Free The Hotel 2 (The Billionaire Seduction) by Lola Darling Page B

someone else. I know I should be
humble, and I am. But I’ve never had such a sense of
accomplishment before and yeah, I did do a great job. I’m proud
of me.
    When I see the appreciative way
Dominic is looking at me, I know he’s proud of me, too.
    He puts a hand on my lower back
and guides me to a quiet alcove. “Sheila is right. You did a
great job. Your ideas are fresh and you’ve shown me that you’re
not afraid to work hard.”
    I flush under the compliment.
“Thank you.”
    “There’s an opening
in the corporate office,” he continues. “You’re a
perfect fit.”
    I blink because I’m sure I
heard him wrong. Just to be sure, I eye my champagne glass. Nope,
still full, so I can’t blame it on a buzz.
    “Dominic, are you offering
me a job?”
    “Yes.”
    I make a disbelieving sound and
hold my glass tighter to keep from dropping it. I’m two seconds
away from throwing my arms around him, or busting out The Carlton
happy dance. This is incredible! “I don’t know what to
say.” I stammer.
    He doesn’t move toward me
or touch me in any way, and I realize he’s giving me space to
make my choice. It’s not much of a choice at all.
    Everything I’ve dreamed
about since starting college is coming true. A job at The Rexford is
my ultimate goal, and he’s giving it to me weeks before my
internship is even over. Sure, I nailed ideas for the gala, but is
that really enough to earn a coveted position here? Or is there
another reason?
    I look down, not sure how to ask.
“Are you doing this because of us?”
    He gives me a look. “I
would never risk the company over personal feelings, Juliet. You’ve
earned this.”
    “Okay,” I say,
finally starting to believe him. “Yes. Yes, I accept!”
    I step into him, needing the
searing heat of his kiss.
    “There you are, big
brother,” Xander interrupts us. He’s dressed in a flashy
navy pinstripe suit, his white shirt open over his tanned skin. “Am
I interrupting?”
    “Seriously?” Dom
growls. “What do you think?”
    I know the brothers have a
complex relationship, but I can’t help but feel sorry for the
younger Rexford. He seems lost, disconnected, yet he has a spark of
interest that might flame if Dominic would give it a chance.
    If Xander is hurt by Dom’s
attitude, he doesn’t show it. “I just wanted you to know,
Blaine Prescott is here.” He nods to the ballroom, where
Prescott is sauntering over to greet us.
    “I gotta hand it to you,
Rexford. You put on a good show.” Blaine’s words are a
little slurred. He puts an arm around Dominic’s shoulders and
smiles big for the photographer lurking nearby.
    Dom looks icy. “I might
take that a compliment if you weren’t drunk.”
    “You’re right. It is
the alcohol talking.” Blaine’s smile gets bigger as
another photographer joins in. Dominic’s carefully schooled
expression is at least believable, not to mention that he looks
model-perfect. “This is a lovely attempt, but you have to
realize that nothing can save you now,” Blaine continues. “This
place is a dead man walking.”
    “Can you gentlemen shake
hands, please?” Another photographer has joined in. Jesus, it’s
like a school of sharks over here.
    “No,” Dominic says
firmly. “We’re done. Thank you, gentlemen.” He
breaks away from Blaine, who drains his glass and looks around,
presumably for a waiter. He’s a bit unsteady.
    “Actually,” Dominic
calls out to one of the photographers, “you may want to follow
Mr. Prescott this evening. You never know when he’ll give you
that perfect, front-page ready shot.”
    The orchestra begins to play as
servers in crisp white coats begin weaving through the room to escort
people to their seats.
    Ah, dinner time. Thank God,
because I’m starving.
    People mill around us to find
their tables. It’s a flurry of gorgeous gowns and handsomely
dressed men, but I barely see any of them. Dominic’s profile is
to me and he’s striking, tall and in command. He really