Her Indecent Proposal (The BAD BOY BILLIONAIRES Collection) by Judy Angelo Page B

She couldn’t have
corporate secrets getting out like that.  If Sloane knew about it then who else
out there did, too?
    She gave him a pointed look.  “Sloane, answer me.  Why do you keep
asking how I’m doing?  What do you know that you’re not telling me?”
    His answer was to take her arm and lead her into the living room where
he pressed her down onto the sofa.  “We need to talk.”
    Melanie’s heart sank.  No conversation that began with ‘we need to
talk’ ever ended well.  Her heart thumping, she stared up into his face.  So
he’d found out that Parker Broadcasting had a division that was in a serious
financial crisis.  She was sure he was going to blast her about it but else was
he going to do?  Then a thought struck her, a really frightening idea.  Oh God,
what if he thought she’d demanded a baby and then married him because one of
her companies was in trouble and she wanted him to bail her out?  What if he’d
called her in here to tell her he wanted a divorce?
    She opened her mouth to speak, anxious to explain herself before he
started his reprimand, but she never got the chance.
    “There’s something you should know,” Sloane said, his face serious,
“something that could affect your safety.”
    Her safety?  Melanie tilted her head, confused.  That was the last
thing she’d expected Sloane to say.  “What do you mean?” she asked, watching
his expression change from concern to something like anger then back to worry. 
Something was definitely not right.  “Sloane, what is it?”
    He put his fist to his lips, his eyes thoughtful, then he sat down
beside her.  “Remember that woman we talked about?  Zena.  My ex.”
    “Of course I remember her.  What about her?”  If Sloane was now
going to tell her he suddenly realized he had feelings for his ex, she would
kill him.
    “She’s up to something.  I don’t know what it is, but she said
something that made me fear for your safety.”
    “My safety?”  Melanie gave him a puzzled look.  “She doesn’t even
know me...well, outside of the time she saw me at Patrick’s, but she acted like
I didn’t even exist.”
    “I know,” he said, “but she’s very much aware of your existence.”  His
look grew more serious.  “And that you’re my wife.”  He drew in a breath then
expelled it.  “She hates me and is bent on revenge but she wants to hurt me
through you.  I don’t know what she’s planning but I want you to be careful. 
Do you understand?”
    Melanie’s eyes widened but she nodded.  “Yes.  Do you…think we
should go to the police?”
    Slowly, he shook his head.  “I wish we could but right now it’s just
my word against hers.  She can deny everything I tell them.  And the worst part
is, I have no idea what angle she plans to come from.”  He reached out and took
her hand in his.  “I’m assigning a bodyguard to you from here on.”
    “But I don’t do bodyguards-”
    He put a finger to her lips, cutting her off.  “It’s
non-negotiable.  You are not leaving this house without one.”
    “Okay, if you say so…”
    “I say so.  Now come on,” he said, standing up and pulling her with
him, “let’s get you some dinner.  You must be starving.”
    That got her attention.  “You cooked.”
    He chuckled.  “I wish.  You know that’s not my thing.  But I did
order you something from Mango Bay Restaurant.”
    Immediately, her mouth began to water and she gave him a huge grin. 
“Curried goat?  Escoveitched fish?”
    He laughed as he led her toward the kitchen.  “I won’t spoil the
surprise.”
    And as Melanie followed him down the hallway she released a sigh of
relief.  It was obvious that Sloane knew nothing about her business disaster
with Rapid Films and she planned to keep it that way. 
    ***

 
    To Sloane’s relief, the days passed without any further sign of Zena
and no indication – so far – that Melanie was in any danger.  Still, he was not
taking any