The Billionaire's Bet

by Victoria Davies

Overview

Hailey Mitchel wants one thing. Her boss. The only problem is he’s never looked at her as more than a loyal employee. At least, not until his charming business rival, Caleb, drops into her life with an offer she can’t refuse. He’s willing to bet he can make her fall in love with him in a month, and if he’s wrong, he’ll help her find the keys to her boss’s heart.

Caleb Langston wants one thing. Revenge. Hailey is his ticket to finally evening the score with his old adversary. There’s just one problem. The more time he spends with her, the less he cares about his grand plans for payback. But love is always a gamble, and soon he’ll have to choose between his past and his future. And pray Hailey never discovers the secret he’s been hiding from her.

Each book in the Sexy Billionaires series is a standalone, full-length story that can be enjoyed out of order.
Series Order:
Book #1 Right Billionaire, Wrong Wedding
Book #2 The Billionaire’s Bet
Book #3 The Billionaire’s Paradise

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781633758353
Publisher:	Entangled Publishing, LLC
Publication date:	01/23/2017
Series:	The Sexy Billionaires Series , #2
Sold by:	Macmillan
Format:	eBook
Pages:	234
Sales rank:	186,123
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Victoria Davies writes paranormal romance where a midnight stroll through the cemetery counts as a first date and diving under the bed to play with the monsters is highly recommended.

Victoria was born and raised in Toronto, Canada. Growing up in a family of writers, her interest in storytelling developed from an early age. Since then her characters may have evolved and her plots may have grown decidedly more steamy, but she never lost her love of the written word. Now she travels the globe teaching and writing from wherever she ends up. Though her locations change, there is no ignoring the dragons, vampires and werewolves in her head whispering to have their tales told. For more information on Victoria please visit www.victoriadavies.ca.

Read an Excerpt

The Billionaire's Bet

Sexy Billionaires Series

---

By Victoria Davies, Candace Havens

Entangled Publishing, LLC

Copyright © 2017 Victoria Davies
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-63375-835-3

---

CHAPTER 1

How many times had she stepped through this door and crossed into the glittering world of the elite? At least once more, it seemed, as she rolled her shoulders back and walked through the entrance.

Decadence was the name of the game at this particular lounge. A pianist played in one corner while the waitstaff weaved between the leather chairs grouped around black marble tables. Mirrors lined one wall, their function both decorative and purposeful. After all, in this place, you wanted to see and be seen.

She wondered how many thousands of dollars were spent here a night. Maybe she should give up law and ask the receptionist for an application. The servers at this club obviously had no complaints.

Scanning the room, she looked for familiar tousled blond curls. Though a spacious outside terrace offered one of the most spectacular views in the city, her boss preferred to hold court inside. This was Alec's downtime. The place he came to unwind. Here he didn't have to be a captain of industry ruling with an iron fist. Instead, he could be a billionaire playboy like all the rest.

And it looked like he was enjoying his freedom.

Her gaze zeroed in on him and the petite woman draped over his side.

Annoyance snaked through her even though she had no business feeling it. She wasn't part of this glittering world. When it came to men like Alec, she was more assistant than woman. There to make his life easier without requiring much of his valuable time.

Cutting through the room, she walked toward the small group laughing over glasses of champagne and tumblers of scotch.

Her quarry looked up as she approached, his blue eyes narrowing.

"Hailey," he greeted. "Trouble?"

"We need to talk," she replied.

He nodded at her words, whispering something in his date's ear before rising to his feet.

"Lead the way," he said, buttoning his black suit closed.

She allowed herself only the briefest second to admire the image he presented as he moved toward her. Every inch of his six-foot-plus frame was encased in Armani cut to show off his physique to perfection. She'd seen him change his shirt once and knew damn well his body was all honed and muscled. Combined with a face that would make angels envious, the golden boy of the tech world would turn any woman's head.

Forcing herself to focus on the job, she led Alec away from the main room of the club. Lux's managers knew what sort of clientele they catered to and had been smart enough to install four smaller rooms in the back of their lounge. Each was private and equipped with everything one would need to handle urgent business. After all, they didn't want their patrons running back to the office when they could handle smaller problems right here, complete with waitress service.

Lydia already waited by one of the open doors.

"Your room, Mr. Charr."

She gave the woman a grateful smile as she ushered her boss through the door. When it closed behind them, the soft sound of music in the air was cut off. Soundproofing, of course, to ensure all conversations stayed confidential.

Alec collapsed into the leather-back chair behind a built-in desk. A telephone, paper and pens, and a menu waited on the smooth surface.

She pulled his laptop from her briefcase and set it before him.

"There's a second offer on the Corus deal. It's time to be more aggressive."

"Damn." He opened the computer to see the email she'd left up for him. "No rest for the wicked, eh?"

"Shouldn't take you more than half an hour," she replied. "Do you want me to wait and review the final bid?"

"No, no." He waved her away, his eyes on the screen. "I can handle this. I'll let you know the outcome in the morning."

"Good luck." She buckled up her briefcase once more.

He glanced at her as she turned to go. "Thanks for bringing this to me, Hailey. We make an excellent team."

The words scraped against her nerves. We could be even better, she thought. But that would require Alec's seeing her as something other than just the legal counsel at his beck and call.

"You can always depend on me," she replied.

"Don't I know it? Have a glass of champagne on me before you leave. You know my tab."

"Thanks, but I don't think so."

His attention was drawn back to the screen and the problems waiting to be solved. "Don't you ever let loose?"

She stiffened at the implication. "Not in the middle of the week," she replied. "I'll see you in the office tomorrow."

She doubted he even heard her when she left. Closing the door behind her, she shook her head. She let loose. Sometimes. She'd sure as hell love to let loose with him in a more intimate setting. Then he'd see she was more than his straitlaced shadow.

Except in the three years she'd been part of his team, he'd never once treated her as anything more than a colleague.

"His loss," she whispered to herself, lifting her chin.

She pushed away from the door and navigated her way back into the main room of the club.

But instead of making a beeline for the exit, she allowed herself one indulgence. The same one she enjoyed every time she had to track Alec to this place. Circumventing the lounging area, she pressed through the glass doors that led to the terrace beyond.

Though spring was on its way, the air was still cool enough to make her wish for her coat, despite the heater lamps set up to keep the terrace reasonably warm. Buttoning up her blazer, she pushed onward. Standing tables littered the center of the terrace, but she wandered to the railing and leaned on the bar table built into the barrier. This was the only part of this place she enjoyed. The city lay before her, a sea of twinkling lights shining through the night. Looking down toward the street she stared at the small figures far below, rushing around living out their lives. It really was a million-dollar view.

Closing her eyes, she breathed in the air and felt her shoulders relax. This might not be her world, but there was no harm enjoying it for just a moment.

A soft clink had her opening her eyes. A glass sat before her on the rail.

"Scotch," a voice said. "Your favorite."

So much for relaxation.

Hailey straightened, turning to see the man waiting beside her.

If Alec could make angels swoon, this man would win the admiration of the damned.

Jet-black hair was combed back from his chiseled face. Obsidian eyes watched her as his full lips quirked into a smile she knew was at her expense.

Like Alec, every scrap of fabric on him no doubt sported designer labels. Tailored to perfection, the clothes covered a hard body that looked like it belonged in the glossy pages of magazines rather than at the helm of a powerful company. Tipping her head back, she looked up to meet his gaze. In her three-inch heels it was a feat that he still managed to dwarf her.

"I'm not thirsty," she said.

"No?" He lifted his own tumbler to his nose. "Aren't you tempted, Hailey? This is the best scotch money can buy." He paused, his smile turning into a grin. "Here, at least."

Sure, she was tempted. That's what devils did.

She pushed the scotch away. "I'm not drinking with you, Caleb."

"Why?" He took a step forward, forcing her to move until the bar cut into the middle of her back.

"I'm here for work."

"Doesn't seem like you're on the clock right now."

"Even if I wasn't, I still wouldn't have a drink with you."

His grin widened. "Why?" he repeated.

"You're our biggest competitor."

He shrugged. "That's business."

"We're talking business."

He raised his drink to his lips, taking a slow sip while his eyes held hers. "No, sweetheart. We're talking pleasure."

"How many times do I have to tell you I'm not interested?"

"At least once more."

She shook her head. "You and I both know why you pursue me."

He shifted to her side, his arm brushing against hers. "Enlighten me."

"You want to piss off Alec." She looked up to meet his dark gaze, knowing she spoke only the truth. The gorgeous man by her side would never have looked at her twice if it hadn't been for her boss.

"I rarely think of other men when trying to win a woman over," he replied.

She snorted. "Hell will freeze first."

"Then prepare for a drop in temperature." He moved faster than she could track. One moment he was by her side and the next he had trapped her between his arms, one hand locked on the bar on either side of her body.

Arching a brow, she dared him to press her further.

"I've got a proposition for you," Caleb said.

"Let me guess. You're going to offer me a job again."

"Your skills are wasted with Alec. We both know you'd be happier at Incortech with me."

Her eyes narrowed, knowing he wasn't just talking about work.

"I know what you're truly capable of," he said, his head angling down toward hers. "Don't you want to work somewhere you'd be appreciated? Where that brain of yours would be valued instead of taken for granted?"

She lifted her chin. "I'm not looking for a change."

"Aren't you?" His gaze dipped to her lips for the briefest of moments. "How's life going with my old friend Alec?"

"It's wonderful," she replied.

"So he's satisfying your every desire." He stretched out the last word.

"We make a good team," she said, repeating the words that had earlier caused her to shudder.

"You see, I've been wondering something. Why would a woman as brilliant as you stay at the second-best company?"

"Second best in your opinion," she corrected.

"I can offer you a bigger salary, a bigger office, a bigger bonus. Whatever you want, just say the words and it's yours. You deserve it."

"I'm loyal to Alec."

"Yes," he agreed. "You are. But it got me thinking. To turn down such a promotion, you must be very loyal."

"I am."

"Or perhaps there's something else."

She stiffened.

Caleb leaned closer, his lips a breath from her ear. "Some other reason you don't want to leave our mutual friend."

She pushed against his chest to force him back. "I'm done with this conversation."

"That's a shame, because I'm not."

"Good night, Caleb." She stepped out of his arms.

"You're infatuated with him, aren't you?"

The words froze her in place. Slowly, she rotated to see Caleb leaning against the bar, watching her with the eyes of a cat who'd captured the canary.

Too bad she didn't know if he was in the mood to play with it or go for the kill.

"You're mistaken."

"Rarely." He took another sip of his scotch before sliding hers forward. "You look like you need a drink."

"I'm not involved with anyone," she denied.

"Excellent news for me. Shall I pick you up tomorrow at eight?"

"Just because I don't want to date you doesn't mean I'm crazy for someone else."

"But you, my dear, are a creature of logic." He spread his arms out. "Here I am, an available, attractive partner, and you keep turning me down."

"Maybe I don't like your personality."

"Maybe," he agreed. "But my billions tend to reverse that opinion in people."

She shook her head in disgust. "Go try to buy someone else. I have work in the morning."

His soft chuckle stopped her exit. "You see, that's what I like about you, Hailey. Not just another mercenary face."

"I'm attracted to men of substance. Guess that rules you out."

"But not my rival. Alec is your paragon of honor, isn't he?"

"He's an excellent man," she agreed.

"One you just wish would walk over to your desk and sweep you off your feet, carrying you out into the sunset."

"I'd probably break his back, and we'd both end up on the floor."

His gaze raked down her body. "I'd be willing to risk it."

"Luckily, you'll never have to."

His eyes returned to hers. "Why not just tell him?" he asked. "Confess your undying devotion and see what he does?"

He'd get flustered trying to figure out how to tell her he didn't return her affections. She wasn't petite or blonde, two things all his previous paramours had in common. She wasn't pursuing a career in acting, and she didn't have trouble calculating the percentage of a tip. Worse, she didn't come from old money the way Caleb and Alec did. She hadn't grown up in that privileged world, didn't understand the deeply ingrained rules. Alec had said more than once that when he settled down, it'd be to make a good alliance for his family. Keep all that lovely money in the right bloodlines.

No, she was nothing like the woman he would eventually fall in love with.

Not that logic stopped her from wishing for the impossible every now and then.

"You don't know what you're talking about."

"All right." Caleb straightened from the bar. "Why don't I go ask him

these questions and see what he thinks?"

Her fingers sank into his arm before he could move. "Don't."

The movement had been a mistake. An admission. A certainty filled his expression that hadn't been there a moment ago.

She shook her head, knowing she was steering toward a cliff. "What do you want?" What would buy his silence?

"I want many things," he said, swirling the liquor in his glass. "Chief among them is you."

"It's just because you love the chase," she said, rolling her eyes. "We'd never work."

"Maybe," he replied with a shrug. "But it'd be fun to try."

"I'm not sleeping with you in order to keep your mouth shut."

"I don't remember asking you to."

She resisted the urge to stamp her foot. "Then what are you asking?"

"I'm going to make you a bet," he said, his eyes capturing hers. "Give me one month."

"To do what?"

"Make you fall in love with me."

She choked at the words. "Are you crazy?"

"You'd be surprised how often women ask me that."

"Be serious."

He took a step toward her. "Oh, I am. In one month's time, I predict you're going to be in love with me and not Alec."

"And if I win?" she asked, wondering what ludicrous prize he was about to dangle before her.

"If you win, you'll be safe in the knowledge that your heart isn't a fickle thing."

"I've got that now."

He raised his glass to his lips. "Oh, and I'll make sure Alec falls in love with you."

Shock snapped through her body. She couldn't have heard him correctly.

But the devil's own grin spread across his face. "Do I have your attention now, Hailey?"

CHAPTER 2

Poor thing. Her surprise was clear on her face. As was her longing. One would think a lawyer would be better at hiding her thoughts. But not Hailey. She'd always been an open book.

Caleb took advantage of her stunned silence to let his gaze wander over her luscious body. Even her deplorable fashion sense couldn't completely obscure the wonder he knew lay beneath layers of cheap polyester and oversize blazers. There was a curvy body buried under the clothes she wore like armor, and one day he'd convince her to let him uncover it.

Her auburn hair was pulled back into a simple clip at the back of her head, and her wide green eyes stared at him as she tried to decipher the truth of his words. In her heels, the top of her head would fit perfectly beneath his chin, though he could well imagine her reaction should he attempt such a move.

No, nothing about Hailey Mitchel was Alec's type.

To be honest, she wasn't his, either. Oh, there was no denying she'd grown on him. It wasn't every day he came across a woman happy to put him in his place for stepping over a line. But that wasn't the reason he'd started chasing her.

That was all Alec.

He remembered the exact moment Hailey had popped up on his radar. It'd been in a boardroom, the only place he and his former friend ever willingly met anymore. When the deal was completed, he'd been getting ready to leave. On the other side of the room, Hailey said something to his rival that had caused him to laugh.

The sight was so rare Caleb had paused. And that's when he'd seen the other man look down at his counsel with a gaze that was far from professional.

He didn't know if Alec wanted the lawyer or merely cared about her as a friend. Frankly, it didn't matter.

All that mattered was the fact that if Hailey were taken away from Alec, he would bleed.

And it was about damn time.

So he'd set out to woo Hailey to his company. It had seemed like a simple solution. A little digging had uncovered everything he needed to know about her professionally, and anyone could see she was wasted at Charr Industries. The brilliant lawyer had even managed to stymie a few of his deals occasionally. A mind like that belonged somewhere it would be appreciated. He could give her the challenges she craved, ensure she was given projects that mattered. Ones that would allow her to use her wide skill set. She'd no longer be living in Alec's shadow but finally be able to wield power all her own. And he could give her that.

(Continues...)

---

Excerpted from The Billionaire's Bet by Victoria Davies, Candace Havens. Copyright © 2017 Victoria Davies. Excerpted by permission of Entangled Publishing, LLC.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

---