Chapter 6

Oh, he dared. Quentin was out of his seat in a flash, but Billie had a head start on him. The moment the car door closed, he heard the alarm beep, causing him to look back. That's all it took.

Quentin turned back around to see Billie with her heels in one hand and her key fob in the other, a split second before she started running. The chase was on. Billie weaved in and out of the tombstones.

Quentin had tripped several times trying to keep up with her, but she didn't stumble once. He heard her laugh, and then she ducked behind a mausoleum. He got to the other side, but she magically disappeared. She must have circled the building. He took his time sneaking around. He caught Billie spying around the edge of the building, looking for him.

Billie yelped when Quentin grabbed her around her waist and pulled her towards him. She struggled slightly, but he held her firmly in place, whispering in her ear, "So, is this when you tell me you're actually some glittery vampire?"

Billie tilted her head to the side to try and look at him before countering with, "Is this your way of asking if I bite?"

"Maybe?" Quentin said his lips still close to her ear, "or maybe I was wondering if you like to be bitten?" His lips brushed feather-light over the exposed skin of her neck and Billie shivered at the touch.

Quentin loosened his grip enough that Billie could turn in his arms. He watched mesmerized as her eyes fluttered closed and she leaned in. He couldn't believe he was going to get the chance to kiss her again. Quentin closed his eyes and sought out her lips but he found... her cheek?

Quentin's eyes flew open. Billie couldn't believe he thought she'd make it that easy for him. "Do you know where you're standing right now?"

Quentin let out a long sigh. "On the precipice of disappointment?"

Billie giggled at his response and then took her fingertip to push Quentin's chin up, pointing at the word written on the mausoleum. He saw "Helmsley" carved into stone and frowned.

"All the great moguls are buried here. This man was a real estate mogul, worth over 6 billion. He owned the Empire State Building," Billie said, stepping back from Quentin. She threw her hands up in the air and spun around like she was a ringmaster revealing the next big attraction.

"Chrysler, Rockefeller, Carnegie are all buried here in this cemetery."

"Leona Helmsley bequeathed 12 million dollars to her dog," Quentin stated blandly.

Billie looked at him with curiosity. "Is that true? About her dog?"

Quentin shrugged. "Yes. No. I don't know. I read it somewhere, I think."

"Why are you so angry about being born wealthy?" Billie inquired.

Her question took Quentin by surprise. Was he angry? He guessed he was as his family had billions but it never seemed to amount to much. "I don't know exactly?" he admitted.

"You could do so much good with your father's money. He won't be calling the shots forever you know."

"You understand you are talking about my father's death because he won't ever walk away from his business? It's his baby. He's going to be carried out of that company."

"And he may very well be buried here among the 'Greats' or somewhere else, but his time would be over. What do you want to leave behind, Mr. Harrison?"

"I can't say what I would want to leave behind. I'm still finding it difficult to decide what I want right now."

"So, you're a man who has everything who believes he has nothing."

"No. Just nothing that matters," Quentin said with an honesty that shook Billie.

"Hmm. Have you ever seen the stained glass windows in this building of the New York City skyline?" 

The way Billie changed subjects gave Quentin mental whiplash. She took him by the hand and showed them to him. "Aren't they gorgeous?"

"That depends, what are you comparing them to?" Quentin said with one inquisitive eyebrow raised.

Billie let his hand go and rolled her eyes knowing she was being set up for another line. "This entire place is a treasure trove of artwork from long past artisans. Heck the cemetery itself is beautiful with its rolling hills and parklands. Its views of the Hudson are to die for."

"To die for," Quentin chuckled, "nice pun, but why do I feel like I'm missing something?"

Billie shook her head at him. "Not something, everything," Billie said as she walked on, forcing him to catch up to her again.

"Why do you like it here so much? Let me guess, it's the only place you could think of where there wouldn't be anyone to see us together."

"That is a fringe benefit but there is also the nice strip of road that leads to this place that I can really enjoy my car the way it's meant to be enjoyed. And since we are not in public it also guarantees I have your undivided attention."

"If you crave attention, Ms. Dupree you need only ask and I'd be happy to shower you with it, or heck even just shower with you. Both ideas hold serious possibilities."

Billie's cheeks flushed, with annoyance or embarrassment it was difficult to tell. "Do you always do that?" she asked.

"What?"

"Avoid having a meaningful conversation by hiding behind all the sexual hype?"

"I can have a serious conversation. I just don't always see the need to be serious. When was the last time you had fun? Serious fun?"

Billie shrugged. "I don't have much time for it. I have a lot of responsibilities."

Quentin shook his head at her. "Responsibilities you've given yourself or someone else thrust upon you? What of your responsibility to you? What do you want out of life, Ms. Billie Dupree?"

Billie stopped, causing Quentin to have to stop with her. "To save my father's company. He needs me. I get that it won't be easy and you're right I'm not one to shy away from hard work. I know my contribution to my family was meant to be through my children, settling down, and marrying right. I could have picked any of the men who wanted me, but I'm worth so much more."

"So there were others?" Of course, there were. It would be foolish of him to think there weren't but he didn't want to examine too closely why the thought bothered him so much.

"Is this your way of trying to discover if I'm 'experienced'?" Billie framed the word 'experienced' in bunny-eared air quotes.

***

Quentin pressed his lips together and shook his head in denial. "See that's what I mean by you being a walking contradiction, Ms. Dupree. By the way that you kissed me, back on that balcony, I'd have to say yes, you are most definitely experienced. Yet, just the thought of you and other men. I don't buy it."

"Don't buy what?" Billie asked hating that his words made her feel that needling sensation of insecurity. She knew her rep. The Ice Queen, that's what the men in the office called her. Talk to them and you'd think she was frigid or a lesbian, any excuse not to take the blame on themselves for her lack of interest.

"You and other men," Quentin replied. "What idiot would have gotten your attention and then let you go? None of them could have been serious?"

Billie liked Quentin's answer but she refused to let it show. Instead, she gave a small smile and a slight shrug of her shoulders; placed her hands and heels behind her back, and continued to walk on.

Quentin stood there in disbelief. Someone had broken her heart. He didn't know who the man was but he hated him immediately. Quentin walked on and within a few strides caught up to her.

"So, no curiosity about me, huh?"

"I assumed if there was something you wanted me to know, you'd tell me," Billie replied.

"I'm not very fond of opening up to people," Quentin said and Billie found it interesting that they shared this in common.

"Why not?'

"Because I find most people wanting. Wanting something for themselves or something from me. I'm not sure what they want but whatever it is, I'm tired of giving it to them. For once it would be nice to be wanted by someone who was interested in giving and not taking."

Oh, did Billie understand that feeling but she refused to express it, instead she said, "Ever consider giving yourself? The universe, I've been told, likes to mirror our thoughts and actions. Perhaps if you were giving, people would start giving back."

Quentin smiled at her. "I guess you have a point. I am rather used to taking what I want. Most times without apology."

Billie immediately thought of the kiss on the balcony but he wasn't taking. He was giving. He poured himself into her and she missed that feeling.

Quentin reached over and Billie pulled away thinking he was going to grab a hold of her again but instead he reached back and pulled the stick out of her hair, allowing it to fall past her shoulders.

He held the pin up for her to take from him. "I like your hair down."

Billie took the pin and put it back inside the small purse that hung at her side. "You know, Carnegie believed we should spend the first half of our lives acquiring wealth and we should spend the second half giving it away."

"Well, if our parents followed that philosophy you'd have to give up that hot car of yours." 

"And you, your Kiton shoes but it does sound like a rather romantic idea doesn't it?"

"It does indeed. Speaking of romance, you give any consideration to my offer?"

Billie's stomach fluttered, she was wondering when he'd bring it up again. "Yes, but I think we need to set some ground rules."

She watched his expression turn amused as he asked, "Ground rules?"

"Yes."

"Such as?"

"We limit the PDAs for the purpose of display only. At no time do I want you to think or believe your attention is wanted or desired if we are alone together. We are after all only putting on an act for the sake of the press."

Quentin's grin grew wider. "Of course, and if at some point you would perhaps want to... I don't know, kiss me for some inexplicable reason when we're alone I am to..."

"Not happening, so you don't have to worry about that."

"Uh-huh," Quentin said, and those two words spoke volumes about his disbelief on the subject, but he didn't press. "Anything else?"

"We need to set a time limit. We are both busy people and I'd like to get back to my old life as soon as possible. How long do you think it would take to convince the press?"

"That really depends on you."

"ME?" Billie couldn't figure out how that could be.

"Yes, you. How good are you at deceiving others?"

Billie hadn't looked at it that way. She'd always been a bad liar. In her dealing with others and business she was known to be a straight shooter. This had no chance of working and she felt truly disheartened.

"That's what I thought," Quentin said accurately reading Billie's look of disappointment. "So that brings me back to rule number one. In order for us to be truly convincing as a couple, we need to look and act the part."

"What are you suggesting?" Billie asked not liking the mischievous glint in Quentin's eye.

He grabbed her hand and pulled her towards him again. "Like all great plays, for an actor or actress to become truly great they must rehearse their part. I suggest this..."

Quentin pushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear. His hand drifted ever so lightly under her chin forcing her to look at him. Billie stood transfixed as he stared into her eyes. He didn't make a move, didn't try to kiss her. Instead, Quentin stood there, staring at her like she was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen. He appeared mesmerized, almost as if it were impossible for him to look elsewhere. He made her feel... cherished.

"How do you do that?"

"Do what?" Quentin smiled and Billie's stomach fluttered.

"How can you look at me that way? You don't know me. Are you that good at pretending?"

"Who said I'm pretending?" And before Billie could answer, her reply was cut short by Quentin's lips moving slowly, effortlessly over hers. Once again Quentin wasn't insisting. He wanted to entice, to cajole her to his side. He wanted to show her what a genuine kiss felt like. A kiss by a man that wanted her. Not in a conquest sort of way, but in a way that showed she mattered. Quentin was surprised to realize that he wanted her to know he cared.

Billie pulled away. "I think this rehearsal is over." She looked upset and Quentin wondered what caused such a reaction. That was not his intention.

"Shall we get something to eat?" Quentin offered to try to stall for more time. He definitely did not want to end things on a bad note.

Billie took in a breath and quickly recovered. "Sure, why not? I guess I do owe you a meal." She took his arm and started the long trek back to the car.

Quentin smiled down at Billie. She talked about the idea like she could care less what they did or where they went but she couldn't fool him. 

"Since you are taking me out in public does that mean you have accepted my offer?"

Billie looked up at him. A silent plea not to hurt her could be seen in her eyes. "Do I have a choice?"

"We always have a choice, Ms. Dupree. Even if we choose to fail.  It's still a choice."

"There's a problem with that philosophy, Mr. Harrison. I hate to lose." Billie let go of his arm to pick up her pace back to the car.

Quentin didn't chase after her this time. He chose to instead enjoy the view of her walking ahead of him, as he thought -So do I, Ms. Dupree. So do I.