The Billionaire gets Jealous

CHAPTER THREE

By nine the following morning, Alexander Sterling had accomplished absolutely nothing.

His desk was covered with reports requiring his attention, his assistant had reminded him twice about an upcoming conference call, and a director in London had been waiting nearly fifteen minutes for his approval on a contract. Yet Alexander's thoughts kept returning to the same person.

Adrian Blake.

It was becoming embarrassing.

Alexander had met attractive men before. He was wealthy, successful, and regularly attended events where handsome people made it their business to catch his attention. He knew how to recognize attraction, how to enjoy it without making promises, and how to walk away when things became inconvenient.

But Adrian was different.

Alexander couldn't explain why a man he'd known for barely a day had managed to occupy so much of his mind. He remembered Adrian's smile, his quick wit, and the way he challenged him without seeming intimidated by his money. He remembered their dinner the previous evening and the unexpected pleasure of talking to someone who didn't treat every conversation as an opportunity to gain something.

Most frustratingly, he remembered the moment Adrian had looked at his mouth.

Alexander was almost certain he hadn't imagined it.

He was still thinking about it when his office door opened.

"Good morning, Mr. Sterling."

Alexander looked up.

Adrian stood in the doorway, holding a folder and a laptop. He wore dark jeans, a fitted cream sweater, and a charcoal coat that he removed as he entered. His curls were slightly untidy from the wind outside, and his cheeks were pink from the cold.

Alexander's first thought was that he looked beautiful.

His second was that he wanted to pull him close enough to discover whether Adrian would still smile before a kiss.

His third was that he needed to get himself under control.

"You're early," Alexander said.

"You're welcome."

Alexander raised an eyebrow.

Adrian placed the folder on his desk. "I arrived early, so you can thank me for being responsible. Unless you prefer that I arrive late and blame the snow."

"I prefer that you arrive whenever you like."

"Careful. You might regret giving me that much freedom."

"I doubt it."

Adrian's smile widened, and Alexander had to resist the urge to smile back like an idiot.

"I'm here to discuss the Christmas plans," Adrian said, opening the folder. "I've reviewed the original arrangements, and I have some changes to suggest."

Alexander gestured toward the chair opposite him. "Go ahead."

Adrian explained his ideas for the estate's main hall, the outdoor decorations, the entertainment, and the dining arrangements. He wanted the celebration to feel warm and welcoming rather than like another corporate function. Instead of filling every available space with expensive decorations, he planned to create smaller areas where guests could relax and talk comfortably.

He also suggested a hot chocolate station beside the outdoor firepit and a gift corner for the children attending with their parents.

Alexander listened carefully.

"You want to spend part of my budget on hot chocolate?"

"I want to spend part of your budget making your guests happy."

"They could be happy with champagne."

"They can have champagne inside. Hot chocolate is for people who want to enjoy Christmas without pretending they're attending a business meeting."

Alexander leaned back, studying him. "You have very strong opinions about Christmas."

"I have strong opinions about people spending ridiculous amounts of money on an event and then making it so uncomfortable that everyone leaves as soon as possible."

"Have you been to one of my Christmas parties?"

"No, but I saw the photographs from last year's celebration."

"And you concluded that everyone was miserable?"

"I concluded that the only person smiling in most of the photographs was the photographer."

Alexander laughed.

It was an unexpected sound, even to him. He couldn't remember the last time someone had made him laugh in the middle of a business meeting.

Adrian looked pleased with himself.

"There," he said. "You're capable of having fun."

"Don't spread that information around. I have a reputation to maintain."

"Your secret is safe with me."

They continued reviewing the plans, and Alexander found himself genuinely enjoying the discussion. Adrian was creative without being careless, confident without being arrogant, and willing to defend his ideas while remaining open to reasonable changes.

By the time they finished, Alexander had approved nearly everything.

Adrian closed his folder. "Good. I'll send the revised budget this afternoon."

"Excellent work."

"Thank you."

Alexander hesitated, then asked, "Would you have dinner with me again tonight?"

Adrian looked at him with an expression that was half amusement and half suspicion.

"Another business dinner?"

"No."

"Then what would we discuss?"

"Whatever you want."

"That sounds dangerous."

"For whom?"

Adrian's gaze lingered on his face. "I'm still deciding."

Alexander felt the familiar pull of attraction tighten in his chest.

"Take your time," he said. "But I'd like to see you again."

Adrian didn't answer immediately. He seemed to be considering the invitation seriously rather than accepting simply because Alexander was wealthy or handsome.

"I have a lot of work to finish," he said at last. "But if I get through it, I'll join you."

"I'll take that as a possibility."

"That's all it is."

"Understood."

Adrian gathered his things and headed for the door. Before leaving, he glanced back.

"And Alexander?"

"Yes?"

"Try to get some actual work done today."

The door closed behind him.

Alexander looked at the reports on his desk.

For the first time that morning, he felt motivated to finish them.

He wanted to earn another dinner with Adrian, and that was an incentive more powerful than anything his assistant had offered him.

---

By lunchtime, Adrian had taken over the estate's conference room.

Fabric samples covered one table, lighting plans occupied another, and several members of the household staff were discussing floral arrangements with him. He moved between them with easy confidence, listening to their suggestions and making sure everyone understood what needed to be done.

Alexander had come looking for the final guest list.

Instead, he found himself standing at the entrance, watching Adrian laugh with a tall man in a charcoal coat.

The man was handsome, perhaps a few years older than Adrian, and appeared entirely comfortable in his company. He held up a lighting sample, said something Alexander couldn't hear, and made Adrian laugh again.

Alexander disliked him immediately.

It was an unreasonable reaction. The man hadn't done anything wrong, and Adrian was perfectly entitled to laugh with whoever he pleased. Alexander reminded himself of this as he walked into the room.

"Adrian."

Adrian turned. "Alexander. You're just in time. I'd like your opinion on the outdoor lighting."

He gestured toward the man beside him.

"This is Julian Reed. He's supplying some of the decorations and lighting equipment. We worked together on a charity gala last year."

Julian offered his hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Sterling."

Alexander shook it. "Likewise."

"Adrian has some brilliant ideas for the estate," Julian said. "When he called about the Christmas celebration, I knew he'd come up with something special."

"He's certainly enthusiastic," Alexander replied.

Adrian glanced at him. "That's one word for it."

Julian laughed. "You should have seen him at the gala. He changed half the original design two days before the event because he thought the room looked too cold."

"And the final result was better," Adrian pointed out.

"It was. You were right, as usual."

Alexander looked between them.

There was nothing particularly intimate about their conversation, but they had an ease that suggested familiarity. Julian knew Adrian's habits. He knew how he worked and how to make him laugh. Alexander, who had only just learned what Adrian liked to drink with dinner, found that knowledge irritating.

"Are you two close?" he asked.

Adrian turned toward him. "We're friends. We've worked together on several events."

"Ah."

Julian checked his watch. "Speaking of events, I promised Adrian I'd show him the samples at my warehouse this afternoon. We can grab lunch afterward if we're not too busy."

Alexander looked at Adrian. "You have a meeting with me at two."

Adrian frowned. "I thought that was tomorrow."

Alexander paused.

It was tomorrow.

He had remembered the meeting incorrectly because he had spent too much time thinking about Adrian and not enough time checking his schedule.

Adrian slowly raised his eyebrows.

"Did you just invent a meeting to stop me from having lunch with my friend?"

"No," Alexander replied, then realized how unconvincing he sounded. "I made a mistake."

"An interesting mistake."

Julian looked between them, clearly entertained.

"I can take the samples to Adrian," he offered. "We don't need to rush."

"That won't be necessary," Alexander said.

Adrian crossed his arms.

Alexander recognized the look. It was the same expression Adrian had worn when he'd challenged the original event plans.

He had made a mistake, and Adrian wasn't going to let him escape it.

"You're right," Alexander said. "There is no meeting at two. I'm sorry."

Adrian's expression softened slightly. "Thank you."

"I didn't mean to interfere with your plans."

"Good, because you hired me to organize a Christmas party, not to surrender my social life."

Julian coughed to hide a laugh.

Alexander shot him a look, then turned back to Adrian. "Point taken."

"Excellent. I'll be back before dinner, and I'll send you the updated budget."

"That sounds good."

Adrian gathered his things and left with Julian, still discussing the lighting samples.

Alexander remained in the conference room for a moment.

He was jealous.

There was no point pretending otherwise. He wanted Adrian's attention, and watching another man receive it so effortlessly had brought out an ugly, possessive feeling he hadn't expected to experience.

But Adrian had done nothing to deserve that reaction.

Alexander had no claim on him. They weren't dating, they hadn't kissed, and Adrian hadn't promised him anything beyond a professional working relationship.

If Alexander wanted something more, he would have to earn it.

He couldn't demand it.

That realization was uncomfortable, but necessary.

He returned to his office and made himself concentrate on the work waiting for him.

---

Adrian returned to the estate shortly after five.

The afternoon had gone well. Julian's lighting samples were excellent, and they'd found a supplier who could deliver the remaining decorations before Christmas. Adrian was pleased with the progress, though he was beginning to feel the pressure of the deadline.

He had less than three weeks to transform Alexander's estate into something memorable. If he pulled it off, the photographs and recommendations could bring his business the kind of clients he'd been struggling to attract.

The contract mattered too much for him to let a handsome billionaire distract him.

Unfortunately, Alexander was making that increasingly difficult.

When Adrian entered the main hall, he found him standing beside the Christmas tree, speaking to a member of the household staff. Alexander wore a dark sweater instead of his usual suit, and without the formal jacket, he looked younger and considerably more approachable.

He also looked unfairly attractive.

Alexander noticed him and ended the conversation before walking over.

"How did the afternoon go?"

"Very well. Julian had the samples I needed, and we found a solution for the garden lighting."

"I'm glad."

Adrian studied his face. "Are you still upset about lunch?"

"No."

"Really?"

Alexander sighed. "I wasn't upset with you. I was jealous, and I handled it badly."

Adrian hadn't expected him to admit that so plainly.

"Why?"

"Because I want your attention."

The directness of the answer caught Adrian off guard.

Alexander continued, "I know that's my problem to manage, not yours. You haven't done anything wrong, and I don't intend to make you uncomfortable because I happen to want more than you're ready to give."

For a moment, Adrian didn't know what to say.

He had expected another joke or a polished explanation. Alexander could have blamed the confusion on his schedule or pretended the entire incident meant nothing.

Instead, he had taken responsibility.

Adrian appreciated that more than he wanted to show.

"That's a good start," he said.

"Only a start?"

"You have a lot to learn."

"I suspected as much."

Adrian smiled. "You're taking this remarkably well."

"I'm trying to impress you."

"Is it working?"

Alexander looked at him for a long moment. "Would you believe me if I said I haven't stopped thinking about you since yesterday?"

Adrian's smile faded into something quieter.

"Yes," he admitted. "Unfortunately, I would."

Alexander's eyes brightened. "Unfortunately?"

"You're a client, remember? I'm supposed to be focused on your Christmas celebration."

"Then I'll try not to distract you."

"That would be helpful."

Alexander glanced toward the dining room. "I was about to have dinner. Would you like to join me?"

Adrian pretended to consider it.

"Is this your attempt to get my attention again?"

"Absolutely."

The answer made Adrian laugh.

"At least you're honest about it."

"Would you prefer that I lied?"

"No. I think I've had enough of men who say whatever they believe will get them what they want."

The words came out more seriously than Adrian intended. He looked away, suddenly aware that he had revealed more than he meant to.

Alexander didn't push him to explain.

Instead, he said, "Then I'll tell you the truth. I'd like to have dinner with you because I enjoy your company. I'd like to spend time with you when we're not discussing budgets or decorations. And I'd like to kiss you, although I'm aware that the feeling may not be mutual."

Adrian looked back at him.

"The feeling isn't entirely one-sided," he said before he could reconsider.

Alexander went very still—not with fear or uncertainty, but with the effort of keeping his excitement from showing too obviously.

"Is that so?"

"Don't look so pleased with yourself."

"I'm trying not to."

"You're failing."

Alexander smiled. "I'll work on it."

Adrian shook his head, laughing softly. "Fine. I'll have dinner with you."

"Thank you."

"But we're not discussing work the entire evening."

"Agreed."

"And no more imaginary meetings to keep me away from other people."

"Agreed."

Adrian started toward the dining room, then turned back.

"One more thing."

Alexander waited.

"If you want to kiss me, you'll have to do more than look at my mouth across a table."

Alexander's breath caught.

Adrian's expression was innocent, but the amusement in his eyes gave him away.

Then he walked into the dining room, leaving Alexander behind with a racing heart and a smile he could no longer control.

For the first time since meeting Adrian Blake, Alexander had reason to believe the attraction might be mutual.

And that made him want the next dinner even more.