The Billionaire's Desire Read Online Free Page A

in her way when the time for advancement arrived.
    Just as she was about to sit down at her desk, another intern popped his head into her office.
    “Ally? I’m so sorry, but there’s a crisis in the sculpture garden and Mr. Roberts said he didn’t want to be disturbed…”
    She gave him a tight smile from behind the mountains of paperwork. “I’ll be right there.”
    I’ll be right here, all night.
    *
    When she finally arrived in front of her apartment building it was after 11.
    “Late night, miss?” the doorman asked politely, holding the entranceway open for her.
    “You have no idea, Bruce,” she said, making a face. They both laughed.
    Ding . The elevator doors sprung open at the eighth floor and Ally tossed her phone into her purse as she moved toward her apartment, room 820. She stopped a few feet short of the door.
    Beautifully wrapped gift boxes sat piled up at the entrance in the form of a pyramid, with three bouquets – each one a different tropical flower she didn’t recognize – propped up against them. Their fragrance filled the entire hall, it was a wonder she hadn’t smelled it the moment she’d stepped off the elevator. Ally approached them cautiously, like a lion tamer in the den, not daring to hope. A little note card was sitting on the topmost box.
    For Ally. I didn’t forget. Did you?
    “He didn’t forget,” she breathed. Neither did I .
    It took two trips to get everything inside her apartment and once there, it was like Christmas in the middle of the year. It was almost embarrassing for Ally, she was stunned by how generous Luc was in his gifting. She undid each bow, a work of art in themselves, flung the rich, silky ribbon off and lifted the lid off the boxes with unconcealed pleasure. Inside were treasures, the very best and finest lacy lingerie, jeweled flats and heels and, more incredibly, a necklace with a sapphire pendant with matching earrings. She had a fortune in her living room, a fortune in intimate gifts from a near-stranger.
    Ally set the fiery necklace down and backed away, moving off her seat on the floor to the safety of the couch. Putting distance between these presents and herself was only the first step. She had to find a way to return all of this.
    Focus. Think about Catherine. Do you want this in your life? What is important?
    “My career,” Ally said, aloud. She looked with regret on the ultra-feminine objects; it was so tempting…they were so beautiful…
    “But he is called the art world’s most toxic bachelor.”
    She quickly put everything back into its box and moved the parcels near the front door, as if waiting for someone to come pick them up.
    Out of sight, out of mind . But her apartment had already filled with the lush, intoxicating fragrance of the flowers, and there was nothing she could do about that.
    *
    She spotted Alec Albert and pointed him out to Mr. Roberts.
    “There,” she said. “Isn’t that him?”
    “It is. Go say hello.”
    Ally weaved her way through the crush of people in formal attire, men in tuxes, women in elaborate frocks, their hair coiffed to perfection, jewels glittering round their necks. Alec was wearing a tuxedo but with his shaggy dark hair and crooked, roguish smile, there was no mistaking him for an art snob.
    “Mr. Albert? May I introduce myself? My name is Allison Elizabeth, we spoke on the phone a few weeks ago while I was in St. Tropez.”
    “Ah, yes, of course, Ally. How lovely to meet you. I was just talking about you with a friend – Luc? Now where did he go…”
    Ally visibly blanched.
    “Never mind, I don’t know where the old dog has gone off to. I’m sure your boss is craving an introduction, is he not? Well then, let’s, shall we?”
    She steered him toward Mr. Roberts, whose eyes lit up like a lamp in a dark room and then excused herself to visit the ladies’ room.
    “Not looking for me, are you, ma petite ?” Luc’s voice breathed into her ear as she reached the perimeter of the gala