Her Tiger Billionaire(6)

But now, she didn’t have to worry anymore. Robby would be well taken care of. She hadn’t given up hope of seeing Robby wake up and get better. She missed him. She missed chatting with her little brother. A real conversation, not the one-sided chat she always did when she visited him in the hospital.

“You like roses?” Sven’s voice reeled her back to reality.

“They’re pretty.”

“Not as pretty as you.”

Her heart skipped a beat from his compliment. She wondered if he was sincere.

Sven looked relaxed. He had ditched his tie and jacket. His white shirt sleeves were rolled up. A couple of upper buttons were undone, revealing his light tan skin. He looked so damn good-looking in his formal suit and even more handsome in casual attire.

Is he for real? Am I dreaming?

She felt self-conscious standing next to him. Compared to him, she was shabby. She regretted not wearing her best outfit. The pink cotton dress she wore was her mother’s. Annalise liked the cut and fit. Very retro. Besides, vintage style had made a comeback lately.

Sven tugged her arm gently. “Follow me to the study. I have a few things to discuss with you.”

Like an obedient pup, she shadowed his heels. It became apparent that the apartment was bigger than she originally thought. No. It was ginormous. Like a mansion squeezed into a luxurious high-rise. She wondered if Sven had the whole story of the building to himself. They breezed past a French door that led them into an inner sanctum. Sven told her that this area was off limits to his staff, except for Sebastian. Housekeeping duties were performed at certain times of the day under his butler’s supervision. There were bedrooms, bathrooms, cozy nooks with plush sofas and a fireplace for lounging around, a private dining room, a full library, and his study. Annalise felt disoriented already. She would never find her way out if she were lost in this paneled labyrinth.

Sven walked to a door by the end of the hall and stopped to enter his passcode on the wall-mounted keypad. A soft electronic noise chirped, and the door clicked open. With a slight push, Sven entered his study. Again, Annalise was awed by the sight. She only saw rooms like this on TV shows. The walls were covered with exquisite mahogany paneling. The sconces looked authentically antique. There was a credenza built from exotic teakwood that was two shades darker than the tone of the room. Floor to ceiling bookshelves housed thousands of gold-gilded, leather-bound tomes. An expansive grand desk was the centerpiece of the study, paired with high-backed plush chairs. Annalise sat in one.

Sven settled behind his desk.

“Is this your mancave?” she asked. “Very nice.”

He smiled. “I guess it is.”

“I don’t see your TV though.”

“I don’t watch TV. Too much distraction. I prefer quiet reading.”

“Seriously? That’s a first.” Annalise tucked a stray hair behind her ear. “The guys at the diner always had their eyes glued on the screen. Football. Baseball. Golf. I thought men couldn’t live without TV. I guess rich people are different.”

“That’s not true. Each person has his or her own interests to pursue, and mine just happen to be slightly different from the mainstream taste.”#p#分页标题#e#

“What do you do for fun?”

“Read medical publications. My main interest is in genetics and molecular biology. I like to test my hypotheses in the lab and write essays. Of course, I always welcome constructive discussion with fellow scientists. I was particularly fond of your uncle. He was a brilliant man.”

Annalise rounded her eyes. Sven was a brainiac. Suddenly she realized the gaping chasm between them was becoming wider and wider. It made her uneasy and self-conscious.

“What do you do for fun, Anna?” Sven asked.

“I…uhm.” She tried to think of something, but couldn’t come up with anything. She did nothing but work, work, and work. “Counting my tips in the bathtub, I guess?”

His smile widened. “You’re humoring me.”

“Not really. I don’t have an interesting hobby like yours. I’m a boring girl.”

“Let me be the judge of that, shall I? I look forward to getting to know you better.” He leaned forward and dazzled her with his pearly white smile. “More personal and intimate.”

Her face burned hot. The rhythm of her beating heart quickened. This man affected her in a way that no one ever had done before. What’s wrong with me? She tried to change the subject. “What is it you’d like to talk to me about?”

He straightened his posture, quickly slipping into a businesslike mode. “It’s about your brother. I’ve just finished talking to Emma Viehl.”