Priceless: Contemporary Billionaire Romance Novel by Aria Hawthorne Page B

directly at him,
expecting an explanation.  There was only callousness in his eyes.
     “Do
the deal with Harvey,” Miles finally said, his tone simmering with anger as he shoved
the contract across the island to call her bluff.  “I’m not interested in jumping
in front of that train wreck.”
     “Oh,
Brax,” Gillian forced a nervous laugh, as if she recognized the rage in his
eyes.  “You’re always so dramatic about these things.” She attempted to spark a
friendlier mood, but it was in vein.  He was done with her games and he was
done with her.
    “If
you’re looking to fleece someone, then it looks like you’ve found your match.  Good
luck getting good customer service from Harvey Zale.  Now, get the hell out of
my apartment and leave the elevator access card behind on your way out.”
    Gillian
glared at him, her weight shifted onto one heel.  She gathered up her purse,
rifled through it, and tossed a gold-toned card onto the island.  Then, she
slid the contract into her hands and glared at Miles with one final challenge.
    “You’ll
regret this Brax.  I’ll personally make sure of it.”
    “Maybe,”
he shrugged, certain she would make good on her promise. “But you’ll find that
Harvey Zale’s a lot rougher and dirtier in bed.”
    Gillian
smirked with artificial amusement.  Then, she swaggered into the open elevator
and pressed the call buttons with a
click, click, click
of her fingernails. Miles did not look back.  Instead, he waited and listened
for the floor chimes to signal that he was shutting her out of his life for
good.
    Juvenile and crude
. 
It was always the same.  That’s what Gillian inspired in him, and that’s what
his materialistic world—a world of narcissistic negotiations and vengeful
power-plays—expected from him.  Money and power.  Domination and control.  Conceit
and ego.  Moral corruption and bitter emptiness.
     
Miles picked up the gold-toned
access key card and peered at it.  Then, he glanced at his watch.  He would
have to wait patiently for another three hours before he would have the chance
to see Maribel again.  And then, he wanted nothing more than to put everything
out of his mind, and himself and the promise of joy in his life.

Chapter Nine
     
    Maribel
didn’t mean to end up in the lingerie section of the department store during
her lunch break.  She drifted there unintentionally when she was wandering through
the aisles, wondering about whether or not she was going to see Miles tonight.  Was she prepared to spend the night with him—in his bed?   Maribel wasn’t
certain.  One moment, she trembled with excitement and anticipation.  The next
moment, she worried that everything was moving too fast, and perhaps it would
be wiser, simpler, more sensible to return to her apartment to let things cool
off.  She didn’t even have any extra clothes with her, and now, she realized
her black nylons were snagged along the ankle.  The realization forced her to
the hosiery rack where she passed through the lingerie and skimmed over the
matching bra and panty sets that she never considered buying for herself—until
now.
    Maribel
had never worn underwear in any color other than black and white.  She always
noticed and admired the other colors, especially the sensual violets, coral
pinks, and crisp fuchsia bras and panties.  But for Maribel, shopping for
lingerie no man would ever see wasn’t fun—it was discouraging.  She generally
avoided the whole section except when she was asked by Thomas to fill-in for Crystal. 
Now, as Maribel lifted up a packet of black nylons, her eyes flowed across the
colorful collection of revealing silk chemises, leopard-print push-up bras, and
French-cut panties.  Her eyes settled on a siren red strapless corset and
matching garter thong.  She never thought she would ever have the desire or confidence
to wear something that risqué in front of anyone—not even her own
reflection.  Today, however, was