Billionaire’s Bounty(16)

“Yes, about that,” he growled, sounding like his teeth were clenched. “I don’t know what the heck has come over you, but I never condoned such behaviour. I’m not even sure what the note meant, and I don’t think I want to know exactly what you’ve got into with this Jude Stone, but I’m ordering you to come home. Right now.”

“I’m not a child, Jeff,” she told him with an exasperated sigh. “And trust me; I know what I’m doing. It may not make sense to you or anyone else right now, but it does to me. I...I just want everything to be okay.”

“And it can be,” he said pressingly. “It’ll take some time, but we’ll get back on our feet, Miranda. And it’ll be absent you having to ...to barter yourself with that degenerate billionaire. That’s what he’s asking of you, isn’t it?”

“I thought you said you didn’t want to know?” she asked wearily. “Look Jeff, thanks for being worried about me, but I’m fine. I’m doing this because I want to. I’ll be back in a week, okay? And then we can talk properly. Good bye.” She quickly hung up, and was thankful when he didn’t call back. She wondered now if it had been wise to have told Jeffery anything about it – at least, not until it was all done with. Was he going to tell her father? Gosh, she hoped not. Now, in the clear light of day, she was beginning to see the utter freakiness in what she’d chosen to do.

But like she’d told her brother, she was grown. She’d made the decision. And it was a decision she was beginning to regret less and less even as she started to become concerned about her own motives...

***

She was surprised to receive a call from Carly soon after. “Jude is locked down in the meeting,” Carly informed her, “But he did want me to check in on you, make sure you were okay. He was wondering if there’s anything you wanted to do for the day? Go sightseeing, shopping? He’s already sent the limousine back to the hotel for you. We’ll be finished a bit late and will return in a London cab or something. In event that you may wish to purchase anything, my boss has made available his black card.”

“His what?” Miranda asked quizzically.

“It’s placed in an envelope in the top drawer of the bedroom dresser, he informed me,” was Carly’s mild reply, and Miranda made her way there from the living room area of the suite, Sure enough, there was an envelope, and she looked inside.

“It’s a credit card,” Carly supplied.

“I know that.” Miranda hadn’t meant to snap into the phone at the PA, but she really was feeling waspish at that moment. “So, what am I supposed to do with it? Go on a spending spree? I think your boss has got me mixed up as something else. I...”

“Miranda, there’s no need to take offence, I assure you. He simply wishes to make your stay as comfortable as possible. He doesn’t wish you to be bored while he’s busy at work. And besides, this trip was his idea; you shouldn’t be made to spend your own money in case there’s anything you might need. You’re his guest, okay? He’s simply seeing to your welfare.”#p#分页标题#e#

Miranda huffed to herself. Guest? Well, that had to be one way of putting it. But she did feel silly for ranting at Carly. It had nothing to do with the woman.

“I suggest you take the opportunity to have fun, enjoy the city,” Carly was saying lightly. “The chauffeur knows loads of places you can visit. It’ll definitely beat sitting in the hotel suite all day.”

“Oh, certainly,” Miranda murmured with a sugary tone, and then hung up fuming to herself. She wasn’t even sure why she was angry, but she was. With every minute that passed, she couldn’t help thinking that this all felt like something out of a really cheesy old movie...

***

The chauffeur arrived, and she did go out. Sightseeing in a limousine was certainly a perk worth savouring, she had to admit. But even with the lovely sights she visited, she couldn’t help feeling that same inner anger – at herself mostly. She then had to keep reminding herself the main reason she was here, and tried to let things percolate far beneath so as not to ruin her day. But then when, at a few minutes past three pm, she was in the limousine and the phone rang, she knew at once that it was Jude. And her irritation rose up from the surface in a flash.

“How’s your day going?” he enquired smoothly. “I’m having a hectic one of it myself – and we just had a brief break for a late lunch so I decided to ring you up. Carly mentioned something about you being a little...offended about something.”