Page 74 of The Billionaire's Secret

"What else can it be?" I glower.

"Clearly, you can’t see what’s right there in front of you." He scratches his jaw.

"Which is—?"

"Saint?" Sinner holds up my phone. "Call for you." He reaches over the ropes, "It’s Meredith. She says it’s urgent."

Shit!My heart begins to race.It can’t be about her, can it?I did ask Meredith to check in on her after I’d left her in Selfridges.She has to be fine. Has to be.

I close the distance between us, then grab the phone from him.

"Meredith, is she okay?"

Anger twists my guts as I listen to her reply.

"I’m coming."

18

Victoria

"What do you want?" I tuck my elbows into my sides.Don’t lose it, not now. You’re in a public place, there’s nothing that he can do to you. You’re safe. Safe?Ha, when was the last time I’d gone to bed without waking up in the throes of a nightmare? When had I last walked down a street without looking nervously over my shoulder? Just because I am in the middle of a hotel, next to a crowded room packed with people, doesn’t mean I am safe from the man who'd kidnapped Nina. I will not let him scare me – for Nina's sake.

I tip up my chin, hold his gaze. "Well?" I ask.

"You're taking too long." Antonio stares at me with those dark eyes, so lifeless.

The first and only time I'd met him was when he'd informed me about Nina's situation. It had been the singular, most scary event of my life. I'd stared into the face of darkness and realized how lucky I was not to be in his grasp. Unlike Nina. Shit. "Is she okay?"

His forehead crinkles. Those dark eyes seem to reflect some kind of inner turmoil. Before I can process what I think I’ve seen, he schools his features into a mask. "Do you have what I need?"

A chill runs down my back. "I'm trying my best," I reply.

"It's not good enough."

"He's a billionaire." I clench my fists at my side. "Are you aware how many women seek him out? I can't throw myself at him; that would be counterproductive—"

"You're playing too hard to get." He frowns.

"I'm being true to character."

"We are running out of time." His jaw hardens. "You’ve lost a month already."

"I… I had no choice. Adam’s death—"

"Was unfortunate." He lowers his eyebrows. "I should have known better than to entrust such an important mission to him. He was weak. It’s not a surprise that his heart gave out, at the most inopportune time."

"How can you talk badly about someone who is dead?"

He widens his stance. "If you don’t deliver what I need, it will be Nina's turn."

"Please,” I beg him, “don't hurt her."

His eyes shift away from mine. Then, he straightens his shoulders, "Two weeks. I'll give you two more weeks to get me the information."

"You can’t be serious," I cry out. "I’m not a miracle worker, I need at least another month to win his trust, enough for him to give me access to his confidential information, I—"

"Three." He widens his stance. "Three weeks. Not a second more."