Page 79 of Unstoppable Billionaire (The Hardcore Novels: Special Editions #2)

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

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Aurei

* * *

I'm waiting by the door with my tux jacket, and her fur draped over my arm when she comes back into the living room.

Damn, she is gorgeous in the dress. I whistle a catcall.

"That makeup is extremely sexy! It makes me think of that killer picture of Surreal in Clay's office. " I tell her as I reach for the door.

"Aurei, I wish you would reconsider braiding my hair." She teases me. "My collar isn't visible from every angle." She reaches up to touch it lovingly.

"It's ok. I'll only be staring at your eyes anyway." I smirk as I pull open the door, and she glides through. "Or at your tits. Or at your ass."

My phone dings when we enter the hall, and I check the text. "Dammit." I stop walking and frown at it.

"What's wrong?" Siri asks.

"Franco says there is a line of reporters outside the hotel."

Now, I frown, "How did they find me?"

"That's just it, Siri. I don't think they are here for you, not directly anyway. I think they are here for me." I put my arm around her. "I hope this doesn't become a shit-show and fuck up our night."

"Why would they be here for you?"

I take her hand as we stroll down the hall.

"When my grandfather passed away, the local press ran a story on our family.

Long story short, they tagged me as one of the most eligible bachelors in Europe.

" I smirk, cocking an eyebrow for her. "That's another reason I quit dating publicly, so I could fly under the radar.

Honestly, I forgot about it, but the man that bumped into us after dinner is the head of the news channels here.

That's why I didn't introduce you. I didn't want to stir up that old story. "

"Oh!" She laughs, "But surely you understand how the paparazzi are.

They are like sharks circling their next meal.

They are the reason I live as I do. It would be the scoop of The Strip if one of them discovered I was Surreal, and I wouldn't be able to fly under their radar and do the little things like the dance troupe anymore.

So I get it. But you are already busted, Bubba.

" Her hip bumps mine, and she gives me a wink.

"Everything about your social life changes when the spotlight shines on you, Aurelius.

You're no longer on defense. You have to go on offense. "

I push the down button for the elevator.

"And you will def need to hire a publicist to handle the media's coverage of you."

"Affirmative, but tonight we'll slip out the back."

The elevator arrives, and we enter.

Siri explains, "I know you would like to sneak out the back, but trust me.

All the exits are covered." I run my fingers through my hair.

She frowns at me. "Aurei, you have to listen to me on this.

The more you try to hide, the more valuable you make yourself to the person who gets the best picture.

And if they don't get it here, they will chase us.

You can bet they already have lookouts posted all over town, and once we're spotted, the whole lot will show up wherever we are and fight each other to get the best photo.

That's just how it is when the spotlight is on you. "

"What do you recommend then?"

"Give them a show." She smiles at me. "Nothing dramatic. Just simple posing and preening. You got swag. Don't worry. They will eat it up. Just follow my lead, and you'll be fine. Let them take all the pictures they want. Give everyone equal access."

"Damn." I set my jaw. "I'm taking you dancing tonight! Sharks or no sharks!"

"Then dancing, we will go. We have to feed them a little. It's the first pics, so they will race to post them. That's a good thing for dancing. Text Franco to let them in the lobby, and we will parade past them. They won't be close to their cars, and we can lose them when we leave."

"Do I have a choice?" I take my phone out to text Franco.

"No. But don't begrudge them. They have a job to do."

"I know they do."

"Swim with the sharks or get eaten by them."

I laugh, "I'm not chum."

She takes her fur. "Put your jacket on," then she gives me a plan of action to execute.

"Wise Thang." I compliment her as I prepare to do as I'm told.

When the elevator doors open, I step out first with my coat on, and her fur draped over my arm. I walk to the top of the stairs and pause, ensuring I've been seen and have everyone's attention. Then I go back to the elevator, lean in, and offer Siri my hand.

She gives me a sassy wink. "You couldn't stay Mr. Untouchable forever. They knew what a dream come true you are for some lucky someone. Introduce them to her. I'm ready to greet them."

She places her hand in mine, and I gently pull her out. When she arrives at the opening, I go off script, unable to resist her, and lean down for a kiss. She giggles and puckers up, giving me a feather-light touch. "Mwah," then she wipes it off. "Can't have pussy pink lipstick on you."

I grin as I step back and draw her with me. She tosses her hair back, lifts her head high, squares her shoulders, and transforms into my Golden Goddess right before my eyes. She winks, "Showtime, Sugar Bare."

As she hooks her hand on my arm, I tell her, "Your collar looks beautiful on you." She cuts her eyes at me, and the million-dollar diva smiles. Immediately, all the cameras in the room flash.

"This is our collar, Sir. Regardless of what it says, it represents 'Us' and this beautiful thang we share."

"I stand corrected. Our collar looks beautiful on you."

The lights are blinding as the flashes pound us, but we stand on the landing letting the sharks do their job.

"I'm sure it will be a top point of discussion among the gossip bitches." Her eyes twinkle into mine. "I sure wish I knew what the inscription says."

I laugh, "You'll know soon enough."

She turns to look out at the crowd as she teases me. "You do realize I have a photographic memory. I can google it at any time."

I look out over the lobby too. "Can, but won't, because I forbid you, Kitten Thang."

"Touché." She turns her face to mine, and her eyes twinkle at me. "Shall we go dancing, Mr. Moore?"

"Yes, Miss Wright. We shall." I look down to step off, and immediately she corrects me.

"Eyes forward, Mr. Moore. Not eyes down. Swim with the sharks. Don't be chum."

* * *

Siri

* * *

His smile is cocky as he looks out over the lobby and begins our descent. He walks in front, and I follow, sidestepping at an angle. "Ah, the Dancing Diva descends. Sweet moves." He teases me.

"I'm ensuring no one gets a picture of the panty-less pussy."

He laughs out loud. At the bottom, he pulls my hand to his lips. His eyes twinkle into mine. "Good girl, that would be disastrous." He kisses it, then places it on his arm.

"Meow," I tell him as he escorts me across the lobby.

Flashes fire, nonstop, as questions are thrown at us as we walk by, but we ignore them.

At the entrance, Aurei stops, takes the white fox fur off his arm, steps behind me, opens it for me, slides it over my arms, and sits it on my shoulders.

"I feel like a million bucks in this baby.

Thank you again." I tell him as he steps back around to the front and snugs it up tight.

"You're welcome again, and just for the record, you look like a million bucks."

As we walk out on our way to his Ferrari FF that's pulled up to the door and waiting on us, I turn back and blow them all a kiss.

The doorman opens the car door for me, and I climb in as Aurei hurries around. He squeals the tires when we leave. Giggling, I say. "Admit it. That is kinda fun."

He smiles but doesn't admit it. He drives us out of town. Speeding down the highway, I turn my face to watch the pilot fly his machine down the road. He cuts his eyes at me, then grins. I grin and lay my head back. "Where are you taking me?"

"E80 makes a circle around Rome. We will do the loop, then come back in and pick up Antonio and Yanni."

"I thought he said Gio earlier." I frown.

He did. "Gio is his wife, but Yanni is his mistress."

"Oh. Well. There you go."

"Yep. Gio doesn't like to party anymore. She has little ones at home, so they agreed he could find a mistress. Yanni is part owner in a couple of bars here, and they hit it off. You'll like her. She is fun and flirty too."

"Cool." We are quiet for only a few moments before I say, "I better not be a mistress."

He laughs. "No, I'm an honest asshole."

"You're not an asshole." I put my hand on his leg. "There won't be any mistresses either, ever."

"No worries. I don't share, and neither will you."

"I'm very jealous, Aurei. It's a new feeling for me.

I didn't like Ruth, but when I thought you two might have had a relationship, I was absofuckinglutely green with jealousy.

It was a bitter taste in my mouth." He cuts his eyes at me.

"Then when she kept hitting on you, I saw red, and it was evil jealousy.

Elena too, not as bad, but it was there. "

He hits the brakes and pulls off the road. His face is pale when he looks at me. "Siri. You know I've fucked a lot of women. I've been honest about that."

"I know, and I know I shouldn't be jealous."

"I fucked a lot of Italian women. Women we will more than likely run into tonight."

"I realize that."

"There is no need to feel jealous, I promise you."

"I realize that, but knowing it and seeing it are two very different things. I honestly don't know how I will feel if one of them comes on to you." I stare at the window.

"Siri. I've fucked a LOT of these women.

I can't guarantee that one of them won't remind me tonight, or some other night, about some past time we had.

" The darkness behind the window creates a mirror.

I see myself and Aurei. He is looking at me with real concern on his face.

"You have to come to terms with this." He stares down at the steering wheel. A scared look on his face now.