Free The Accidental Honeymoon by Alice Toby Page B

me?”
    “Because you are helping me. You are helping convince people that I am mature enough to run IBS and Emperor Technologies. You are helping me fulfill my dream.”
    A server comes to the table with a buffet tray of Parisian style desserts. Written in chocolate syrup are the words, “Have a ‘Wilde’ Night. Chef Daniel.” Ryan shakes his head and laughs. “As you can see, it’s going to take a while before I can turn my reputation around. Normally, I would have a wild night in the city.”
    “Well, I don’t want to stop you,” Karin tells him.
    Ryan grabs a strawberry and dips it into the silver bowl filled with powdered sugar. He slides the fruit across a stream of caramel and chocolate before tasting it. “Well, maybe we can have a little fun. You know, together.”
    “Really?”
    “Have you heard of the XX Club?”
    Karin’s eyes light up. The XX Club is New York’s hottest new super-secret nightclub. Wealth is not enough to gain entry into this enclave. One must be rich and famous or seriously connected to the rich and famous. “Yeah. I mean, it’s like the hottest club on the planet.”
    “Yeah. Let’s go.”
    “Really?”
    “Sure. Why not. My meeting with the board isn’t until 11 a.m.”
    “Wow. Yeah, that would be cool.”
    The couple finishes their dinner and head back into the Bentley. They are taken down to the meatpacking district where the city’s newest hip hotel, the XX is hopping with activity. Just outside, several people are smoking and conversing. None of the city people turn their heads when they see the Bentley. As the door opens, a couple of the smokers look over to see if anyone famous is about to exit onto the sidewalk. When Karin steps out, just about everyone goes back to their smokes. When Ryan exits the Bentley, a couple of heads turn. Those gawkers tap their friends on the shoulders. Soon, everyone outside of the hotel is gazing at the bad boy billionaire Ryan Wilde. Even these jaded New Yorkers are impressed.
    Karin notices everyone staring again. This time she is prepared for it. She casually joins her man up the stairs. As they pass right by several of the onlookers, Karin can sense a half-a dozen camera phones pointed into their direction.
    When the couple enter the post-modern lobby of the XX hotel, they instantly become the center of attention. One of the hotel’s VIP handlers welcomes the two and whisks them to a “secret” elevator leading to the ultra-exclusive XX club.
    “Mr. Wilde is enroute,” the VIP handler whispers into his walkie-talkie. The elevator doors open to a nearly dark room lit only by several candles and purple ambient lighting.
    “Here we are,” Ryan tells his future wife.
    Karin looks around the room and sees nothing but famous faces. She sees A-list movie stars, music divas, sports stars. In fact, there are more famous people than there are non-famous people.
    Ryan and Karin are escorted to one of the four coveted corner booths. As the billionaire bad boy passes the members of the rich and famous, more than one of them appear shocked to see Ryan in the club.
    As the two are about to reach the booth, Karin notices a very familiar face coming their way.
    “Ryan, hey!” the familiar face tells the CEO.
    Karin is able to get a good look at him. Her jaw drops. It is movie star Dean Rutlage. Her biggest Hollywood crush of all time. She just stares at this man that she has fawned over for several years. But she is not the only one star struck. Dean can’t believe he is meeting Ryan.
    Ryan looks at Dean but has a hard time recognizing him. As the CEO of Emperor and a full-time playboy, Ryan hardly has time to catch the latest films.
    “How are you?” the CEO responds.
    “I didn’t know you were in the city.”
    “Yeah, I’m here for just a few days.”
    “I’m doing a movie for your studio,” the star tells Ryan. For a moment, the CEO doesn’t understand what Dean is saying. Then Ryan recalls that his company Emperor