Page 2 of Accidental Theirs (Alpha Billionaire Daddies #6)

Chapter Two

DAMIEN

I’m not sure what I’m waiting for as I sip my drink, watching the door.

Liar.

Fine. I’m waiting for Olivia to walk in. May as well not lie to myself about it.

But what else can I do?

The woman intrigues me, especially after her little bit of teasing this morning. Plus, with all that jet-black hair, those pale green eyes that can pierce right through you, her tight little body, long legs...

I take a deep breath and force a smile at the bartender as she slides me my second drink.

Fuck. I really shouldn’t be thinking that way, but alcohol seems to go right to my libido.

Plus, I know what a hard time she’s having with this merger... even if she doesn’t know all the details. If she did, she’d be terrified. Even more than she already is.

I look around at the rest of our coworkers here, and realize it’s only Roland, Marie, and Olivia who are missing .

They’re probably all together. They’ve been quite the little trio since Olivia took over for Yvonne five years ago.

The bell above the bar rings, and I turn to see Olivia walking in with Marie and Roland.

Jesus Christ, that skirt is short.

I twitch in my slacks and discreetly adjust myself, not wanting to sport a boner in the middle of all my employees.

God, what the hell is wrong with me? I’m like a horny teenager.

She walks up to the bar and looks at me, her green eyes slightly glassy.

“Still down to buy me a drink?”

“O-of course.” Fucking hell. I clear my throat. “What would you like?”

She turns to the bartender. “A Moscow Mule, please.”

I just keep staring at her.

Finally, I force my eyes away, and she takes the drink. I watch her sip it out of my peripheral vision.

This pointless crush I have on Olivia has got to stop. It’s not like she’ll ever see me that way. We’ve worked together for years, and she’s never given any kind of indication that she’s attracted to me.

It’s not like I’m celibate or anything, but I’m not the type to womanize.

Not like Sebastian Ashford, the man who has run Titan for nearly fifteen years. Even in his mid-forties, he’s kind of a rake, taking multiple girls home in a week sometimes.

I’ve seen him in action since the merger talk started, and he never fails to hit the mark.

I glance over at him and chuckle.

I nudge Olivia. “Looks like Sebastian has a target in mind.”

She snorts before she even looks over. “Of course, he does. ”

She would know even more than me, given that Sebastian is her father’s best friend. Has been for years.

She turns to face the crowd with me. “You wouldn’t believe some of the women he brings to dinner parties.”

Her shoulder nudges mine, and my breath catches in my throat.

She smirks. “They can barely keep up with normal conversation.”

“Like they’re dumb?”

She laughs. “Not just dumb. Vapid. You know, just worried about the exterior of everything.”

She waves her hand like that makes it make sense.

I give her a half-smile. “But you’re smart. Not vapid. Deep.”

“Deeper than you know,” she teases, and I can’t help but tilt my head down toward her.

For a brief moment, I think we’re going to kiss, but then she nudges my shoulder and points toward Sebastian.

I can’t help the twinge of disappointment, but my eyes follow hers.

The young lady slaps his face and storms off, and I can’t help but laugh.

She shakes her head, her mouth slightly ajar. “He struck out. Can’t believe it.”

I run a hand across my face.

The alcohol is having an effect on me because I rarely drink. I don’t like losing control, but it’s time to let loose at least a little.

“It happens to the best of us.”

She looks over at me. “You strike out? Guy that looks like you?”

I frown. “What is that supposed to mean?”

Olivia shrugs. “I don’t know. You clearly work on your body. Take care of yourself. ”

My face starts burning up. “Yeah, but not for looks. I just like to be... ready.”

“Ready for what?” She chuckles. “To take down a mountain lion?”

“Something like that.”

If I think about the real reasons that I stay in shape, I might spiral, so I try to keep those dark thoughts away.

She giggles, looking over at Sebastian’s flabbergasted face.

I chuckle. “I guess he doesn’t get rejected that often.”

Olivia raises a groomed eyebrow. “I wouldn’t think so. Have you seen him?”

A tiny arrow pierces my heart with jealousy. “You think he’s handsome? Isn’t he old enough to be your father?”

She snorts. “Maybe if he had me when he was fifteen.”

“Weird that you find your father’s friends attractive,” I mumble, sipping my third drink.

I should really stop while I’m ahead, so after this, I’ll switch to water. I’m turning into a teetotaler. I’ve changed a lot over the years.

“ Everyone finds him attractive. I’m just stating the facts.” She pauses. “Didn’t he used to be married or something?”

I shrug. “I dunno. I’ve heard rumors, but he keeps things pretty close to the chest.”

I huff out a breath, irritated at the way the conversation is going.

I don’t know what I expected, but it isn’t this.

Am I upset because the flirting turned into something else?

I shouldn’t be flirting with the COO anyway.

Olivia herself put down the rules that inter-office romances are strictly forbidden. She’s adamant about it, defending it to the board member who suggested it was a silly rule .

I nudge her shoulder. “Why don’t you go over there and ask him? About his hypothetical marriage.”

She looks up at me, her eyes widening. “You think he’d tell me?”

“Maybe. He’s been drinking since he got here.”

What the hell am I doing ? Why am I pushing her toward Sebastian?

Maybe it’s because I know I shouldn’t feel the way I do about her. Maybe it’s because if I keep standing here, drinking and talking to her, I’ll do something stupid.

Like tell her how uniquely beautiful those pale green eyes are. How I get lost in them.

I look away, trying to keep my thoughts together. The booze isn’t doing me any favors.

Roland bursts in between us, and I grunt and move out of his way, chuckling softly.

“Hello, Roland.”

He beams at me, and it lights up his youthful face. He’s younger than most of the people in the office, and he dreams of being an executive one day.

I think he has the temperament for it. He’s charming, handsome, and he’d be good at dealing with clients–maybe better than me.

I’m actually pretty shy, despite all the mingling I need to do for work.

Some days, I wake up with a knot in my stomach, just knowing I’m going to have to be in a crowd. It’s the same way I felt today, knowing I would be expected to come out.

This club isn’t really my scene with the loud, booming music and the way people are starting to pack into the place like sardines.

I’d much rather be at home with a beer and a good movie, but I’ve got to be here to make sure that no one from Titan spills the beans to Olivia .

Of course, they’re under a non-disclosure agreement, but booze loosens tongues, and I want to be the one to tell her what’s really going on.

I just have to find the right time, and it’s certainly not right now.

“If I do ask him, you owe me.” Olivia breaks me out of my thoughts.

“I’m already paying for your drinks.”

She looks over at me, smirking, just one corner of her mouth turned up. “Not booze. Dinner.”

“Dinner?” My heart jumps up into my throat. “Like a?—”

“Don’t even say it!” She smacks me on the shoulder, and my cheeks burn. “Not like a date, you dolt. But I’ve never been to that new restaurant, Sophia’s. It’s supposed to be the best Italian place in town.”

“Why can’t you go alone?”

She rolls her eyes. “You can be such a stick in the mud, Damien.”

I sigh. “I’m sorry. It’s just... You know, people might get the wrong idea.”

“Then I’ll set them straight.”

I look down at her for a long moment, conflicted and working my tongue against the inside of my cheek.

“All right. Dinner at Sophia’s. This weekend.”

She grins, nodding. “Sounds perfect. I’ll be right back with all the gossip.”

I chuckle, and she starts to move through the crowd to stand next to Sebastian.

I look away, turning back toward the bar and realizing that my third drink is nearly empty.

The bartender is swiping the bar with her rag and nods to my glass. “Another?”

I shake my head. “Just a cup of water, please. ”

She slides it to me, and I chug it, knowing I’ll need the hydration to sober up.

For a moment there, I thought that Olivia was being serious. That she really asked me on a date.

Stupid.

I’m not disappointed.

I’m not.