HACKING THE BILLIONAIRE: Part 2 (2 page)

Riley woke up in the middle of the night because she’d been dreaming that she couldn’t breathe.

She couldn’t breathe, because someone was pressing a pillow on top of her face. She struggled and wriggled. Despite her injuries hurting, her instinct to live was stronger. She manage to get her face free and yell. The first words were croaked out.

The second words were much louder and the pressure was released from the pillow. “Get off me.”

Then the person was gone. She heard pounding footsteps down the hallway retreating from her room. Her heart raced as she caught her breath. A nurse hurried in. “Holy shit.”

The pillow had fallen onto the floor.

“What happened?” the nurse asked.

“Someone was holding a pillow over my face when I woke up.”

“Shit. Did you see them?”

“No, the pillow was in the way.”

She didn’t mean to be sarcastic, but she’d just faced death.

“Right. Sorry. I’m going to call security. Maybe someone saw the person on a camera.”

She left. Riley sat up. She wanted out. She moved herself to the side of the bed, then put down her feet. The room only spun a little. If she went slowly, she could get herself dressed.

Not knowing where her clothes were, she shuffled over to the closet. There they were. Neatly folded. She sat on the floor for a moment. Anyone would have thought she’d trekked to the top of Mount Everest.

She finally was able to stand and grab her clothes. The nurse rushed back in. “What are you doing out of bed?”

“I’m going home.”

“No, you can’t.”

“Yes, I can. I’m an adult,” Riley said.

She’d been making her own decisions for a while now. She wasn’t going to stop. Someone had tried to kill her, and she was getting out of here and someplace with a lock on it. Even if that was a hotel.

Except that now that she was back sitting on her bed, she couldn’t catch her breath.

“I’m calling Mr. Trent,” the nurse said.

“No, don’t call Mr. Trent.”

“Yes, I am. He insisted that I call him if something happened.”

“What about privacy for me as a patient?”

The nurse bit her lip. “This isn’t exactly your medical records. Stay here.”

The nurse left again. Riley put one leg in her pants then had to stop because the room went black. This was not going to happen quickly.

Before she could do anything else, a security guard strode into her room. No one had been here for hours, and suddenly she was the most popular person on the floor. The man had a gray uniform on, and his eyes were so dark she couldn’t see his pupils. What an odd thing to notice. He was around Riley’s age from what she could tell.

She just wanted to get dressed and go home. Or at least go somewhere else.

This place was dangerous.

“Miss, please get back in bed. I have some questions for you.”

She looked up at him. “Ask away. I’m not moving.”

“You look very white. I don’t want you to pass out.”

She sighed then sat a little farther onto the bed. She was not getting back under the covers. No way. That would be admitting defeat.

“What? I didn’t see the person. I didn’t smell the person. I have no idea who it was,” she said.

“The cops will want to ask you questions, too. You’ve answered all of mine.”

“Then please leave me alone to get dressed,” she said.

He nodded then backed out of the room. She shifted back to the edge of the bed, then put her other leg in her pants. Now she just had to stand up and pull them on. No problem. No big deal.

She stood and the room spun, but she held on, and her pants were on. She sat back down to catch her breath.

Dirk flew into the room. “What are you doing out of bed?”

“How did you get here so quickly?”

“I’m staying at the hotel across the street.”

She eyed him. He was staying across the street? For her? Jeez, he was too much. All that money must have addled his brain.

“I’m going home.”

“No, you’re not.”

“I have my pants on. All I need is my shirt. I can go without a bra.”

“Riley.”

“Just need a minute.”

“Riley, you’re pale and sweaty. I’m don’t think you should go anywhere,” Dirk said.

Maybe she shouldn’t. She lay back down, thinking she could just leave with the hospital gown on. Dirk sat on the edge of the bed. “Stay, sweetie.”

The idea sounded good. She would just take a nap, and then she’d leave. The bed dipped, then Dirk’s arms were around her. She felt safe for the first time in a while.

“Dirk?”

“Yes, honey.”

“Why were you staying across the street?”

“Because it would take too long to get back to my place, and I was going to visit you tomorrow first thing,” he said. “If you’re still insisting on getting out I’ll hire a nurse to be with you.”

“You’d do that for me?”

“Of course I would. I wouldn’t want to be stuck in a hospital either.”

She could hear her voice fading. “You’re a good man, Dirk.”

“Thank you, Riley. Now go to sleep.”

“The cops will want to talk to me,” she said.

“I won’t let them disturb you. I’m staying right here,” he said.

She smiled at the vibrations she felt through his chest as he spoke. “Right here?”

“Yes, right here. We’ll sleep here until the morning and no one will get you,” Dirk said.

“Promise?”

“I promise, I’ll keep you safe, Riley. You’ll wake up tomorrow and I’ll still be here.”

She yawned. “You are a good man, Dirk.”

“Remember that, Riley.”

“Hm.”

She didn’t remember the rest of the conversation.

***

Dirk woke before Riley, so he watched her sleep. Even with her mouth hanging open, she was still beautiful. He should run. Far and fast. Away from her, but he couldn’t. She was so different from the women he usually dated.

And he wasn’t really dating her. It was supposed to be pretend, and when the leaker was caught she’d move on. He’d go back to his models and airheads. Women who didn’t challenge him or his status quo.

Women whom he didn’t want to change for. Women so different from this gorgeous redhead currently in his aching arms. His hand had fallen asleep, but he had no desire to move. He wanted to capture this moment to have in his memory for when Riley was gone.

Which she would be. She wouldn’t put up with him for too much longer. Just until the leak in his company was plugged. She had a job to do. She’d be on to the next one soon enough.

He brushed a hair out of her face. She murmured in her sleep. At least he’d made her feel safe enough to go back to sleep. No one had bothered them. The nurses must have known that he wasn’t leaving her, so they didn’t even try to kick him out.

Not being family, he figured he shouldn’t have been allowed to stay. He would have negotiated with them to be here for Riley. Wasn’t necessary.

He smiled at Riley. How had this woman wormed her way into his heart?

She stirred, her eyes opening with a snap. “You’re staring at me.”

“Yes, I am.”

“Can I go home now?”

“I don’t know what the doctor has to say about it, but I’ll do my best. Either way, I’m hiring you a bodyguard.”

She frowned. “I don’t like that idea.”

“Riley?”

“Hear me out.”

“Go ahead,” he said, but he wasn’t convinced that he would like what she had to say.

“Last night scared me. I’ll admit it.”

“Then?”

He looked at her, hoping she would return to his place.

“I’ll move back in with you.”

“Why do I sense there’s a ‘but’?”

“Because there is. Why not use me to flush out whoever this is? We can then find the evidence if I know what I’m looking for.”

Use her as bait? Put her in danger? “No. Absolutely not.”

He shifted out of the bed, taking back his asleep and aching limbs. Her brow knit.

“I can do this without your permission,” Riley said.

“I can also find another company to take over this job.”

“Why would you do that? Clearly I’m getting close.”

“No. I forbid it.”

She sat up, then cringed. She took a few deep breaths. “You don’t get to forbid it. I’ll talk to my boss, and he’ll agree with me.”

“No. I’m the customer and I’m right,” Dirk said.

In no universe would he let Riley become bait. That would be even more dangerous than it was now.

“Then I’m not moving back in with you. I’ll go somewhere else. A hotel or something, but I’m not moving back in with you if you don’t let me do this.”

He sighed. Damn, she was a good negotiator. “That’s emotional blackmail.”

“Whatever it takes. Right? Don’t you use all the tools in your box to get what you want?”

Beaten at his own game. “How do you propose to do this?”

“I haven’t thought that through, but I’m sure between Joan, my boss, and me, we can figure this out.”

“I need to approve the plan. It is my company,” he said, using the only leverage he had left. He could fire them. He would, too, if Riley was going to put herself in danger.

“I can’t argue with that, except that I think you are going to veto any plan we come up with,” Riley said.

She was looking pale again, and as much as he didn’t want to argue with her, he wasn’t letting this one slide.

“You don’t look like you’re ready to leave.”

“You’re changing the subject.”

“I didn’t realize there was anything else to talk about. You’re moving back in with me and I’m hiring you a bodyguard for when you go out. If you come to me with a good plan then I’ll agree to it.”

He crossed his arms, signaling that he wasn’t arguing about it.

“Fine. Now, go find me my breakfast, and you probably need some too.”

He smiled then kissed her nose. “I’ll be right back.”

She smiled at him as he left. He found a nurse at the desk in the middle of the floor. “When’s breakfast?”

“They’ll be around in about a half an hour.”

“Can you keep an eye on Miss Adams? She might do a runner while I go get my breakfast. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

The nurse smiled. “She isn’t your wife?”

“No, she isn’t.”

“We just assumed. Not sure I can let you stay tonight,” the nurse said.

He frowned. “Hopefully I don’t need to stay, but I will be getting a guard for her room. The security in this hospital is not good enough.”

The nurse shrugged. “You’ll have to clear it with our security first.”

“I’m sure if I make a donation to the hospital they’ll let me do whatever I want.”

“Money talks.”

He arranged for a bodyguard while he looked for the cafeteria. Once he secured one and his breakfast, he returned to Riley’s room. She was wolfing down her food.

“Your bodyguard will be here in half an hour. I have to go to the office for a chunk of the day then I’ll be back.”

“A bodyguard, huh?”

“Someone tried to kill you last night, Riley. This game has gotten too real. You’re in danger and I want to protect you.”

She didn’t argue. Guess that death threat had scared her. He hadn’t thought that anything scared Riley.

“Okay.”

“Good. Now, let me eat my breakfast. You want anything?”

“My laptop.”

“No work until you are completely healed. Client’s orders.”

Riley chafed at having a bodyguard, but she wouldn’t be able to implement her plan if she didn’t let him stay. At least, that’s what Dirk had threatened.

She waited, fully clothed, on her hospital bed. The hospital was letting her go today. She had her purse in her hand. Her bodyguard sat outside. The hospital hadn’t been happy about his presence, but knowing Dirk he threw some money around and made it all better.

She chuckled at the idea. They were probably naming a wing after him as she sat here. He never threw around a little money. It was always a lot. Her heart raced with anticipation of leaving this place.

She’d been ready for an hour even though she knew he wasn’t going to arrive. The place had been noisy and someone had tried to kill her. The nurse came in with her discharge papers. She glanced around.

“I’m not giving you instructions until Mr. Trent is here.”

“He isn’t related to me.”

“But he is going to make sure you follow these. I can wait for him or give him a copy of them. Your choice. Either way he’s going to know what you are supposed to do.”

Riley frowned. “I’m an adult.”

“You didn’t act like one when you tried to leave here before you were ready. Which will it be? Do I wait for Mr. Trent or do I give him a copy?”

She sighed. “Wait for him.”

She didn’t appreciate being treated like a child. She’d been on her own making decisions for herself for a number of years now. Having to rely on someone and having to take them into consideration chafed at her.

She was an independent woman. The nurse left her fuming. It wasn’t the nurse’s fault. She’d bet Dirk had harassed them. Or charmed them. He had that way about him. She smiled at the thought.

Finally Dirk arrived. “You ready to go?”

“No, I have to get my discharge instructions. She wouldn’t do them without you.”

“You don’t seem happy about that.”

“You aren’t my spouse.”

He smiled at her. “The reason they are letting you loose is because I said I’d take care of you personally. So you need to thank me.”

Now she was beholden to him. Shit. She didn’t want that. He would hold that over her. Just when she thought she was getting ahead of him, he was in front of her. He was so much better at this than she was. She frowned.

“Cheer up. You’re getting out of here.”

The nurse bustled back in. “Good morning, Mr. Trent.”

Sure, she was all smiles for Dirk. This was what life would be like with him. At least their relationship had an expiration date. This would get annoying long-term.

She sat on her bed. “I’m ready.”

The nurse took the other chair while Dirk sat next to Riley.

“Your head may hurt for a few days or a few weeks.”

“A few weeks?” Riley said.

That was going to suck.

“Yes. You can’t rush recovery. It will take as long as it takes. You had a concussion. That’s serious,” the nurse said. “You have to rest. You might sleep a lot. You aren’t being lazy. You’re healing.”

“She’ll rest. I’ll make sure of it,” Dirk said.

Riley knew he would. If he had to tie her down. She would have to rest. But she would get to choose the clothes she rested in. It would be sweats for days at this point. This was her bright spot.

No acting dumb. No acting like an airhead, but no freedom either. Double-edged sword for sure.

“I’ll rest.”

The nurse and Dirk exchanged a look. She didn’t like that. Once again, she was being treated like a child.

“I will rest. Okay?”

“Fine,” the nurse said. “No alcohol. You’ll have to follow up with your doctor in a week. If he clears you then you can resume normal life.”

“Okay.”

“Sign here.”

The nurse handed her a pen, and she signed the paper. Then she brought a wheelchair in.

“I can’t walk out of here?” Riley said.

“No. Hospital policy.”

Riley frowned, but sat in the chair. Dirk pushed her to the front door, where his driver and her bodyguard awaited.

“The bodyguard still?”

“Yes. Not only is he for you when you go out, he’s here for when I can’t be.”

“Are you at least getting me some lunch?”

“Of course you’re hungry. We have food at home. My chef is ready for us. I’ll text him when we’re close.”

She eyed him across the back of the car. “Then what?”

“We’ll rest.”

The bodyguard, Kent, sat in the front seat, but she got the impression that he knew everything that was going on around him. He was a large man. His neck circumference was probably more than her thigh.

When they arrived at Riley’s place, the bodyguard went in first. He came out with a grim expression on his face. Not that his usual expression was that cheery.

He motioned for Dirk to get out of the car. Riley climbed out also. This was her place. Her original place, not even the one that Dirk had rented for her. That was next on the list so she could gather her things.

Dirk nodded then turned to Riley. “Your place has been ransacked.”

“What the hell?”

She walked to her front door, her heart racing. Dirk took her hand as she entered her small apartment. It had been ransacked. Her furniture had been torn up. Any drawers had been pulled out and upended.

Her one vase had been smashed. She turned and put her face into Dirk’s chest, but she refused to cry. She was tougher than that.

She would have been fine, except that Dirk wrapped his arms around her. He held her close, and she knew his arms were a haven. Part of her brain didn’t want her to take his help, but her heart needed someone to lean on.

The tears started slowly. Then came in a rush. The front of his shirt was soaked.

“I’m here, Riley.”

She knew that. With all of her being, she knew that he was here for her. The only question was for how long.

***

Dirk held Riley the whole way back to his penthouse.

“I’ll have someone get your stuff from the other apartment. You’ll have all of your stuff. We’ll worry about replacing everything you lost, but that’s for another day.”

At least she finally understood that she was in danger. She had to understand why he didn’t want her to be bait. These were white collar criminals, but they could be just as ruthless and violent as street criminals.

Why he’d been targeted he would never understand. He did think it was an inside job, but he would be hard-pressed to know who would hate him and his success this much. She finally stopped crying. She just remained limp in his arms.

She moved when they pulled into the garage under his building.

“I’m sorry,” she said in the elevator.

Her bodyguard had gone ahead to check out the apartment before he send the car back down for them.

“For what?”

“For losing it like that.”

Her nose was still red and her eyes bloodshot. She still looked beautiful. Damn, this was going to suck when she left.

He took her in his arms. “You are allowed to lose it once in a while. No one can be strong all the time.”

“You are.”

“I’m not.”

She hadn’t seen him when he couldn’t find her. And then again when he found out someone tried to kill her. He’d been out of his mind and not a pleasant person to be around. He’d have to apologize to Joan.

He’d send her flowers.

“It’s been a tough few days, and seeing your apartment wrecked was your tipping point,” he said.

“Still. I haven’t cried like that in years.”

“Then you were due.”

The fell into a silence as the floors ticked by.

When the car came to a stop, the doors opened. Kent stood there. “All clear, Mr. Trent.”

He preceded them into the apartment.

“You can have the night off, Kent. I’ll be with Miss Adams for the rest of the night, but I’ll need someone tomorrow while I’m at work.”

“Really? While I’m at home?”

“What if you want to go for a walk?” Dirk said.

“Okay.”

“Someone will be here by seven, Mr. Trent.”

He left. Dirk turned to Riley. “Hungry?”

“I am. Something smells good.”

“I think Chef left us a casserole and a salad for lunch,” Dirk said.

Riley followed him into the kitchen. “Hospital food sucks.”

“I’m sure.” Dirk pulled the casserole out of the oven, where it was warming. “Go sit at the counter.”

She slid onto a stool at the island. Dirk set the table. “How is your head feeling?”

“Not that bad at all. I’m a little sleepy, so I’ll probably take a nap after lunch.”

“You want to watch a movie?”

“You’ll watch with me?”

“Yes.”

“Then you have to wear sweats so we can spend the day comfortable.”

He put a dish with food on it in front of her then looked down at his outfit. “What’s wrong with this?”

She laughed. “Comfortable. Meaning sweats and a t-shirt. Lounging on the couch. Do you know how to lounge?”

He wasn’t sure what that meant, since he was almost always working or going on dates. He’d never had a girlfriend just come and hang out. “I don’t know.”

They ate, then Dirk cleaned up.

“Go find a movie. I have Netflix and pretty much any movie streaming app or service there is,” he said.

He found her on the couch in sweats. When had she changed? She eyed him. “Change.”

He came back when he found some sweats at the bottom of his drawer. “Better?”

“Better. What kind of movies do you like?”

“I don’t usually watch movies. You pick. Today is all about pampering you.”

She gave him an odd look, but he didn’t care. He was happy she was okay and he was happy she was staying with him. She’d be safe and he’d be here to take care of her. And when she was all better, he’d get that girl naked.

“A chick flick it is.”

“No science fiction?”

“Maybe the next one.”

“The next one? We’re watching more than one movie?”

“I’m supposed to rest, right?” she said.

She had a point. Watching a movie would be resting. He couldn’t argue. “Okay, then. A movie-watching day it is.”

He settled next to her, and she snuggled up to him. His dick might explode, but she wasn’t ready for sex. He was not going to push the issue. When she was better, they were having a marathon session.

That was a promise.

“So what are we watching?”

“A romantic comedy about a dog who helps make two people fall in love.”

“A dog?”

“He’s a cute mutt. Black hair and just a little white on his chest. Floppy ears.”

“You’ve seen this before?”

“Just bits and pieces. It’s always on network television, but I’ve never been able to watch the whole thing. Today I can.”

He snugged her up against him, kissing the top of her head. “I feel like we need popcorn.”

“We just ate lunch. Next movie will require popcorn.”

“Okay. Let me know if I break any rules.”

“No rules besides sweats.”

The movie started. “Do you do this often?”

“Only when I’m sick. My mother used to do it for me when I was home sick when I was little.”

“I didn’t get sick much, so I don’t have memories like that.”

It had been the first time she’d mentioned a parent. He knew they were gone, but he didn’t know how. Not going to ask now. So he settled in to watch the movie. He laughed along with Riley, and then at the end of it she fell asleep.

He escaped to get some work done, but chose to stay in his comfortable clothes. Maybe he’d underestimated the comfort level of sweats. Not that they’d ever be part of the dress code at his company.