Page 43 of Billionaire’s Game

I shrugged and tried to appear nonchalant as I underplayed just how sexy Magnus was. “I guess he’s alright looking.”

She looked at me incredulously. “Alright looking? The man looks like a Greek god. He’s tall, sexy, beautiful eyes... beautiful teeth.”

“Beautiful teeth?” I couldn’t help but laugh. “Yeah, he does have a great smile,” I said, not noticing until that moment that the thought of his smile made me smile as well.

“Tell me everything. How did you meet him? Is he charming? No, no, most importantly, is he single?”

“Uhh...” I didn’t know how to answer that without sounding like a crazy jealous stalker. What was I supposed to say? He’s single, but hands off? I thought I didn’t care about who Magnus dated, but jealousy reared its ugly head when I thought about him dating someone other than me. Especially when that someone was a person I considered a friend. I inwardly groaned at how conflicted my feelings for Magnus were: I didn’t want to date him, but I didn’t want anyone else to have him either. Great. That was so illogical.

“Come on, come on, tell me everything. I’m practically salivating over here. It’s not every day that you realize you know someone who knows not one but two billionaires and one of them is a really hot, eligible, tasty, billionaire.”

“Tasty?” I laughed at the description. I couldn’t help myself from thinking: Sex with Magnus had been pretty incredible, but tasty definitely was not an adjective I’d use to describe him.

Violet smacked her lips together. “Yes, tasty. Do you know all the things I would do to that man? Girl, one night with me and he would have to limp to work.” I nearly fell out of my chair laughing. And she began to laugh too.

“Oh my gosh, you are so ridiculous. I mean that in a nice way. I hope you get hired. I have a coworker named Maya and I think you two would really hit it off.”

“I’m sure Maya’s great, but tell me more about Magnus Deacon. How did you meet him? Is he a friend of Mr. Oliver’s?”

I nodded. “I think so. I’m not too sure of their relationship, but I know that they know each other. I actually met Magnus at work.”

“What?” her eyes became huge again.

“You know that charity event you heard about in the news? Well, Ophelia’s Angels is that charity.”

“No. You’re joking?” She could barely contain herself. “Are you working with him?”

“Yes.”

“Wow. Just wow. That is so cool. Can you introduce us?” she said, suddenly grabbing my arm. “It would make Steve so jealous if he saw me in the tabloids with Magnus Deacon.”

“I guess I could. He doesn’t really work with us, he just comes in and out. I’m sort of his partner for the show Brain Pain.” I explained to her about the charity event and how Magnus was involved.

“I need to hang out with you more often. You’re like the luckiest girl I know.”

“I wouldn’t say that exactly.”

“I would. Now tell me everything. What’s he like?”

I shrugged. “Nice, I guess.”

She looked at me as if I had no clue what I was talking about. “Nice, that’s all? Nice is the word I use to describe the mailman. Come on, what’s he really like?” She emphasized the word ‘really’.

I thought about her question and then said, “He’s easy-going, patient, a genuinely good guy. He’s not like anyone I’ve ever met before. He’s rich, but not arrogant. He’s good-looking, but doesn’t seem to care. He’s smart with a wry sense of humor. He’s observant, considerate. And persistent.” I smiled a little, thinking of the number of times he’d asked me out despite rejection after rejection.

She sighed and sat back in her chair. “He sounds perfect. Do you think he’s dating anyone?”

I instantly tensed up. Was she really interested in pursuing him? I felt uneasy about the idea, but I’d made it clear that I didn’t want anything to do with him on a personal level. Funny, I’d decided that after spending the evening getting to know him on a very, very personal level. But I was determined to pretend that night didn’t happen.

“I don’t think he’s dating anyone.” I definitely didn’t mention that he’d asked me out countless times. I didn’t feel like explaining to her or anyone else why I’d said no, but then again, I couldn’t even explain to myself why I’d said no. I didn’t know what my problem was, but I didn't want anyone else to think I was a complete basket case, either.

“Cool. So do you think you could introduce us?”

Now I wasn’t going to do that. I didn’t want to be with him, but I surely didn’t want a friend of mine to sneak in on my territory. I bit the inside of my cheek; I knew I was being unfair and I had no claim on Magnus and, of course, I wasn’t going to tell Violet that I’d slept with him, but I certainly wasn’t going to help her date him.

“I don’t know him all that well,” I lied. “I’m just his partner. But I’m sure you’ll meet him eventually if you’re hired. He pops up from time to time.” In my head, I was hoping the opposite. I was hoping he and Violet would never meet. He would take one look at her and forget I even existed. I was Plain Jane while Violet looked like a modern-day Marilyn Monroe. I didn’t know what I was feeling. I didn’t want him, but I didn’t want anyone else to have him either.

Who was I kidding? I did want him. Well, in a sexual sense. I didn’t want a relationship with him. Being in a relationship with a billionaire would be way too complicated, right? And complication wasn’t what I needed in my life. I wanted adventure, but not complications. I didn’t need Magnus.