The Billionaire’s Pursuit of Love by Jennifer St George
The inspiration for The Billionaire’s Pursuit of Love came when I attended a seminar held by a charity dedicated to saving the world’s orangutans. The wildlife workers lived in very basic conditions, working in the mud, rain and heat to “mother’ the baby orangutans until they couldlook after themselves ““ a little like human babies.
I then read a newspaper article about a man who’d designed one of the world’s most successful computer games and was worth millions. He lived a classic urban, jet set lifestyle.
What would happen if two people, from such incredibly different worlds, were brought together through a twist of fate that just wouldn’t let them go? This is what happens to wildlife warrior, Sarah Walker and global technology guru, Blake Huntington-Fiennes.
The Blurb: When Sarah Walker’s beloved wildlife sanctuary is threatened with closure, she heads for London and goes straight to the top to find out why. But the man responsible is the one man she’s never forgotten, and the only person who can destroy all her happiness.
Billionaire CEO Blake Huntington-Fiennes can’t believe that the girl he’s spent years searching for has just marched into his boardroom. And this time, he’s willing to resort to any means necessary to keep her. But Sarah has a secret she must protect at all costs or risk losing something even more precious than the sanctuary”¦
Excerpt One
“Don’t you understand?’ Sarah Walker looked around the imposing boardroom in the vain hope that someone other than the young woman from public relations would appear. Someone more influential.
“If you don’t renew the Trust, the Sanctuary will be forced to close.’ Sarah gripped the edge of the highly polished table as her future slipped away. “Without help . . .’ She snatched up one of the photos scattered across the table, and brandished it as though the slim photographic evidence could change the mind of this corporate stooge. “. . . This species will be extinct within our lifetime.’
The PR woman closed her notebook. No trace of concern touched her face. She didn’t even bother to hide her bored indifference. She probably gave more thought to which colour Italian shoes she should sashay in to work than the plight of orangutans.
“As I said before, the board’s decision was unanimous.’ She sported a victory smile, as if somehow she’d helped make the decision to terminate thirty years of wildlife preservation. “I’m sorry you’ve come such a long way and wasted your time.’ Her vacuous tone made it clear she didn’t give a damn what Sarah might have wasted to make the trip to London from the other side of the globe.
The woman stood in her ridiculous heels. Clearly, the meeting was over.
“The Sanctuary also supports twenty local workers.’ Why didn’t this woman get it? “Our organisation is the biggest employer in the area. The local village depends on us.’ Sarah stood. “We’re the only thing that brings visitors to the region. Without us, many small businesses will die.’
“That’s not our concern. Our decision was made clear to you over the telephone and in writing.’
Sarah dropped into her chair, folded her arms, crossed her legs and affected her best concrete-block imitation. “I’d like to speak to someone more senior.’ If they wanted her out, they’d have to drag her across their fancy corporate carpet. “The finance director or at least your boss.’ The money she needed was a pittance to this British corporate giant. She wouldn’t leave without it. She couldn’t. So many people were depending on her. She couldn’t fail.
“Will I do?’
A hot guy in casual clothes leaned on the doorjamb. Great, another flunky. Sarah looked away from the distracting eye-candy. But . . . Something about him. Her gaze flicked back to his face. Her heart skipped like a game of hopscotch and it felt as though the pebbles from a hundred games dropped into her belly. Those eyes. That smile. She blinked hard.
Blake!
Her stomach backflipped sickeningly. Her fist flew to her lips. It couldn’t be. How? She blinked hard, trying to stretch her field of vision that now only featured Blake’s gorgeous, deceitful face.
“What are you . . .?’ She stumbled to her feet and stared at the man who, who . . . The man who’d opened up her world to passion. The man who’d taught her the ecstasy of physical love. The man who’d dumped all that in the rubbish ten years ago and disappeared.
And here he was, standing in front of her with barely a feather stroke of age on his skin. His eyes glinted with that unusual shade of blue. Sharp and searing like a desert sky in midsummer. His body had changed. Broader, harder. His dark hair shorter but still unruly. The tiny touch of grey, a surprise.
“Sarah?’ Blake’s eyes flashed wide. “Good God.’ He strode across the room but stopped halfway and stood rigid. The shock vanished from his face and disdain stained his expression, accompanied with barely suppressed anger. He stared as though he expected something from her. As if somehow the next move was hers.
She looked away from that hard face of betrayal. She’d fallen so willingly into his bed all those years ago. She’d been young, naïve . . . believed in a fantasy. Experience had taught her that life was no fantasy.
“Thank you, Katie,’ Blake said to the PR woman, who stood gaping, all traces of superior indifference gone. “You can go.’
“Sorry,’ Katie gushed, fluttering to Blake’s side, more attentive than an infatuated teenage groupie with the latest pop sensation. “I can handle this.’ Katie hurled Sarah an I-can’t-wait-to-throw-you-out glare. “You really don’t “”’
“And shut the door behind you,’ Blake said with the authority of a man who was used to other people doing his bidding.
Katie’s lips pinched tight, her pretty face suddenly ugly. “Of course.’ She retreated from the office and closed the door.
Blake’s eyes, now icier than the Arctic in the dead of winter, swung to Sarah’s.
“Ten years without a word and you turn up in my boardroom.’ His gaze could’ve frozen water, but his tone would’ve shattered it. His powerful presence enveloped her, holding her mind captive and her body confused. The boyish cheekiness of those long-gone days had vanished. Instead, he emanated sophistication and wealth despite his casual attire of jeans, jacket and simple white T-shirt. She clenched her fingers. The unwelcome sensation of being out of her depth smothered her senses. “Why now? Why here?’ he demanded. “Why after all this time?’
“I’m not here to see you.’ She wanted to scream the words, but they tiptoed out in a shocked whisper. He’d disappeared and she was the one under interrogation? He’d taken her virginity and vanished. Her hands quivered. She collected her notebook and shoved it into her bag.
“Leave that.’ He stepped in close, his arm brushing her shoulder. Fire scorched every cell in her body. He took her bag, tossing it down on the table beyond her reach.
“How dare you?’ She pushed past him, snatched up her bag and headed for the door.
“Sarah, wait.’ He grabbed her arm.
She stared slowly down at his hand on her skin and then back into his blue, blue eyes. “Any right you had to touch me evaporated when you left.’ The words tasted sharp, bitter and rewarding.
He didn’t loosen his grip. “You can’t just leave.’
Breathing hard, she met his gaze. Of course she couldn’t. It wasn’t just about her any more. She couldn’t storm off like an enraged adolescent. She needed to . . . had to . . . But how did she say . . .
“Blake, there’s something I need to . . .’ And then it hit her. That case. Fear sharper than any blade cut straight to the centre of her heart. It was in all the papers. She’d seen it on the news on the flight over. Something versus Taylor. Oh, God. She gripped a chair hard to steady her trembling body. The court case. The consequences. The pain. A family torn apart. She looked back into Blake’s demanding face. What if Blake did the same thing? He was so angry. What would he do when he discovered they were connected in more ways than just a holiday fling? Would he exact some sort of retribution? Fight her just to spite her?
“What is it?’ Blake’s voice lost a fraction of its harsh tone. “Are you all right?’
She needed to leave. She needed advice. She needed . . . Well, she didn’t know what she needed. One false step and Blake could take her life and rip it apart. Again.
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