Movie Merger (Bad Boys Billionaire Bachelors Club #2) (12 page)

“I hope that cellar door is unlocked now. All my…exercise…has made me hungry and exhausted.” I smiled, winking at Marshall. Thankfully the door was unlocked. We quickly got dressed and made our way upstairs to see that everybody was gone. In the kitchen there was a note on the counter. It read:

Marshall and Becca,

We’re glad to see that you two “friends” had so much fun today and stopped being so stubborn. The only thing we are ALL curious about is what time it’ll be when you get this note. For the record, the door was unlocked by 3 p.m.

Thanks for the hospitality and we all hope you two stop being so stubborn and admit you got something special started!

Sophia, Mandi, Sergio, and Andre

PS: The guys want you to know that the brilliant cellar idea was definitely the ladies!

Marshall and I couldn’t help but laugh at the message. Indeed their plan had worked for today, but I still didn’t know what the future would hold for us or if we were prepared to admit anything. One thing I couldn’t deny was that I’d had an incredible Sunday and it defined what amazing sex was in my eyes.

“Well, I’d better get going. See you bright and early,” I said.

“Let me walk you out to your car. Can’t wait to see you tomorrow, friend.”

“You either, friend.”

We laughed and off I went in my little Audi, hauling it home and hoping that I’d be set to go. It was hard to think of business though when the taste and touch of Marshall lingered all over my body.

Chapter 18

I was ready to go and back at the office by 7 a.m. feeling more alive and determined to stop the merger than ever before. In the back of my mind I was still beaming from the day before and it energized me to give the impending meeting my all.

“This is it. The day has come, the day you hired me for,” I said to Marshall when he came downstairs. “Are you ready?”

“Yes, I am. And you?”

“I am. Marshall, I finally got the final pieces to the puzzle I was waiting for last night to solidify all this and have it make sense. It was on my email when I got home.”

“Hopefully you got some sleep,” Marshall commented, looking concerned.

“I got enough. I’m pretty energized today,” I said.

“So, you don’t regret yesterday, Becca?”

“Not one single bit of it,” I replied.

“Good,” Marshall said, his face full of concern as he searched my face. “Because I certainly didn’t, Becca. Not at all.” He paused, while looking at my lips and eyes, clearly wanting to kiss them. But he held back. “So, what did you find out?”

I went on to tell Marshall about how the executives at his studio had definitely been playing his father and had plans to boot him out of the picture once the merger was complete. They’d taken advantage of a sickly man and the hopes that his son would be clueless when it came to business. All of that was done in exchange for them being offered high stock options and fatter salaries at the new studio that would be formed after the merger.

Marshall was shaking his head, not even looking bothered by it. I had to give him credit. It took a strong confident person to not feel angry about someone attempting to play them for a fool.

I finally asked, “So, how do you want to approach this? At the meeting or before the meeting?”

“I think we should go for the gusto and do it at the meeting. I want to see their faces when they realize that we’ve found out their agenda; plus my security guards can be there to escort them off the property.”

“Okay, that’s the plan then,” I said.

Three hours later, we were sitting in the conference room at the office and four very uncomfortable Foothill Studio executives were sitting next to an attorney and two other very uncomfortable executives from Silver Fern Productions.

I just sat there, not having to say a word. I had just handed a document to everyone when Marshall referenced it. It was exciting watching them squirm, and I was glad to see them get busted for what they’d attempted to do. It served them right.

The attorney for Silver Fern Productions and the Foothill executives said that he’d be starting legal repercussions for backing out of the deal immediately. It was clear that he didn’t want to get busted for helping a shifty deal take place and was covering himself. The executives looked at him, clearly indicating that he’d better sit back down.

“Can I have a few minutes with my clients,” the attorney asked.

“Certainly,” Marshall replied. Marshall and I got up and went out into the hallway while they talked.

“I’d love to hear what they’re saying in there,” I said.

“Trying to save face. Something like this getting out in public doesn’t work well in this industry. They’d never work again if they were found out. All of them are too young for retirement yet.”

The attorney opened the door and gestured for us to come in. We sat back down and he began to state demands like he’d just won. “We need a severance package of twelve months pay with full benefits for the Foothill executives and a non-disclosure agreement of the details of this failed merger for everyone. Deal?”

Marshall turned to me. “Becca, why don’t you handle this?”

“I’m afraid that won’t work. We clearly have a case here that shows ill intent and deceit. If anything, all of you should be covering the legal expenses that came with this entire merger and the research of its validity. I believe that you’ll be content with an agreement of silence so your clients, the former executives of Foothill Studios, will have a chance of working in the movie industry again. Plus, there will also be a silence agreement against any hostile talk or mention of disdain against Marshall Kent and Foothill Studios.”

“Why, that’s preposterous,” the attorney stated. I could tell that he saw his hefty commission slipping away.

“You have five minutes to decide. Take it or leave it and we’ll see where things fall,” I said. I stared at him and he looked to the eyes of his five clients and they all looked back at him, communicating with the fear in their eyes.

“You have a deal. Have the document to my office by morning.”

“Actually, I have it here right now so you can take this and read it, have your clients sign it, and then have it back to us by morning. If we don’t receive originals by 10 a.m. we’ll take that as a sign of forfeiture and begin legal proceedings.”

I got the last word, nobody else said anything else. The attorney and his clients filed out of the room like they were children who had just gotten reprimanded by the teacher. Marshall watched them with a coy smile on his face.

The second they were out the door he ran up to me and hugged me tightly. “You are one beautiful, smart, and brilliant woman. That was amazing. Couldn’t have done it better myself.”

“Thanks. My heart is pounding like crazy. I’ve never done anything like that before. It felt pretty good.”

“It was amazing. I hope I’m never on the receiving end of it,” Marshall laughed. “Now, it’s time to celebrate. Nothing else matters today. You’ve saved me millions, perhaps billions, and my studio. What would you like to do?”

I pretended to think about it, knowing exactly what I wanted to do. “Well, I’ve seen your wine cellar now and was quite impressed with it. I was wondering what your bedroom looked like?”

Marshall laughed, not wasting a moment to sweep me up in his arms and carry me from the office all the way to his house behind it and up to his room. He threw me on the bed, stripped down, and introduced me to a new day full of exciting sex with him. He was by far the best friend I’d ever had, and I was going to enjoy this friendship for all it was worth.

Chapter 19

That night, as our celebration wrapped up, and Marshall and I were lying there, and we’d eaten some food and were just talking, winding down from an incredible day, I could tell something was on his mind. “What are you thinking about?” I asked, running my fingernail down the curves of the six packs on his chest.

“I have a confession,” Marshall said. I looked at him, hoping that things weren’t going to suddenly get crazy again. Yet, something in his eyes seemed so relaxed that I knew I didn’t have to worry.

“Confess away then,” I answered, sitting up a little more.

“Well, that day when we had our interview you immediately intrigued me. I could tell that you were more than just smart and that you didn’t just settle for anything. It was so new and refreshing to me that I did a little research.”

“What do you mean…research?” I asked.

“Well, after you stormed out of the restaurant and I watched you cross that busy street in a huff I just had to know more about you. I called Sophia and asked a lot of questions.”

“What type of questions?”

“I wanted to know about your relationship status. She told me about the guy who’d hurt you pretty badly, and how it had really messed with your emotions, even your judgment of a good guy from one who could be a real jerk.”

“Oh, okay,” I replied. I couldn’t complain about that because I’d certainly done my best to find out a lot of information on Marshall myself. It was my way of trying to get a grasp on his unique and strong personality.

“I also learned that you tend to like guys that are harder to get. You’re used to getting a lot of attention from men, and that seemed to bore you. You’re a woman who likes a good challenge.”

“Is that why you’ve been putting me through the ringer with some of these things?” I asked.

“Well, a bit,” Marshall said, shrugging his shoulders. “I just didn’t want you to automatically rule me out if I seemed too interested.”

“And that had nothing to do with guarding your own emotions?” I replied. I was smiling. It was actually very sweet and enduring to me.

“Well, of course that was a benefit. With everything I do I must see some sort of benefit. That’s just me.”

“And one of the things I absolutely admire in you,” I replied.

Marshall smiled, tucking my hair behind one ear before continuing to open up to everything that was on his mind at that moment. “I also want you to know that I am willing to wait for you in a physical sense if that’s what you’re comfortable with. I understand.”

“Well, it’s a bit late for that, wouldn’t you say? We’ve already gone beyond that point, I’m happy to say.” I knew that Marshall was trying to show that he was reasonable and wouldn’t jump to a bad conclusion if I said no to intimacy. It was such a kind gesture and certainly a sign that he was trying to open up to me more. I leaned in to kiss Marshall and replied. “I’ll let you know if I think we need to take it slower in the physical arena. You let me know the same too, okay?”

“I don’t think you’ll be hearing any suggestions from me. I find you rather refreshing and arousing, my lovely Becca.”

“I just don’t want any games. Whatever is going to happen needs to be real because I can’t stand the games. I’ve always tried to avoid them…not that it’s always worked.”

“Deal. I’ll try the same,” Marshall said before adding, “This is scary ground, you know?”

“I know.”

“Will you sleep over? In the morning I can take you to get some clothes. But I really want to be with you, be close to you. Why don’t we take a few days off? I have a beach house at my disposal from a friend. Sounds good?”

“I think I can manage that.”

“Excellent,” Marshall said. With that, the two of us fell asleep in each other’s arms and woke with the first light of day. I hadn’t felt better than what I did at that moment in a long time.

Chapter 20

I couldn’t deny it. I was excited to have a few days with Marshall all to myself away from everyone else’s prying eyes. It was a real chance for us to get to know each other better in every way.

The beach house didn’t disappoint either. It was fantastic and gorgeous, located just off the Coast Highway in Malibu. It was all white, with sliding doors that opened up to allow the air from the nearby ocean in. Everything was meticulous, beautiful, and relaxed eloquence. This was the type of place I could get used to. I was so curious about who owned it, but all Marshall would say was a friend in response. I decided to leave the subject alone.

I looked out the back balcony on the second floor, which overlooked a private beach. There were no neighbors in sight and I was impressed with the privacy that this house offered. It was something pretty rare to find in the area and whoever owned the house had definitely found a rare property.

“The sun feels so great,” I said. “I suggest we relax in a bit and enjoy this beautiful day, Marshall. What do you say?”

“Whatever you like. Let’s get changed.”

“I don’t need anything else,” I said, slowly peeling off my sundress and sandals, showing that I just had some panties on underneath it. “This is how I plan on laying out. Those tan lines can be so bothersome, don’t you think?”

“Just another sign of your brilliance,” Marshall said, staring hungrily at my breasts.

We went out onto the balcony and lay down, bringing only our bodies and suntan oil with us.

“Let me get your back,” I said. I straddled Marshall, rubbing the oil into his skin and giving him a slight massage while doing so.

“That feels so good,” he mumbled, his head half buried into the lounge chair.

“I couldn’t agree more. We’d hate for you to get burned, wouldn’t we?”

“Indeed,” he said.

I rubbed the oil in deeply and kept working my way down, kissing his sexy and hard butt as I went down. I gave it a little nibble and growled, causing Marshall to jump a bit and me to laugh. “Now that I know you like to bite, Becca, that’s given me some ideas.”