"No! Absolutely not!" Billie Dupree turned her back on her father and sat on the edge of his massive mahogany desk, her left foot vibrating back and forth in agitation at the mere suggestion.

"I will not forfeit all that I've worked for, Dad, for what purpose?" Billie jumped to her feet and spun on her high heels to face him. "To become some playboy's trophy wife? Certainly, I've proven to you that my contributions to this company are worth more than that?"

Mr. Dupree cringed at his daughter's assessment of his proposal. "I'm not asking you to marry the man, Billie, just take him out. Show him around. You can do that, can't you?"

Billie's piercing blue eyes zeroed in on him, and he felt uncomfortable under such censure. 

"That boy's picture is constantly splattered across the tabloids. Do you know what fun they'll have if they see us together? One picture and it will be on every social media platform we are planning a spring wedding!"

Her father scoffed at this. "Billie, he is not a child. He's two years older than you."

"Quentin Harrison is nothing more than a spoiled brat, living the high life off of his father's money! I know what you're doing, Dad. You're trying to get me out of the way. You're planning a merger with Mr. Harrison, aren't you?"

Mr. Dupree's brows creased in annoyance. That was the whole problem with Billie she was always too smart for her own good. "Honey, you know what our last fiscal quarter looked like. If we don't do something soon..."

"I have a plan for that. An idea that is revolutionary. It could change the entire industry. It could save us, Dad. Why won't you...?"

"It's a gamble, Billie. You want me to have my entire life's work and your future to ride on a gamble?" Mr. Dupree slammed his fist on the desk and Billie flinched.

"No, Billie! The answer is no."

Billie leaned in across the desk. She wasn't about to give up that easily. Her finger raised, her mouth opened to retort until interrupted by the disembodied voice of her father's secretary coming across the intercom.

"Mr. Dupree your 11 o'clock is here to see you."

Then she heard a second voice. "Tell him I won't be kept waiting all day."

Billie's eyes widened. No... she glared at her father, as he pulled uncomfortably at his shirt collar. "Send them in Rosaline," Mr. Dupree told his secretary.

Billie's lips pressed together, her head shook. He had set her up. She should have known her father was up to something when he asked her to "dress up" for their lunch date today. Billie always wore suits to work. It was a boys' club around here and so she dressed the part. No skirts, no heels, no makeup even. She couldn't afford the distractions it caused.

Now.... as the buzzer sounded to unlock the door, her father joined her on the other side of his desk. He grabbed her by her elbow to pull her close and whispered in her ear, "Play nice, Billie. We need this."

She wanted to snap back at him that they most certainly did not but bit her tongue and greeted her father's guests with a smile, plastered firmly in place. "Mr. Harrison, what a pleasure," Billie nearly cooed playing the part of the perfect hostess.

Mr. Harrison did not even acknowledge her, only spared her a brief glance before saying, "Dupree, this can't be your daughter. She's far too good looking to belong to the likes of you."

Mr. Dupree forced a laugh. "What a wit, you have Harrison. But I must agree. Billie's beauty doesn't come from me, but her mother, God rest her soul."

At the mention of her mother, Billie's smile wavered but it was a mere flicker. She subconsciously reached up and toyed with the locket around her neck. It's been two years since they lost her mom to cancer and it still hurt. Her mother would have never agreed to this meeting. Gwendolyn Dupree would have stood up to her father and told him what a horrible idea it was.

As the two men went through the motions of inane idle chatter. Billie stole a glance at Quentin Harrison, who stood by his father's side with a bored expression upon his face. She had to admit the tales about his attractiveness were not exaggerated. He looked just as good in person as he did on last month's cover of GQ.

His build was athletic, not even a suit could cover the obvious muscle hidden beneath. Wide shoulders, slim waist, his honey-colored hair, cut into the latest style. Billie felt aggravated to admit that she appreciated his strong jaw outlined by a shadow of a beard, just a hint of one, to make him look less polished and more...

Suddenly his eyes darted over to her. Damn it! He caught her staring at him. His head cocked to one side and a slow smile pulled at his lips. His playful green eyes sparked with a challenge accepted.

Great! Billie thought, now he thinks I'm interested in him. Billie did not back down. Instead, she held his gaze. His smile turned into an amused smirk. It angered her that she will be forced to spend her valuable time 'entertaining him'.

The staring contest only ended when Mr. Dupree said, "Billie, I've made reservations at Balthazar's. Why don't you and Quentin run along and we'll catch up with you later?"

Billie felt the rise of panic causing her heart to race. Not only was her father going to start discussing plans for a merger with H-Tech but she apparently wasn't invited into the fold. That decision did not bode well for her future with, Dupree Industries. Still, she had enough respect for her father not to argue with him.

"Shall we?" Quentin offered her his arm, a chivalrous move she'd play along with, for now. She took his arm and he led her to the door. Billie spared only a glance back at her father. His look was both apologetic and proud. Billie sighed.

She could get through this. It's just a few hours, but she wouldn't play in anyone's hands. To be seen out in public alone with a philanderer like Quentin would cause too much speculation. As they entered the elevator, Billie reached over and hit the button for the garage. She needed a plan.

Billie was nothing like the rumors Quentin had heard. Most men called her an Ice Queen, said they believed she secretly wished to be a man and often dressed as one, but she was all soft curves, full lips, glossy black hair with eyes the color of blue flames. "You're quite beautiful, you know that?" Quentin offered openly admiring her now.

Billie frowned that he chose now to interrupt her thoughts.

"Of course, you do," Quentin back peddled, misinterpreting her annoyance with him. "You are you, but then again most truly beautiful women I know seem not to be aware of the fact."

Billie resisted the urge to roll her eyes at him. "That's only because they either suffer from low self-esteem or they know by appearing as such, will get them praise. I however am painfully aware. I see my looks as my curse, my... burden to bear, so save your flattery for someone who will care for such compliments."

Quentin's eyebrow rose in amusement. "Beauty and Bite" - Careful there, Ms. Dupree keep that up and you may end up making me fall in love with you."

His casual statement caused a very unladylike snort to escape from Billie... as if. "You are in no danger there, Mr. Harrison. I have no intention of ever falling in love with you or anyone else. I don't have time for such frivolity."

His eyes became intense and Billie could feel the heat of that gaze. "I never said anything about you falling in love, Ms. Dupree. I only spoke of my feelings on the subject."

Billie silently cursed. She should know better than to pose a challenge to a man like Quentin Harrison. He'll only be more interested and that was the last thing she wanted.

They reached the garage, the elevator door swished open. Billie hit her key fob and the headlights flashed on her McLaren Spyder. Quentin let out a long slow whistle in appreciation of such a beautiful machine.

He shook his head in awe. "No... it's official. I'm in love."

Billie knew her car had that effect on most men and grinned. "Well, in that case, let's skip Balthazar's and go to my place."

The look of utter shock on Quentin's face, nearly cause a giggle to escape Billie's lips as she slid behind the wheel. She bit her lip to keep from grinning and started the car, which roared to life. She enjoyed keeping Quentin off-kilter.

Quentin took his place in the passenger's seat.

"You may wish to buckle up," Billie warned him. "You're in for one hell of a ride."

Quentin did as instructed and Billie got them out of the garage and onto the street. New York City traffic never allowed her the joy she got driving this vehicle on the open road. Still, she would give the Spyder all she's got within the limits of law and traffic.

***

"So, you like fast cars?" Quentin asked, wanting to start a conversation and break the silence that ensued after they started driving.

"I appreciate works of art," she told him. "This one just happens to take the shape of a fast-moving vehicle."

Billie handled this car like a formula one racer. She looked so at ease behind the wheel and Quentin had to admit it was sexy as hell, watching her take control of such a powerful machine. The way her hands gripped the wheel and the leather seats made her dress ride up on her thigh had him thinking all sorts of things he shouldn't about Ms. Billie Dupree.

Quentin was livid when his father told him of the meeting he MUST attend today. Playing babysitter to keep Mr. Dupree's daughter occupied and out of the boardroom so the 'men' could discuss business, was a demeaning and degrading position. Quentin was used to it though, it seemed it was all he was good for nowadays.

When they reached the SoHo district, Quentin frowned. "Change your mind about your place?" The restaurant that Mr. Dupree mentioned he knew was in this district, he had been there many times before.

"Not at all," Billie replied but never took her eyes off the road. "I live in this district."

Billie Dupree was full of surprises. He expected her to take him to some stately home or mansion in Queen's or Staten Island. Instead, she pulled her car into a parking garage on Varick Street.

A man came jogging up to the car. Her door opened and a hand was at the ready to help her from the vehicle. "Afternoon, Ms. Dupree. You're back early."

Billie took his hand and gave him a brilliant smile. The first real smile, Quentin had seen so far and it was breathtaking. Quentin wondered what he'd have to do to earn one.

The attendant gave a catcall whistle when Billie finally extracted herself from the vehicle. His look of appreciation for Ms. Dupree could not be missed. "You are looking mighty fine, Ms. Dupree."

Was that a blush he saw gracing Billie's cheeks? Quentin couldn't believe it. He calls her beautiful in the elevator and she frowns at him and tells him to save his flattery and this guy gets her blushing like some schoolgirl. Quentin wondered if he were losing his touch.

Billie gave the man a flirtatious hip check causing him to laugh. "I'm only going to be a few hours, Carlos. So take good care of my baby?"

"You know I will," Carlos said, and then obviously noticing Quentin for the first time, leaned in to ask in a lowered voice, "Who's the suit?"

Quentin could not believe the nerve of this guy.

"Business associate. Don't worry, Carlos. I can handle him."

Handle him? Okay, honestly, he wouldn't mind Billie "handling him" but he knew that's not what she meant.

"Hey, I'm not some sort of shark you know?" Quentin wondered why he felt compelled to defend himself to these two strangers.

"Glad to hear it," Carlos said, "because mess with Ms. Dupree and you'll be sorry."

Quentin's eyes narrowed and his nostrils flared. "Are you threatening me?"

Carlos grinned. "Threaten? No, man, just a friendly warning is all." He gave Billie a wink and she actually giggled.

"Come on, Mr. Harrison, before you get yourself into trouble."

"Me? Trouble? I..."

Billie took Quentin by the arm and started walking him out of the parking garage. Once they hit the street he had to ask, "What's the deal with the parking attendant, you and he got a thing going?"

Billie laughed. "Me and Carlos? Uh... no."

"He seemed awfully possessive of you."

"Did he? Huh?" Billie shrugged and that ended the conversation.

They walked down the street and around the corner to a high rise containing luxury apartments. The doorman grabbed the door and opened it as they approached. "Ms. Dupree, welcome home."

"Thanks, Mitch."

As he walked past the doorman, once again Quentin got eyeballed but he had eyes only for the woman walking before him.  Billie had him intrigued. There was an aura of mystery that seemed to swirl around her. He enjoyed the sexy way her hips swayed as she walked in her stilettoes, although those curves were pretty enticing too.

Billie reached the elevator doors and looked back, to give a once-over glance that nearly made Quentin blush at being caught checking out her backside. However, he refused to apologize. He didn't even try to deny it.

"If you don't want me to look then don't walk ahead of me," Quentin informed her as he got into the elevator. Billie shook her head at him but not before he saw the briefest smile tug at her lips.

Quentin had no idea what the next few hours might hold, but it had been a long time since he felt excited enough to want to find out.