Billionaire by Design (A BWWM Romance) (8 page)

“Okay, you’ve sold me on this idea,” she beamed. “I’ll have to talk to my manager and put in my two week notice.”

“Already taken care of,” Zane smirked.

“Wait, what?” she asked, puzzled.

“I had a talk with Raul about you after we spoke on the phone earlier. I told him what a talented artist you are, and that I’d like you to help with their marketing since you’re so familiar with their brand. He agreed it was a great idea and also agreed to let you go without a two week notice. He just asks that you cover one last shift on Monday. After that, you’re all mine.”

“Geez, you really thought of everything, huh?” Jenna joked as she picked at the salad. She hadn’t eaten anything since the early afternoon and was ravenous, but didn’t want to fill up before the main course arrived.

“I’m always thinking two steps ahead,” Zane said with a devilish grin.

“Well, I hope you’re making the right decision here,” she gulped as she washed her salad down with some more wine. “I don’t know much about marketing.”

“You’ll learn,” he assured her. “Besides, the backbone of my company is art.”

“Phil said
he’s
the backbone of your company,” she chuckled.

“Did he really say that?” Zane laughed along with her. “Typical Phil. The guy’s kind of a schmuck, but he brings in business somehow.”

“He seems quite… assertive,” Jenna replied, rolling her eyes.

“That he is,” Zane agreed as he finished the rest of his wine.

She was gearing up to ask about his relationship with Phil when he abruptly changed the subject.

“That’s a pretty necklace.”

“Oh, this?” she blushed as she instinctively touched the silver heart pendant. “Thank you.”

“I noticed it back in my office,” he added as he poured himself another glass of wine and politely topped off hers as well.

“Nothing gets by you, does it?” she quipped, taken aback at how observant he was. She hadn’t seen him so much as cast a glance at the necklace earlier, and her shirt had done a good job of concealing it anyhow.

“I notice everything. Attention to detail’s the main reason I’ve been successful,” he pointed out.

“My grandmother gave me a beautiful diamond necklace when I was sixteen,” she told him as her face turned sullen, “before she died. I was so broke when I moved here that I had to pawn it. Worst mistake ever. I would have worn it tonight.”

Jenna wasn’t sure if it was his kind eyes or the wine that had prompted her to share this. She would have regretted it had he not looked at her with such compassion and understanding.

“I’m really sorry to hear that,” he replied sympathetically. “Sounds like you did what you had to do to survive. I’m sure your grandmother would understand.”

“She was a great woman,” Jenna swallowed as she worked hard to contain her emotions, “and I’d like to think you’re right.”

“So who gave you that necklace?” he asked as he leaned closer to admire the heart pendant. “Boyfriend?”

“Ha!” she laughed, louder than she’d intended to. She was definitely feeling the effects of the wine. “No, I bought this myself at Kohl’s for twenty bucks. Pathetic, right?”

“Not pathetic at all,” he reassured her with a warm smile. “I’m just fishing for information on your love life.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. I find it hard to believe a woman as enchanting as you is single,” he remarked.

“Well, believe it. I’ve had my share of options,” she allowed herself to boast, “but I wanted to put school and career first. No distractions that way.”

“Smart,” he agreed. “But don’t you get lonely?”

“I’m too busy to get lonely,” she laughed, omitting the nights she’d wished she had a man to hold her. She turned the question around on him by asking, “What about you? How’s a handsome, successful man like you still on the market?”

“Maybe I should do a better job advertising myself,” he joked. Jenna chuckled and sipped more of her wine. She was slowly warming up to its taste.

“So you don’t have some wife or girlfriend stashed away somewhere?” she asked as she enjoyed more of the salad.

“Nah. In all seriousness, I’ve been so focused on building my company, I kind of put dating on the back burner,” he explained. “I mean, I’ve dated here and there over the years, but nothing too serious. I guess I’m like you in that regard. You know, putting my goals first.”

“That makes sense,” she said, and after a pause teased, “but you’re not getting any younger.”

“I know, I know. Now you’re sounding like my mother,” he laughed.

“I’m sure she’s quite proud of you,” Jenna smiled.

“She is, but she also wants a grandchild,” he shook his head while rolling his blue eyes.

Jenna used this opportunity to ask about his personal life. She’d been itching to know more about him, and this was the perfect chance.

“Do you have any brothers or sisters? Earlier you said you were picking up your niece so I assume you do.”

His face suddenly grew somber, his demeanor abruptly changing as a deep sadness seemed to overtake him. He took a swig from his glass while avoiding eye contact with her by looking around the room.

“I had a younger brother, yes,” he began slowly, “but he passed away.”

“I’m so sorry to hear that,” Jenna consoled, tears welling in her eyes from the look of pain on his face.

“IED over in Iraq, five years ago,” he expounded after taking yet another gulp of wine.

“That’s terrible,” she replied, her hands instinctively covering her heart as she felt the agony of his loss.

“Left me a gorgeous little niece, though,” he forced a chuckle in an attempt to lift the mood. “What about you? Brothers? Sisters?”

“I have two brothers. Used to have three,” she answered softly as she broke eye contact by looking down at her plate.

“You lost a brother, too?”

“Yes. I didn’t exactly live in the best area…” she confessed as she finished her wine. “Gang life doesn’t seem to work out for anybody in the long run.”

As intuitive as he was handsome, Zane was able to piece the story together from there.

“I see,” he nodded understandingly.

“Anyhow, enough about that,” she said as she cleared her throat and poured herself one more glass of wine.

“Agreed,” he smiled. “I really do want to know all about your life, though. I find you quite fascinating.”

“Me?” she giggled, her head beginning to spin from the wine. “There’s nothing fascinating about me, I promise you that.”

“Oh, I beg to differ. It’s not every day I meet a woman who’s as talented as she is beautiful.”

“Why, thank you,” she blushed and returned the flirtation. “And I could say the same. It’s not every day I meet a handsome, creative man.”

“I’m sure there are plenty of good looking artists at the University,” he said skeptically.

“Eh, guys my age only want one thing,” she shrugged.

“True. Us older men are where it’s at,” he winked with a grin. “But, seriously, tell me more about your life. In my office you gave me the broad strokes, but I want the fine details.”

The combination of wine and his compassionate blue eyes had put her completely at ease. No longer worried about his judgment, she opened up about her childhood and the rough life she’d lived growing up in one of Brooklyn’s most notorious neighborhoods.

She paused when their dinner arrived, and resumed while they enjoyed the incredible food. She felt like she was rambling, yet the look of interest on his face never waned. When she was done sharing, he reciprocated by opening up about his life as well. His father, hardened from his service in Vietnam, had been a strict disciplinarian with hopes of his sons becoming military men. He’d been disappointed when Zane chose to pursue marketing instead of a military career, and seeing that disappointment led to his brother joining the army where he was subsequently shipped overseas to fight a questionable war. His father had since passed, and his mother had retired four hours north in Sedona.

They’d never been too close, but typically kept in touch once a month via phone. He helped out his brother’s widow whenever possible by helping her financially and taking his niece every other weekend to help alleviate some of her burden.

He loved the little girl dearly, and cherished every second he spent with her. He beamed with pride as he scrolled through his phone, showing Jenna pictures of the little girl and his departed brother, whom he rightfully touted as a hero. Jenna felt honored that he would share such personal photos with her, and her heart throbbed at how his face lit up when he looked at them.

Jenna was stuffed to the gills, but Zane insisted that she try a Sicilian cannoli. She agreed under the condition they’d split one, and joked she’d have to work out twice as hard the following week. He silenced any lingering insecurities by complimenting the physique she’d managed to keep after years of working in an establishment that dealt primarily in cheeseburgers. They bounced flirtations off each other while waiting for the bill, and when it arrived, Zane politely thanked the waiter while keeping the total concealed from her. He fished his wallet out of his back pocket and discreetly placed a single green note inside the check holder. Despite his effort to hide it, she knew that it was a one hundred dollar bill.

Reaching for her hand, he helped her out of her seat and continued to hold it as they walked side by side out of the restaurant. She felt so safe in the presence of this charming man whose piercing blue eyes she could never tire of. His big hand gently enveloped hers, yet she could still feel how powerful he was as he led her back to the idling town car. They’d been dining
for well over an hour, and she couldn’t help but wonder how much he paid his driver to sit waiting patiently for so long.

The back of the town car was filled with a mixture of laughter and mild flirtation as they zipped back to Jenna’s apartment complex. Zane found Jenna’s case of alcohol-induced giggles to be quite entertaining and the occasional chuckle from Carl, his driver, indicated that he also found her amusing.

The town car pulled alongside her building, and Zane helped her out as she‘d anticipated. Recognizing that she was still a bit too buzzed to attempt a flight of stairs with heels on, she kicked them off and carried them as Zane stayed one step behind her with a hand hovering behind her back. She took note of his protective gesture and thanked him as they made their way up to the second floor. Standing outside her apartment door, they both searched for the right words to express their goodbyes.

“I can’t thank you enough for tonight,” Jenna smiled as they stood close to each other, holding hands. “It was absolutely perfect.”

“I should be the one thanking you,” he replied while returning the smile. “You’re truly exquisite, and also the first woman I’ve ever met who’s worthy of that word.”

“Oh, stop…” she blushed, playfully batting at his shoulder.

In an unexpected move, he quickly wrapped a strong arm around her waist and pulled her even closer to him. Before she could register what was happening, he leaned in and placed his soft lips to hers in a gentle kiss. She was so caught off guard, she clumsily dropped the clutch and heels she‘d been holding, and they both laughed while the tips of their noses remained touching.

“Oops,” she smiled as she grabbed the lapels of his suit jacket and pressed him into her for another kiss, this one far longer and much more passionate. Jenna could feel her heart pounding as their lips locked and their tongues danced together intimately.

“I haven’t even left and I want to see you again,” he breathed as he held her tightly and rested his forehead on hers.

“I’d like that,” she replied softly as she soaked in his scent.

“When?” he asked eagerly. “Is tomorrow too soon?”

“Tomorrow’s fine,” she answered as she affectionately placed her hand on his cheek. “Perfect, really. I have a little school work to finish up, but I’ll be free after that.”

“Does 6:00 pm give you time?”

“That’s fine. What did you have in mind?” she smiled warmly as she stared into his captivating eyes.

“I’d like to do dinner again, but with a different spin this time,” he grinned. “I want to cook for you. No fancy restaurants. No master chefs. Just me making you dinner at my place. Then perhaps a movie, if you‘re up for it.”

“Gorgeous, talented, successful,
and
you can cook?” she commented in jest. “Is there anything you can’t do, mister?”

“Hey, I never said I can cook well,” he laughed.

“Fair enough,” she shot back. “Okay, dinner at your place it is.”

“I’ll pick you up at 6:00 pm,” he told her as he lovingly caressed her back.

“You know I am capable of driving, right?” she joked.

“I know, I know. But it’s a bit of a drive and they aren’t exactly giving gas away these days,” he replied.

“Okay, deal,” she conceded. Given the sorry state of her car, she knew it wasn’t wise to drive it farther than absolutely necessary. She also had to admit that being chauffeured around town was something she could definitely get used to.

After a final long kiss goodbye, Jenna watched as Zane bounded down the stairs and to the town car below, pausing to shoot her a smile and a small wave before climbing into the back. She picked up the clutch and heels she’d dropped, rooted to find her keys, and with her hands shaking from the excitement of the evening, she fumbled her way through unlocking her front door. Leigh was still gone, but that wasn’t unusual for a Saturday night. Her friend had more of a social life than her, and typically spent her weekends partying it up somewhere.