The Billion Dollar Pact: Waking Up with the Boss (Billionaire Brothers Club) / Single Mom, Billionaire Boss / Paper Wedding, Best-Friend Bride. Sheri WhiteFeather

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      “Just hold on tight and have a good time.”

      “Hold on to what?”

      “Me.” He took her hand. “It’s a couples-only theme, remember?”

      She threaded her fingers through his. “I still can’t believe I agreed to come here with you.”

      “It’s too late to back out.” He squeezed her hand. For now she was his plus-one, and he wasn’t letting her go.

      They took the staircase to the main ballroom on the first floor. Already, they could hear the thumping base of music from a DJ’s turntable.

      The white-pillared ballroom exploded with color and flair. The couples-only theme was expressed in enormous paintings and life-size statues that had been commissioned specifically for the party, with depictions of legendary lovers, throughout the ages, entwined in a variety of emotional embraces.

      A huge flat-screen monitor projected images that complemented the music, and scattered throughout the marble dance floor were gilded cages big enough for two, where couples could go inside and dance with each other. Jake thought it was intriguing. He didn’t know if Carol would agree to do that with him, but it wouldn’t hurt to ask when the moment felt right. It was just a bit of fun, after all. They were supposed to enjoy the festivities, and those cages were part of it.

      The birthday girl wasn’t there yet. Clearly, Lena wasn’t quite ready to splash onto the scene and make her debut. Most of the guests had arrived and were partaking of food, drink and dance. A gourmet buffet offered lavish hors d’oeuvres and frothy desserts. Although Jake was still full from dinner, the pastries sure looked good.

      “Good grief,” Carol said. “This is something else.”

      Jake continued to hold her hand, giving her time to settle into the environment. A three-tiered fountain filled with ice was large enough to bathe in, with pink lemonade spilling from the spigots. Champagne was being served as well, delivered by waitstaff garbed in French Colonial attire to match the mansion. There was a huge aquarium bar, too, stocked with angelfish and tended by bikini-clad bartenders wearing blue wigs and fluffy white wings. Indoor and outdoor tables were available, with figurine candles shaped into historic couples as the centerpieces. The party was an eclectic mix of whatever appealed to Lena’s imagination.

      After Jake and Carol took the champagne that was offered to them, she said, “I don’t know where to begin.”

      “Anywhere you want.”

      She sipped her drink. “I think I’d like a pastry to go with this.”

      “That sounds good to me.” He escorted her to the buffet and grabbed a treat for himself, too.

      She wanted to eat outside, so they went onto the courtyard and sat with a few other couples who’d also decided to start their evening off outdoors. Jake introduced Carol to them. He knew most of the people in attendance.

      While Carol chatted with Lena’s songwriting partner and his wife, Jake studied the Napoleon and Josephine matchbooks that were on the table. The candle was a likeness of them, too, with their names scrolled across the bottom of the stand. He went ahead and struck a match and lit the wick. The wax emitted a rose scent.

      Carol turned toward him, and they watched it burn together. Then she said, “Did you know that Josephine’s birth name was Marie-Josèphe-Rose? And that she went by Rose until Napoleon started calling her Josephine?”

      “No, I wasn’t aware of that.” But the rose scent was making a bigger impact now, getting stronger as the candle burned.

      “She was born in the Caribbean on the island of Martinique. I came across references to that area when I was researching the islands around here, too.”

      He smiled. “And now we’re sitting at Napoleon and Josephine’s table, with you sharing your research with me.”

      She returned his smile. “Sometimes I overdo things like that.”

      “Yes, but what an interesting conversation it’s turning out to be.” He was fascinated by the details she’d provided. She looked beautiful in the candlelight, too, against the backdrop of sand and surf on the other side of the courtyard.

      The songwriter interrupted, announcing to the entire group, “We should all go inside now. Lena will be appearing shortly.”

      “Do you know how she’ll be making her entrance?” Jake asked.

      “Yes, but she’d kill me if I spilled the beans.” The other man took his wife’s arm. “We’ll see you in there.”

      “Sure.” Jake wished he could stay where he was. He was enjoying being out here with Carol.

      “I guess we better head in, too,” she said after everyone else was gone.

      “Yeah. I guess we better.” They’d lingered long enough.

      “Should we blow out Napoleon and Josephine?” she asked.

      “You can do it.”

      She pursed her lips, and he watched her extinguish the flame, the candle’s floral scent still drifting softly through the air.

      * * *

      Word got around that Lena was due to arrive, and the party buzzed with anticipation. Carol compared it to waiting for the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve. Or a fireworks show on the Fourth of July.

      Speaking of fireworks...

      Jake stood beside her, his arm just barely grazing hers. She wanted to reach for his hand and hold it the way she’d done earlier, letting the excitement of touching him course through her veins. But she refrained.

      Suddenly the blinds were closed on the French doors. A moment later, the chandeliers went out, the ballroom going pitch-black. Carol moved closer to Jake, not wanting to lose him in the dark.

      When the lights returned, it was in the form of spinning strobes and black lights, creating shimmering effects and completely changing the atmosphere.

      The DJ’s clothing and equipment shone brightly. Clearly, he was part of the show. Carol held her breath as one of the cages began to ascend from the dance floor, its cylindrical base rising on a hydraulic platform above the crowd. A man and woman were inside it, standing like statues. Their skintight jumpsuits glowed with graffiti-type artwork. They also had fluorescent streaks in their hair and makeup that illuminated their faces.

      The DJ announced the caged duo, and the crowd cheered and clapped. It was Lena and her current boyfriend, Mark, who was one of her backup dancers.

      Lena’s “Couples Only” song began to play, and more cheers and clapping erupted.

      Lena and Mark danced, moving rhythmically in a magical performance. Along with everyone else, Carol was riveted by the way they interacted with each other. Jake stared up at them, too.

      As the song ended, the cage was lowered back down to the ground. The door swung open and Lena and Mark emerged, rushing into the crowd, where they were greeted with hugs and kisses.

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