Close To Her Asian Billionaire

“Don’t worry, Jason. That one woman will come along and snap you up when you’re least expecting it.”

Jason stared at her, wondering if for a moment that had already happened.

*****

The evening seemed to pass by quickly for Carla. She couldn’t remember a time when she had actually enjoyed a date with a man. Jason was funny and interesting. He seemed genuinely interested in what she had to say and they found themselves wrapped up in their conversation, barely noticing anything else around them. They had nearly forgotten about their food when it arrived, managing to eat it before it went cold.

However, despite their talking and finding out more about Jason than she had been able to in their interview, Carla knew she shouldn’t get hung up on this date. Jason was known as a womanizer and had a different woman on his arm every week. She didn’t want to know how many notches he had on his bedpost and she wasn’t prepared to become one of them. There were many things she would do to get her job done but sleeping with the target certainly wasn’t one of them.

This would just be one date, one night, and then that would be it. Carla would be disappointed but it would take a very special woman to get Jason’s attention for longer than a couple of days. And Carla didn’t do one-night stands; she got too emotionally attached. It was easier to keep men at arm’s length. They called her cold but at least Carla didn’t feel like her heart was breaking every time a one-night stand told her that would be it.

Damn those emotions.

They were the last ones out of the restaurant, with the maître d’ advising them to leave before they locked up. Jason gave him a hefty tip, Carla insisting on paying her share of the dinner, and they stepped out into the warm evening air. Light had faded a long time ago and the street lamps were lit, casting shadows across the street.

Jason turned to her as they stepped out onto the sidewalk.

“Have you got a car? My driver can take you home, if you wish.”

“No, thanks.” Carla shrugged into her jacket, her purse strapped across her shoulder underneath. “I’m in the parking lot across the street. It’s not far.”

“Let me at least walk you to your car.” Jason offered his arm with a disarming smile. “I’m a gentleman; I don’t leave ladies to walk anywhere alone at night.”

Carla laughed and rolled her eyes but she took his arm, feeling his muscles flex under her fingers.

“That charm is going to burn you one of these days.”

Jason winced. “Ouch.”

They laughed and made their way down the street, Jason’s driver bringing the limo slowly down the street behind them. It was still relatively busy at that time of night and several people were either entering or leaving the bars and clubs that mingled around them. Several of the women who walked past them openly ogled Jason. One of them even rubbed herself up against him, saying she could fu*k him better than the black bi*ch – Carla guessed that was her – and he should come home with her. Jason had merely smiled and detached himself, saying he had more important things to do. Then he had left the girl staring after him open-mouthed.

Carla wasn’t sure she liked the attention Jason was getting. He was clearly a handsome man and women were experts in telling who had money and a lot of it. But it did make her feel powerful that, for now, she was the one Jason was walking back to her vehicle. She was the one he was having a date with. What he did after he left her she didn’t care but for now he was hers.

A nauseous feeling settled in her stomach and Carla wondered what that was about. She told herself not to be so stupid. She didn’t own Jason. What he did once he left her was his business, not hers. She shouldn’t be feeling possessive.

Should she?

They entered the parking lot and Carla reached into her purse for her keys. Then she pulled up suddenly when something flickered just out of her eyesight and she looked around. Cars were parked around them but there wasn’t any movement. The place was quiet.

“Carla?” Jason had stopped with her and was looking at her with a frown. “Something wrong?”

Carla shook her head. It was probably just a trick of the light.

“No, nothing.”

She had tried turning back when someone shoved her in the back. In the heels she was wearing her ankle gave way and she fell to her hands and knees. Beside her Jason gave a loud grunt and hit the ground, laying unmoving.

Gritting her teeth against the twinge in her ankle, Carla pushed herself up and saw a slim figure wearing black running away. They were carrying a cosh, wearing tight-fitting clothes and a hoodie with the hood up over their head. They seemed to run a little oddly as well.

Her ankle was complaining. Carla pulled off her heels and checked it over. It was swollen but there didn’t seem to be anything untoward. It was probably just a bad twist.

That was the last time she wore high heels to a dinner date.

Beside her, Jason groaned. He pushed himself up onto his arms, pressing his fingers to his head.

“Jason?” Carla shifted to his side and touched his back. “Are you okay?”

“I think so.”

Jason sat up and turned to face Carla. The light hit his face and Carla saw the blood running down his face from a cut above his eyebrow. Jason blinked and wiped the blood away with his sleeve.

“Mr Liu!”

A huge man with arms like a gorilla came running towards them. Carla reached into her purse and found her can of pepper spray but Jason spoke to the newcomer.

“I’m fine, Tony. Nothing to worry about.”

Carla snorted. “You say that with blood running down your face.”

The man Jason had called Tony knelt beside Jason and looked closely at the wound, fingers tenderly touching the area. Carla was surprised that Jason let him and wondered at their relationship. Then she remembered Jason referring to Tony as his driver and how they were close despite their working relationship. She was guessing this was the driver.

“It’s just a simple cut.” Tony drew back and gave his boss a look. “You won’t need stitches but it does need cleaning up.”

But Jason was already shaking his head vigorously.

“I’m not going to a hospital.” He said firmly. “No way.”

From the way he said it Carla guessed that he wasn’t the best of people when it came to hospitals. But the cut did need cleaning up. She looked at Tony.

“Can you follow us in your car?”

“Yes, Miss Romaine.”

“Then help me get him to my car. We’ll go to my place.” Carla gave Jason a hard look. “That non-hospital enough for you?”

Jason opened his mouth to say something but decided against it, simply nodding meekly.