Everything He Desires by Thalia Frost

 
     
     
     
     
     
    Everything He Desires
    (Bookkeeper for the Billionaire #1)
    by Thalia Frost
    Copyright, 2012.
    All rights reserved.
     
    Cover Design by SexyBookCovers.com
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    “ You should totally go, Lacey. ”
    I sighed and threw Alma a look that could kill. “ I don't know, Alms. It's not really my scene. ”
    “ Who cares? You're my friend. I don't have a date, and I want you to go with me. ” She grinned at me and shimmied into her tenth red dress of the day.
    “ Alright, but you're the one who wanted to bring along an unemployed loser. Wasn't my idea. Just remember that. ”
    Alma rolled her eyes. “ Whatever. Soon to be employed. It's just a downturn, a run of bad luck. That's all. ”
    “ Yeah. I guess. ” I wasn't convinced. My bookkeeping skills were up to par, but my company had downsized and out I went. I was just another Millenial brat in need of a good job.
    “ Oh, hey. Do you have something to wear tonight? ” Alma's brow scrunched, and she scrutinized me. The shopping trip had been all about her, and I was fine with that. Clothes didn't interest me much.
    “ Yeah. I have a little black number that will do just fine. ” It was one I'd worn a hundred times before, but what did it matter? I couldn't afford a new one. I was watching every penny these days.
    “ Good. I'll be by to pick you up at 7:00. I'm getting this one. Let's go. ” Alma jerked her head toward the door, red dress in tow.
    I slunk out of the dressing room behind her, tucking my hair behind my ears. The mirror had told me all I wanted to know about how I was looking three months after the layoff. Same shiny long brown hair, worried blue eyes, no smile.
    “ Cheer up, Lacey. It's going to be fine. I swear. Tonight will be fun. Open bar and all that. You can't lose. ” Alma grabbed my arm, and I let her steer me to the car.
    At least I could drink my troubles away.
    * * * *
    “ Oh my god, it's crowded in here. ” I struggled against the press of people at the mansion.
    “ Well, it's Rock Weldon's place. What do you expect? ”
    I yawned. “ Who's that? ”
    Alma rolled her eyes as she always does when I say something she thinks is unbelievable or stupid. “ I can't believe you sometimes, you know that? ”
    I shrugged and grabbed a glass of champagne from the nearest waiter. We'd made our way into beyond the foyer.
    “ He's the head of Regal Enterprises. You know, he's at the top of the food chain where I work. The CEO, the big cheese and so on. ”
    “ Oh, I see. ”
    “ I've only seen him in photos. I'm just an editor. You know how it goes. ” Alma shrugged.
    “ I guess. ”
    “ Oh, there's my manager. I need to speak to him. ” Alma hurried away.
    “ Dont...leave me, ” I said and sighed. She'd already gone and was nothing more than a dot in a sea of dresses and tuxes. I glanced up at the shimmering chandelier. The place was gorgeous, but all I wanted to do was find a corner to hide in for a while with my drink.
    A plate of shrimp sailed by via a waiter, and I plucked a few of those and started plotting my escape from the crowd.
    I could see a staircase and beyond it, a French door. Air. I needed air.
    I raced toward it, cursing my three-inch heels. I threw it open and found myself alone on an ornate stone balcony of sorts. The city lay before me. I gulped in oxygen, fighting back tears.
    At twenty-five I felt washed up, that only a desert of regret and missed opportunities lay before me.
    “ Hello. You must be the new intern. ”
    Through the haze of my tears, I slowly turned. I wiped at my eyes and forced a smile. Then my heart stopped for an instant.
    I had seen this man before on magazine covers. Rock Weldon in the flesh.
    Now I remembered who he was — the owner of this place. His hair gleamed dark and slick in the light, his jaw strong. The most arresting feature about him, though, was his eyes. I could tell they were clear greenish even in the tepid moonlight.
    “ Uh.