Free The Billionaire's Bidding by Barbara Dunlop Page A

he expect Clive to follow them to the lobby and up the ante?
    Clive smirked. “The offer was way above market.”
    â€œIt was chump change, and we both know it.”
    Wow. Emma could never have been that gutsy. She did wish she knew what they were talking about, but it seemed to make the most sense to play along.
    She took Alex’s hand, and they left the office.
    â€œWhat now?” she asked as they waited for the elevator.
    Alex glanced down at her. “Now, there’s someone I want you to meet.”
    She glanced over her shoulder. “So, will he follow us?”
    Alex looked behind them. “I doubt it.”
    â€œBut…”
    â€œBut what?”
    The elevator door slid open.
    â€œI thought he’d follow us out and up the offer.”
    Alex gestured for her to precede him. “He didn’t make an offer.”
    â€œBut he was going to.”
    Alex trapped the elevator door to keep it from closing. “Yes, he was going to.”
    The truth dawned on Emma. “We really walked away without even hearing what it was?” What kind of a way was that to conduct business?
    â€œOf course we walked away. Get on.”
    â€œBut maybe it was—”
    Alex leaned in, lowering his voice. “Stop talking and get in the elevator.”
    Emma hesitated. Then her glance slid over to the receptionist. Right. This argument was unseemly. But what on earth was Alex thinking?
    She lifted her chin and marched inside, gritting her teeth until the door closed. “Maybe it was good,” she shouted. “Maybe it was fantastic. ”
    Alex gave a dry chuckle. “Which do you think is more likely, Emma? That Clive Murdoch got rich by benevolently paying more than market price for hotels, or that Clive Murdoch is a shrewd old man looking to take advantage of your inexperience.”
    She glared at Alex. “Guess we’ll have to tell him to get in line for that one, won’t we?”
    A muscle near his temple ticked for a moment. “I’m not old. And I’m not taking advantage of you, Emma. I’m saving you from bankruptcy.”
    â€œBenevolently, I’m sure,” she returned with syrupy sweetness. “And with no thought whatsoever for your own welfare.”
    â€œYou knew the score from minute one.”
    The elevator pinged and the door glided open.
    â€œHow do I know you’re not taking advantage of my inexperience?” she pressed. “And, by the way, that was insulting. I’ve been in the hotel business my entire life. I’ve done everything from tend bar to renovate a ski resort.”
    â€œThat’s your credential? Tending bar?”
    â€œMost recently, I was the vice president of North American operations. I’m not some naive newbie.”
    â€œYeah?” he challenged as they started across the lobby. “Then why did you agree to meet Murdoch in his office?”
    Emma didn’t get the point of the question. “Because it was Mr. Murdoch I was meeting with.”
    Alex pushed open the double glass doors. The temperature went up twenty degrees while car horns and tire screeches replaced the echoing quiet of the lobby. “You should have had him come to you.”
    â€œWhat difference would that make?”
    They dodged other pedestrians as they made their way down the stairs.
    â€œTactical advantage.” Alex’s lips quirked in a grin. “Newbie mistake. Good thing I was there to rescue you.”
    â€œ You didn’t even let him make the offer.”
    â€œThe offer sucked, Emma. I brought a car. Just across the street.”
    â€œYou don’t know that.”
    â€œNo—I’m pretty sure I brought a car. That blue Lexus over there, under the red sign.”
    â€œYou don’t know the offer sucked.”
    Alex stopped at the bottom of the stairs and turned to face her. “I knew about your meeting. I knew he wanted to buy. I knew how to shut him down.