The Property Brokers: A Billionaire Romance Read online

  “Hello, Myles. It’s Cassandra. I got your message, and I would love to go to dinner with you tomorrow night.”

  “Excellent. Is there anywhere special you like to go?”

  “Tavern on the Green is one of my favorites,” she said.

  “Good choice. I’ll call and make reservations.”

  “No need. I already did after I listened to your message. I made them for seven o’clock. I hope that time works for you.”

  I was speechless for a moment because I couldn’t believe she made the reservations already.

  “Sure. Seven o’clock is good.”

  “Good. You can pick me up at six-thirty. I’ll text you my address.”

  “I look forward to it.” I smiled.

  “Me too, Myles. I need to get back to work. I’ll see you tomorrow night.”

  “See you then.”

  Grant

  When I stepped through the door of Coco Pazzo, Tasha took one look at me and smiled.

  “Grant Roman.”

  “Hey, Tasha.” I kissed her cheek. “How are you?”

  “I’m good now that the divorce is final, and that cheating bastard is out of my life.” She smirked. “Lamar is sitting outside at a table. Follow me.”

  “Hey, bro,” Lamar said as he stood up and we hugged.”

  “I’m glad you’re back, man.” I took the seat across from him.

  “Me too. Two weeks in Chicago was enough.”

  “Tasha looks good.”

  “Yeah. Now that Damon is out of her life for good, she’s moving on.”

  “Your sister has always been a beautiful woman. She won’t have any trouble finding someone else.”

  “I think she put the brakes on dating for a while. She’s more focused on opening up her own restaurant.”

  “Really?” I cocked my head. “I had no idea she wanted to do that. If she needs help finding a building tell her to let me know.”

  “I’ll do that.”

  “Good evening, I’m Beth, and I’ll be serving you tonight. What can I get you two to drink?”

  “I’ll have a scotch,” I said.

  “I’ll have the same,” Lamar spoke. “And we’ll also start with an order of the calamari.”

  “Coming right up, fellas.” She smiled.

  “So, what’s going on with you?” he asked. “You sounded off when I called. That Pete guy still giving you a hard time?”

  “No.” I sighed. “We got his place sold.”

  “Congrats, man. I knew you could do it.”

  “I wasn’t the one who actually sold it. Someone else did. Someone from my past.”

  His brows furrowed as he leaned back in his chair and our waitress walked over with our drinks and calamari. After she took our dinner order, we continued our conversation.

  “From your past? Who?”

  “Her name is Bella Marcus,” I said as I picked up my scotch and took a sip.

  “Do I know—” He paused for a moment. “Oh.” His brows raised. “Not the same Bella from Hawaii?”

  “Yep. The same Bella.”

  “Damn.” He shook his head. “How is she?”

  “She’s good. She’s a broker and I hired her.”

  “You what?” He leaned over the table. “You hired her and she took the job? I thought you said she was going into teaching or something.”

  “I thought that too. But she decided to get into real estate. She just moved here from California. She said she needed a change of scenery because her parents were killed in a car accident, and she broke up with her boyfriend.”

  “So, she’s single.” His hand wrapped around his glass. “Is she still hot?”

  “Like you wouldn’t believe. She’s gorgeous, Lamar. Even more beautiful than she was fourteen years ago.”

  “Grant, don’t forget I was with you after you came back from Hawaii. It took you a long time to get over her.”

  “I’m not sure I ever did.” I took a sip of my drink. “She’s definitely holding a grudge,” I said as I took some calamari and put it on my plate.

  “Why do you think that?”

  “Little things she says and the fact that I asked her out for a drink, and she refused. She told me things between us will always be strictly professional and nothing more.”

  “And how does that make you feel?”

  “I don’t know, man.” I sighed. “You know I can’t commit anyway, but seeing her again after all these years really brought back everything I thought I buried a long time ago.” Suddenly, my eyes caught sight of Tasha who was escorting two beautiful women to a table not too far from ours. Bella’s eyes locked with mine and the expression on her face was the same one I had: shock. I gave her a smile and a small wave and she did the same.

  “Who are you waving to?” Lamar asked.

  “Tasha just sat Bella and her friend down at a table not too far from us. Whatever you do, don’t turn around.”

  “She’s here? Bella is here?” His finger pressed into the table.

  “Yes.”

  “Wow. I can’t believe I’m finally going to get to meet her.”

  Chapter 14

  Bella

  “You sit facing them. I can’t,” I said as I took the seat where my back was to them.

  “He’s delicious. Who’s that sexy man he’s with?”

  “I have no idea. What is he doing here?”

  “I’m going to assume having dinner with his friend like we are. Did you really think you were never going to see him outside of the office?”

  “Good evening, ladies. I’m Beth. The gentleman over at that table sent this bottle of Sauvignon Blanc for the two of you,” she said as she poured some in our wine glasses.

  Turning around, I looked at Grant as I held up my glass and mouthed “thank you.”

  He gave me a nod with a small smile.

  “That was nice of him,” Ami said, and I looked away.

  “Whatever,” I spoke.

  “Okay, girl. Spill it so we can work through it.”

  “I keep having these dreams about our time together in Hawaii. It’s as if I’m reliving that time all over again. I wake up in a sweat with my heart racing at the speed of light, and I can’t go back to sleep. I thought I was over all this.”

  “Like I told you before, first loves never die and the memories never go away.”

  “Well, this one needs to.” I ran my finger around the rim of my glass. “He asked me out.”

  “Did he now? What did you say?”

  “I said no and that any relationship we have is strictly professional and nothing else.”

  “Is that how you really feel?” she asked.

  “How could you ask me that? It doesn’t even seem to bother him that he broke his promise to me. The only thing he was after in Hawaii was getting in my pants. And like an idiot, I let him.”

  “So basically, it all comes down to mistrust. Right?”

  “Of course. I can never trust a word that comes out of his mouth again.”

  Beth walked over and set our food down in front of us.

  “Is there anything else I can get for you two?” she asked.

  “I think we’re good.” Ami gave her a smile. “You can’t trust him, or you won’t let yourself? Because those are two different things.”

  “Both.”

  “Then why did you agree to work for him?” Her brow raised.

  “Because it’s business. He’s very serious about his work and he wouldn’t fuck that up. Ami, he shows no remorse whatsoever. He’s just asking me out like nothing ever happened.”

  “He’s a guy, Bella. You know they’re wired differently than us women. And I’m sure somewhere inside him he feels guilty. But you need to remember, sweetie, you two were teenagers. Listen, you need to tell him how his actions made you feel. You’ve been carrying around this anger and hurt for the past fourteen years, and the only way to set yourself free from it is to tell him how badly he hurt you.”

  “I can’t.” I finish
ed off my wine and grabbed the bottle.

  “He’s walking over here,” Ami whispered.

  “What?!”

  “Hi, Bella.”

  “Grant. Hi. What are you doing here?” I plastered on a fake smile.

  “We just finished having dinner. This is Lamar Neil. Lamar, this is Bella Marcus.”

  “It’s nice to meet you, Lamar.” I extended my hand.

  “The pleasure is all mine, Bella.” He brought my hand up to his lips.

  “This is my best friend, Ami Liu. Ami, this is Grant and his best friend, Lamar.”

  “It’s nice to meet both of you.” She eyed Lamar up and down.

  “Hey.” Lamar clasped his hands together. “Do you two beautiful ladies have plans after dinner? Grant and I are going to head to Pegu’s for a few drinks.”

  “I don’t think—” I started to say.

  “We’d love to.” Ami grinned.

  “Excellent. We’ll see you there.” Lamar smiled.

  “I’ll see you there, Bella,” Grant spoke before the two of them walked away.

  “What the fuck are you doing?” I leaned across the table and lightly grabbed hold of Ami’s wrist.

  “I think Lamar is hot and I want to have a drink with him.”

  “Then have a drink with him when he’s not with Grant.”

  “Bella, you work with Grant. You’re going to see him every day. It’s just one or two drinks. Come on,” she whined. “I haven’t met a hot guy like that in a long time. Are you really going to deny your best friend this opportunity?”

  I stared at her as her eyes pleaded with me.

  “Just one drink,” I sighed.

  Grant

  “Damn, man. You’ve been holding out on me,” Lamar said.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Ami. You didn’t tell me Bella had a hot friend.”

  “How the hell would I know that? I’ve never met her up until tonight.”

  “And Bella.” He shook his head. “She’s gorgeous. I could tell by the look on her face when we walked up she isn’t happy with you.”

  “Gee, you think?” I said as I opened the door to the bar, and we stepped inside.

  “Let me ask you this. Have you apologized to her yet?”

  “For what?” I asked as we found an empty table that sat four.

  “Come on, man. You lied to her and totally ditched her after Hawaii. I think that warrants an apology. Especially if you’re working together now. I could feel the tension between the two of you in just the few moments we were standing there. An apology can go a long way.”

  “Maybe you’re right.”

  “I am right. Maybe you haven’t had to apologize to women before, but I have.”

  “Yeah, because the women you dated were unhinged.” I chuckled.

  “Ami doesn’t look unhinged, right?”

  “I don’t know, man. I guess you’ll find out.” I smiled.

  I looked over at the door and saw Bella and Ami step inside.

  “They’re here,” I said to Lamar.

  He looked over and held his hand up, waving them over.

  “You came,” Lamar said with a wide grin.

  “I told you we would.” Ami flirtatiously smiled as she took the seat next to him.

  Bella looked at me first before sitting down next to me. I held my hand up to get the attention of our waitress.

  “Welcome, ladies. What can I get you?”

  “I’ll have a cosmopolitan,” Ami spoke.

  “I’ll have a Gin and Tonic. Light on the tonic,” she said.

  I was surprised by her choice of drink for I never would have taken her for a gin girl.

  “Gin, eh?” I asked.

  “Yeah. Is something wrong with gin?”

  “No. Not at all. I just never would have taken you for a gin girl.”

  “You don’t even know me so how could you even make that assumption? You knew the sixteen-year-old version of me, Grant.”

  “Yeah. I guess you’re right.” I picked up my scotch and threw it down the back of my throat. I was tired of her throwing that in my face.

  Her phone rang and when she pulled it from her purse, I glanced over and saw that guy, Ian, was calling again. She quickly declined the call and threw her phone back in her purse.

  “I need to use the ladies’ room,” Ami said.

  “And I need to use the men’s room,” Lamar spoke as he stood up from his seat and they both headed towards the restrooms.

  “I have three people coming in tomorrow afternoon for your assistant position, so I need you to be at the office. And I’ve already hired you a driver. His name is Samuel and he’ll be picking you up at seven-thirty.”

  “How did you get all that done so soon?” she asked.

  “Once word gets out that The Roman Group is hiring, people flock.” He smirked.

  Rolling her eyes, she picked up her drink and took a sip.

  “I’m going to see what’s taking Ami so long. I’ll be right back,” she spoke.

  Just as she walked away, Lamar came back to the table.

  “Listen, bro. Ami and I are going to go somewhere quiet to talk and get to know each other better.” He gave me a wink. “I hope you don’t mind.”

  “Not at all. Have fun.” I grinned.

  “That’s my plan. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” He held out his fist and I bumped mine against it.

  I looked over and saw Ami and Bella walking back to the table. The look on Bella’s face told me she wasn’t too happy. Bella sat down and Ami said her goodbyes.

  “Are you mad?” I asked Bella.

  “No,” she sighed as she got the attention of our waitress and ordered another gin and tonic.

  “I’ll have another scotch,” I spoke to the waitress. “What does Ami do for a living?” I asked Bella to strike up a conversation.

  “She’s a therapist.”

  “Wow. Nice. How did the two of you meet?”

  “She slept with my boyfriend.”

  “What?” I chuckled.

  “We were eighteen and my boyfriend at the time didn’t tell her he had a girlfriend. I caught them in bed together. After screaming a few obscenities, I left, and she followed me. We ended up at an all-night diner and talked.”

  “She seems like a great woman,” I spoke.

  “She is, and she’s always there when I need her. Lamar seems great too.”

  “He is.” I smiled.

  Her phone that was sitting on the table rang and Ian’s name appeared again.

  “What the fuck. Does this idiot not know what time it is here in New York?” she spoke with irritation as she declined his call.

  “Why don’t you just block his number?”

  “It’s complicated,” she spoke as she grabbed the glass of gin and tonic before the waitress had a chance to set it down.

  “There’s nothing complicated about it. He obviously needs to talk to you. Maybe you should just answer it and get it over with.”

  “Maybe you should mind your own business.”

  I’d had it with her attitude towards me and I couldn’t take it anymore.

  “You know what, Bella. I’m done.” I stood up from my seat. “I’m tired of your attitude towards me and I’m not putting up with it anymore.”

  I threw some cash on the table to cover the bill, grabbed my suitcoat, and stormed out of the bar. While I was waiting for Mateo to pull the car around, Bella stepped out the door of the bar.

  “What do want from me, Grant?”

  With my hands tucked tightly in my pants pockets, I stared at her.

  “I don’t know, Bella. Maybe for you to stop having an attitude with me and treating me like I’m the enemy.”

  Chapter 15

  Bella

  Just as Mateo pulled up, the sky opened, and it started to pour. Shit.

  “Get in. I’ll give you a ride home.”

  “No. I’ll catch a cab.”

  “Just get in the damn car, Bella. Y
ou’re getting soaked.”

  Taking in a deep breath, I walked over and climbed in the back seat.

  “I think we need to clear the air,” he said. “Just get everything out and out of the way. Because honestly, I don’t think I can work with you and see you every day if you’re going to continue to have an attitude with me.”

  Was he serious?

  “I know you’re still holding a grudge against me because I never called you like I promised I would.”

  “I’m not talking about this right now, Grant.”

  “Just like you’re not talking to your ex who keeps calling you?”

  “My personal life is none of your business,” I snapped.

  Mateo pulled up to my building and I couldn’t get out of the damn car fast enough. Opening the door, I climbed out.

  “Goodbye, Grant.”

  As I went to shut the door, he stopped it and climbed out.

  “Oh no. We aren’t finished yet,” he said as he followed me into the building and onto the elevator. “You obviously have some unresolved anger with me, and the sooner you get it all out and we talk about it, the sooner we can put it behind us and move forward.”

  “See, that’s the problem right there,” I spoke. “I thought I put it all behind me, but seeing you again stirred everything up.”

  I unlocked the door to my apartment, and we stepped inside. Throwing my purse down, I took off my shoes and went into the kitchen to feed Duchess.

  “Then talk to me, Bella.”

  “Fine!” I shouted as I slammed the bag of food on the counter. “You hurt me really bad, Grant. I waited for you to call me, and when I didn’t hear from you, I tried to call and text you and nothing would go through.”

  “I know and I’m sorry,” he said with a sympathetic voice. “I just felt it was best we left what we shared in Hawaii.”

  “Oh really? And you couldn’t tell me that? You couldn’t extend the courtesy of letting me know instead of leaving me hanging and hoping and praying that every time my phone rang it was you calling me?”

  “We were sixteen, Bella! We were kids!”

  “That didn’t stop the fact that you fucked me,” I shouted.

  He took in a sharp breath as he tucked his hands in his pants pockets.

  “You, Grant Roman, hurt me in ways I’d never been hurt before. My dumb sixteen-year-old ass was in love with you. You made promises and you didn’t follow through.” Tears started to stream down my face. “You made me feel used and unworthy.”