Priceless Treasure(72)

They were going to forge a new path for just the two of them. Nothing could keep them from their destiny.





Chapter One


Ten Years Later

Another night, another party, though for once probably not another woman. Derek Titan looked around the crowded room and forced himself not to yawn. He couldn’t stand attending events where everyone drank too much, laughed too loud and tried far too hard to impress one another.

Derek knew he was what women considered a real catch. Hell, an idiotic magazine had published a write-up on Seattle’s most eligible bachelors and ranked him, with his picture, as number one. He’d been furious and had tried to have himself taken out of the article, but his attorney had spouted some crap about freedom of speech. OK, so there were good points in the First Amendment, but he hadn’t seen many. Since the article appeared, even more women with their eyes on a prize had approached him.

The magazine listed his net worth as equal to Bill Gates’. Though slightly exaggerated, that part at least was related to business. But of what possible interest or relevance was the hackneyed phrase “tall, dark and handsome”? So what if he stood over six feet and had broad shoulders? He gagged when he read of “rippling muscles.” The flipping author even gave advice on how to meet him: don’t bother with stalking him at the gym — he hated those places — but take up running, because he ran every morning, and sometimes in the evenings too, as a way to relieve stress.

Though it hinted, at least the article didn’t quite say what happened after his second-best way to relieve stress. But here it was — the minute he’d finished taking a woman to bed, he just walked away, and that wasn’t something to inspire the magazine’s female readership. Sure, a lot of his women tried to get him to stay, but no one held his interest longer than it took him to zip up his pants.

He’d let a woman beat him once at the mating game. And after Jasmine shattered his heart and destroyed his father’s business venture, he’d lost interest in the female sex — except, of course, for the sex. His priority had long been revenge. He figured that once he got it, he’d think about settling down.

A woman breezed by him wearing entirely too much perfume, and he snapped back to reality. He sighed, then grabbed a glass of wine from a passing waiter.

These parties were all about who had the most to offer. The women were on the prowl, and the men were fishing. He just wasn’t interested.

He watched as a couple of superficial wannabe socialites passed by in low-cut gowns, dripping with diamonds. They were trying to catch his eye, and normally he’d make their day by flirting a little, giving them the impression they stood a chance. Today wasn’t that day. He had a raging headache, and he was pissed that he’d been summoned to this snooze-fest.#p#分页标题#e#

“There you are, boy. What are you doing hiding in the corner?” Daniel Titan, his father, had walked up to give him the third degree.

“I’m wondering why I’m here when I’d rather be home with a scotch and my feet up,” Derek replied.

“You’re here because you received a request from your father. I have some things to discuss with you later,” Daniel said in his no-nonsense voice.

“And it couldn’t wait?” Derek questioned.

“Oh, live a little. You’re always so busy adding megabucks to your bank account that you don’t stop to smell the cabernet sauvignon,” his father said.

“I live it up plenty. Hell, I was in Milan last week.”

“You were in Milan on business. That doesn’t count,” his dad told him.

“For me, the ideal time is mixing business with pleasure,” Derek said with a waggle of his eyebrows. Both men relaxed. “Seriously, Dad, I do have a headache. What’s so important it couldn’t wait until tomorrow morning?”

Once Derek had made his first million, he’d moved his father to the city. Daniel, now the chief financial officer of his huge corporation, had been instrumental in the company’s swift and exponential growth. But his dad had gone through hard times more than once while Derek was growing up.

“David Freeman’s here tonight, and he’s talking to some people, trying to get new investors,” Daniel said, his eyes narrowing slightly as he looked at the man who’d destroyed his livelihood some years before.

Derek was on instant alert. He searched the room, spotting his enemy. David was the one who’d made Derek the cutthroat businessman he was. “It’s far too late for him. By tomorrow morning, he’ll know that his company is mine, no matter what he tries tonight,” Derek said.