Catering to the Billionaire (The Billionaire's Appetites) (BBW Billionaire Erotic Romance) Read Online Free Page B

himself.  And he has a healthy respect for people who know what they want and aren’t afraid to go get it.”
    Barb and Lissa said their goodbyes, with Lissa promising to touch base one more time the day before the event to go over any last-minute developments.  Then Lissa, heaving a heavy sigh of accomplishment, walked out of the Thorne Investments offices and toward the elevator.
    It was after seven o’clock, and all of the other employees had long since left for the weekend.  Lissa walked past Annie’s desk and out the huge glass doors, then pressed the down elevator button and waited for it to arrive.  Stepping into the car, she pulled out her phone to check her messages, and when she looked up she was shocked to see Greg Thorne stepping into the elevator beside her. 
    “Hello again,” he murmured, his tone slightly more formal and closed than it had been in Barbara’s office.
    Lissa smiled up at him.  “I’m glad to see even CEOs leave for the weekend.”
    “Yes,” Greg said vaguely.  The two stood in slightly uncomfortable silence as the car sank downwards toward the ground level.  Greg looked down at the floor and ran his hand distractedly through his curly, sun-streaked blond hair.  The doors open, and he silently gestured for her to exit first. At the entrance building, he went first, holding the door open for her to pass through.  Out on the street, Lissa saw a large black limousine waiting at the curb.  “Can I drop you at your car?” Greg offered.
    “I came by T, actually,” Lissa said, glancing down the street in the direction of the nearest station.
    “Then can I offer you a ride home?” he asked.
    “Oh, no, that’s quite alright – but thank you, anyway,” Lissa murmured.  She shifted her briefcase from one hand to the other as she spoke.
    “Please,” he said gently, “I insist.  I’d... I’d like to speak to you for a moment.”  Without waiting for an answer, he placed his warm hand on the small of her back and led her toward the limousine.  Lissa was too astonished to refuse, and mutely stepped into the car through the open door held by a chauffeur clad in a pressed black suit.  Greg slid in beside her and the door closed quietly behind him.  When the chauffeur had gotten into the car, Greg pressed a button.  “What’s your address?” he asked Lissa.  She gave it to him, and he repeated it more loudly to the man behind the wheel, whom he called Alan.  Then, releasing the button, he turned to her with an expression she couldn’t quite read.  “I...” he began, then stopped.  “I wanted to apologize.  For the first time we met.”  He frowned, clearly uncomfortable.  “I was unforgivably rude.  It’s true that I was under a lot of pressure that day, but that’s no excuse.  Please forgive me.”
    Greg’s dark eyes held Lissa’s prisoner, and in spite of herself, she felt her breath quicken.  This man was so different from the one who had so arrogantly brushed her off that first day.  He was still formal, but his eyes were kind and troubled.  It was clear he was genuinely sorry for the way he had acted.  She remembered how generously Barb had spoken of him during their meetings.  “Greg’s a man of irreproachable integrity,” she had said.  “There aren’t many people out there whom I respect as much as I do him.” Looking at him now, earnestly asking for her forgiveness, Lissa’s heart softened a bit toward him.  “Of course, Greg,” she said softly.  “I appreciate it.  And please forgive me, as well.  I was ruder than I needed to be to get my point across.”
    To her astonishment, he chuckled.  “Oh, no, you were just as rude as you needed to be.  It was exactly what I needed to shake me out of my self-absorption.  I’m glad you took me to task, Lissa,” he said, his eyes catching hers warmly.  “You reminded me that I’m not too important to remember my manners.  And you reminded me that I was being a giant