The Scandalous Billionaires Collection (14 page)

Suzy came shuffling back in holding a copy of
Hey There Magazine in her hands. Jason was on the cover. She held
it up next to his face and looked from one to the other.

"Oh my God." She repeated quietly. "It's
really him." She said Melissa. "I mean… is it really you?" She said
to Jason.

"Jason Demovic in the flesh Suzy. And it's a
pleasure to finally meet you." He leaned in and gave her a peck on
the cheek. She closed her eyes as though she were being transported
bodily to a higher plane of existence.

"Oh. My. God." She repeated.

"Are you hungry?" He asked.

"No. I'm just normal." She said. Jason
frowned in confusion.

"I mean, I'm not hungry for
you
. I'm
just normal hungry. For food. Not for you or for anyone."

There was deafening silence which Jason
filled gracefully with his most charming of smiles.

"Well that wasn't awkward at all." Melissa
said. "Why don't you get your coat Suzy, we're going out for
breakfast."

"Okay. Great. Wonderful. There's a Denny's
just down the street."

"Just grab your coat Suzy, I think Mr.
Demovic has other plans."

When they got to the five star hotel where
Jason frequently had a New York breakfast he was, of course, known
to everyone there. Melissa beamed with pleasure as she watched her
sister stare uninterruptedly at this mythical creature of her
highly restricted invalid's world that she, her big sister, had
somehow conjured into reality before her. She couldn't help but
feel a little proud of herself. After all, weirdness and potential
loss of career aside, he was pretty amazing. He carried off a full,
charming conversation focused almost exclusively on Suzy while the
star struck young woman barely uttered a word in response.

This was certainly the charming international
figure they had watched address the United Nations, but how could
she reconcile this man with the control freak who claimed to have
serious emotional issues but as yet refused to talk about them?

The more she thought about it the more she
relished the idea of finding out. She was even coming around to the
idea that without the constraints of a formal client-therapist
relationship to get in her way, she would be free to use more
interesting and unorthodox methods to get to the bottom of this
psychological mystery.

Hell, it could even get to be a whole lot of
fun if she allowed her imagination to run a little wild and maybe
that's what the new Dr. Melissa Price was all about.

"You were so sweet to that little girl in the
United Nations yesterday." Suzy was saying.

Melissa sat up straight. Suddenly her little
had found her voice but she was giving away too much already.
Melissa didn’t want Jason to know they had been watching him
together on the news and talking about him obsessively until the
wee hours.

"Suzy, please don't, you're going to
embarrass Mr. Demovic."

"Why the hell are you guys so formal with
each other?" Suzy blurted out. "Are you two old folks on a date or
not?"

Melissa and Jason exchanged an awkward
glance. Melissa looked speechless so Jason, in his gentlemanly
fashion, took the lead.

"We're just old fashioned Suzy. We need to
get to know each other a little better."

Suzy nodded but she didn't look
convinced.

"That little girl Kisima is really amazing."
He continued. "She made it all so easy for us. I was pretty nervous
going in there but she calmed me down."

"
She
calmed
you
down?" Suzy was
aghast. Melissa felt the same tug at her heart strings that had
made her cry as she watched the report on CNN. This humility
together with such arrogance in the same person… he was a mystery
alright, a mystery she wanted to fuck until it begged for
mercy.

But that luscious mouth that had been wedged
between her legs under an hour ago was still talking…

"Kisima is going to do very important things
in the world one day and I will be very proud to have played even a
tiny, tiny part in that story. You guys should meet her one
day."

"Could we?" Suzy gasped.

"Sure. Why not? Have you guys ever been to
Africa?"

"I'd love to go to Africa." Suzy said.

"Stop it Suzy." Melissa looked sternly at
Jason. "You know you have to focus on getting better before you can
think about things like that."

"Or Kisima could come here. " Jason
offered.

"And what about that painter lady?" Suzy
said, remembering her sister's interest in the august older woman.
"Could we meet her?"

"Fernanda?" Jason looked surprised. "Now I
get it. That's why you guys were tuning in. It wasn't to see me at
all, it was for Fernanda Salazar, Melissa's favorite painter."

"Oh my God, you know who Melissa's favorite
artist is? You are so awesome in every way."

"It's not that surprising Suzy, your sister's
office is plastered with reproductions of Fernanda's work and one
original too if I remember correctly."

Melissa didn't want to show it but she was
getting very interested. The prospect of meeting the great woman
was mouth watering to a degree only secondary to being boned into
extinction by Jason Demovic.

"Stop bothering Jason with all this Suzy.
Isn't it good enough that he's come to visit you and taken us out
for brunch in this wonderful restaurant?"

Suzy looked down to her meal and took another
slurp of her diet coke.

"Who's that skinny blonde with no panties
you've been dating?" Suzy said.

Melissa felt dizzy when she heard the words.
She mouthed Suzy's name with her lips but nothing came out. She
looked at Jason but he was cloaked in impassivity. Suzy looked as
though she had just weed herself in public.

"Suzy…" Melissa said weakly.

"It’s okay Melissa. I'm glad one of you
asked. You didn't tell me your little sister had this kind of…
chutzpah. Maybe once she gets better there might be a place for her
in the Demovic Corporation."

"No way." Melissa said, but the other two
ignored her.

"So who is she?" Suzy persisted.

"She's a friend and trust me that unfortunate
episode was a once off event. The poor girl had…"

The two women waited.

"…she had a bladder malfunction and had to
shed her underwear in the powder room. You can't imagine how
embarrassed she was. Of course Fame TV were there to catch it all.
I can't move in New York City without those guys getting it on
film. But look, the truth is that we are just friends and it was an
unfortunate incident. She's really just an ordinary girl--"

"Who reads the news on Channel 5." Suzy
finished his sentence.

"She's a journalist yes."

"Are you attracted to journalists?"

"Suzy. " Melissa hissed at her sister.

"It's okay Melissa, she can ask me whatever
she wants."

"In that case Jason, do you like my
sister?"

"Suzy! Stop it right now."

"It's really okay Melissa."

"Yeah, shut up Melissa, Jason says it's
okay."

"This is how you repay me?" Melissa glared at
her sister.

Suzy smirked.

"I like your sister a lot Suzy. She's really
uh… she has really helped me to relieve some enormous… let's say,
some enormous stress I was under."

"And she's hot too." Suzy took another slurp
through her straw, darting looks from one to other of the couple in
front of her.

Melissa fumed in tight-lipped silence while
Jason unleashed one of his incredibly sexy smiles and glanced
towards her.

"Yes." He said quietly. "Your sister, Dr.
Price, is most definitely very hot."

"That's it." Melissa stood up. "I'm not
hungry anymore. We need to get going and Suzy, you need to get some
rest."

"Don't be so bossy big sis, come on we're
just having some fun." Suzy smirked. It wasn't often she had this
kind of leverage over her big sister and she was thoroughly
enjoying it.

Jason looked at his watch.

"Unfortunately your big sister is right Suzy.
We do need to get going but we will certainly do this again some
time."

Suzy grinned at Melissa, ignoring her rage.
She was determined to do something nice for her big sister in
return for all the care and love she had showered on her since they
had lost their parents.

Melissa refused to smile back.

********************

On the return journey Jason was as charming
as ever, chatting to Suzy about the various famous people that he
was friends with while Suzy continued to shoot glances over towards
her sister as though to say, 'come on Melissa, he's gorgeous and he
wants
you!'. But big sister was having nothing to do with
it. Once they dropped off the excitable girl at her home they
returned to the limo where Jason held the door for her to get
in.

"I have some business to take care of Dr.
Price." He said. "I'll catch up with you soon. Don't forget the
rest of our agreement. You do whatever I want for the rest of the
day." His eyes were steely and cold.

Before Melissa could protest the door clunked
shut and the car took off. She watched him stand in the street next
her sister's house until the limo rounded a corner and then she sat
back to enjoy the ride wondering what other mind tricks the
billionaire would have up his sleeve before he would set her free
again.

Back on the side walk Jason watched the limo
go out of view, then turned back to Suzy's house and rang the
doorbell.

Suzy Price was still in a daze from her
amazing morning and this time she answered without a thought. When
she saw Jason Demovic in front of her she was nearly more shocked
than she was the first time she had opened the door to find him
standing there.

"Jason… Mr. Demovic. I thought you and
Melissa had a flight to catch?"

"We do Suzy. But I need a word with you
first. Do you mind if I come in?"

"In here?"

He nodded and smiled.

"It's kind of a mess. I'm sure it's nothing
like what you're used to."

"It's just fine Suzy. Charming even. I bet
you have a good eye for making interiors attractive and
comfortable."

She blushed.

"Can I sit down?"

"Of course."

He sat down and then waited for her to
follow. She continued standing in the doorway.

"Can you sit down too?" He asked.

"Oh, my God, of course, yes." She closed the
door and hurried to sit in front of him.

"I need a favor from you Suzy."

"From me? What could I possibly do for you
Mr. Demovic?"

"As it happens you’re in a position to really
help me a lot and it concerns your big sister."

"Melissa? Anything. Ask me for anything at
all."

"I want to help your sister but I don't think
she will accept my assistance easily."

"Boy do you have that right. Melissa won't
take help from anybody. Never has and never will."

"Is that so?"

"Are you kidding me? All she ever does is
help other people. Me included. She's been like my guardian angel
since the day I was born and since I got sick, well, she's been
there for me like no-one else has. I don’t even know how she pays
all my medical bills."

Jason's unflinching eyes watched Suzy's every
move, every tiny expression on her face.

"You love your sister very much." He
said.

"I would do anything for her."

"In that case you have to tell me what this
ethics committee case is all about."

Suzy froze. Sure she was in awe of Jason
Demovic but nothing could touch the loyalty she felt towards her
sister.

"That's kind of private Mr. Demovich."

"Call me Jason. Look, Suzy, I know it's
private and that's exactly why I need your help. If we want to get
your sister out of this mess she's in then I need to know exactly
what went on. Otherwise I'll be working in the dark."

"I'm not sure I can tell even you Jason.
Melissa would go crazy if she knew I had--"

"Suzy, this isn't a game. Your sister could
lose her license to practice, her career and ultimately her income.
It would mean she wouldn't be able to afford your medical bills
anymore. Do you understand that?"

"I realize that, but this is something top
secret. She hardly even speaks to me about it."

"Then just tell me what you know. Obviously
if she's told you something then it isn't confidential and you are
at liberty to pass it on. Right? She wouldn't tell you otherwise.
She's far too professional for that."

Suzy watched his lips, his eyes, his insane
good looks and the surreal nature of this celebrity sitting in
front of her in her own living room asking her for help swept over
her like an ocean swell.

She was entranced.

"I can help her." Jason pushed his advantage,
instinctively knowing that the girl was about to crack and give up
the information he was determined to get.

"Trust me." He said. "There is no one alive
on this planet who can do what I can in order to make sure that
your sister continues to be the very best psychoanalyst that she
can be."

Suzy still hesitated.

"You know who I am. You know I can help
her."

She wanted to believe him and she wanted to
believe that this man could become a part of their world for ever.
Since her parents had passed away she had felt so alone. She had
never connected with Conor, Melissa's most recent attempt at a
relationship and since she had become ill she hadn’t had much to do
with men of any kind either. Her last boyfriend had been okay until
her kidney failure but then he had gradually melted out of her
life.

She didn’t blame him.

With four days a week in the hospital and
exhausted most every other day there wasn't much she could offer a
guy. She knew also that her illness was the main reason that her
older sister had never been able to maintain a relationship
either.