Illusion (Billionaire in Disguise 2)

I saw Derek slump in his chair as I swallowed down my anger. Now wasn’t the time to get emotionally invested. Now was the time to get Derek to listen.

“Think of it as an elongated Vegas trip without the business meeting. Wherever you want to go. For a week or two, just like that. You could lie out on a beach somewhere with a drink or bask in a hot tub that overlooks a mountain scenery. Hell, we could get you somewhere that doesn’t have cell or internet service, and you could come off the grid completely for a week or two. But you need to do this. You need to go somewhere for a while and unplug.”

“I can’t, Sam. I can’t abandon my company like that during this time,” I said. “All of this is hinging on me.”

“No,” I said. “All of this is hinging on you trying to get things running as normally as possible. And right now, all you’re doing is sitting shirtless in your office starving yourself, not showering, and doing other people’s jobs because you feel like everything is spinning out of control.”

“Because it is, Sam!”

“That, Derek Steele, is why you have me,” I said.

His eyes rose to mine, and I could tell I was getting through to him.

“You have me for when things spin out of control, so you can do what’s necessary for yourself and your company. And right now? You’re doing neither of those things because, on top of all this paperwork, you’re also trying to do my job.”

I took Derek’s silence as him willing to listen to my advice.

“I’ll keep teams around your workplace and home to throw Jacob off. And I’ll send an entire team with you. Anywhere you want to go.”

“I don’t want an entire team,” he said.

“Fine. Then you can take whoever you want. John. Mackie. Dwight. Whoever.”

“You’ll be just fine,” he said as he turned back toward his desk.

“I’ll have to be here to coordinate the teams,” I said.

“Either you go with me, or I don’t go at all. Take your pick,” he said.

That sounded like the Derek I knew. But now, this meant I was relegated to taking yet another vacation with this man, this billionaire client-slash-lover-slash-whatever the hell else we were.

“Fine,” I said. “I’ll keep in contact with John, and he can coordinate the teams from here.”

“I’ll get us an itinerary, a flight plan, and a destination,” he said.

“Fine. Good,” I said. “And make sure you get yourself a shower too. And turn a fan on, Derek. Yikes.”

Then, I opened his office door, slipped out of the room, and sighed. I was going on another vacation with Derek Steele.

I made the decision to ignore how happy that made me and instead focused on the next plan of action.

Getting Derek through the night alive.

Chapter 7

Derek

I SPENT THE ENTIRE night shoving work to the side and planning this vacation for Sam and me. Once I could peel myself away from work, I saw the opportunity in front of me. This was a chance for me to impress Sam and show her what she could have when the two of us weren’t trying to save my company from ruin. I had a real chance to impress her, and I wasn’t skimping on anything. Everything for this weeklong vacation was going to be perfect.

Because that was the type of thing she deserved.

I placed urgent phone calls and shelled out all the money I needed to. I booked us a private bungalow on a small private island reserved for only the wealthiest in the world. It was right off the coast of Hawaii where the beaches were beautiful, and the sun would feel so good against our skins. I could have dozens of dresses and bikinis waiting for Sam when we arrived. She could indulge in satin sheets on the bed and the private hot tub that sat over the ocean.

It was going to be the vacation of a lifetime. A chance to really show her what I could bring to the table if she would only let me in.

I wanted a safe place, sure. But I also wanted Sam to have a good time. I knew I was wound up, and I knew I was diving into some unhealthy habits, but I wasn’t the only one. Ever since the sling had come off Sam’s arm, she had been taking way too many chances, moving it too much and starting back with her ridiculous workout schedule a little too early. I could see her wince in pain whenever she did some things, even though she tried to brush it off.

She thought I didn’t notice, but I did. This vacation would be good for both of us. It would take a load off our shoulders since we no longer had to look over them. Without the threat of someone chasing after us constantly, we could be ourselves.