The Billionaire Date Read Online Free Page B

the blame onto anyone but herself.
    â€œBut you were responsible for the show itself, right?”
    Kit hesitated. “That’s true.”
    â€œA show that was off schedule, out of sync and excruciatingly slow-paced.”
    â€œIf you’re going to compare it to professional affairs, Mr. Webster—”
    â€œI’m not. I know perfectly well it was an amateur event with models who’d never been on a runway before. But it could have been an enjoyable one.”
    Kit wanted to tell him to talk to the models themselves about that little problem.
    â€œBesides, a large part of the fund-raising effort was focused not on ticket sales but on the reception afterward. The hope was that after an enjoyable show, the guests would donate generously for their refreshments. However, after sitting through that fiasco, two-thirds of them left in disgust rather than stick around to drink tea. Since they weren’t present, they didn’t contribute, and—”
    â€œI’ll take my share of the blame,” Kit said honestly.
    His eyebrow twitched. “That’s refreshing.”
    â€œI used very poor judgment. Instead of standing in for the two models who didn’t show up, I should have just poked my head out from behind the curtain at the gaps and announced that the ensemble the audience should have been seeing was unavailable because the model was too irresponsible to find a substitute. Would you have liked that any better? I thought not. Look, Mr. Webster, I’m sorry the damned fashion show didn’t raise a zillion dollars. But I don’t know what you expect me to do about it.”
    â€œThat’s where the second chance comes in.”
    â€œNow wait a minute! I’ve told you—”
    His voice softened till it felt like warm, rich lotion against her skin. “Are you afraid you can’t meet the challenge, Ms. Deevers?”
    â€œNot in the least. With my hands tied, I could do better than that mishmash of amateur do-gooders did. With a month to work on it, I could raise ten thousand dollars, minimum. But the fact remains that I don’t have a month. Tryad can take only a certain amount of time away from our regular client base for nonprofit causes, and we already have all the charity projects we can afford. I’m awfully sorry and all that, but I’m afraid there’s nothing I can do. Thanks for stopping by, Mr. Webster.”
    Kit could tell from the way his gaze hardened that Jarrett Webster knew a dismissal when he heard it. She was almost surprised, for she doubted he was on the receiving end of a snub very often.
    He didn’t move, though. Kit walked across the room to the sliding doors, but Jarrett didn’t take the hint. He seemed to be as firmly planted in the conference room as a willow tree on the bank of a pond, and his words dropped into the silence with the same effect as a rock into water. “I’ll pay for your time.”
    With one hand on the pocket door, Kit turned in astonishment. “What?”
    â€œI said, I’ll foot the bills—not only the charges for your time, at your regular rates, but the basic costs of whatever event you create.”
    â€œWhy?”
    He didn’t answer. “Your challenge is to raise enough money above and beyond those costs to show me that you’re not incompetent, after all.”
    â€œWhy not just give your money directly to a shelter somewhere?”
    â€œAre you saying you can’t do it?”
    â€œOf course not. But I don’t understand why—”
    â€œBecause you’re going to take my money and multiply it. Instead of giving, say, a couple of thousand dollars directly, I invest it with you, and you’ll turn it into—What was it you said? Ten thousand, minimum? In a month?”
    â€œI may have said that, but—”
    â€œBacking down, Ms. Deevers?” He shook his head sadly. “I’m disappointed in you. It’s such