Billionaire Romance: Darque Initiation (A Darque Billionaire Romance Book 1) Read Online Free Page A
Author: Diana Steele
me? What the fuck was he talking about?
But it was too much to think of at that moment. She basked in the warm room temperature, surrounded by Egyptian cotton blankets, and the soul-caressing color of purple all around the room. She felt protected. Whoever he was, whatever good deed he did for whatever reason, he really was a gentleman.
She even thought he might be…
And then like that, just that quick, she was out.
*****
Chapter 4
Saturday morning was always so peaceful, so tranquil. Bella always used to wake up with the distinct feeling that it was Saturday and that nothing was due, and no plans were yet made. It was supposed to be a day of rest and no regrets.
But all she felt as she flinched herself away was a throbbing headache and unfamiliar sights and bright lights everywhere she turned. Where am I , she thought. She found herself underdressed and under a blanket, and in God knows where—a hotel? A friend’s room? Definitely nothing this side of Woodley Park.
As she rose to a sitting position, she was alarmed to see just how underdressed she was: she wore just her pink panties and a T-shirt…which looked several sizes too big. It was a man’s T-shirt! Who in the hell could have undressed her like this? Whose bedroom was this?
Then she remembered…the guy from last night. The Nice Guy from the bar, who was acting kind of odd toward the end of the night. Did he do this? She looked around the room rapidly, before settling her eyes on a note. The note had been delivered in a large blue envelope; certainly one meant to be easily found and read on such a suspicious morning.
Hello Arabella. Thank you for staying at my guest accommodations. Please help yourself to breakfast in the kitchen. I have a cab waiting for you, in case you’d like to go to work…you know, if that sort of thing matters to you.
Work? On a Saturday morning?
She shook off her confusion. One thing was for sure—she wasn’t happy being in this stranger’s house. So she quickly got dressed, finding last night’s clothes neatly folded on a dresser, right before exiting the cold and empty place. She helped herself to a less-than-continental breakfast, speaking of a piece of toast and some orange juice.
Whoever her ‘travel concierge’ was for the night, he even had the courtesy to recharge her cell phone using one of his docking devices. She checked her messages. Ten unheard voice mails and five texts!
Uh oh. What did she miss? This is Saturday morning, isn’t it ?
Oh God, she thought as she heard Abrams’ panicked tone on her voice mail. “Where are you, Bella? I’ve been trying to get a hold of you all night. The Darques have called an emergency meeting. Everyone on the project has to be here by ten. That’s you! He requested you specifically! Hurry the hell up!”
“Shit!” she said in a frantic voice, grabbing her clothes and purse and scurrying out of the house, looking for the cab. Thankfully, the handsome stranger was considerate enough to know she might need a cab, though his timing was a bit conspicuous.
As she took the cab to work, she cursed the day that Saturday morning was ruined for her. Responsibility, stress—on a Saturday! She knew she was going to hate Reputation Management, and sure enough, that blasted, soulless career lived up to its reputation just fine. Wherever she was, whoever this guy was, it was an important part of town. The Watergate Complex area on New Hampshire Avenue. He was definitely a successful type, and so odd of him not to rub it in her face.
She arrived at work, about thirty minutes past ten, and by the time she entered everyone was giving her the evil eye.
“Sorry. Wasn’t expecting to be called in,” she moaned, trying to hide the fact that she was hung over and barely seeing straight.
“Glad you could join us, Bella,” Abrams said, already irritated. But he moved his attention back
But it was too much to think of at that moment. She basked in the warm room temperature, surrounded by Egyptian cotton blankets, and the soul-caressing color of purple all around the room. She felt protected. Whoever he was, whatever good deed he did for whatever reason, he really was a gentleman.
She even thought he might be…
And then like that, just that quick, she was out.
*****
Chapter 4
Saturday morning was always so peaceful, so tranquil. Bella always used to wake up with the distinct feeling that it was Saturday and that nothing was due, and no plans were yet made. It was supposed to be a day of rest and no regrets.
But all she felt as she flinched herself away was a throbbing headache and unfamiliar sights and bright lights everywhere she turned. Where am I , she thought. She found herself underdressed and under a blanket, and in God knows where—a hotel? A friend’s room? Definitely nothing this side of Woodley Park.
As she rose to a sitting position, she was alarmed to see just how underdressed she was: she wore just her pink panties and a T-shirt…which looked several sizes too big. It was a man’s T-shirt! Who in the hell could have undressed her like this? Whose bedroom was this?
Then she remembered…the guy from last night. The Nice Guy from the bar, who was acting kind of odd toward the end of the night. Did he do this? She looked around the room rapidly, before settling her eyes on a note. The note had been delivered in a large blue envelope; certainly one meant to be easily found and read on such a suspicious morning.
Hello Arabella. Thank you for staying at my guest accommodations. Please help yourself to breakfast in the kitchen. I have a cab waiting for you, in case you’d like to go to work…you know, if that sort of thing matters to you.
Work? On a Saturday morning?
She shook off her confusion. One thing was for sure—she wasn’t happy being in this stranger’s house. So she quickly got dressed, finding last night’s clothes neatly folded on a dresser, right before exiting the cold and empty place. She helped herself to a less-than-continental breakfast, speaking of a piece of toast and some orange juice.
Whoever her ‘travel concierge’ was for the night, he even had the courtesy to recharge her cell phone using one of his docking devices. She checked her messages. Ten unheard voice mails and five texts!
Uh oh. What did she miss? This is Saturday morning, isn’t it ?
Oh God, she thought as she heard Abrams’ panicked tone on her voice mail. “Where are you, Bella? I’ve been trying to get a hold of you all night. The Darques have called an emergency meeting. Everyone on the project has to be here by ten. That’s you! He requested you specifically! Hurry the hell up!”
“Shit!” she said in a frantic voice, grabbing her clothes and purse and scurrying out of the house, looking for the cab. Thankfully, the handsome stranger was considerate enough to know she might need a cab, though his timing was a bit conspicuous.
As she took the cab to work, she cursed the day that Saturday morning was ruined for her. Responsibility, stress—on a Saturday! She knew she was going to hate Reputation Management, and sure enough, that blasted, soulless career lived up to its reputation just fine. Wherever she was, whoever this guy was, it was an important part of town. The Watergate Complex area on New Hampshire Avenue. He was definitely a successful type, and so odd of him not to rub it in her face.
She arrived at work, about thirty minutes past ten, and by the time she entered everyone was giving her the evil eye.
“Sorry. Wasn’t expecting to be called in,” she moaned, trying to hide the fact that she was hung over and barely seeing straight.
“Glad you could join us, Bella,” Abrams said, already irritated. But he moved his attention back
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