The Setup (The Dark Billionaire, #1) by L.N. Pearl Page A

magazines and websites. And recently, the endless exchanges with Mike from his insurance company.
    As if he could read her mind, he asked, “Did you deal with the insurance? For the Lamborghini?”
    “Yes, he called this morning. They won't cover it. They said the crash was your fault since you were drunk.”
    Bruce Wilson raised a hand in the air, visibly upset and irritated. “Aw shit... I wasn't even drunk, I was pissed. Just had one glass of wine, come on. And it was raining that night. I just lost control,” he said, frowning and lost in his thoughts.
    “I’m just repeating what Mike said,” Jennifer replied, cautious. She didn’t want to start an argument; not now. She had better things to do, like for example, checking the maps of all the islands she was going to explore.
    “Yeah, yeah, I know. I was talking to myself...” Bruce said with a cold but sexy voice. She glanced at him and unconsciously licked her lips. Bruce was very mysterious and secretive. There was this aura around him; that little something that made him special and kept her wondering what was inside.
    Jennifer sighed and approached his desk. She knew he often felt overwhelmed and lonely at times; she could see it. He worked too much and didn’t have much of a private life. Leaving him was painful but at the same time, she needed to be away to recharge her batteries. “Are you going to be okay, Mr. Wilson?”
    “I hope so,” he said, now looking at her. Their eyes locked for a moment and Jennifer’s palms started to get wet. He was giving her his look, knowing how to seduce without ever compromising himself with words. He continued, “Listen, I know you're working hard. You need a break, I understand but I’m not going to lie; it’s going to be a pain in the butt without you. Can’t you delay just a little bit?”
    Jennifer bit her lower lip, hesitant. She didn’t want to have a fight. Of course, she couldn’t delay anything; Bruce had given his approval a long time ago. “I’m not irreplaceable,” she said. “You have many people you can count on.”
    Bruce waved his hand in the air, as if her comment annoyed him. “Reliable people are very rare these days. I can only count on a few people and you’re one of them. I hate to see you go; especially now with this Japanese deal going on.”
    “You’ll be fine,” she said with her reassuring voice. “With or without me.”
    Bruce was an extremely smart and confident man, who seemed to be successful no matter what business he went into. He was now in the software business, but had started as an Internet publisher and quickly built an impressive empire. His company had been sold for several hundred million dollars, which he had reinvested in real estate and stocks. His investments had quickly soared and he became a billionaire by the age of thirty-three. Therefore, Jennifer knew for a fact that he could handle her absence.
    He sighed, pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes. “Sometimes, I feel like I'm lost when you’re not around...”
    Jennifer blushed and looked down, confused by his statement. Did he really mean it? Or was he just tired? Or was it a desperate attempt to make her stay and cancel her vacation? In any case, the words sounded unreal coming from his mouth.
    The previous year, a famous gossip magazine had featured him on their cover, as the winner of their contest “Hottest Bachelor of the Year”. Since then, Bruce had been seen with many gorgeous women, and Jennifer couldn’t help thinking the same man was telling her “I feel like I'm lost when you’re not around...”
    Really?   
    She said nothing and the silence became somewhat uncomfortable. Bruce raised his head, suddenly aware of the situation. “Professionally of course,” he said with a mysterious smile.
    “Off... of course, Mr. Wilson,” Jennifer said, slightly relieved, kind of disappointed and totally confused.
    In five years, it was the first time Bruce had given such a