Bedding The Billionaire(40)

A knock at his door sent a jolt through him. He stood, paused, and eyed the door. It wouldn't be Abbey. Not after the way they'd parted.

He opened the door, a short speech already prepared just in case. But instead of a sexy, blue-eyed vixen, the person who stood on his doorstep was male, forty-ish with dark hair and a three-day growth.

"Hello, Boss," said the man in an American drawl. "Long time no see."

"Vane! What the hell are you doing here?"

"My job." Damien Vane-the real Damien Vane-pushed past Nick into the room.

"Nice suite. Pity I couldn't use it."

Nick blinked, gathered himself, and rounded on his VP of Marketing.

"You've got some nerve waltzing in here now. Where the hell have you been?"

At least Vane had the decency to look apologetic. He also looked hung over. "Sorry, I lost track of time."

"You lost track of time! What kind of excuse is that! You're fired."

"Aw, now wait a minute, let me explain. I went away for the weekend with this hot little air hostess. An air hostess! I couldn't pass her up. Well, we kind of had a few too many drinks on Sunday night, then the next thing I knew it was Wednesday. I got back to the office as quick as I could and they said you'd come down here instead of me. So I got Beverly to book me a flight and here I am." He threw his arms out wide. "Better late than never. And there's still tomorrow."

Nick sucked in air and let it out slowly. It didn't help him calm down. "You've a nerve coming down here when the seminar's almost over."

He took a step towards Vane and Vane took a step back, swallowing so hard his Adam's apple almost disappeared into his chest. Nick had a mind to punch the arrogant look off Vane's face, but he thought that might not be very dignified.

"I've had enough of your disappearances and your lazy attitude to the job. I've put up with it until now because you were supposed to be the best. But you crossed the line this time, Vane. You're fired. Get out of this room, go back to Sydney and clean out your office. I don't want to see you again."

Vane blinked back at Nick, his mouth open. "You're serious."

"Yes."

"But I haven't got a flight booked."

Nick took another step toward Vane. He was out of patience. Maybe he should just hit him. It might make him feel better. "Then get on the phone and do it."




 

 

"But, my job. I'm good..."

"Then you'll get another one. Maybe Microsoft will take you back."

Vane shook his head. "My wife's Australian. She doesn't want to live in the States anymore."

"Somehow I don't think that's going to be a problem," Nick muttered.

"Huh?"

Nick shook his head. He wasn't going to bring Abbey and her investigation into this.

Nick crossed his arms and glared at Vane. If the little jerk didn't move soon, he was going to have to wrestle him out of the room.

That might not be a bad thing. It would save him punching him and would kill two birds with one stone-he'd get rid of Vane and his anger at the same time.

He took another step toward Vane who took one back, but found the couch in the way.

"Don't look at me like that," Vane cried.

"Like what?"

"Like you want to kill me."

"I do want to kill you. I've had a bad week." Actually his week hadn't been all that bad. The parts with Abbey in his bed, on the couch, at the restaurant, the beach, Lucy's desk-those had been rather good. It was the other parts he didn't like so much.

Vane held up his hands in self defense just as Nick uncrossed his arms and reached toward him.

"Okay, okay, I'm leaving." Vane scuttled toward the door. "You know, when I heard you were pretending to be me, I thought we could turn this to our advantage. I could pretend to be you, just flying in to check on the last day of the seminar and attend the cocktail party and charm the pants off everyone. We'd make a good team."

"I don't charm the pants off people, I talk straight and get the job done."

"Yeah, right. Like all the women in the office don't go ga ga over you."

"That's because I treat them with a little respect and don't try to grab their asses as they walk past."

"Hey, I only did that once."

"Yeah, once when you were sober. Millions of times when you were under the influence."

Vane looked sheepish. It wasn't nearly good enough-Nick wanted him to look afraid.

"So how about it?" asked Vane.

"What?"

"I pretend to be you. Just for tomorrow."

"You've already caused enough trouble for one week, why would I want you to stick around? Do you think I'm crazy?"

Vane shrugged and gave Nick a look as if to say he wasn't sure.