Total pages in book: 111
Estimated words: 102942 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 515(@200wpm)___ 412(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102942 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 515(@200wpm)___ 412(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
The way he calls me sweetheart makes me want to gag, but I keep the smile plastered across my face. “Bianca St. Hayes,” I tell him, knowing better than to offer him my real name.
Louis takes my hand and presses a kiss to the back of it. “Louis Mendez,” he says. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
I smile up at him as though I’ve just met the love of my life. “You never told me what kind of party this is,” I murmur. “Dress code?”
“Black tie, but make it sexy.”
My smile widens. “Now, that I can do.”
“I don’t doubt that,” he tells me. “Now, where would my manners be if I didn’t insist that you stay for a meal?”
I playfully gasp. “And deprive a woman of the chance to go shopping for a beautiful dress in the beautiful town of Barcelona? You wouldn’t dare!”
“You’ve got me there, Miss Bianca. I do look forward to seeing you tonight,” he tells me, before shocking the shit out of me when he hands me his black card. “Shopping is on me. Spoil yourself, sweetheart. Enjoy your afternoon, and text me which hotel you’re staying at. I’ll send a car to fetch you.”
Fetch me. Like I’m a dog.
“I, uhhh . . . Thank you,” I say, bashfully playing the part. In reality, I probably have more money in my account than he could dream of right now. But hell, if he wants to put his hands in his pockets to get me a dress for tonight, then who am I to argue with that? Besides, I’m almost positive that he’s only offering to cover the cost because he has every intention of tearing the dress off me later, but he’s about to be sorely disappointed. If I didn’t jump at the opportunity to ride Raiden’s redwood tree trunk, then this guy doesn’t stand a chance.
Saying a quick goodbye with the promise to see him later, I head out of the beachfront restaurant with Louis’s black card burning a hole in my purse, then I order an Uber to take me to the best boutique in Barcelona.
A few hours later, I stand in front of the full-length mirror in my hotel suite, my brand-new deep red dress hugging my body just right. It’s a strappy lace full-length gown with a plunging neckline that dives deep between my breasts, showing off just the right amount of cleavage to gain attention while the slit at the front trails right up my thigh and to my hip.
This dress could be torn off me with nothing more than a good gust of wind, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I’ve never worn anything so daring and sexy, and as I stare at myself in the mirror, I’m in awe of the girl staring back at me.
I wear my hair in a low bun, leaving the dress to be the statement of the night, before adding a few embellishments to finish the look: a dainty gold chain, small gold stud earrings, and a pair of strappy nude heels. After spritzing my favorite perfume, I take one final look in the mirror and smile.
This is going to be wild.
With everything in place, I head down to the lobby, and just as promised, there’s a car waiting for me with Louis’s driver already holding the door open.
“You must be Miss St. Hayes.”
“I am,” I say with a smile.
A pitying look crosses his face, but it’s gone sooner than it arrived as he ushers me into the back of the blacked-out SUV, and I can’t help but wonder what kind of man Louis Mendez truly is.
After a twenty-minute drive along the coast of Barcelona, the driver finally pulls into the biggest home I’ve ever seen, and considering the types of properties I frequent, that’s saying something.
The driver stops at the very top of the circular driveway, gets out, and opens the door for me. “Miss St. Hayes,” he says, gesturing for me to step out of the vehicle. “Enjoy your night.”
I offer him a small smile, and with that, I walk right up to the door and peer in before immediately realizing that this isn’t the night Javier Rodríguez will die. There must be hundreds of people already inside, and more cars still piling in through the massive front gates.
There are too many witnesses clamoring for Javier’s attention. But that doesn’t mean that tonight won’t be the perfect opportunity to get close. Will I be able to get a moment alone with Javier? Probably not. But will I get a moment alone in his private office with his daily planner? I guarantee it.
And with that, I step up to the doorman and offer him a smile.
“Name?” he asks.
“Bianca St. Hayes.”
He searches over the list, and not a moment later, he steps out of the way and waves me in. “Welcome to the night of your life, Miss St. Hayes.”