CHAPTER THREE
Rhett's POV
I watched the sexy little brunette with the vivid green eyes run away from me, but only because I knew I would eventually catch her.
"How much is the dress?" I asked the attendant, interrupting her mindless chatter mid-sentence and a sour look appeared on her face. "Eight thousand dollars."
Eight grand and a pretty little lady like that couldn't afford it? Clearly she was fucking the wrong man, but I could definitely fix that.
"Add it to my tab." I ordered and then I was out, waving my assistant over and instructing him to collect the bag from her before turning to the retinue of business men that had been following me around since I set foot at this resort.
"Gentlemen. I apologize for the interruption. May we resume our discussion?" I said smoothly, unsurprised that none of them dared utter a word of dissent. I was the big shark here, the investor whose help they were soliciting. Everything depended on my time and my word, not theirs. Just the way I liked it.
Their spokesman eagerly resumed his pitch, droning on about market reports and stock projections of their failing, but promising company. I led them over to the casino, mind still on the girl and only half listened to their rambling. She was a beauty, but then, it wasn't the first time I would be meeting a beautiful woman. I had known my fair share of them in my life even before I made my fortune. What made this one so enrapturing? I wasn't sure, but she had attracted my attention and that was enough for now.
She'd mentioned a husband and I wondered what he was like. I didn't need a shrink to tell me that their relationship was lacking. It was evident in the way she responded to me. She looked like a woman whose needs weren't being met, and I was more than capable of meeting them. His loss would be my gain, he just didn't know it yet.
The ghost of a smile appeared on my face as I considered the little game I was going to play soon, my smile turning real when I spotted her at a roulette table not long after I entered the room.
She didn't notice me, too intent on watching her own game and I left her well alone, instead choosing a convenient table from which I could watch her. A porter had attached to my side the moment I entered the casino. Immediately I stopped at a table and nodded to it, he packed up the ongoing game, dislodging the occupants on it so I and my entourage could claim it for our use. Being a billionaire was its own hassle, but it did pay a lot of times and I never hesitated to enjoy all the favors thrown my way because of it. I had earned it after all, so why not? A buzz arose around us as I sat down, the usual whispers and stares that followed my entrance into most rooms plaguing me again. I ignored them, leveling my attention briefly on my favorite dealer as he approached with all smiles and eagerness
"Mr. Remington! Welcome back. What are you in the mood for today?"
"Blackjack." I said without pause and he nodded then sprung into action, setting up the table for his game. My eyes immediately flitted back to the girl and for the first time, I noticed the plain, mousy-looking man standing next to her at the roulette table. He had an anxious look on his face, running his hands over his shabby brown hair in a way that let me know how flustered it was. Someone was clearly betting money they couldn't afford to lose. A phenomenally stupid act in my opinion. I tsked silently.
So as not to be found inattentive, I turned back to my table, where the others were ordering their chips, and crooked a finger to the bus boy taking our orders. "How many chips today sir?"
I wanted to start off light game so I shrugged "Three hundred thousand." He nodded, well used to such amounts from me and ran off to collect special ten-thousand-dollars-a-piece chips. I could see the discomfort of my associates around me, most of them only staking a few thousand dollars.
Bored with their reaction, I looked back towards my prey, fascinated by her every move. Even when my chips arrived and my own game started, I couldn't take my eyes off her. As a result, my concentration was poor and I ended up losing all my money in a very short order. I didn't care. I just quietly bowed out of the game and focused all my attention on the couple.
I watched them stake, chip after chip and from the frustration on their faces, I could tell they were losing too. Unlike me however, they didn't look like they could afford to bear this loss which was more than fine with me. A desperate man was often times, a very stupid one. The more desperate this husband of hers was, the easier he'd fall for my trap, I thought with a secret smile.
I had a feeling they would soon be leaving so I decided to set my plans in motion and rose, facing my table of anxious companions. "Gentlemen. I'm afraid I have to call it a night but be rest assured, I have heard your proposal. I'll have one of my junior executives email you with a response."
My response would be negative— I hadn't much liked their pitch after all— but they didn't need to know that. They all rose themselves, thanking me effusively and I shook hands with all of them before I left.
Jacques, my personal assistant, followed closely behind, along with my two bodyguards who remained hiding behind the crowd, ever watchful of any threat to my person.
I arrived just in time to see the couple turn, defeated looks on their faces as they held each other tightly. The woman recognized me first and I saw her eyes widened— shock making the green of them pop rather prettily— before they frosted over into a polite blankness. So that was how she would play this huh? Fair enough.
"Good evening." I greeted smoothly and the husband look startled but he recovered enough to return my regards. I held out a hand "I'm Rhett. Rhett Remington." I said by way of introduction and a flash of recognition crossed his features as he took me in with awe.
"The billionaire. Right?" He asked, taking my hand in a rather weak grip of a handshake that I utterly despised him for. Still I smiled, calling on my legendary charm to smarm me through this encounter. "I would certainly hope so." I joked and he let out a small chuckle. "Nick Dawson. It's a pleasure to meet you Mr. Remington." Thankfully, his sweaty palms let go of my hand pretty quickly and I turned my attention to his wife "And this lovely lady is…?" I paused, almost holding a breath so I could hear her name and he freely gave it without the slightest hesitation "Natalie. Nat Dawson. My wife." I held out my hand to her and she very reluctantly slid her fingers into my palm. Natalie, I thought, liking the sound of her name. I was almost tempted to kiss the back of her fingers but I refrained, knowing it would be far too much too soon.
"Nick and Nat. How quaint." I said with a slight sneer in my voice that the husband seemed not to notice. Natalie however, narrowed her eyes at me.
"Nick and I were just leaving." She said quietly and grabbed his hand, almost as if she wanted to drag him away from me.
"As am I. I've had a rather unlucky night and I could see from my table that you did too."
Nick hesitated, as if he wasn't all that sure why I had noticed them anyways, but he still rolled with it. "Yeah. Pretty hard luck. We almost had this last round too."
I made a sound of sympathy at the back of my throat. "Pity. Fortune does slip away from us so easily. Be that as it may, I feel like having myself a consolatory drink. And not with the stiff suits I came in with. Would the two of you do me the courtesy of accompanying me tonight?" Natalie froze while Nick frowned.
"Gee Mr. Remington. That sure sounds nice but… we weren't planning on staying—"
"I can have a room reserved for you in short order and we can unwind after a hard day of getting our asses kicked. I do hope you don't leave me wallowing alone." I raised a brow at him, practically willing him to take my bait and after exchanging a glance with his wife, he nodded.
"Excellent. If you'd follow us." I said and proceeded to walk with them to the private elevator that led to my suite, chattering all the way with Nick like we were some old friends. Natalie remained quiet the entire time, silently watching me and seemingly wondering what the hell I was up to. Aside from a secret smile, I didn't interact with her at all.
I had Jacques show them to their rooms and made a few calls to take care of business. Then I had them brought over for dinner and a nightcap in the after math. Nick and I got acquainted as I entertained him with little antecedotes of my travels but Natalie didn't speak at all. She seemed strained, almost like she was waiting for the other shoe to drop. A smart girl, unlike her husband.
After dinner, we took our served drinks to the den where a large pool table waited and then, Nick and I begun to play.
"You're very well travelled Mr. Remington." Nick complemented, admiration in his voice after I'd shared my latest antics in Hong-Kong. I gave him an amused smile. "Well, it does come with the territory. I have to say, there isn't anything a few billion dollars wouldn't get you."
I drawled as I angled for a play. "Oh really? I think there's some things money just can't buy." Natalie said suddenly, the first words she had directed at me all night and I faltered in my shot, leading me to play a shitty hand. I looked up to her, anticipation alight in my gaze now that she'd finally entered into the game herself.
"Is that so? I have to say, I haven't found that to be true. Everything I wanted, I've always had the means to buy."
She harrumphed, her disdain and disbelief clear and I raised a brow at her "You don't agree."
She shrugged "Like I said, some things just can't be bought."
"Oh yeah?" I cocked my head at her and pinned my cue stick down on the floor then leaned over it. "Like what?"
She met my eyes, defiance alight in hers. I almost grinned until she slid her hands to hold her husband beside her. "Love. Loyalty. Family." She said and I blinked.
I had forgotten he was there with us, too enchanted by our little banter. I shrugged and straightened "I suppose but even those, I think can be handed over for the right price."
"What do you mean?"
I flicked my eyes to Nick, some of my intent showing on my face.
"Let's say I offered you one million dollars for a single night with your wife. What would you say?" I asked and they body gaped at me. "What?" Natalie shrilled "That's preposterous!"
I ignored her completely, focusing my attention on Nick. He was the weak link here. If I could convince him to even consider it, it would be over. "I know the look of a man who's been cornered by the pressures of the world. I'm offering you lifechanging money for a single night. One million dollars
for twelve hours with your wife. Yes or no?"