Deal with a Billionaire

Chapter 8

She paced the elevator as it headed up to the top floor, debating her next steps. There was no way that she was going to seek out Christopher's help, she hardly knew him and this would only further complicate everything. She needed to think of an escape route out of the building and to somewhere public. 

As soon as she stepped out of the elevator, her body was whipped back into the elevator and she found herself pinned to the wall. Instinct and years of training took over, and she was out of his grasp and out the elevator in seconds. She saw a flash of surprise in his eyes before he grabbed her arm and yanked her back inside. 

"You were being followed, we need to leave NOW." 

She yanked her arm free, rubbing the spot he had grabbed as she took a step away from him, remaining in the elevator. 

"Hands-off!" She said through her teeth. 

He threw her a grin as he typed a code into the elevator. 

"You've got quite a temper, Miss. Summers. I don't take safety lightly and time is of the essence. Just trying to make it to the car before your tail gets into too much trouble."  

She rolled her eyes as she started pacing again, biting her cheek in thought. 

"You have a way out of the building?" She asked trying to formulate a plan. 

"I've got a private garage, we'll be gone by the time he reaches my floor." He answered as the elevator sure enough opened up to the top level of the parking garage. 

She looked around to see only one car at the level, a black Aston Martin which probably cost more than what she had made her entire life. 

"Is there another exit from this level?" She asked looking around as she stepped off the elevator. Christopher walked around her and opened the passenger door and walked around to the driver's side. 

"Get in the car."

She froze and he leaned forward over his hood, raising his brows,

"Miss. Summers, I told you I don't take safety lightly, please get in the car. NOW."

She scowled as she quickly got in the car and shut the door behind her, no sooner had her belt clicked, that she was thrown back into her seat as he flew out of the building. 

As if on cue, her phone started to ring, Xavier apparently didn't want to wait for her call. The second she answered, she heard his worried voice,

"Did you lose him?"

"I think so, I'm in the car with Christopher right now. Xav, what's going on? What did you hear?" She asked. Christopher glanced over at her when he heard her.

"Put it on speaker." He asked as he raced through traffic. She looked over with a frown but complied putting the call on speaker. 

"Xav you're on speaker, with Christopher and I."

There was a brief pause before Xavier continued.

"Are you familiar with Vitelli?" he asked. 

Annabelle was surprised to see Christopher's entire demeanor shift. His hands tightened around the wheel, back stiffened and lips thinned. 

"More than I care to be, he's a business associate who seemed to have sent in one of his without an appointment today." He answered carefully. 

"Enforcer's arent known schedule appointments" Xavier replied curtly.

"They do with me, Vitelli should have known better than to send any of his men into my building."

"I wasn't aware that you and Vitelli had any association-"

"If you're referring to his Mafia association we don't, I choose to stay away from that. However, his empire includes more than just the mafia." 

Annabelle groaned in frustration,

"Discuss this later! Xav, what did you find out? Why was he trying to grab me?" 

It was Christopher's turn to be shocked. He hadn't been aware that the intent had been to grab her, he was under the impression that she was being followed. 

"No one is talking, all I've been able to gather is that the order came directly from Vitelli."

"Then we go directly to Vitelli," Christopher said as he took a sudden turn, toppling Annabelle towards him. 

"Walking into the Mafia is not going to be the safest-"

"It'll be public, he's not stupid to try anything with me. He should be in one of his clubs right now." Christopher mused as he looked at the time. 

Annabelle looked at herself with a frown, 

"I'm not dressed for a club, I would much rather you drop me home. I can protect myself. All of this is very unnecessary."

"Do not drop her home! If you're sure you will be safe, that may be the best idea. I am headed back, I will be there in an hour or so as well. I will see you guys there." with that, there was a click as Xavier hung up. 

"Drop me home," Annabelle emphasized again. 

Christopher pulled into parking in front of a designer clothing boutique and turned to her with a smile.  

"Not happening, you heard your brother. Plus, as you told him, I'm your husband now, which makes you my responsibility. Mines to protect."

"You are not my husband, and I belong to no one. I am perfectly capable of protecting myself. We haven't signed the contract and to be honest, I'm not quite sure I want to." She hissed in anger. 

Christopher leaned over her opening her door for her,

"Well, announcements and everything was handled as soon as you introduced me as your husband so that may be an issue. Signing the contract is now just a formality. I think several stories have already published the scoop about us being married by now. As for not being dressed for a club, you can go in and get dressed for a club. As my wife, you have to look the part." 

Annabelle was seething. She stepped out of the car, clenching and unflinching her fists trying to control her temper and his smug, handsome face was not helping. 

Christopher, on the other hand, found her anger amusing. For some reason her refusal to accept his protection made him want to protect her even more. She was different, unlike most of the women who threw themselves at him, she was fit to stand tall besides him. 

He raised his eyebrows leaning towards her window, silently questioning why she was still standing there. 

She whirled towards the shop and flew through the door, silently swearing she was going to make him regret not dropping her home.