Dirty Filthy Rich Love (Dirty Duet #2) Read Online Free

  Dirty Filthy Rich Love

Laurelin Paige

Paige Printing LLC

This volume is a piece of work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or expressionless, is entirely coincidental.

© 2017 by Laurelin Paige

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in whatsoever form whatsoever.

Encompass: Tom Barnes and Laurelin Paige

ISBN: 978-1-942835-19-half dozen

Contents

Foreword

Prologue

Affiliate 1

Affiliate two

Affiliate three

Affiliate 4

Chapter five

Chapter six

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Affiliate 9

Chapter 10

Affiliate xi

Affiliate 12

Chapter 13

Affiliate 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter xix

Chapter 20

Affiliate 21

Chapter 22

Epilogue

Stock-still Forever

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Acknowledgments

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Prologue

I brought the tumbler of scotch to my lips, taking another sip as the Frou Frou song playing from the Spotify app on my phone started up again. How many times could a song be listened to on repeat? If in that location was a limit, I was budgeted mine.

I pressed my cheek against my bedroom window and watched the lonely street beneath. The glass was cold confronting my skin, a stark dissimilarity to the liquor burning in my breast. Wintertime had prepare in just in fourth dimension for the Thanksgiving holiday. The few people nonetheless out this late were well bundled in gloves and scarves, and hats pulled down over their ears.

I still didn't have plenty wintertime wear. There'd been no need for warm gloves in L.A., and I'd only been in New York since September. My sister had already given me a hard time about information technology when she'd arrived earlier in the evening, and a shopping trip was on the agenda for the next twenty-four hours.

My wardrobe would shortly be remedied. Audrey would make certain of that. In i night, she'd already rearranged my living room furniture and put upwards the residual of the framed photographs and knickknacks I hadn't bothered to unpack.

If simply she could gear up the within of me every bit hands as she addressed the outside.

No, I had to be the one to fix this mess.

I idea back to the chat I'd had with Audrey before she'd slipped off to bed in my guest room.

"Will you press charges?" she'd asked.

"I don't want to printing charges." I wanted explanations. I wanted theories confirmed. I didn't want more than distance between us.

I didn't want any distance at all.

She'd smiled as though she got it, and because she was my sister, perhaps she did, fifty-fifty without me explaining. "And so you'll go to France, so. Make him tell you what'due south up."

"He doesn't deserve that either. He can run all he wants. I'm not chasing. I accept more respect for myself than that."

"Good. I respect you besides." She'd laughed and then. "Probably not the best idea to chase someone who's obviously been stalking yous for ten years anyway."

"Probably non." Though I wasn't actually worried about him. He was unsafe, yes. Dangerous to me. But he wouldn't hurt me. Non like that. Non the kind of hurt that anyone else could come across.

"You'll effigy it out," she'd said in the stop. "You e'er do."

I knew what I had to do already. Simply…beingness bold enough to do it.

Another sip of scotch. Another full listen to the old song on repeat.

This fourth dimension when the silent pause came at the end, I put down my glass and reached over for the phone instead. I turned off the music, pulled up my contacts and only shivered slightly when I found his proper noun.

Two weeks had passed. I didn't take to practise this at present.

But it might too exist now.

I striking the CALL push and waited.

It rang once. Twice. It was after midnight here. He'd simply be waking up. Another ring. Was he alone? Ane more ring.

And then his voice.

His voicemail, actually. I hadn't exactly expected him to answer, and information technology was easier leaving a bulletin.

Still, somehow it was disappointing. As though a minor role of me had hoped he'd see my name and rush to hear my vocalisation. Wouldn't I rush to respond if he'd been the ane to call?

Possibly non.

Probably not.

The beep sounded and caught me off guard. Simply I was fix with what I wanted to say.

"Donovan. Information technology's me. I know nigh the file you accept on me. We should talk."

One

"There'southward nobody hither," Audrey said equally nosotros stepped out of my function.

It was Mon evening and wrapping things up later on a hectic afternoon had taken longer than planned. It was hard plenty getting everything washed in a short holiday week. On top of that, I'd lost my weekend to visiting with my sis—time I would accept usually spent behind my desk.

It had been three days at present since Audrey had arrived.

Three days since I'd left the message for Donovan.

Three days and no return call.

But I wasn't thinking about that. Or rather, I was trying as hard every bit possible not to think about that. Trying equally hard every bit possible not to let on how much it hurt.

Piece of work was a adept distraction. Audrey was an even better distraction.

"When yous got hither it was well-nigh five," I said, locking my office door behind me. Thankfully, there was enough to occupy her in the city while I worked. Information technology would be a miracle if she got even a quarter of her calendar crossed off before she had to go back to school on Lord's day. Simply fifty-fifty with the many other heady items on her list, I'd convinced her to stop by my office then I could show her effectually.

More than like then I could show off.

I glanced at the clock on the wall. "That was an hour ago. Nearly anybody's gone home at present."

"Practise you always piece of work this late?" The question was accusatory.

"I commonly work subsequently." I didn't mention that part of the reason nosotros'd stayed tardily this night was because she'd had to tell me all most the bus tour she'd taken before in the day.

Crossing her arms over her breast, she glared in my direction. "Workaholic."

I rolled my eyes. "You're a workaholic too. Your work is merely more than cocked so yous can more than easily disguise it as a hobby. Come on." I threw my keys in my bag and hitched the strap on my shoulder. "Let me show you around."

She followed me to the main hallway. Out of habit, I glanced down the dark corridor leading to Donovan's part, feeling a pang in my chest before leading her in the opposite direction to the large open section of the executive floor. Usually, the flooring-to-ceiling windows there would exist a feature worth pointing out, just the sun had already set and the cleaning coiffure had turned on the lights then the glass just looked black.

Another calorie-free shone farther down the hall, and I steered united states of america in that direction.

"Roxie," I exclaimed, when we came upon my dominate's banana gathering her things at her desk. "Yous're here belatedly!"

"Just leaving. You caught me

." Eyeing Audrey, she set up her purse downwardly and thrust her manus out, introducing herself before I had a chance. "I've heard wonderful stories near you lot. Sabrina is very proud of her sister."

"Thank you. Great to meet you," Audrey said, trying not to appear stunned by Roxie'south curt hospitality.

"You look akin," the Hungarian native said afterwards studying us for a beat. "Lite and dark versions."

Audrey and I laughed as we exchanged glances. She wasn't simply a lighter version of me in coloring with her chestnut hair and almond eyes, but too in temperament. She was bubbly and romantic. I was serious and practical. She liked men who adored her and were into public displays of affection. I liked a man who enjoyed rape play and apparently had a serious trouble with stalking.

It was something we joked well-nigh often.

"Night and day," I said.

"Chocolate and vanilla," Audrey agreed. "That's us."

"Is Weston in at that place?" I asked nodding to the office backside Roxie. The door was still open and the lights were on, but I didn't encounter him at his desk.

"No, but he exist back any minute. You tin wait within for him." Roxie buttoned her coat and picked up her purse. "He in a good mood today. He won't listen."

We said our goodbyes and subsequently Roxie went her way, I ushered Audrey into Weston's spacious corner part, switching off the light as we walked in.

The upshot was immediate. "Holy bananas!" Audrey exclaimed. "This is insane!" She ran to the closest wall of glass and gazed out at the city. "It'due south an endless sea of lights! I bet you tin can come across everything in the daytime."

"Not everything. But a lot." I stood back, watching her with a smile. My reaction to the view had been quite similar. It had been exhilarating, non only because of how much I could see, just because I finally felt like I was on summit of it all.

And then Donovan had walked in, putting my new earth in a spin. Reminding me information technology had been his world commencement.

Whatever. Information technology was my world now. He wasn't here, and I was. I wasn't going anywhere.

Audrey craned to look further out the window. "If this isn't everything so you're as well greedy. Hey! Information technology's the empire! Why isn't this your office?"

"It volition be soon enough," Weston's baritone sounded backside me. "With the work she'southward producing."

I rolled my eyes while he came to stand next to me. "Oh, hush."

He frowned equally though I'd offended him. "I'thousand serious. Y'all're the offset proper noun on a brusk list to supplant me if I ever leave."

Weston was a sweet talker. All the smart women knew it. Even so, I was warmed past the compliment, even though it wasn't ane that mattered. "You'll never leave," I said dismissively. "I hope you don't heed we were in here. I was showing my sis the view. This is Audrey."

The lighter, younger version of me had already abandoned the windows and was prowling toward u.s.a., her hands behind her dorsum. "Permit me guess—you lot're Weston."

Weston stuck his hands in his pockets and lifted his chin proudly. "You've told her nigh me."

"We're close." I watched apprehensively every bit Audrey circled my boss, sizing him upwards. I knew total well she wasn't evaluating him as my superior, which would have been embarrassing enough. No, she wanted to figure out what it was about him that had lured me into his bed for an unabridged weekend earlier in the year.

Not that it wasn't obvious—blue eyes, blond hair, built like he was a personal trainer rather than a CEO. He was eye candy for certain. Add the charm and a smart head on top of that?

Yes, my panties dropped.

"Nice," she said appraisingly. "Whoa. Real nice," she said when she got to his backside. "Skillful job, sister."

Weston'south eyes widened equally he interpreted her comments. "Ah, you've actually told her near me." He turned his attending to my sister. "Maybe Sabrina didn't get a chance to tell you I'g involved with someone else now. I'm engaged."

"Fake engagement," Audrey corrected.

His head spun around to glare in my direction. "Everything about me. Wow."

"Audrey!" My face flushed. "She won't tell anyone. I promise." I shifted to scold her again. "That was supposed to exist top underground."

Weston's engagement and impending marriage to Elizabeth Dyson was all an arrangement to go Elizabeth her trust fund money and to get Reach, Inc.—our company—access to an advertizement firm in France she owned. In one case married, Elizabeth would get her inheritance, sell the firm to the men, and the two would divorce.

At to the lowest degree that had been the plan.

That was supposedly why Donovan was in France—to pave the way for an easy merger. Only Weston and I knew it was really simply an alibi to become abroad from me.

Very few people knew about the faux wedlock—only Elizabeth, the 5 guys who owned Reach, Inc., me, and now, my sister.

Weston chuckled. "It's fine. I mean, you're not a secret spy for the Dyson's, are you?"

Audrey lifted a brow. "No."

"And so we're cool. Likewise, information technology's not a false appointment anymore. Or, it'south not a fake relationship anyway."

She raised both brows now and looked at me accusingly. "Now I didn't hear this."

"Weston and Elizabeth like each other for real at present. There. Are you happy?" I didn't give her time to respond. "It didn't take to exercise with me and so I didn't fill you in," I added, unapologetically. Also it wasn't really fun to talk about someone else being lucky in dear when my own centre was hurting like information technology was.

She clapped her hands. "Of course I'm happy. I adore a good coupling! Tell u.s. more than, Weston."

"She left today to go to her grandmother's for Turkey Twenty-four hours," he said, directing this to me despite Audrey'southward eagerness. "I'm joining her Wednesday dark, and we're supposed to do the whole pretend, pretend thing, only all I go along thinking is I'm going to run into her grandmother. This is the unmarried nearly of import person in her life. Which shouldn't matter considering this is all temporary. Just maybe it's not temporary. Possibly it'due south something more."

The last Weston had talked to me about his relationship with Elizabeth, they'd slept together. He hadn't said anything about more. "Then things are still going well?"

He sighed, running a paw through his pilus. "Honestly, I don't know what things are. It's a mess. I desire to wring her neck virtually of the time and she doesn't actually seem to like me much either, only I kind of tin can't stand to be away from her for more than a day. Whatever that is, it's that."

"That'southward dearest," my sis said, her vocalisation all swoony.

I groaned. "Audrey's a hopeless romantic. It's her only flaw."

Only she made me think, besides. Things between Donovan and I were a mess likewise. I wanted to wring his neck, and I was aching inside with him so far away. Was I so far in that I was in love with him?

Well, wasn't that going to exist a bitch if it was the example? Because next time I saw him, I was planning on killing him.

"Weston, I can telephone call my commuter anytime you lot're ready to—" The human being who'd walked in stopped when he saw united states. "Oh, alibi me. I didn't realize you had visitor."

I stood up straighter, immediately on guard. I didn't know the man. His suit was expensive and he had brown wavy hair and a British accent. He appeared older than us by at least a dozen years, but was quite bonny and distinguished. What was odd was that a stranger was wandering the office halls after hours.

"I can go anytime," Weston said in answer. "Only this is perfect. Y'all haven't met Sabrina withal, have you?"

The human being frowned. "Tin can't say that I have."

Weston shifted to me. "Sabrina, this is Dylan Locke. He's in the States this week to visit his son."

That explained things. Dylan Locke ran Reach's London office. He was one of the founders of the company. In that location were five of them in total—Nate Sinclair, Weston, Donovan, Dylan, and Cade Warren, who ran the Tokyo role.

"It's a real

pleasure to see you," I said, shaking his mitt. "I'm the director of marketing strategy hither."

"Ah, yous took Robbie Wise's place when he came over to our office in London," Dylan said. "Robbie'south fine at his job just he isn't every bit lovely every bit yous. And he smells." He turned to Weston. "Is it entirely sexist if I say I think you lot got the ameliorate finish of the deal?"

"Donovan got the better stop of the bargain actually." His subtext suggested he'd mentioned me to Dylan before. That this was his way of proverb, This is her. The one that Donovan was involved with.

Which was fine. Simply I didn't want to talk about Donovan correct now. "Weston, please…"

"He called earlier," he said soberly. Simply. As though he knew the words would knock the wind out of me, and still he'd thought the all-time fashion to nowadays them was plainly and without a fuss.

"He called you?" I hoped no one noticed the hitch in my phonation.

"He told me not to say anything."

"To anyone? Or to me?" Fuck, I shouldn't have asked. I didn't want to know. I already knew. If he'd wanted to talk to me he would accept called me.

Weston lowered his head, confirming my suspicions. "I'm sorry."

It was sweet that he cared how I felt. And nice, I supposed, that he'd bothered to tell me near it at all. Though Weston and I had formed a friendship over the last several weeks, he was Donovan's friend before mine. He didn't owe me any loyalty.

I couldn't bring myself to give thanks him at that moment.

"I don't care," I said, when he took a stride frontwards to condolement me. "He tin can do what he wants. I don't care anymore." Lies. But peradventure if I kept proverb it, someone would start believing it. Maybe even me.

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