Home / Mafia / The Billionaire's Lure / Rodger's Bold Move

Share

Rodger's Bold Move

Author: J Morg
last update Last Updated: 2024-11-09 01:27:49

When I pulled into my driveway, I was startled to see an expensive sports car parked in my spot. I was positive the tints were a few shades darker than what was aloud, and the engine revved so loudly that I almost went deaf. I was angry at first because of all the noise. But then I got excited, thinking that maybe Bentley had beat me home.

I grabbed my heels that were sitting on my passenger seat, my clutch, and headed for the ride. Just as I got to its door, it swung open to reveal a large cloud of smoke, loud music, and someone I never expected to see.

“Rodger!?” I frowned and folded my arms across my chest. “Hey! Turn that down! I have neighbors!”

“Oh! Sorry, sorry, sorry!”

His large, lanky frame leaned into the car and shut off the engine. He took one last puff of his cigarette before smashing it into the ashtray, then removed the keys from the ignition. He turned to me, flaunting a large smile as if he were drunk and happy to see me, and it instantly turned my stomach.

“Rodger, what are you doing here so late? And how did you even know where I lived?”

“I gave you a ride home one night, remember?” He chuckled nerdily. “You were drunk at the company party.”

I did remember that night. But it happened so long ago, I thought that he would have forgotten.

“So, how was the party? Did you find out anything?”

I huffed and brushed past him as I fiddled for my house key. I didn’t feel like having company, but since I was in the middle of an investigation and Rodger was actually someone insightful to talk to, I let him inside. I didn’t have much information about Ivy, but I did have the SD card.

“The party was fine,” I rolled my eyes as I pushed open my front door.

“Did he make you sign an NDA? I heard his parties get so crazy they make everyone throw their phones into a bag and collect them at the end of the night like some kind of teenager.”

Already, Rodger had gotten on my last nerve. I had a beautiful night, and he was ruining it with his rambling. I didn’t see any of the rumors the town spread about Bentley. Until I thought about what was happening to me.

“I got to keep my phone. And no, I didn’t sign any NDA. It was a normal party. There were celebrities there and top businessmen. Nothing unusual. At least, not until the end of the night.”

Rodger gave me an awkward look. The kind of look a guy gets when he thinks you cheated on him. When I saw that his eyes were scanning my messy hair, bare feet, and unzipped dress, I quickly remembered that the back was unzipped and pulled its string.

“Ugh! Nothing like that happened.”

“You sure?” Rodger teased. “Looks like you’ve been doing a lot more than partying.”

I ignored Rodger and plopped down on the couch. He took a seat on the love seat across from me. I didn't think much of it at the time because I didn’t see Rodger the way he saw me. I saw him as an annoying little brother or the nerdy guy friend that I had to look after. Not a potential mate.

“It was a regular party then, huh?” He sat back and let his eyes roam all over me. “What got unusual at the end?”

I shifted so that my legs were tightly pressed together and covered the view of my breast with my arms. I didn’t know why, but Rodger’s gaze over me made me feel unusual and uncomfortable.

“I told him that I knew about his family’s ties to the mob and that I knew Isaiah. He seemed to tense up when I mentioned his brother. I don’t know if they’re having some kind of sibling rivalry or something, but he didn’t like hearing about him. I can tell.”

“Isaiah Thomas?” Rodger looked surprised. “I don’t know why I never made the correlation. Thomas. Both arrogant assholes.”

“Bentley wasn’t arrogant at all,” I said in his defense. “He was actually a lot different than I expected him to be. He was chill and funny. Very light energy.”

“Wow,” Rodger nodded slowly. “Seems like you two are getting close already. Don’t let the good looks and charm fool you. That’s how a lot of women end up like.”

I jumped to my feet before he could finish his sentence. I already knew what was coming. I just didn’t expect it from Rodger.

“Like who?” I asked sharply. “Like Ivy? Is that who you were gonna say? Because I can assure you, the only reason I’m doing what I’m doing right now is because of her.”

“Hey.” His voice and eyes softened as he stood to comfort me. “That’s not what I meant. I’m just saying. Be careful. Please. I’ve seen a lot of bad cases in this field. I’m sure you have too.”

His hands rested on my shoulders as I stood before him, wallowing in my own pity. Rodger was right. A lot of women did end up hurt because they trusted the wrong man.

“Just keep your head in the game, okay?”

“Yeah,” I nodded. “Okay. sorry about that.”

“It’s okay.”

Without warning, Rodger leaned in for a kiss. My reflexes sent me flying backward, knocking a lamp to the floor. Rodger looked confused, as if I were overacting. His hands were raised in a manner of retreat, but I still wanted to pummel him.

“What? What’s wrong?” he tensed. "Did I do something wrong?”

"Rodger, I don’t see you in that way. We’re just co-workers. That’s it. I’m not looking for a romantic partner right now. This is just work.”

He backed away somberly. I felt sorry for him. Hurting his feelings or embarrassing him wasn’t my intention. I just wasn’t that into him.

Related chapters

  • The Billionaire's Lure   Roses and Receipts

    I prepared for an awkward day at work the next morning. In my experience, men don’t like being rejected. So hurting Rodger’s feelings was all I thought about up until I saw a huge bouquet of roses sitting on my desk. I smiled instantly. The last time a guy had gotten me flowers, I was on my way to some cheesy high school dance.Even though receiving the flowers brightened my day the minute I saw them, I thought it was a bit much. I didn’t want Rodger getting his hopes up any more than they already were, so I took them to his office to return them.“Rodger, you didn’t have to bring me flowers.”He looked up from his laptop and, at the same time, removed his earbuds from his ears. “What was that?”“I said you didn’t have to bring me flowers. Last night was awkward, but no need to apologize. Everyone misreads the room at least once in their life.”Rodger turned off his music and leaned back against his chair. He seemed amused by my assumption. His eyes were squinty, and his smirk was ful

    Last Updated : 2024-11-09
  • The Billionaire's Lure   Love, Lessons, and Jealous Eyes

    My love life was as dull as an old butter knife. Getting flowers from Bentley was the most romance I’d experienced in years. In my last relationship, I was bound to a cheater who wasn’t romantic at all.We met in college. My dad really liked him. But Mom, she saw right through his veil that was oh-so thin. For five years I endured the endless trauma of nurturing, nourishing, coddling, and taking care of him.He was verbally abusive. He drank a lot, and he never gave me any say so. And as someone who wanted to be an investigative journalist, staying quiet didn’t much align with me.I’m an outspoken woman. I like to have fun. I love trying new foods and getting my nails done. I like a lot of things that all women like, but most of all, I like being treated like a lady.My life changed after my relationship with Bret. I became a distant workaholic, sworn off men for the rest of my life. I said I would never get into another relationship, entanglement, or situationship. I wanted to be fre

    Last Updated : 2024-11-09
  • The Billionaire's Lure   Shadows in the Garage

    I spent most of my day cold-calling people who were at Club Lure the night Ivy’s body was found. Each person I talked to gave a statement of what they remembered, then pointed me in the direction of someone else—Ivy’s friend. I hadn’t been able to contact her at all since the incident. She was like a ghost. A no-name. A drifter. Or someone who only came out at night. To me, that was suspicious, but I didn’t jump the gun.It was after midnight when I decided to call it a night. Late nights at the office were pretty standard for me. I got my best work done when there was no one there to bother me or get in my ear with their jealous nonsense. After packing my bag and disconnecting my laptop, I grabbed my keys and headed for the elevator.When I got to the parking garage, there was an eerie feeling in the air. I took precaution before exiting the elevator, making sure there was no one waiting for me in the shadows. When I felt like the coast was clear, I quickly headed for my car. Everythi

    Last Updated : 2024-11-10
  • The Billionaire's Lure   Behind Closed Doors

    Instead of arguing with me, Bentley texted me the address to his penthouse and left it up to me to decide whether I wanted to come over or not. I was hesitant. Because being alone with a man I barely knew was a big no-no. But when it came to Bentley, so many things had me conflicted.I realized I had forgotten my pocket knife when I got to the elevator. By then, the doors had closed me in, and I was already on my way up. I was sure there was a camera somewhere watching me, so I kept my composure and waited for my stop.The door chimed and slid open, revealing Bentley standing at his personal bar with no shirt. His body was rippled with muscles and so many tattoos that he looked like a completely different person.“She came.” He glanced at me while pouring himself a drink. “If I had known you were coming, I would’ve put on a shirt.”My mouth watered at the sight of him. I had no complaints about him being shirtless. I enjoyed the view.“This is your home,” I said, walking in nonchalant

    Last Updated : 2024-11-10
  • The Billionaire's Lure   Footage and Fears

    Rodger’s car was on the footage. There was a dark figure standing beside it, but I couldn’t tell if it was him. Whoever it was just stood there, glaring in the direction of the lobby doors.Why would Rodger be tailing Bentley?My instincts made me think he was secretly trying to steal my story and apply for the anchor position himself. He didn’t even seem interested in Ivy’s case, so it was strange. Then suddenly, an even stranger thought popped into my head. What if Rodger is working for Bentley!?"Did I leave at all?”Bentley’s voice snapped me back to reality. It was silky and smooth, but still deep and strong. By then, the bubbles from the champagne had made their way into my bloodstream and made me feel just as nice.“Not yet,” I tried to hide my smile. “You are so arrogant, you know?”“I’m arrogant?” He laughed like an almighty king, and I was his peasant. “I don’t think I am. Confident, maybe.”I looked over to him, canvassing his art work as if he were looking for any imperfec

    Last Updated : 2024-11-12
  • The Billionaire's Lure   Like Old Lovers

    Being in Bentley’s presence gave me a feeling I had never felt before. So, I agreed to one last drink if he agreed to tell me what he knew about Ivy. He insisted he didn't know anything about her, but I knew different. I knew that his company had asked to buy her plant shop a week before she was killed. What I didn't know was why he wanted to hide it.“Tell me about this job of yours,” he said as he refilled our glasses. “Are you on the news or documentaries? Or are you just the information mule?”“Eh,” I wavered. “A little of both. My goal is to become an anchor and eventually start hosting my very own true crime special.”“Ahh, so that’s why you’re working on this story.”“Not entirely. Ivy was an old friend of mine, and we look out for our own around here.”My tone was stern. I wanted to make a statement without having to spell it out to him, and he caught my drift. The police in Westlake weren’t always reliable, and he knew why. His family knew why. We all knew why.“Do you really

    Last Updated : 2024-11-12
  • The Billionaire's Lure   Intrusion in the Night

    “Don’t you touch that door.”I removed my seatbelt as the car came to a halt in my driveway. Bentley gave me a stern look that set me on edge again, but then I realized he was on his way to my side of the car.“A lady never opens her own door.”I held onto his hand and eased my way out. Still a little embarrassed for getting too ahead of myself, I took the walk of shame to my front door. Bentley stayed right behind me, making sure I made every step and didn’t trip over so much as a pebble. It was romantic. Thoughtful. Sweet. Until it wasn’t.“What the hell?” I frowned. “I could have sworn I locked this.”I pushed open my half-shut front door and reached for the lamp. Afraid of what I might find, I kept my eyes on Bentley, who looked more concerned than I felt. Because I was still tipsy, I couldn’t remember if I had left my door open in a hurry or if someone had gone in while I was out. When Bentey realized my dilemma, he jumped straight into action.“I take it you didn’t leave this ope

    Last Updated : 2024-11-13
  • The Billionaire's Lure   Heart Eyes Activated

    As promised, my car was sitting in my driveway bright and early the next morning. Right where he said it would be. His guard dogs were still there too, camping out not far away.It felt strange to be guarded so closely by two men I had never met. It was because they were so fiercely loyal to Bentley that they stood watch.My chastity belt loosened a notch that morning. Thinking about how powerful of a man he was seemed to be the key. At the order of a finger or a simple command, he was a ruler. A man everyone feared and steered clear of. But not me. The more I saw of him, the more my feelings changed.“Good morning.” He sounded cheery when he called.“Morning.” I blushed so hard my voice drifted away.“Did your car get there in one piece?”“It did. Thank you.”I was so bashful it made me gag. He didn’t have to try hard either. Bentley had a way of making me smile even when I didn’t want to.“What are your plans for the day?” he asked. “I’ll be stuck in a business meeting with some gru

    Last Updated : 2024-11-16

Latest chapter

  • The Billionaire's Lure   Dinner For Two

    I got home from work that evening, and the billionaire himself was waiting at my doorstep.I thought he was done with me for good. I thought if I wanted to contact him again, I had to go through his lawyer.However, we both thought wrong. Our passion and desire for one another wouldn’t let either of us stay away. The lure was too strong, and the lust was too addicting.“What are you doing here?” I asked. “I thought your lawyer would be taking my calls from now on.”He ignored me, took my keys and bag from my hand, and opened my front door as if he lived there. I followed him inside and locked us in, while he held on tight to the silent treatment.I hated being ignored. I hated it being so quiet when there was so much to say. Yet Bentley made the game fun. It was interesting and intense. Sexy and tempting. But it was a game I didn’t want to play all night.“Are you gonna say anything?” I asked. “If not, you can leave. I’ll get ready for bed so that I can get an early start on my invest

  • The Billionaire's Lure   Another Reason To Walk Away

    Another victim. Another story. Another reason to walk away.I called Bentley immediately after leaving Silvia’s home. He said he had already heard because her parents called him, pointing fingers. They felt he was the one to blame because she worked for him, and honestly, I felt the same way.It made sense. She talked to me about what she knew, which wasn’t much, but he didn’t know that.My immediate thoughts were that Bentley had eyes on every single one of his employees, so he knew that I had talked to her, and he wanted to silence her before she said too much.He swore he didn’t. He swore he was nowhere near Silvia’s home or had anyone else take care of his dirty work. I wanted to believe him so badly. I wanted to trust him. But my decision shifted from one side to the other.“You have to know something,” I said. “There’s no way two people who are tied to your club lose their lives so close to each other and you don’t know a thing about it. Why? Huh? Why Silvia? Were you afraid she

  • The Billionaire's Lure   The Price of Knowing

    “I take it your visit went as planned?”Fredrick stood near his SUV smoking a cigarette, eyeballing my ruffled shirt and messy hair when I returned.I felt a little embarrassed that I was figured out. But I owned it.“It went fine,” I said as he opened the door for me to get inside. “Do you feel like being my chauffeur for one more stop?”He extended his hand with a mischievous grin on his face and said, “Where to Mrs. Thomas?”I had never envisioned myself as a wife. Especially not to a man who wasn’t even my boyfriend.Yet, the name had a nice ring to it. Mrs. Thomas. But it was much too soon for marriage talk. Although I did picture Bentley and me standing at an alter, ready to say our I-do's, and got butterflies.“Just drive the car," I laughed. "I’ll tell you where to go.”I put my sunglasses on and rode my chariot all the way to Silvia’s place.I wanted to talk to her alone, without Rodger, and see if she’d elaborate more on what she said about him.He had a very distinctive look

  • The Billionaire's Lure   The Meeting Can Wait

    I left work early that day.When I called Bentley to see if he wanted to sit down and talk more about the article, he ignored my calls.With good reason, I guess.I was pretty mean to him in my office when he was only trying to help. But I didn't see it that way at the time. I thought he was looking for another reason to do something reckless, as the reckless billionaire does.I called him twice more before I decided to give Fredrick a call and make my own move on Bentley. To my surprise, he answered with cheer in his voice and was more than willing to help me out.“You know this is crazy, right?” he said as he drove me to one of Bentley’s establishments. “He doesn’t like his meetings being interrupted. I’ve seen people get dusted for that.”Dusted was something I had no desire to know the meaning of. My focus was on the man in charge. For some reason, I craved him more when he ignored me. Or when he was busy, I should say. Because I wasn't sure that he was ignoring me, I just assumed

  • The Billionaire's Lure   Playing With Fire

    Bentley stormed out on me. He was angry and disappointed.He wanted me to stand up for myself and him because he swore he was innocent. But I couldn't make that call so soon.He questioned why I ever slept with him if I didn't trust him, and I asked myself the same thing. I don’t know why I did it. Did I enjoy it? Very much so. But he and Rodger were right. I was playing with fire.“What was that all about?” Marcia entered my office with concern on her face. “Things looked pretty heated between you two.”I sighed and lowered my head.Telling her about my night with Bentley was out of the question because I knew how much she gossiped, but somehow she pieced it together on her own.“Is that who had you in such a good mood earlier!?” she gasped. “OMG! No way, Justine! You did not sleep with the very man you’re investigating!”“Shh!” I hissed. “Lower your voice before someone hears you.”Her eyes were as wide as her smile, and her thirst to know every single detail was even wider.“Wow, yo

  • The Billionaire's Lure   Caught In The Spotlight

    My office door flung open unexpectedly.I thought I would look up from my report and see Rodger huffing and puffing a second time about my own personal choices. But it was Bentley.He stood there, half smirking as he watched me close my notebook to attend to him. There were no flowers in his hand or any fancy gifts that time, but that didn’t stop me from thinking he had stopped by as a sweet gesture.Tina, Marcia, and Mandy were all standing outside my window peering in, making googly eyed faces, and fanning themselves.I playfully shooed them away to no avail, while Bentley made himself comfortable in the seat in front of my desk.For a moment, he sat there, staring at me through piercing eyes. I thought he would tell me he was done answering my questions and to never contact him again.Until he finally spoke and put me out of my misery.“So, this is it, huh? Where all the magic happens and crimes are solved.”I put down my pen and rested back against my chair.“Yeah. This is it,” I

  • The Billionaire's Lure   The Stalker's game

    The night was young. If I had the chance to do it all over again, I would have. Many times more.Waking up in bed next to the richest man in Westlake felt surreal. So much so, I stared at him while he slept, taking it all in. A bit of guilt crept into my consciousness, though. I felt like I had done something wrong by sleeping with him. Even though my soul mission was to prove his involvement in Ivy’s murder by any means, I felt guilty.“Hey,” I said softly as I caressed his head. “I have to get to work.”He groaned as he rolled over and opened his eyes to the morning sun. A large smile lifted his cheeks when he saw that I was still there and last night wasn’t a dream. I couldn’t help but smile too. His joy was infectious.“Good morning,” he said. “How’d you sleep?”“Like a baby. I hate to leave so early, but I gotta get back into the city.”“I understand.” He kissed my cheek. “I’ll have Fredrick get you there. By the way, what’d you say to him last night? He texted me and said that y

  • The Billionaire's Lure   To His Doorstep

    I was never good with emotions or apologizing. But I felt like I owed it to Bentley.Rodger had stormed off and found his own way home, and I was left to settle into my thoughts about what he said. Bentley and I would never work. He was a gangster, and I helped put men like him away. If he continued, there would come a day that I had to help put him away. But how would I if we were attached?I got into the backseat of his driver’s SUV and took my phone from my clutch. My finger rested over the call button for his number, but I was hesitant to press send. Rodger’s words were stuck in my head. I wanted to be angry with him for it, but I knew he was right. So, I put my phone away.To my surprise, though, Bentley’s driver called out to me from behind the wheel and said the words that I so desperately wanted to hear.“Ma’am, Mr. Thomas is requesting you tonight.”Butterflies took flight in my gut. I was ecstatic—desperate to be near him. To apologize for bringing Rodger with me and whateve

  • The Billionaire's Lure   Rivals in Rhythm

    “I don’t know why I let you drag me out tonight. I hate clubs.”"Oh, stop complaining, Rodger. Once you get a few drinks in your system, you’ll be just fine.”Rodger griped from the time I picked him up until the time we got inside the club. All of that changed when we were greeted by a couple of bottle girls who were already expecting me. At first, they side-eyed Rodger. But everything was cool once I let them know he was with me.When we got to the section Bentley had waiting for me, there was a chilled bottle of champagne in a bucket of ice. A bouquet of flowers, a gift bag, and a note from him. Rodger wasn’t happy to see me being pampered by another man, but he ignored it when one of the girls made eye contact with him.“Ooo, someone’s getting some attention.” I teased.“Yeah. Right,” he blushed. “You’re lucky I like you. I never come to clubs.”I believed him. As nerdy and uptight as Rodger was most days, I couldn't imagine him being in a crowded room full of sweaty people who we

Scan code to read on App
DMCA.com Protection Status