To Trap a Billionaire

Eleven.

At four pm exactly, there was a knock on the door. I released a deep breath before I rubbed my hands down my jeans. I changed into something more comfortable after a shower while I waited. Kristen stayed in his room after our talk. It was best that he wasn't around when Arlo was. I went to open the door. As soon as he saw me, he pulled me into a hug against his warm, firm chest.

"You okay?" he asked softly. I nodded slightly before he pulled away and placed a looked me over.

"Where's your stuff?" he asked. I turned and went to my bedroom, knowing he would follow. I stopped at the doorway and waited for him before I went to grab my things. He stopped me almost immediately and took my duffle and suitcase in hand.

"Thanks," I said quietly.

"Is that everything? Charger, phone, wallet?" he asked. I grabbed them off of my dresser before I nodded and followed him out. I closed the door behind me and followed Arlo out to the car where he put my things in the truck and opened the rear door for me before getting in himself. He put an arm around my shoulders and pulled me into his side.

"Are you okay?" he asked again. I released a heavy sigh before shrugging.

"I'm just tired," I said honestly. We rode for a while until we reached an area where only the millionaires lived. The car stopped in front of a hotel-looking building and Arlo got out before offering me a hand as a bellhop grabbed my luggage out of the trunk. Arlo took my hand and led me through the lobby of the building and straight to the elevators. After hitting the highest button, we were propelled to the penthouse. I shouldn't have been surprised.

"It's not much," he warned as the elevator door opened and led to another door where he used an electronic keypad to open the door. For some reason, it was exactly what I excepted. The floor was black marble and the furniture followed the black and white theme of his office. His place was sleek and modern. It had an open floor plan with the kitchen and dining room in sight. The kitchen appliances were chrome, and the dining room table was glass with slick black chairs. The best part was the view. Like his office, the back wall was a giant window that overlooked the city. I just stared in awe of it.

"This is... beautiful," I said as I took a step forward. There was a hint of a hallway to the right and I was sure it led to more rooms, also a floating staircase by the dining room, but I was stuck on the view. There was a 70" TV tacked against the wall opposite of the off-white suede couch. Arlo set his keys on the marble black counter as he shrugged his business coat off and draped it over the chair. I turned and admired the place. There weren't any pictures or accessories around, I could tell that it wasn't a home to him, it was just a place to sleep.

"I'll give you a tour," he offered. I nodded and followed him to the hallway. There were three rooms down this hallway, all guest rooms and one and a half bathrooms. The rooms were carpeted and plain, but could house a guest comfortably. Next we went up the stairs and landed in the master bedroom. This room had accents of green around the room. The throw pillows on the neatly made bed were also green. There were a few dressers and bedside tables. The back wall was a giant window. I took it he that liked the feel of the open space, looking over the city. The closet was a large walk in with his clothes only occupying a third of it. The master bathroom was a masterpiece in itself. Everything was clean and neat. There was a rain shower and a deep long tub with jets. The bathroom was a private entity with a magazine rack, air freshener, and a pyramid of extra toilet paper. The bathroom had the same black marble as the first floor, but there were gray memory foam rugs in various places.

"It's not much but you can chose any room you like and make yourself at home," he offered. I looked at him and offered a small smile.

"Thank you... for this. As soon as I figure something out I'll be out of your hair," I promised.

"Lyra, don't," he said as his hands cupped my face to kiss my forehead. "I want you here," he said.

"I know I just-"

"Are you hungry?" he asked, stopping me. I nodded and he took my hand and led me back down to the kitchen. He showed me where all the food, spices, and cutlery were before pulling out a pot and filling it with water. I chuckled as I watched him.

"What are you doing?" I asked moving closer.

"Making dinner," he said in a 'duh' tone. I chuckled.

"Come here," I said, turning him to face me. I undid his tie and let the first button loose before stepping back. "I'm going to take a shower," I said before grabbing my things and going into the closest room. I grabbed a change of clothes and went to the bathroom. After a bit of snooping, I found the towels and played with the water until it was comfortable. I took a quick shower with my own shower gel before dressing in a pair of low-rise lounge pants with the Captain America shield on it and a gray tank top. I left my hair down in it's natural state and went to go see what Arlo made.

He was plating spaghetti with broccoli. I sat on the bar and watched. He smiled over at me before setting a plate in front of me.

"Just in time," he said as he handed me a fork. I dug in, not worried about being ladylike due to my growling stomach. He chuckled and ate off of his own plate as he stood across from me.

"How is it?" he asked jokingly. I swallowed the food first before looking at him.

"Considering the fact that I haven't eaten all day, it's the best thing in the world right now," I answered.

"Why didn't you eat?" he asked as I took another bite. I finished the bite and set the fork down.

"I was running late this morning so I skipped breakfast. I fought with my brother around lunchtime and didn't want to run into him again so I stayed in my room until you came over," I explained. "So what's the plan for tomorrow?" I asked, trying to change the subject.

"Well, I'm heading into the office and you are free to do whatever you want," he said. I looked at him confused.

"Wait, you're still giving me the week off?" I asked. He shook his head.

"Oh no, you're fired," he answered I just gaped at him as he laughed. "I told you I would take care of you and I will, okay? Don't worry about it," he promised.

"What am I going to do all day by myself?" I asked. He set his empty plate in the nearby sink.

"Feel free to call down the lobby concierge and ask for an event or place. You are free to do whatever you want and I'll cover it. I'll send my driver, John, to come through and take you wherever you decide, or you can stay here and explore if you so choose," he answered.

"So I'm on my own tomorrow?" I asked. He shook his head.

"Not entirely. I'll drop by to have lunch with you, and drop in on breaks if you're home," he promised. He glanced at the clock before he sighed. "I should really start getting ready for bed," he said as he came around the counter.

"Don't forget you have that meeting with your major players tomorrow," I reminded him on autopilot. He smiled and kissed my head gently before pecking my lips.

"Get some sleep, okay," he said before he walked up the stairs to his bedroom. My heart fluttered.