Redemption (The Bet) (4 page)

Ellie frowned. "You're already rich and powerful."

"True, but his investment could mean better opportunities for Westport Industries. along with its employees. With him by our side, we could go global. He has a lot of pull in the international markets, one word from him and Westport industries. could be huge!" He said with fervor. “Just imagine, Ellie, if we get this deal I could give you the world if you asked for it. You would want for nothing. "

Ellie sighed, snaking her arms around his neck. "I already want for nothing. I have everything I could possibly want right here." Devlin dipped his head, feathering a kiss along her cheek, until finally claiming her waiting mouth.

"Come," Devlin said, breaking their kiss. "Come and sit I have a surprise for you." He guided her to the bed, sat her down and walked away.

Riffling
through the pockets of his suit jacket he returned soon after, something held tight in his fisted right hand. Looking all the worlds like man sentenced to death by guillotine, Devlin took a fortifying breath and fell to a knee before Ellie. The black velvet box he unfurled from his hand rested dead center in his palm.

Ellie's hand shot to her mouth, staring in
stunned silence at the marquise cut, canary yellow diamond ring glinting back at her from its velvet prison.

"I think I knew I would spend the rest of my life with you the moment I saw you in that classroom, Ellie. You're probably the closest I will come to perfection. Waking up to you, seeing your face every morning is a blessing I hope to never be without. I can't imagine life without you and the last three years of being with you has opened my heart to so many things. All of which I want to share with you for the rest of my life."

He nervously smiled, though his gaze remained locked with hers. Sincerity and love within every word he spoke. Taking the ring from the box, Devlin's hands noticeably shook. He took her left hand within his own. Soft, warm, welcoming, Devlin's held the ring over her ring finger. "Will you do me the honor of sharing life with me? Eleanor Holbrook will you marry me?”

She wanted this. A part of her was as sure of that as she was of her own name. So why then, Ellie wondered did she
hesitate. This was her happily ever after, provided to her by a handsome man who made prince charming seem like hopeless fop.

Devlin had all the makings of a fairy tale prince, perfect in all the ways that counted. And had there been a dragon that needed slaying in order to rescue his damsel, Ellie knew Devlin would've come running- broad sword in hand, battle cry at the ready. Sure he lacked the pristine button down ensemble that every prince worth his salt was warranted, but-finely bronzed skin was also acceptable. After all, Ellie was no blushing princess and damsel in distress she was not. So why then did she feel she needed rescuing at the present moment?

This is ridiculous, her mind cried, you're in love with this man. Start acting like it and say yes!

"Ellie..."

She stared owlishly. "I'm sorry what?"

Devlin gaped,
and then laughed disbelievingly, his nerves hooking him by the balls. "I've just asked you to marry me Ellie and you go into a daze."

The love and uncertainty radiating off him burnt Ellie's skin. She stood then, taking the sheet with her,
she began to pace. "Thank you…I mean, I'm flattered and happy that you've just proposed to me…"

"Ellie…
"

"I mean this is what I've wanted for so long and we can finally live and be together now...for the rest of our lives. An
d our mothers would be so happy because we're happy and my mom loves you, Dev, she does and…"

"Ellie....!"

"She's been nagging me to get you to ask the question for so long now and bam! You come in here, on Sophie's birthday no less and ask me to marry you. It’s great. I know it’s great…you’re great…"

Devlin did not bother calling Ellie's name
a third time. Instead he walked in her path, gathered her in his arms and kissed her words away. Kisses, in Devlin's experience were incredibly effective in staunching panic attacks.

"Wha…
?"

Devlin's laughter a deep hearty rumble reverberated against Ellie's chest. "Is that a yes?"

"Dev…"

"Say yes Elle and I'll spend every hour of the rest of our lives making you a deliriously happy woman."

Ellie bit her bottom lip her gaze flitted across Devlin's smiling face. Devlin was a good man. He was reliable, loyal, loving, doting, sweet, caring…and wasn't she doing a marvelous job attributing him to a dog?

Love shone in those
blue eyes like a beacon of a lighthouse, guiding Ellie through the fog of uncertainty and safely back to harbor. Devlin was her long awaited chance at happiness and Ellie knew she would be a fool if she allowed this chance to pass her by without seeing it for what it was. Ellie Holbrook had stopped being a fool ten years ago.

"Ellie?"

"Yes." She exhaled her answer in a great whoosh of air, as though someone had squeezed her stomach to release it from her lips.

"Really?"

She nodded. "Yes really. It would be my greatest joy in accepting your hand in marriage Devlin Westport." Devlin was her future and she would do well in keeping her mind from lingering too far into the past. The past was dangerous territory and Ellie was finished with dangerous.

She squealed and wrapped her arms around broad shoulders as Devlin scooped her up and twirled them around. "God Ellie!" Devlin breathed looking up at her, his own arms tightly wrapped around Ellie's waist as he held her above him. "You have made me the happiest
man on the planet! I love you! I love you so much." Ellie's body slide against Devlin's own, their nudity making the contact all the more delicious as their lips met in the sweet and lingering greetings of the affianced.

"It fits." Just as Ellie knew it would, the moment Devlin slipped it in place. Sh
e looked down at her left hand the golden flicker of light stroked and caressed the ring as a lover would. The diamond's facets gleamed approval like well satiated nymphs.

It was perfection in its entire grandiose lus
ter. A beautiful platinum ring that fit perfectly and left Ellie feeling as though she'd just committed the greatest sin of her life.

She took Devlin's hand with a smile and led them back to bed. "It's beautiful."

He joined her on the bed. Bringing her hand to his lips he kissed the back of her hand. "You’re beautiful," He had her where he wanted her and while she surrendered to the power of his kisses, he settled between her thighs. "And your mine."  The possessiveness of the words caused a shiver to run down Ellie's spine immediately followed by a gasp as Devlin sheathed the entirety of his impressive length to the hilt.

Devlin grunted and groaned above her and all Ellie could focus on was the strange ache she felt deep within her chest.

"I love you."

"I love you too, Dev."
The ache ebbed as she fully participated in the act of showing how much she loved this man whose wife she would soon become.

~*
~*~*~

Paris, France

It was said that when Alexander the Great saw the breadth of his domain, he wept for there was no more worlds to conquer. Nicholas Grayson did not weep. He did not celebrate. Alexander had been limited by land, Nicholas was not. The luxury of high-powered jet planes gave him freedom to search out new worlds to conquer, new acquisitions to possess. In no way did he deny the claims that he was a self-possessed megalomaniac, he was after all the son of the late Charles Grayson. But whereas those afflicted with his ailment rushed and brutalized their way to world dominion, Nicholas believed in more tactful maneuvers. Patience and avid research could go a long way in attaining whatever one needed. Attack the enemy from the inside out and then go for the jugular.

He
appraised the blustering man seated across from him. The mahogany veneer inlay conference table the only thing protecting Nicholas from the shower of spittle spilling forth from thinly lined lips. If he wasn’t careful, Nicholas dryly mused, the fat fuck would fall into an apoplectic seizure on his floor. His staff would no doubt want extra compensation after cleaning him off the floor.

"The offer is more than fair. Just think, filling for bankruptcy would be a thing of the past."

"You little shit…"

"Honestly Leland, let us not revert to childish name calling to settle this. I'm offer
ing you a chance to wipe the slate clean and start new with your family somewhere warm. I am by no means a philanthropist, but for you and your lovely wife…" here, eyes as chilling as fog stared up and he derisively grinned. "I am willing to make an exception and have my men escort you out of the country. Ten million dollars, yours to do with as you please."

"You can't do this! You're fucking blackballing my company
!"

"Sign the papers, Leland."

"I'm not signing a damn thing!" He stood from his chair and slammed his hands on the table, his rotund form causing the sleek high back to roll away. "You cocky little shit! You're not getting your hands on my company, not for as long as I live!"

Nicholas leaned back against his chair a
nd simply stared. "I'll make sure to keep your wife company at your funeral." Nicholas was a patient man. He hadn't worked his way to the top by being brash. Men like Marcus Leland only needed the right incentives to buckle. "Your daughter," He was by no means beneath good old fashion threats to get his point across.

Watery blue eyes glared daggers at him. "Stay the fuck away from her, Grayson."

Nicholas smiled blithely. "Extremely bright young woman, was just accepted to Stanford, yes?"

"I'm warning you,"

"It'd be a pity if her acceptance letter was to suddenly be a rejection. Negated by less than stellar GPA…"

"You don't have that sort of power."

"Try me. Be stupid enough to underestimate me and I promise you that your daughter's future will be reduced to neon lights and a pole." There was nothing like the aroma of victory to bolster one’s spirit. It was so much better than a good cup of coffee.

Cornered and not the least bit sure of how to get himself out of the situation Marcus Leland, owner of what had been one of the world's leading corporation in pharmaceuticals reclaimed his seat and picked up the pilot custom pen that was more than the average man's salary and quickly scrawled his name on the x marked line.

"Very wise of you."

"You get those men off my tail. I don't want them coming after me or my family. Where the fuck is my money?"

"With Vinny there." Nicholas cocked his head to where Vinny Valentino made the effort to blend in with the contemporary décor of the office. A black briefcase dangled from sausage fingers. "He will accompany you and your family to the airport."  Knowing he'd just been dismissed, Marcus muttered a few choice words under his breath while rising from his chair. With one last heated look for the dark haired man who'd quite literally just attained his company for pennies, Marcus spun on his heel and vacated the room, Vinny steps behind him.

Nicholas Grayson was as revered in the world of business as he was feared, for there was none more cunni
ng, more ruthless and merciless. His ingenuity was renowned, his persistence unmatched. Having proven a countless many wrong upon inheriting the majority of his father's shares in Grayson Corp, he'd gone on to amass a fortune of his own, expanding the Grayson Corporation to the point that it now surpassed its predecessor. The pursuit of greatness had been the driving force behind his success and remained still to this day. As empty as the rest of his life was, his work filled the gaping loneliness that at times threatened to suffocate Nicholas to an early grave.

~*~*~*~

"Strip." He said laconically
around the glass tumbler he held in his hand, his acute silver gaze assessing every detail. She was perfect. But then of course he'd known she would be. The right amount of money had assured that.

Her honey complexion
was flawless. Fine enough to run a tongue across. She had the walk down. The hair, the round face, the delectable mouth, she could almost pass for the real thing.

"Cheri," Her voice was silk on dick. She crept between Nicholas's parted thighs, naked except for the black, thigh length, lace trim stockings and matching stilettos. "Je vous ai manqué." Hazel green eyes, made pos
sible by contacts stared at him. Falling to her knees between his parted thighs a slow smile curved her sumptuous mouth.

Emilie
liked being on her knees and if she didn't? Who the fuck cared? She was getting paid quite handsomely to love being on her knees. Nicholas, many in the brothel knew was a well-paying client. Too bad for them that he always asked for Emilie.

"I missed you too.
" His dick missed her more, but Emilie already knew that.

Nicholas took a sip of cognac, the taste a welcomed comfort on his tongue. When
she reached for the tumbler, Nicholas gave it to her without much protest. He wasn't quite drunk yet, but he’d been making good headway. Through hooded eyes Nicholas sat back in the winged chair and watched his dick disappear between coral red lips slick with saliva. It was an incredible turn on.