All Chapters of The Billionaire's Mask (A Dark Steamy Romance): Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

171 Chapters

71

As we talk after our lovely little dinner, we drink by the pool and walk by the fence. We share a good laugh talking about his friends; sometimes, he’ll make a joke. This is the night I find out he’s had at least eighteen girlfriends in the past.“That’s too many,” I comment.“How about you?”A beat passes. “Four.”“You paused.”I pat his arm and giggle. The wine is probably affecting me. “I paused because I want to make sure of my answer, and I’m sure that it’s four!”“I guess there are some you didn’t count.”I shrug. “Maybe.” Now, he’s probably thinking, I might be one of those people. “I don’t usually commit.”Cassius gulps the last drop of his wine. “I can understand, and that’s what makes you difficult to have.”We both stare at the skyline, and an awkward silence follows. But then we speak at the same time.“So...”We laugh again, and the sound he makes warms me.“You first,” I say, emptying my glass.“Aren’t you cold?”“No, but that’s what you were going to say?”He chuckles.
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72

A few days later, I haven’t decided, but all I can think of is our conversation that night. I perform my usual routine like a robot, but my mind is elsewhere. Brandon and my answer to his question, Oliver is still missing, my growing mixed feelings for Cassius, Pauline’s status in Brandon’s life, and last but not least, the card Jason left days ago.I spoke to Mom the other day about Jason, and she indeed saw them right after I left Lawrence.“Hey, Mom, um, this is about Jason...” I bit my lip, then chuckled nervously. “He found me here in New York, and I’m sure he’s with the rest, Chris and Arianna. Have you perhaps met them there? It’s kind of impossible, right? Since they were suddenly gone... And...” I sighed. “I’m asking just in case it was you....”“Honey, I wanted to surprise you,” she told me excitedly as if their sudden farewell hadn’t bothered her before. She cried when they left too.“Did they tell you why they left?”“Oh.” She clicked her tongue. “I told you many times. Th
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73

“Where are you going, Laynie?” Cassius calls from the kitchen as I stomp away.“Where else? Your cousin needs to wake up,” I yell back and march outside. I go to Brandon’s study first, expecting him to still be there since it’s where I delivered his food, but he’s not. I invade his room too, but he’s not there either, so I enter the passage from his bedroom to his library.I look down from the library’s second floor, and I find him by his desk alone.Brandon is looking so magnificent in his snug black vest and white shirt as he sits on the edge of a desk, holding a tablet. He is frowning at the screen, so he must be working. But screw that. He has to hear what I have to say.I march down from the first floor and lock the door to prevent an intruder from coming in. He doesn’t seem to notice my presence until I clear my throat.His eyes brighten at the sight of me, but he keeps his face impassive. “Alayna.”“We need to talk.”His eyebrows knit together. “What is this about?”“I told you
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75

ALAYNAI am like a sheet of paper in his arms, and he lays me on his bed while kissing my neck, my fingers tangling in his hair. We are both breathing hard, yearning, and can’t get enough of each other. This is something I always wanted but never got the chance to have.We can’t stop kissing, sucking, and licking each other’s mouths on the softness of his bed—Brandon exudes power, control, and voracity, like a hungry lion eating its prey. The slurping sounds he makes are driving me insane. We smell of sex with our sweat mixing up. I’m already losing myself in his world.My lips break from his, and I moan as his hand cups my pussy. “I like how you taste here, but I need to feel you again,” he says in a low, raspy voice.“Mm, you’re still dressed,” I mention, biting my lip, my eyes fluttering. “I want to see you.”Brandon raises his torso a little and chuckles. “Easy there, lioness.” He then steps out of the bed and displays his perfect build, his muscles flexed and defined. He runs his
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76

BRANDON“I’m going to be quick,” I say over the phone as soon as I’m a few feet away from Alayna; she’s now sound asleep. “What’s up?”“We have a lead,” Wolf announces. “I met Phoenix today, and his birds brought useful news, but he needs assurance before confiding anything.”Phoenix is another mob leader who operates in Westchester, the Bronx, Connecticut, and New Jersey. Wolf briefed me about him and the others. Phoenix is one of the oldest among the eight and operates a large multibillion-dollar enterprise of smuggled guns. He also runs a loan shark and illegal gambling operation. I see nothing else interesting about them, but I must hear what Wolf has to say.“I need assurance too, Jason,” I say firmly. “These people are the real criminals.”“I’ve had a truce with him for as long as I can remember, but my Wolves don’t exercise their operation, I’m sure you know that. But Phoenix and I work together with shipments since we’re basically neighbors. We can’t afford to lose that, or we
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77

ALAYNAAs Pauline expected, Brandon has just finished his workout and is looking luscious in a black muscle-cut tank top and slim fit gym shorts. His arms and shoulders are glistening with beads of sweat. His body has defined cuts with enough bulk on his biceps and pectorals. How can he look so glorious in everything he wears? My fingers suddenly itch to rub his arms, his wide chest, and his stomach.This man. How could I not fall in love with him?I avert my eyes to the food and place the dishes on his dining table by the window.“Good morning. I have your breakfast. But it’s not on your list, by the way.”He moves over to me, still panting, and kisses my cheek. “Good morning. When did you ever follow the list?” he jokes, smiling. And God, even if he’s covered with sweat, his natural masculine odor and mild soap smell are divine.I pout. “I follow the list, you know, but I’ve added some variation.”“Doesn’t matter. I always love your cooking.” He disappears into his closet and comes
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78

BRANDONI stroll briskly to the corridor toward the executive floor, walking past the secretaries’ cubicles. Remembering how I first started... I founded the company in my room, where I built my first mainframe computer system. I excelled in computer science and engineering as far back as high school. I was very advanced. And through Oliver’s persuasion, I took a graduate degree online for credential purposes. I immensely enjoyed discovering things, and technology has always fascinated me.With Oliver as the face of Grethe & Elga Enterprises, the holding grew into an empire and branched into various divisions. Now I own one of the biggest consumer electronics and telecommunications companies in the market.Nonetheless, it’s as if I’m a newborn in this environment; I still haven’t gotten used to the ringing telephones, the sound of the murmuring of employees, and people moving all over the place.Especially now that Miss Garcia, Oliver’s prim and proper executive assistant, is followin
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79

ALAYNAIt’s usually quiet in the house, but unlike yesterday, I don’t have bitterness for breakfast. Casey has online classes, Cassius is at work, Ms. Lennie is busy ordering the maids around, and Pauline... Well, I don’t care to know what she is doing. On the other hand, I’m not sure how to tell them Brandon, and I reconciled.Brandon promised he would be early tonight, and I wish to surprise him with a new dish. I choose to believe him for now, for us, since that’s what trust is all about. He wants me to give it, and I’ll try again. This is better than wondering if there’s a future for us every day. No matter what Pauline says about their relationship, I will wait for him. Our present is all I should care about.In the afternoon, I try to make grilled chicken gnocchi. It’s an Italian version of gyoza or dumplings, but I use the chicken’s skin as a wrapper to retain the smoky flavor of the chicken when I grill it. I stuff it with mashed potatoes, minced garlic, ground chicken meat, g
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80

ALAYNA“Siblings?” Ms. Lennie’s eyes widen. “I didn’t you know you had more siblings, Alayna.”“Well, they’re technically foster siblings,” I tell her. “We were childhood friends back in Lawrence before their parents passed.”“Ms. Lennie, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” Jason holds her hand and kisses her knuckles. Arianna waves at her. There are really things that don’t change: Jason is still a gentleman, and Arianna is still as cheerful.Ms. Lennie looks a little dazed but clears her throat. “Very well. I’m glad Alayna has family in this city.”“At first, we weren’t sure if it was her since there are others with the same name in the city, then we asked Mom—I mean her mom ...” Arianna takes my hand and beams, “but we’re so thrilled that it’s really you.”“I spoke to Mom to make sure it was really you. I couldn’t believe it!”She hugs me again. “Oh. I still can’t believe this is happening.”“Why don’t we all go inside?” Ms. Lennie suggests, startling me.“Is it okay?” I know that Brando
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81

ALAYNAJason holds out his hand and grabs Brandon’s. I glance back and forth at the two men who seem to know each other.“Have you met?” I ask.“I work for him,” Jason answers.“He works for me,” Brandon says simultaneously.A beat passes. “Oh, wow. Small world, huh?” I frown, feeling a knot in my stomach because it’s weird. Suddenly, the atmosphere becomes decidedly colder.I clear my throat. “Well, this is really a surprise.”“I’m surprised about it myself,” Brandon says and shoots a glare at me. Maybe he’s slightly mad because I let my visitors in without his permission. I’ll just explain it to him later.“Anyway, dinner is ready. Do you want me to take dinner to your room first?” I ask Brandon.He leans toward me, not minding our guests. “I’ll join you.”Now, that is even more astounding. “Really?”“Hmm.”Ms. Lennie comes in as if she’s been waiting for the right timing. She approaches Jason and Arianna, ushering them to the dining room. I am about to follow when Brandon pulls me
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