Page 56 of Unforgettable Billionaire (The Hardcore Novels: Special Editions #3)

* * *

Aurei

* * *

Watching her sassy ass make up her mind to truly go through with this is a memory I will always cherish.

As I wait for the receptionist to return, I remember Siri asking me if I believed in karma and soulmates, and I told her I was beginning to. Now, I'm a firm believer. I chuckle. She'll like that.

When we packed to come back to the States, we decided to keep this a secret from everyone.

Neither of us wanted a big hoo-haw, and neither of us, frankly, have time for it.

Our lives are complicated enough without adding a huge event that would surely become a media feast of epic proportions.

I hope her parents will forgive her, but she didn't want to wait for their return.

"When it's right, it's right." She stated emphatically.

I grin. This is so right!

I hear the entrance door open, then close, and the receptionist appears in the hallway.

She walks towards me, all smiles. "This way, Mr. Moore.

" Her words give me a flashback, and I chuckle with the memory of that particular moment in time.

Mrs. Smith coming out of her office, ready to show me an apartment I already knew I was going to rent, and Siri, standing breathless and beautiful, having almost busted her ass in a puddle of water in the lobby of Dogwood Court, clueless she was already mine.

Grinning, I turn to follow. Yeah. I believe in karma and soulmates, but I also believe in seizing the opportunities presented.

I'm a man who makes what I want happen, and I wanted Siri.

She opens the door and pushes it into the room.

"The dry cleaners delivered your tuxedo this morning.

You will find it hanging in the dressing room.

Everything you need is in there. When you are finished, go to the end of the hall. You will be in Chapel #9.

"#9? Perfect. Thank you." I walk in and take a deep breath to relax my nerves too.

I wouldn't admit it to my Baby Thang, but hell yeah, I'm nervous too.

I only want to make her happy, and I've been a selfish asshole my entire life.

I blow my lips and run my fingers through my hair, then start to pace the room.

Everyone is nervous before, right? It's a big deal to make a lifetime commitment to another person.

Suddenly I realize what I'm going to say to her, and I feel a little better. It's perfect.

I take my phone out and check the time. It's only been a few minutes. Knowing I have at least a half-hour to kill, I decide to text my team.

To Antonio:

Your location?

Vegas. Heading over to the architects now.

Meet me at the warehouse tomorrow at 2:30 p.m.

Roger that. Ciao.

To Quintus:

Your location?

Vegas. At the apartment. Sick!

Are you with Kip?

Yes. He says to tell you Bianca will forgive you now.... Whatever that means.

I chuckle.

Yeah. You'll find out when you meet her. Be at the warehouse tomorrow at 2:30 p.m.

Will do.

To Angelo:

Your location?

Rome.

Arrival?

Tomorrow at 2 p.m. Vegas time.

You ok?

Yes. Ready to get the hell out of here. Mia is making my life miserable since she found out I'm coming to Vegas with you, and she's being left behind.

I chuckle at that too.

Go straight to the warehouse when you arrive.

Roger, boss.

To Maria:

I'm in Vegas. If you are still my private chef, I would love my favorite tonight, but you'll need to cook a little extra. Siri is with me.

I set my phone down and begin to change, thinking it will take Maria some time to respond, but I'm wrong. She texts right back.

Yes, I'm still your private chef. I won't have anyone else feeding you, you sexy beast! Shall I cook it live and serve you two a romantic dinner, complete with candles, soft music, wine, etc.?

I laugh.

I prefer you prepare it and put it in the fridge.

Dammit, man! Ok. I will go over now and cook it. I'm meeting Trent later, anyway.

Can you meet me at my warehouse on Foster Street tomorrow around 2:30 p.m? I want to run a business proposition by you.

Sure. I'll see you there.

Thanks.

You bet.

I walk to the closet and remove my tuxedo. The last time I had this on, I was waiting for Siri to join me. I quickly change, then walk to the full-length mirror to tie the bow tie. Then I pull the front of the jacket down and push the tails off my ass. Time to seal the deal for real this time.

I exit into the hall and make my way to Chapel #9.

Pushing the heavy door open, I walk in to find the only two other people who will be attending, already present; the man sealing the deal and the witness to the deed.

I'm vaguely aware of the arched ceiling, the stained-glass windows, and the pews lining the walk down.

I shake hands with him, nod to her, and take up post to wait for my girl.

* * *

Siri

* * *

Barbara peers at me over her fingers, then claps her hands slowly as I twirl around for her. "Exquisite. The way the light plays with the fabric." Then she sighs. "Let me tell Jackie you are ready for makeup and hair."

I smile and thank her, then wait for Jackie too. When she comes in, she takes one look at me and says. "Seary?"

"Oh, Hi, Jacqueline."

"Girl! What are you doing here?" Then she rolls her own eyes and says. "Duh! But wow!"

I giggle and hold my pinky out to her. She giggles too and hooks it with her own. We say together. "SHH! Secrets. Everyone has them."

Jacqueline used to work for the dancers at Been Jammin', but she got married and needed to work days.

"I know you don't want much makeup, but let's put just a little bit on to enhance your features on your special day." She coaxes me.

"Just a little." I agree.

"Now, what to do with your hair? Up or down? How does your man like it?"

"He likes it the way it is now. Full and wild."

"Yes." She smirks. "He wants to harness your wild side but not tame you. Let's weave some little flowers in it."

While she works, we catch up, and I tell her about my new gig.

"You do have a beautiful voice, and if you've found someone, it's time to stop stripping. Trust me on that piece of advice." She says as she works. "Tell me about this man of yours."

"Holy Hades, Jacqueline, I met him in Alabama while I was home," I tell her and proceed to explain how he was so fucking hot.

I couldn't think of anything else, how he moved onto my floor and how he slowly seduced me.

When she spins me around to see myself in the mirror on the wall in front of me.

I'm surprised by my own face. I look like a beautiful doll.

She has taken a perfect color of peach pink and dusted my cheekbones, creating a hint of a healthy shadow, sculpted the hallow of my eyes with a slightly darker shade, highlighted the brow line with pale shimmering pink, outlined my dark eyelashes with pure black, applied black mascara, and outlined my lips with a darker, brighter shade of the peach, but left my lips free of goo.

"Wow! I look...." I pause, and she adds.

"Perfect. Now let's make this hair perfect too." She quickly braids a few very thin strands with tiny white roses buds and gold leaves. When she is finished, she compliments herself. "Perfection." Then she holds a mirror behind my head so I can see it.

"I fucking love it! Oh my gosh!" I look up at her reflection and make a decision.

Standing up, I turn to face her, eye to eye, woman to woman.

"Jacqueline, I want you to come work for me.

Just me. Not as my show makeup artist, but as my normal everyday girl makeup and hair artist. With this new gig, I'll be going out a lot and highly visible.

I'm going to need someone who can keep me true to myself.

Please, please say you will consider it? "

"I'm flattered, and hell yeah, I'll consider it.

" She starts to hug me, then rethinks it, making me laugh.

"But this isn't the time to be thinking about that.

When you get back in the groove, if your offer still stands, I'll be right here.

" She tells me. "Now, go to your man. He's been waiting long enough. "

I spin around and face the door. Suddenly butterflies the size of birds start to fly around my gut, and I stare at it.

Barbara comes back in, and I can feel them exchanging a look. "Oh! My dear, you are looking more like a golden goddess now than when I left." She walks between me and the door, smiling, then reaches for it and pulls it open. "Come now. Your Golden God is waiting for you." And she walks out.

I turn to look at Jacqueline.

"Would you like me to walk with you?" She asks gently.

For some reason, I have no spit, so I nod.

The three of us walk in silence down the hall. Barbara turns to me and says. "You are in Chapel #9."

"Number 9?"

"Yes."

Ah, Karma. You are truly amazing.

We stop outside the double doors with the gold #9 on them. Barbara says. "I really think you should sing that song you were humming. Your voice is beautiful."

"I'm not sure I can." I smile. "I have cottonmouth."

Jacqueline offers. "Hold on." She hunts in her big bag slung over her shoulder.

"I have a bottle of water right here." Grinning, she twists the top off and hands it to me.

Barbara opens the first door wide, hooks it, then swings the other open and repeats the process.

I take a big healthy mouthful, swish it around in my mouth and swallow those butterfly birds.

I grin at Jacqueline as I hand the bottle back. "See. You would be perfect for this."

She reaches over and gives me a quick hug, adjusts a few strands of my hair, and backs away.

I focus my eyes on the floor, knowing when I lift them and find Aurei's, his will hit me hard and deep, and pierce my soul.

My wildness will leap to meet his thunder, and this time.

... This time I will give it up to be tamed.

I step out of the shadows and into the middle of the doorway. I hear his words, and I smile. "Breathe, baby. Breathe with me, My Sweet Wild Every Thang."