Her Billionaire Geek Read online

  CONTENTS

  Copyright

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Her Billionaire Geek

  Jenna Chase

  &

  Toni Kenyon

  Copyright © 2016 Jenna Chase & Toni Kenyon

  This is a work of fiction. Any and all similarities to any characters, settings, or situations are purely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in retrieval system, copied in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise transmitted without written permission from the publisher. You must not circulate this book in any format.

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  CHAPTER ONE

  Jarrod

  The team had been waiting for this party for months. Anticipation had been high. I’d promised them, that if the launch went well—which it had done—then I’d throw them the best party that Auckland had ever seen.

  I’d hired a home on the clifftop on the North Shore.

  From my vantage point I had an uninterrupted view of the shore beaches as they worked their lazy way up the Auckland Harbour. The setting sun glinted off the tall buildings of Auckland city and turned the peak of the Sky Tower into a flaming orange torch.

  I stood on the private deck of the master suite observing the select mass of humanity below.

  My team lived by the antiquated adage: work hard—play hard. My personal philosophy had always been work harder and forget the play, but sometimes even an old man like me had to set aside his own philosophies on life and let the team have their afternoon in the Auckland summer sun.

  Well, I called myself old, but then 34 years-old and a billionaire to boot could be considered old in my industry.

  The team had made the launch of the company’s latest platform game a complete success. A tech company at the bottom of the world had taken the rest of the globe by storm and we were the hottest ticket in town.

  For now.

  The company I’d hired to make this event a success had instructions to send the neighbours to hotels in town for the night. A security team were on hand to make sure that there was no local trouble. Teens in this neighbourhood had a penchant for party crashing and I didn’t want to see them, unless they were buying my games.

  This magnificent home for hire had then been transformed into the equivalent of a Tahitian holiday resort. I had formed a grudging respect for the party planners. They’d craned in huge palm trees in big tubs. Potted frangipani plants stood in rows around the edge of the spotlit garden. The sweet scent of the blooms filled the evening air.

  The caterers had just brought in a pig on a spit and were setting up a sumptuous banquet meal adjacent to the pool.

  There was a top DJ coming in after we’d eaten so the team could party into the early hours. I’d hired the residence for the weekend, so if they kicked back and even decided to come to work direct from here on Monday morning, I didn’t have any issues. I kept a kitchen full of food for them at the office—it was our home away from home. They loved their industry with the same unwavering passion as me. That’s why they were here, because we were the best and I’d learned to look after my people.

  I planned to slip away as soon as I could—I hated social occasions and I didn’t do well with people—even the people who lived and breathed the work the same way I did.

  The only thing that held me here now was Brie Stevens, the head of my artistic team and one of the most talented women in the business.

  The curvy artist, whose jet-black hair looked almost blue in the early evening light, sat opposite the pool house sipping juice. She’d long abandoned the large, floppy hat that she’d worn for most of the day and I’d noticed that she’d avoided spending any time in the pool at all.

  Shame. Because I would have loved to see that alluring body of hers in a bathing suit. Today, she’d abandoned the vintage dresses that she wore in the office in favour of a wrap-around arrangement in blue and yellow flowers that hugged her hour-glass figure.

  There was a particular floral pattern that wrapped itself around the edge of her breasts that I couldn’t keep my eyes away from. How I longed to trace my fingers along the edge of the petals and feel the fullness of the breasts they encased.

  I shook my head.

  Mixing business with pleasure had never been my strong suit. I’d tried it once before and it had been an unmitigated disaster.

  The reason I ended up in Auckland.

  I couldn’t get away from Singapore fast enough.

  As it turned out, it had been a good move. The city had been good to me and tonight we were all enjoying the fruits of our labour.

  I sipped on a malt scotch. It was an acquired taste, but also an indulgence that I allowed myself.

  The sound of agitated voices rose above the general chatter and laughter of the group below me. It didn’t take me long to realise that a small group had gathered around Brie. There weren’t many woman working in the industry, so I knew that she could hold her own with the boys—but everyone may have had a little too much sun and lord only knew what other kind of illegal substances had been consumed down there.

  I decided that I’d make my way into the fray and settle things down.

  Heading downstairs to the pool, I wondered if I wasn’t about to get myself involved in something that I really didn’t need.

  I’d been watching Brie for months.

  Toying with the idea of mixing a little pleasure with my business. But what if things went wrong?

  Well, I didn’t care to think along those lines.

  I made my way to the group of six or seven people at the far end of the pool house.

  Brie no longer sat in the chair but stood, surrounded by a gaggle of male admirers. Her arms were folded across those magnificent breasts and she had a look on her face that I’d seen many a time.

  It said, don’t fuck with me.

  Clearly, Thomas, the young programmer standing in front of her hadn’t seen that look before and he also hadn’t seen me. He had his hand on Brie’s arm again. I’d seen him pawing at her from upstairs. No doubt the reason for the fracas in the first place.

  The team were protective of each other, but with too much party-juice on board and not enough food, behaviour was clearly moving on the downward spiral. Another reason for me to be making a well timed exit.

  At my approach and as I made the group aware of my presence, the close-knit members of the team had separated, allowing me to stand between Brie and Thomas.

  “Is there an issue here?” I asked anyone who cared to answer me.

  The group were silent.

  “Nothing I can’t handle,” Brie said glaring at me as she brushed Thomas’ hand from her body like an annoying fly.

  I might be her boss, but she wasn’t afraid to stand up to me. That was one of the things I liked about Brie. You knew where you stood with her.

  She was no bullshit.

  Same as me.

  “You chaps been out
in the sun too long without your hats and now you’re giving the lady a hard time?” The boys were wearing floral shirts in gaudy colours and fake grass skirts that made strange swooshing sounds as they moved.

  Thomas took a slug from a bottle of designer beer and then looked me straight in the face.

  I narrowed my eyes, “Is there a problem here, Thomas?”

  “I was just telling Brie how much I admired her work,” Thomas slurred.

  “We’re all in awe of Ms Stevens’ talent,” I said, “but you should get yourself something to eat about now. The food’s being served in the pool house.”

  I tilted my head at another couple of the programmers who were hovering protectively by Thomas’ side. Tall, thin young men who all looked out of place in the outdoors, with their pale skin from too many hours in front of computer screens. “You guys want to head over with Thomas for some dinner?” It sounded like a question, but we all knew it was a direction.

  “Hey, Tom, let’s get some food.” The tallest of the three men who were left tipped his head in the direction of the pool house. Large banquet tables had been spread with an array of tropical fruit and vegetables. At the far end of the row a chef stood carving large pieces of meat from the blackened body of the cooked pig.

  Thomas looked from me to Brie and took a moment to think things through.

  “Okay,” he eventually said and followed his three friends toward the pool house.

  “You didn’t need to do that,” Brie said. I’d have been an idiot if I didn’t notice the sharp tone in her voice. “I told you, I can look after myself.”

  “It wasn’t you I was looking after,” I said.

  CHAPTER TWO

  Brie

  I hated these kind of functions. I was only here because if I didn’t show up I wouldn’t have a job on Monday. Well, I was being harsh. I’d have a job on Monday, but our esteemed leader, Jarrod Caldwell wouldn’t be happy if I didn’t make an effort to spent time with the team.

  Everyone was getting progressively drunk and probably stoned as well from the sweet scent that was wafting around in the air.

  If I drank another glass of juice I thought I’d puke.

  The fact I had to wear this ridiculous looking piece of cloth and the rest of the team were walking around in bright yellow, red or green plastic skirts pretending they were grass seemed so ridiculous.

  The hospitality company had done an exceptional job of turning this showpiece of a home into an island paradise, but quite frankly, I’d rather be at home snuggled up on the couch with my sketch pad.

  In fact, I wouldn’t mind the chance to bring my sketch pad back here. The view of the gulf was the only redeeming feature of the entire afternoon.

  The email had circulated saying that everyone was expected to show. I’d give him his due, even our reclusive leader, Jarrod Caldwell had shown up.

  Granted, he wasn’t wearing a grass skirt like everyone else, but he was here, even if his delightful backside was encased in a pair of perfect designer jeans.

  If he could drag himself out of isolation to be here, then I guess it was good enough for me to do the same thing. But, the sooner I could get away the better as far as I was concerned.

  The last thing I needed was an amorous attack from Thomas. He was a great guy and all, but I think the sun and the beer must have been getting to him.

  I certainly didn’t need anything resembling able assistance from Jarrod.

  Gaming and my art were my life. When the opportunity came up to head the graphics division for Jarrod Caldwell, I wasn’t going to say no.

  Unfortunately, that limited my options as far as female co-workers were concerned. I usually didn’t care about the lack of female companionship, unless I had these kinds of functions to endure. Thankfully, they were few and far between.

  Most late night darts and beer sessions I’d managed to avoid, but I couldn’t avoid this.

  It seemed I also couldn’t avoid the extra attention now being lavished upon me by Jarrod.

  Truth be told, from afar I’d harboured a grudging admiration for Jarrod for many months. A physical attraction that I couldn’t deny. The way his sculptured jaw moved when he spoke. The dark mist of hair that ran across his cheeks and around his full lips. Some nights when I should have been concentrating on designing my characters for the worlds we created, I found myself sketching pictures of Jarrod.

  Images of his deep blue eyes drilling into mine. I found myself entertaining ridiculous fantasies of how it would feel for his lips to be tracing their way down my body. How the rough cast of his whiskers would feel as they tickled their way down my soft skin.

  Then I’d turn up to another gruff business meeting in the morning and watch him driving the team. Jarrod had no time for anything except taking his business to the top.

  But he stood in front of me now. My night in designer denim, topped by one of the geeky t-shirts he insisted on wearing. He’d made no concessions whatsoever for the dress code today.

  Jarrod was his own man. A man of considerable wealth and power. He had the ability to influence in an industry where I wanted to excel. As much as I didn’t like to admit it, if I wanted to make my way in this industry I needed someone like Jarrod Caldwell on my side. I hated myself because I needed anybody.

  Now, to stand in front of me having come to my rescue and to try and tell me that it wasn’t me he was looking after—I couldn’t decide whether to be incensed or grateful.

  “I don’t know about you,” Jarrod said, “but I need to get out of here.”

  The scent of food had made my stomach rumble. “They’re just serving,” I replied. Then I saw the lads, with their beers and their skirts. A full plate of food hit the floor and it didn’t take a man with the kind of IQ that Jarrod had on board to see that this was likely to deteriorate into some kind of out-of-control brawl sooner or later.

  “We don’t need to stay here,” Jarrod said, taking me firmly by the elbow. “I know a quiet place where we can eat.”

  I sorely hoped that the fluttering in my stomach was a hunger for food. The idea that Jarrod touching me might ignite the attraction I’d been harbouring for him for all these months terrified me. Equally frightening was the way that he looked at me. Was I seeing some kind of reflection of my attraction to him? Or was I fooling myself?

  Either way, I didn’t need this kind of trouble in my life.

  “I think I should just go home,” I said trying to brush the firm hold he had on my arm away.

  “Nonsense,” Jarrod said in the way he had of dismissing the ideas of anyone who didn’t agree with him. “I’ve all ready called my driver. We’ll be somewhere quiet and civilised in less than half an hour. Get your things, you’re coming with me.”

  “I can’t go anywhere dressed like this.” It had been bad enough getting here. The taxi driver had looked at me as if I was some kind of an idiot.

  “It won’t matter where we’re going,” Jarrod said with a suggestive smile. The way his eyes lit up and the way they bored into me when he said the words made my temperature spike.

  He pulled his phone from his jeans pocket. “Our ride’s here, lets go.”

  Despite my own misgivings, I allowed Jarrod to lead me through to the front of the house. A white sedan sat at the kerb, its windows tinted, motor running.

  Upon seeing our approach, the driver jumped out of the driver’s side and held open the door of the back passenger seat. I slipped across the soft leather and allowed Jarrod to seat himself beside me.

  “Where to, Sir?” the driver asked.

  “Home.” Jarrod said the single word and the tension in my body stole up another notch.

  Jarrod Caldwell was taking me back to his home.

  I couldn’t be sure whether this was a good or a bad thing. But I guessed I’d find out sooner rather than later.

  CHAPTER THREE

  Jarrod

  That idiot beside the pool had done me a favour—he’d given me the opportunity to cut Brie from th
e herd and take her home.

  Aside from the occasional discussion around a couple of future projects we were going to work on, the trip along the winding beach road to Lake Pupuke had been an uneventful one.

  As we pulled up outside the gate of the terraced home that I lived in, I heard Brie gasp. “You live here?”

  “I like my privacy,” I said. “The locked gates on the road side and the lake on the other afford me that privacy.”

  When I first saw the complex being built, the concrete walls that stood between the terraces reminded me of teeth rising from the lip of the lake.

  I was determined that I wanted to live on the edge of the tranquil piece of water—it appealed to the recluse in me. There was something soothing in the mornings about the way the mist danced across the face of the water that I couldn’t resist.

  It was risky, bringing Brie back here. I was flying far too close to the fire. But sitting beside her in the back of the car, the sweet scent of her warm body filling the intimate space between us, I’d made the calculated decision to throw caution to one side.

  Brie was the first woman who’d intrigued me in a very long time.

  Determined.

  Talented.

  Driven.

  Throw in a dash of ridiculously sexy and all logical thought on my part had been toppled.

  I could discount the fact that she worked for me on the basis that I needed her to make my company successful.

  No matter what anyone tried to tell you—talented designers weren’t easy to find—especially in this part of the world.

  I planned to make Brie a couple of offers this evening. Both of which I was hoping she’d be unable to refuse.

  In the meantime, I had to go some way to defuse her attitude towards me. How would I describe it? Hostile was too strong a word—more like sustained indifference.