Page 49 of Unstoppable Billionaire (The Hardcore Novels: Special Editions #2)

Hmm. This ole man is sharp!

She glares at me, and I smile so innocently and sweet at her.

"Franco, Siri did not allow me to see Maximus. I wish to speak to him immediately."

He smiles at her then says. "Elena?"

"Yes, Elena Maria." She nods, clearly expecting him to recognize her name.

"Elena Maria." He nods then asks us but looks only at her. "Do you two know each other?"

She looks surprised by his question, but he smiles at her expectantly. She doesn't answer, so I volunteer. "We met outside our room. I almost bumped into her as I was leaving."

He raises his eyebrows at me, then looks back at her. "Is this true?"

"Yes." She whines, bitching about me. "She would not allow me to knock on the door to see Maximus. He does not know I am here." Then she demands. "I wish him to know I am here."

Franco's eyes sharpen with her words, then his expression changes. The kindness is gone, and only a sly ole fox looks at her. "If Maximus does not know you are here, please tell me, how did you find out what room he is in? Who gave you his room number?"

She looks like she got caught with her hand in a slamming door, then she sees someone who brings a huge smile to her face.

"Ah!" She says as she waves. Her expression is both relieved and excited.

We turn to see who she expects to get her off the hook.

Antonio is bounding up the stairs two at a time.

When she looks back at Franco, her expression is confident again.

When she looks at me, she wears her smug face, and my hand twitches.

"Antonio. Ciao." She waves at him as he tops the stairs.

He gives her a curt nod and walks over to us.

Antonio told her what room we are in? I look up at him as he steps into our circle, and in the brief moment before my poker face slides on again, my eyes reflect what my heart feels ... betrayed. Antonio's smile falls off his face, and he frowns at me. "Siri, is everything ok?"

"Perfect. Why wouldn't it be?" I beam at him, totally in control of myself again.

"Because ..." He looks at me puzzled.

Elena touches his arm. He looks at her and smiles. She smiles back and shifts her stance, owning the situation now. "Ciao, Antonio. You are looking good. It has been too long."

"I'm sorry. Do I know you?" He looks confused at her.

What? I glare at her now and put my hands on my hips.

He asks me. "Siri?"

"Don't look at me. We just met. She was trying to knock on our door."

His eyebrows raise, and he looks at Franco for an explanation, but Elena blurts in.

"I was coming to see my old lover when she came out. She would not tell Maximus I was here."

"Who are you?" He asks her as his eyes narrow.

She looks as confused at him as he does looking at her. "Antonio! How could you forget me?" She pouts. "Ah. Pssst." She rolls her eyes at him, then tells him in a voice that says she is used to making demands. "It is I, Elena Maria. Maximus will want to see me."

The shock that registers on Antonio's face is priceless.

He completely loses it and gushes in Italian.

She responds, and then Franco joins in. They all start talking at once, and their hands flail out.

Afraid I may get a black eye, I back away.

I stand out of reach for only a little before I find myself slowly making my way down the stairs, running my fingers along the ornate carving of the banister as I go.

My stomach growls, and I realize I should probably head back up before Aurei wakes.

By then, they will have sorted out Elena Maria.

I pull my phone out of my pocket to check the time.

I see several texts from 'My Fucking Golden God.

' I smile at the name and slide the bar to open the messages.

You better not be playing hide and seek from me.

Where are you?

Siri? Where the fuck are you? I'm not playing!

If you left the room without telling me....

Fuck! You did.

You better get your ass back here ASAP!

Oh shit! I'm in trouble! The last message was 5 minutes ago!

I whirl around and start trotting up the stairs.

As my head tops the landing, the elevator arrives, and I stop, watching as the doors slide open.

As soon as they are wide enough, Aurei steps through.

There is nothing intimidating about his appearance in his black 'Pilots Do It Collectively' t-shirt, jeans, and Converse shoes, except his posture and his expression.

Oh, snap! My Fucking Golden God has arrived in all his glory, but he looks like the Dark Deity again!

He doesn't say a thing, yet everyone stops talking.

The quiet is deafening after the loud tirade.

His piercing green gaze scans them quickly, looking for me.

His eyes skip right over Elena. They rest briefly on Franco, then lock on Antonio.

He asks him in a voice that sounds like a low growl.

"Where is Siri?" Elena's face devours Aurei.

Panic appears on the two men's faces when they realize I'm not in the circle. "Find her! Now!" Aurei demands.

They turn toward the stairs, and their expressions are intense!

Holy fuck! Three mad Italian men! I see where the Roman legions got their reputation. Fierce faces! I have to defuse this tension before they kill someone or me!

I bravely don my faithful poker face again and continue up the stairs as if nothing in the world is wrong.

As soon as they recognize me, they stop advancing.

I smile sweetly and give them an innocent, twinkling finger wave.

"Here I am." My eyes zero in on Aurei's.

No one else is important. I see the relief on his face.

Then he gives me his lifting head nod. I tell him, laughing as I finish coming up the stairs.

"I just saw your text. I'm sorry, Sugar Bare.

I didn't mean to worry you. I'm good. I wanted to let you nap.

I thought I would meet Franco and ask a favor of him. "

"Why was your ringer off?" He asks as I walk over to him.

"I don't know. I didn't think it was." I check it. "It isn't. I didn't get your text in the elevator, and they were talking so loud, I didn't hear it until I stepped out of the line of Italian fire." I laugh up at him. He isn't laughing, but he doesn't look angry either.

Antonio and Franco turn to Aurei and start speaking in English, while Elena speaks in Italian again.

All of them are talking over the other. The sound is loud noise.

Aurei holds my eyes, and I smile as I put my hands over my ears and stop walking to him.

He lifts his hand to them, and amazingly they all go quiet at the same time.

The contrasting silence is just as loud.

He holds the other one out to me and beckons me to him.

"Come here, My Every Thang." He says with a soft, sexy tone.

My heart melts. Damn! He is so fucking fine and so sweet too! I glide over to him and put my hand in his. The warmth and tingle he gives me are there, and he smiles his big, beautiful smile down on my face. I whisper. "I didn't mean to worry you."

He leans down to my ear as he pulls me to him, forcing me to invade his space by putting my hand behind his back and laying it firmly on his butt. My tit brushes his ribs, making him grin. "Promise to always tell me where you are from now on." Then he leans down and places a sweet kiss on my lips.

"I promise," I answer without any breath. He has stolen it again.

He looks back now at the group of three. He addresses the problem first. "You look familiar. Do I know you?"

I look up at him, surprised he has forgotten her. Only to realize he hasn't when he squeezes my hand. Steel trap.

"I can't seem to recall your name." He tells her, and I squeeze his butt.

He is so clever. Brilliantly played.

"Surely you remember me, Maximus?" She looks genuinely hurt.

Ah, she is speaking English again.

"I am Elena Maria."

"Ah, Elena." He nods, then drops his sweet gaze down on me. "It's been a long, long time. Have you met Mio Bella Signorina, Siri Wright?" He pauses just a split second longer than polite manners dictate, then he lifts his eyes to meet hers. I see his jaw imperceptibly set.

She blinks under his piercing stare, then looks at me and says with ice. "Yes. We met."

I squeeze his hand, and he squeezes mine back.

"What brings you here?" He questions her.

She smiles, looking back at him, flirting. "An old friend."

"Really. Who?" His face is relaxed, but his eyes narrow.

"You."

He turns hawk eyes on Antonio and Franco. "Did you two know about this?" They shake their heads.

She takes a small step toward him and says. "We have unfinished business to discuss."

He smiles at her. "I'll ask Mia to take you to lunch sometime to discuss it." He turns to face Antonio, dismissing her. "Antonio, forgive me for taking you away from your lover. Siri is obviously fine. Ciao."

Antonio smiles, looking relieved, then reaches for Elena's arm.

"Elena, allow me to escort you. Do you need a ride?

I can drop you off somewhere. You can give me your contact information for Mia, and we can catch up on all the years you have been away and all the changes in our lives.

" He tucks her hand in his arm, and although she pouts, she leaves quietly.

He chats her up, being an attentive escort, and I watch Aurei's first love disappear for all the world to see, walking like an old giraffe.

As soon as they are out of earshot, Franco turns to us. "Maximus. Siri. My apologies."

I look up at Aurei. His jaw is firm. He is upset. He doesn't know exactly what happened, but he does know Elena wasn't a surprise he should have had, and he isn't happy about it.

I reach my hand out and touch Franco's arm and explain to them both what happened.

"I was coming down to meet you, Franco, and ask for a favor.

Elena was at our door when I came out. That's all that happened.

" Aurei stiffens, and I slide my arm around his waist. He pulls me to him.

"I'm sure she used a rouse and tricked someone into finding out our room number. "

Franco tells us. "Rest assured, I will speak to Carlo, and he will get to the bottom of it."

Aurei is frowning when he says to Franco. "I want to know who informed her."

Franco nods, then asks me. "What may I help you with?"

I laugh. "I would like a jar of peanut butter and a place to work on a dance routine."

Aurei asks me, "Peanut butter?"

"Yes. It is my go-to food!" I grin at him.

"See what you can do on the peanut butter." He tells Franco.

"Certainly," Franco answers. "And the other?"

"I got that." I look up into his face and his beautiful green gaze. He winks at me and says. "It's a surprise."

"I love surprises!"

He laughs, and Franco looks relieved. "Come on. We don't want to lose our reservation. I'm hungry, and Michael's is famous for pizza." As we start down the stairs, Franco takes his phone out. As soon as we part paths, he makes a call.

I'm rested assured. He is def on it.