Love Dies Hard 4 - Book 4 (Billionaire Romance Series) (Hard to Love) by C.C. Cartwright
Authors: C.C. Cartwright
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Chapter 1
Sophie
After taking a month off and distracting myself with John, I manage to land a new money manager position at Bristol Investments, a competitor of Hunter Investments. They’re sending me to the Money Management Institutes annual convention in Las Vegas next week. John was going to join me, but the latest case he is on has him working 24/7 as usual and he can’t get away.
I take an early morning, short flight from LA to Las Vegas. Once I arrive, I take a cab to the Bellagio, the hotel the convention is being held at. I check in and go to my room to freshen up and am back downstairs and heading to the convention for our first meeting. I walk into the registration area crowded with everyone in business casual attire. As I approach the registration table I stop dead in my tracks. I would recognize his backside anywhere. I spot Marcus Hunter, larger than life, in all his handsome, charismatic glory standing three feet in front of me. Butterflies flutter in my stomach, not to mention the throb in my core, just from being near him again. My heart starts to race and my mouth goes dry. It never crossed my mind that he would fly all the way from London to attend. Just as I’m about to turn around and get as far away from him as possible, he turns and sees me standing there looking dumbfounded and flustered.
“Sophie Shawn, or do you have a different last name now?” he says with a scowl.
“Marcus, what a surprise seeing you here,” I reply coolly.
“Why wouldn’t I be here? I come every year,” he says, looking perturbed. I hold my head high, trying not to let him get to me. I walk up to the table to check in with a friendly looking gentleman. I’m now trying to ignore Marcus, but he continues to stand next to me, listening to my every word.
“Sophie Shawn checking in, I’m with Bristol Investments,” I tell the man.
“You’re working for Bristol now?” Marcus asks in a snarky tone of voice.
“Yes, do you have a problem with that?” I won’t ever back down to Marcus. What’s his problem anyway, can’t he just leave me alone.
“Bristol Investments is just our biggest competitor, that’s all. You’re not sharing any of our trade secrets are you?” he asks accusingly.
“I’m not even going to bother answering that question. Have a good day Mr. Hunter,” I say, gathering my welcome folder and thanking the gentleman for checking me in. I walk off to my first session not giving Marcus a second look as I weave through the crowd. I find the Versailles conference room where my session on Investing Wisely is being held and I take a seat towards the back. Once the speaker starts, I spot Marcus and Christopher, saunter in late. I duck behind some heads, hoping they don’t come and sit near me. I wouldn’t mind catching up with Christopher, but Marcus is a whole different story. They end up sitting a couple of rows in front of me. I have to admit, Marcus looks good as I study his shoulders that I’ve held onto for dear life so many times before, his neck that I’ve peppered with kisses and his ears that I’ve whisper naughty things into. Stop it Sophie, stop lusting, that ship has sailed and you’re a soon to be married woman. I glance down at the dazzling ring on my finger and play with it.
The session is taking a break for lunch and I high tail it out of here, before I get accosted my Marcus and Christopher. I manage to have lunch alone, seated with a group from another Bristol office. But after we return for the afternoon portion and we adjourn after 5:00, I’m not so lucky this time.
“Sophie,” I hear Christopher calling out to me from the crowd. I could pretend I don’t hear him, but that would be rude and I don’t want to be rude to Christopher, although I have no problem being rude to Marcus. I turn around and wait for them to catch up to me.
“Hi Christopher,” I say and he comes right up and gives me a hug. I don’t even meet eyes with Marcus, although I can tell
Sophie
After taking a month off and distracting myself with John, I manage to land a new money manager position at Bristol Investments, a competitor of Hunter Investments. They’re sending me to the Money Management Institutes annual convention in Las Vegas next week. John was going to join me, but the latest case he is on has him working 24/7 as usual and he can’t get away.
I take an early morning, short flight from LA to Las Vegas. Once I arrive, I take a cab to the Bellagio, the hotel the convention is being held at. I check in and go to my room to freshen up and am back downstairs and heading to the convention for our first meeting. I walk into the registration area crowded with everyone in business casual attire. As I approach the registration table I stop dead in my tracks. I would recognize his backside anywhere. I spot Marcus Hunter, larger than life, in all his handsome, charismatic glory standing three feet in front of me. Butterflies flutter in my stomach, not to mention the throb in my core, just from being near him again. My heart starts to race and my mouth goes dry. It never crossed my mind that he would fly all the way from London to attend. Just as I’m about to turn around and get as far away from him as possible, he turns and sees me standing there looking dumbfounded and flustered.
“Sophie Shawn, or do you have a different last name now?” he says with a scowl.
“Marcus, what a surprise seeing you here,” I reply coolly.
“Why wouldn’t I be here? I come every year,” he says, looking perturbed. I hold my head high, trying not to let him get to me. I walk up to the table to check in with a friendly looking gentleman. I’m now trying to ignore Marcus, but he continues to stand next to me, listening to my every word.
“Sophie Shawn checking in, I’m with Bristol Investments,” I tell the man.
“You’re working for Bristol now?” Marcus asks in a snarky tone of voice.
“Yes, do you have a problem with that?” I won’t ever back down to Marcus. What’s his problem anyway, can’t he just leave me alone.
“Bristol Investments is just our biggest competitor, that’s all. You’re not sharing any of our trade secrets are you?” he asks accusingly.
“I’m not even going to bother answering that question. Have a good day Mr. Hunter,” I say, gathering my welcome folder and thanking the gentleman for checking me in. I walk off to my first session not giving Marcus a second look as I weave through the crowd. I find the Versailles conference room where my session on Investing Wisely is being held and I take a seat towards the back. Once the speaker starts, I spot Marcus and Christopher, saunter in late. I duck behind some heads, hoping they don’t come and sit near me. I wouldn’t mind catching up with Christopher, but Marcus is a whole different story. They end up sitting a couple of rows in front of me. I have to admit, Marcus looks good as I study his shoulders that I’ve held onto for dear life so many times before, his neck that I’ve peppered with kisses and his ears that I’ve whisper naughty things into. Stop it Sophie, stop lusting, that ship has sailed and you’re a soon to be married woman. I glance down at the dazzling ring on my finger and play with it.
The session is taking a break for lunch and I high tail it out of here, before I get accosted my Marcus and Christopher. I manage to have lunch alone, seated with a group from another Bristol office. But after we return for the afternoon portion and we adjourn after 5:00, I’m not so lucky this time.
“Sophie,” I hear Christopher calling out to me from the crowd. I could pretend I don’t hear him, but that would be rude and I don’t want to be rude to Christopher, although I have no problem being rude to Marcus. I turn around and wait for them to catch up to me.
“Hi Christopher,” I say and he comes right up and gives me a hug. I don’t even meet eyes with Marcus, although I can tell
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