The Tycoon's Tender Triumph Page 0,23
Forget about building your own, you’re going to be too busy here.”
She didn’t like the sound of that. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, you’re going to have to be here with me, learning about making contacts, getting an office or supply chain, asking me questions about taxes and benefits, exercising the horses and coming to social events with me. I have the contacts you’ll need to get the word out about whatever you’re going to start but make the contacts first so you have a pipeline of resources to rely upon once you’re confident enough to market you’re idea.”
“I don’t want to take up your time,” she started to argue, not wanting to be in his company at all, much less in a social situation.
“It’s not a waste of my time. I’m going to be at these events anyway, and having a beautiful woman on my arm won’t hurt. Besides,” he interrupted when she was about to say something, “You’ll be doing me a favor, too.”
“How’s that?” she asked, her voice dripping with wariness.
“These people are leeches. Each time I go, the women lean against me and slip room keys in my pockets…”
“Poor dear. And I’m sure you give them all back, don’t you?” Chloe hated the jealousy that ripped through her at his words.
His only acknowledgement of her comment was a sarcastically raised eyebrow, which only made her jealousy intensify. She would have been happier if he’d told her he actually did give the keys back, even if he was lying.
“And the men are trying to snare insider information on whatever business I’m currently investing in. It becomes pretty irritating. So if you’re on my arm, the women will stay away and anytime someone approaches me about business, I’ll rely on you to change the subject. Start gushing on about their business which will definitely turn them around and you can get tips on how they do business. Most of those men love talking about themselves.”
She thought about that for a long moment, contemplating the pros and cons that came to mind. If she took him up on his offer, she’d get instant access to her target demographics, which were people who could afford what she hoped to be able to offer.
But she’d also have to be around him more often, an aspect of his suggestion that definitely had severe drawbacks in her mind.
She was just about to reject his offer, preferring to figure out another way when he stopped her with a painfully accurate statement.
“You’re afraid of being alone with me, aren’t you?” he said as he leaned back in his chair, his dark eyes halfway closed as he watched her.
Chloe’s heart stopped for a long moment. “Of course not,” she lied. “I don’t know why you think that.”
“I think you’re too afraid to be around me for any extended period of time because you’re not sure what will happen between us.”
She scoffed. “That’s ridiculous.”
“Is it?” he came back quietly.
“Of course.” She scooted around uncomfortably on her chair and was unable to look him in the eye.
“Good, then if you’re not afraid of me, or what might happen between us if we’re alone, then you need to get yourself a dress.” He leaned forward and sifted through some papers as if he were looking for something.
Chloe blinked, wondering what had just happened. “Excuse me?” her back ramrod straight as she watched him pick up a thick piece of paper.
“A dress. The event is formal,” he said as he handed her the invitation he’d just unearthed. “You have a dress, don’t you? Or do you need to head into town to get one?”
“A dress? I don’t think…”
“You’re not allowed to think, not yet anyway. You’re going to have to trust me.” His eyes traveled up and down her figure as she sat in the chair. “Something red. And sexy.”
Chloe’s face blushed once again and she glared at him. “No, I don’t have anything red except for that one dress you threw into my suitcase. Which definitely doesn’t count as formal. Other than that dress, I have nothing sexy.” Chloe didn’t know how to do sexy and red was way too blatant for her to wear with any confidence.
“Why not?”
She struggled to come up with a viable excuse but nothing good came to mind. “Because I don’t look good in red,” and knew it sounded pretty lame, but it was all she could think of.
“When was the last time you tried on anything red?”
That got her, she thought. She never