Goddess of Vengeance - Jackie Collins [59]
Her heart was beating fast. She had a date with Billy Melina. She’d actually screwed Billy Melina. Or he’d screwed her. Whatever. She’d done the deed, and that was all that mattered.
Man, this was totally surreal.
* * *
Over coffee and dessert Lucky grilled Jeffrey about their morning appointment. ‘Exactly why do you feel it necessary for me to meet with these people from Jordan Developments?’ she asked.
‘Because they have plenty of money to invest in future projects, and in my opinion it’s always prudent to keep that money close,’ Jeffrey explained. ‘Who knows what you’ll decide to do next, Lucky. And in this economy, investors with actual cash are gold.’ Jeffrey had worked with Lucky for several years, and he always tried to keep a step or two ahead of her. Knowing the way her mind worked, eventually he was sure she would want to expand, so he was merely putting everything in place should this happen. ‘I checked the company out,’ he continued. ‘It’s solid, Armand Jordan is legitimate. He’s a billionaire and a useful man for us to know. Fouad Khan is his right-hand man.’
‘Isn’t this the company you told me wanted to buy The Keys?’ Lucky asked, sipping a limoncello.
‘Initially yes. But they know it’s not an option. No harm in seeing what they have to offer.’
‘I suppose you definitely want me to be there?’ Lucky questioned.
‘It’s a meeting,’ Jeffrey said firmly. ‘What’s to lose?’
‘Fine,’ she said, downing the rest of her limoncello in one quick gulp. ‘And now, it’s time to get personal. What’s all this about you getting a divorce?’
Jeffrey fidgeted uncomfortably; he wasn’t expecting this.
‘Tell me everything,’ Lucky continued. ‘Don’t hold anything back.’
Reluctantly Jeffrey began to reveal every little detail. Lucky had the knack of getting people to talk; she would have made an excellent interrogator.
‘Enough,’ Gino said at last, intervening with a hoarse chuckle. ‘Give the poor bastard a break. You’re makin’ him sweat.’
‘Sure,’ Lucky said with a half-smile. ‘I’ll let Jeffrey off the hook. Only you have to agree that I would’ve made a great shrink. Oh, and Jeffrey, after the board meeting tomorrow, I expect plenty more info on your marital woes, so be prepared.’
‘Yeah, and you’d better come up with somethin’ juicy,’ Gino added, with a crafty grin. ‘You know my Lucky, she always goes straight for the goods.’
‘Ah yes, and guess who I learned it from,’ Lucky replied with a wink.
‘I do believe a toast is in order,’ Gino’s wife, Paige, announced, lifting her glass of champagne. ‘To the Santangelos. May they never stop bickering!’
Everyone laughed and clinked glasses.
Chapter Twenty-One
‘Hey,’ Billy said, greeting Max at the back gate, barefoot and casual in jeans and a faded denim work shirk.
‘Hey,’ she replied, thinking he truly was so major hot that it almost hurt.
Leonardo, Taylor, Rob, take a backseat. Billy Melina is the hottest dude in town – any town.
‘Wassup?’ Billy asked, heading toward the living room.
‘Had a cab driver from hell,’ she complained, trailing behind him. ‘He drove the freeway like a maniac. Thought I’d be like dead before I even got here.’
‘That sucks.’
‘Totally,’ she said, her eyes darting around his living room which was all sparse concrete curves and modern furniture. ‘This is different,’ she remarked.
‘I’m renting,’ he explained. ‘Not my style really.’
‘Nice pool,’ she said, moving toward the glass doors that led outside.
For a brief moment he was tempted to take her out to the pool, have her blow him the way he enjoyed, then send her on her way.
But no. Max wasn’t that kind of girl.
‘I guess when the divorce is finalized I’ll be lookin’ to buy,’ he said. ‘Maybe at the beach. I kinda love Malibu.’
‘When’s that gonna be?’ she said, thinking how cool it would be if Billy was her neighbour.
He gave a casual shrug. ‘Dunno. Soon, I hope.’
‘Uh . . . how was your inter view?’ she asked, wondering if she should sit down, or were they going straight out?
‘Some pissy uptight