly left, then returned with a piece of paper.

  “Well, I can’t help,” Dan said. “Thought I might be able to get a name or something from the cloakroom. But she’s with a large group. We have a few large groups in tonight.”

  “Cheers, Dan. Much appreciated. I’ve always wondered what happened to her. A few years back, we seemed to hit it off, and then I opened my big mouth, said a few things, and we parted. I had no idea where she went to. I guess I was more interested in the expansion of Hudson Pty.”

  Dan and Alex just looked at him. They had been best friends since university, all three of them, and Alex had never mentioned this mystical siren. Nor did he usually admit to slipping up when a girl was involved.

  “Well, nothing has changed then, has it?” Dan questioned Alex. “I mean, you’re still very focused on Hudson. All those girls you’ve dated, they’ve never really stood a chance against the business.”

  Chapter 2

  Never a late sleeper, an increased hum of early morning traffic outside her apartment roused Elly from a fitful sleep. As she sat up in bed and turned her body to step out, memories from the previous night flooded back.

  “Oh, dear. What did I do?”

  Part of her was mortified that she’d been so daring and walked straight up to Alex.

  What if her memory had been wrong and Elly had acted that way toward a complete stranger? She sighed, running her fingers through her bedraggled hair.

  But also, part of her remained quite proud of herself. Her act of a seductive sex kitten was oh-so not the way timid and socially awkward Elly of twelve years ago would ever have behaved. And in a way, she had shown him, and maybe herself too, what he had missed out on. She gave her reflection in the mirror a wry smile. It wasn’t how Elly ever behaved, twelve years ago or not. And it was kinda cool, that she’d been the one to make the first move. Gosh, had she really tapped his chest with her fingertips while she whispered into his face? She could not stop her mind from asking why. Why had she been so brazen, and why had she needed to strut up to him? It’s not like she wanted another relationship with him.

  She gave her head a definite shake. She didn’t want a relationship with anyone. There was no time in her life for a man. She loved her job. And she loved that her and Nina had created DN way back when they first flatted together in her father’s terraced house. She loved her co-workers; many of them had become very good friends. Even those who had left DN still stayed in contact. She also loved that the university valued her knowledge so much that she was asked each year to present a topic of her choice for their Summer School programme. No, there was not an inch of spare space in her life for a relationship with a man. Or children. Besides, she was only 33. She was young. There was still loads of time before her biological clock clicked by. Anyway, with scientific advances, many women opted to have children without a male spouse. If she wanted kids, well there were options.

  She stepped over her dress which lay discarded like a small turquoise puddle on the floor. Elly’s cheeks blushed to a bright red hue, as she remembered how underwear had not been required for such a dress.

  “Did I really wear such a small slip of a thing?” She sighed. Just as well. She’d never have even considered a dress like this had it not been for Nina’s presence. Despite the transformation that she’d undergone in the last twelve years, she had never really sought to be part of her sisters’ party lifestyle. For the first time that she could ever remember, she not only fitted in with her sisters, who always dressed up over the top in the slinkiest outfits possible; but she didn’t feel like a much misplaced older sister who was there as chaperone, which was no doubt her father’s intentions when he’d insisted on her presence in the first place.

  “Ouch” pain radiated through her head as she moved towards the kitchen. Not only was she tired, but hung-over too.

  The first sip of coffee stimulated her tired soul, but her head still had a leaden weight over it, and her stomach couldn’t cope with even the thought of food. The aroma from her extra strong Turkish coffee was salvation. Hangovers were not a regular occurrence, not in the least, and Elly regretted that she hadn’t stopped after her first alcoholic drink last night.

  “How many drinks did I have?” She moaned to herself as she held her pounding head. Whatever the number, it was too many. She groaned out loud as her mind clicked into place. Today was Sunday, and on Sundays she was expected to drive home from London for a hot Sunday lunch with her family. Regardless of the season, Wendy produced a hot roast beef and all the trimmings—roasted potatoes, steamed vegetables, and piping hot gravy—every Sunday afternoon.

  Her phone lay on the benchtop, and she was tempted to call through to her father and cancel. But she couldn’t do that. Her father and Wendy would worry. And her sisters, goodness knows what elaborate stories they would concoct to explain her absence. The combination of her skin-tight bright dress and matching stilettos had likely already left her sisters with their own versions of how they thought Elly lived in London. She had no doubt whatsoever that in her absence, they would be happy to create their own version of the night’s events. If her memory served her right, everyone else from their group spent the entire evening on the dance floor as they partied to the music. With both fingers crossed, she hoped that they hadn’t observed her walking over to Alex and his friends. If she was in luck, her sisters would be so hung over that they wouldn’t be interested in her at all.

  * * *

  Alex was disgruntled. What about? He couldn’t really pinpoint. But since he had seen Elizabeth the night before, he had been on edge.

  Dan’s comment as Elizabeth had left the nightclub
returned to him.

  “So how on earth have you kept any relationship with this hottie a secret from us, your best friends?” he had asked.

  Dan was right, as he had kept Elizabeth a secret. His best friends had met many of his conquests over the years, but he’d never even mentioned Elizabeth to either of them. Not. A. Single. Word. He was sure there would have been more questions aimed at him, except Zoe and her friends had made an untimely arrival. Zoe had been sharing his bed and attending social functions as his partner for the past few weeks. In typical Zoe style, she had sought as much attention as possible as she entered the nightclub. She had shown up with an entourage of friends, all of whom had been totally intoxicated, and unpleasantly so. He hadn’t been in the mood for her antics, and when Zoe grabbed at him and tried to smother him with kisses everywhere, he knew it was both the end of his night, and an end to their relationship.

  Neither Dan nor Nick made any comment about Elizabeth when Zoe arrived. Although, Dan did raise his eyebrows when, not long after their drunken appearance, and Alex had requested the nightclub security to order his driver to see the girls all home. He knew his friends well enough to know they wouldn’t let Elizabeth go, though. The next time they met up, there would be a barrage of questions about his mystery woman.

  Alex’s phone pinged and he reached for it, a message from Dan displayed on the screen.

  Thought you might like to know who your mystery lady was partying with last night.

  Alex couldn’t reply fast enough. Oh? Do tell. Though I wonder who is more curious – you or me?