Free The Wager: A Billionaire Romance by Calista Kyle

"Let's just forget I ever brought it up."
    "But what are you going to do about the books?" she asked.
    "I already returned them to his office."
    She looked at me with wide eyes. "Why?"
    "Because they were giving me hives just looking at them. I've never held something so valuable before and I didn't feel comfortable having it in the shop."
    "Well, I'm sure he'll have something to say about it when you see him on Monday. You are going to the opera, aren't' you?" she asked.
    "Yes, I said I'd go."
    Mel smiled widely at me, her enthusiasm returning once again. "Good! It'll be good for you to get out, Lily. You're too young and beautiful and full of life to be holed up in your book store or at your apartment every night. You've got to live a little."
    "Here we go again," I said rolling my eyes.
    It was always a point of contention with Mel and I how I chose to spend my free time. I didn't think there was anything wrong with a 26-year-old sitting at home after work eating a home cooked meal before settling in with a good book or movie. Mel, on the other hand, thought people our age should be out partying, getting drunk and hooking up with guys. I sometimes wondered how we ever became friends in the first place. If that was what a typical 20-something did on the weekends, then you could gladly count me out.
    "Listen, all I'm saying is to just enjoy yourself. Don't try to see some nefarious plot in everything he does. He might really like you for you and I for one don't find that hard to believe at all. And that's all I'll say about that," Mel said, zipping her mouth shut with her thumb and forefinger.
    I let the subject drop, not in the mood to discuss it any further. Once lunch was over, I stood up and pulled Mel in for a hug. I was surprised when I felt the sting of tears in my eyes. It was such a silly thing to cry about. It wasn't as if she were moving to China for Christ's sake.
    "I'm going to miss you so much," she said, her eyes shining with unshed tears as she looked up at me.
    "Me too! You stay safe, don't drink the tap water and bring toilet paper with you everywhere," I said.
    She laughed as she wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. "Now, how would you know about that?"
    "Oh, I've heard stories," I said, mysteriously.
    Once Mel and I said our goodbyes, I headed back to the shop. There was a lot on my mind and my conversation with her just made me more confused. I knew I had a habit of being standoffish and unapproachable with guys. I'd been acting this way so long, it was almost second nature to me. It was like I couldn't believe any guy would ever be interested in me so there must be some other reason they were talking to me or showing me any attention.
    I knew I was doing the same thing with Roman. He was someone who could literally have any woman he desired. So why would he show any interest in me? That was the one question that kept popping up whenever I thought about him. Maybe everyone else was right and he really did like me, and I'd been writing him off as some eccentric billionaire who was bored and amusing himself with me for the moment. I wondered if I should just throw caution to the wind and take a chance and open myself up. The thought sent a tingle of fear and dread through me. Somehow I knew if I let Roman Conrad in, he could end up crushing me.
     
     

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Six: Roman
     
    The package arrived on my desk as I was on the phone with a business associate in Frankfurt. I shot a questioning glare at Lara, my personal assistant, as she placed it in front of me.
    "Why is this here?" I mouthed silently.
    She shrugged her shoulders and shook her head slowly. "Beats me," she mouthed back.
    She was about to back out of the office until I stopped her with a gesture.
    "Listen, Lars, I'm going to have to call you back later. Something just came up. Yes, yes, I agree. I'll have my secretary fax over the revised contracts this afternoon. All right, tschüss,"