Chapter 6
Makenna’s POV.
“Wait, wait, let me guess this straight,” Yasmine exclaimed over the phone the next morning as I was getting ready. Beneath the shock, I could hear the excitement in her voice. “You decide to lose your virginity to the first man you see at a club and then two weeks later he’s showing up at your publishing house as your client demanding that you work with him in exchange for more sex?”
“Don’t you just love my luck?” I replied wryly as I applied lipstick in front of my bathroom mirror. Then I paused, looked down at the lipstick in my head and back up at myself in the mirror. Why the hell was I applying lipstick? I never applied lipstick.
Grabbing a wet wipe, I rubbed the red paint off, refusing to allow myself to think about why I was dressing up for that mad man.
“Bitch, what are you talking about? You’re living my dream!” Yas exclaimed gleefully.
I rolled my eyes. “Why do I even bother with you?”
She continued. “I’m serious. From what you said, the sex was good. He was considerate enough to make it good. Do you know how many women have terrible first time sex? But your Prince Charming is good at sex and has money too. You said he owns Artemia House?”
I ignored her rambling about first time sex and applying mascara to make my eyes pop. “He does, from what Sera told me and don’t call him that. He’s not my Prince Charming. He’s my client.”
I imagined her waving. “Irrelevant. Client, friends with benefits, all that mumbo jumbo mean the same thing. Kenna, you’ve hit the jackpot.”
I rolled my eyes again. Of course Yas would think that. We were so different, me and her. She wasn’t materialistic per se, but if the man was rich, then all the better. In her opinion, wealth was sexy. Me, on the other hand, couldn’t be bothered because I’d only ever liked one man before. If he had been poor, I was certain it still wouldn’t have changed a thing.
Wolfe being wealthy didn’t move me. I was more interested in his eccentricities. How many men would offer such a proposal like he’d given me yesterday? Being his muse in exchange for more spicy material?
I wouldn’t lie and say I didn’t like him. Not romantically or anything like that though. There was just something about him that fascinated me. Who was he really? He was young. How had he come to own a jewelry company at such an age? Why was he interested in me?
“Whatever. As I told him yesterday, this is strictly business. Nothing more. I’m only doing this because it’ll make me very successful.” I stated, grabbing my purse and heading to the door. Yas started to protest but I cut her off. “I’m meeting him today. Gotta go. Love you!”
Ending the call, I tucked my phone in my purse and locked my door behind me, heading for the elevator. This arrangement with Wolfe involved me spending a ridiculous amount of time with him and I didn’t think about that part when I agreed.
When I got to the lobby though, there was a big man standing there in a suit with his arms crossed in front of him. His eyes met mine and he nodded, approaching me. “Miss Barnes?”
Was he trying to kidnap me? I looked around. There were people here. Thank God. Witnesses. Wearily, I nodded at him. “Who’s asking?”
He made a gesture with his hand. “Please, follow me.”
What? I shook my head, stepping backwards. “I’m not going anywhere with you until you tell me who you are.”
“I’m here to pick you up,” he said in a robot voice, as if he was used to women screaming at him. “From Mr. Wilder.”
Oh. I suddenly felt stupid. “That’s alright. I have my own car and I know the way.”
The man didn’t so much as blink. “I’m sorry, Miss, but my orders were to make sure I drive you myself.”
I’d never been driven before. Why was I even arguing with him? This was some princess treatment and Yas was right. I should enjoy it while I could.
Giving him a smile, I nodded. “Alright then.”
He led me to the car—a freaking Rolls Royce ohmigod— and opened the passenger door for me to enter. Thanking him, I entered the car, looked to my left and let out a scream.
“Jesus!” Wolfe muttered, covering one ear with a hand. “You scream loud enough to wake the dead. Calm down, will you?”
I pressed a hand to my chest, heaving. “What are you doing here?” I hissed at him.
“That’s a weird question considering that this is my car.”
I scowled at him. “I know that. I meant, why are you here? I thought I was coming to you.”
He shrugged, just as the big dude got into the driver seat and started the engine. “I figured this was the best way to acquaint ourselves better. It’s a forty-five minute drive.”
“So?”
“So, ask me anything and I’ll answer truthfully. I meant it when I said I want to get to know you, Mackenna.”
I let my eyes drag down his body. As always, he was in a suit, minus the tie. Damn, he looked good. This man was too handsome for his own good.
“Why?” I asked him.
“Because you’re interesting. And we’re gonna be stuck together for a long time. It makes sense that we’re on good terms.”
He was right. But getting to know each other blurred the lines of professionalism. And when there was no professionalism, then things got complicated. Especially since I would be sleeping with him again.
Sighing, I nodded. “I’m starting a new book. I need material anyway, to get my creative juices flowing.” Leaning back against the plush leather seat, I stared at him. “What’s your middle name?”
He smirked at me. “Is that needed for your creativity? Seems irrelevant.”
I rolled my eyes. “Fine. Uh… the trope is enemies to lovers to let’s start from there. Do you have a girlfriend?”
He shook his head, glancing at the Rolex watch on his wrist for a second. “I don’t do relationships.”
Hmm. “So what do you do? Casual sex?”
He grinned devilishly. “Yes, actually. I showed you two weeks ago.”
My cheeks warmed as I thought about that night. “You know that only makes you shallow, right? It’s not something to gloat about.”
He shrugged as if he didn’t care. “Feelings complicate things. What about you? Have you ever been in a relationship?” He asked me.
I shook my head.
There was a twinkle in his eyes. “So, I guess we have more in common than you think. Speaking of which, since you’re single and I’m single, wanna date?”