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Still, his confrontation with Georgia, Gigi, or whoever she was, lay in front of him. What she’d done to him hadn’t been fair. He needed her to see that.
And then, he could safely return to his quiet, boring life.
It was safer that way.
Chapter Three
Alaric drove his sleek black and orange Koenigsegg Agera RS into the parking lot outside Marigold Hill Hotel and peered through his sunglasses at the luxurious two-story gray stone building shaped like a U. White painted balconies wrapped around the massive structure and large windows reflected the brilliant rays of the morning sun. The roof over the main lobby met in a high A-line cut that added a dimension to the gorgeous architecture.
The last time Alaric had been here was several years ago when he’d been dating a model from South America who had a particular taste for the finer things in life. She’d spent most of her visit with him in the hotel’s spa. It had taken him far too long to realize she’d been more interested in his pocket book than in him.
But back then, Alaric had a thing for dating models and celebrities. It had earned him a permanent spot in the tabloids as the philandering billionaire bad boy. He’d worked hard to put that past behind him. No more parties. No more fast motorcycles. And no more celebs.
Jumping out of his luxury car and slamming it shut, he marched toward the lobby entrance. There was no need to ask for directions. His personal assistant had already managed to track down Georgia Weber’s room number. She was staying in a three-bedroom suite on the second floor.
No one gave him a second glance as he entered the place. It was no doubt thanks to his navy Tom Ford suit and Louboutin leather shoes. Alaric had learned fast while growing his business that when he dressed the part, no one questioned if he belonged. It was a philosophy he’d fully embraced. And it also served to hide the one part of his body that he was ashamed of.
All too soon, he came to Georgia’s room and stood motionless outside the stark white door with thick wooden trim. A quick glance down both sides of the hallway told him he was alone.
Good. He hated public confrontations.
Just as he was about to knock on her door, his cell phone buzzed in his suit jacket. A part of him screamed at him to ignore it, but the more rational side of his brain told him it could be important business. With a hiss, he backed a ways down the hall and answered it.
“Alaric?” Earl Truman’s husky voice rang through the speaker. He was the President of Hammond Inc.’s board of directors and a frequent number on Alaric’s recent calls list.
“Yes?” Alaric rubbed the tense spot between his eyebrows.
“Have you seen the latest stock reports for the company, my boy?”
He resisted the urge to grumble. Of course he hadn’t seen the latest stock reports. He’d been too busy being duped into dating another fame-seeking celebrity.
“No, Earl. You’ll have to enlighten me.”
“They’re up, up, up.” Earl laughed harshly and then broke out into a coughing fit. When he was through, he cleared his throat into the phone. “My secretary tells me it’s because of your little escapade with that starlet, Gigi Weber. Apparently, you were photographed having lunch with her. It’s all over the tabloids.”
Alaric ground his teeth. Already, the news was out. How much longer did he have until the paparazzi started to follow him around again? He’d worked so hard the last two years on disappearing from the limelight. Now, thanks to Georgia, all that work had been undone.
“That was a mistake,” he said in a low voice, glancing at Georgia’s door. “One that I’m about to rectify.”
“I hope that means you’re going to continue seeing her, my boy,” Earl rasped. “When people see the CEO of Hammond Inc. out with a young and relevant celebrity, they want to buy your products. This is free publicity. You have to think like a businessman here.”
Alaric stuttered a reply, his mind going blank. Of course he wa
sn’t going to keep seeing Georgia Weber. That was absurd.
“Remember, boy, happy shareholders mean you ensure your position as CEO of your grandfather’s company.” Earl coughed again. “Without those high stock values, your shareholders lose faith in you. Don’t make us lose faith in you.”
There was a click and then the line went dead. Alaric glared at his phone, trying to comprehend what had just happened. Surely, they weren’t expecting him to use his dating life as a publicity tool.
As he huffed and paced in the hall, he heard a door open behind him. Alarms sounded in his head when he looked and saw it was Georgia’s door. Jumping behind the nearest corner, he listened hard to the raised voices coming his way.
“She’s not going to do it,” said a female in a mocking voice. She forced a laugh. “Gigi Weber is too saintly to sell herself to Spark. If she doesn’t wake up and smell the roses soon, she’s going to lose this career of hers. Mark my words. Boring doesn’t sell albums.”
Alaric closed his eyes. That was interesting news. Apparently he wasn’t the only one feeling pressured by the boss at the moment. Maybe he and Georgia had more in common than he thought.
“Just give her time,” a second female voice said in a soothing tone. “I know she’ll come around. This is too important to her.”
As the voices faded down the hall, Alaric pressed his back into the wall and stared at the empty space in front of him. Between the phone call with Earl and the fascinating news he’d just heard, potential was brimming. If only he could leverage it to his advantage. Maybe, the lunch date with Gigi Weber wouldn’t be a total waste after all.
