Billionaires Meet Millionaire (A Steamy Romance) Read online

  Olta returned her attention to the picture but as she started to take a closer look she heard the lock being turned. Quickly putting the picture back in its place she dived to her bag, kneeling down beside it. Pretending to be looking for homework was better than being caught snooping around.

  Niall walked in and locked the door behind him again.

  "It's Friday afternoon, Tirana, hardly the time to do homework. Even a girl like you must take time off once and while." His tone was full with its usual amusement and looking up at him Olta saw he was grinning.

  "A girl like me?" she asked.

  "Yeah, you know the studious kind. You're really living up to your aspired geekiness."

  Olta glared at him. Something about his comment irked her. Sure she had joked about being a geek on her first day and during the week she had made it clear that she actually liked to pay attention in class, and yes, she had used homework as an excuse for not going out with him and his friends after school. What annoyed her, however, was the way in which he was judging her.

  "Hey, you're words, not mine." Niall said raising his hands defensively but still grinning.

  "Right, my words." Olta all but snapped. Okay, maybe he hadn't judged her per say. But he had made assumptions.

  "And my words and actions wouldn't have anything to do with the fact that not only have I just started a new school but I have moved across the ocean a little over a week ago and suddenly have to breath, sleep and eat a foreign language.Even if I give the impression to be fluent at it, it really isn't that easy to pull off. So if that makes me studious or boring or plain, then so be it."

  Olta shook her head wearily. Way to go. Nothing wins a guy's heart quite like some bitchiness.

  "Point taken.." Niall started, sounding rather sheepishly. He was sitting backwards on his desk chair resting his arms and head on back rest. He looked slightly puzzled but amused nonetheless.

  "I'm sorry, didn't mean to snap like that. But…" Olta interrupted him quietly, keeping her eyes on her hands in her lap.

  "You do that a lot, don't you?" Niall was interrupting her now. He must have read the confusion on her face.

  "Apologize." He added.

  Olta was still confused. She didn't apologize that often did she? Just when needed, like just now. She shrugged slightly in denial, looking up but not meeting Niall's eyes.

  "Yes, you do. But never mind. I was only yanking your chain a bit. I never meant to imply anything bad. Least of all that you'd be boring or plain, because I don't think you are.Quite the contrary." Niall said seriously.

  Olta shifted her gaze back to her hands and she was blushing, yet again. She really had to thank her grandfather for her pale skin. How unfortunate that he was dead.

  "So, who's Matilda?" When unsure of how to react, change the subject. Her mother swore by it and now, so did Olta. She looked up at Niall and this time did catch his eye.

  "Huh?" Olta could only smile at the picture of dumbfounded Niall made right now.

  "You mentioned her when I was creating the indoor pool downstairs."

  "Right, she is our housekeeper." Niall answered and he waved in Olta's direction. "Aren't you getting uncomfortable?"

  Olta smile wavered a bit. There was that curtness again but this time he matched with his own attempt at changing the subject. It was nicely done too; he would make her mother proud. Seeing a small smile she decided to let him have his way.

  "I can keep this up for hours; have done so on far less comfortable flooring." Olta said, stroking the plush carpeting around her.

  "And why would you have done so?" He replied, mimicking her accent. Olta raised an eyebrow at this.

  "It's standard when one practices jiu-jitsu, karate, silat or judo." Olta said. She knew she was bragging but she couldn't help herself. It was the one thing she knew she could impress guys with, until she had to demonstrate it, of course.

  "You're into all of those?" And Niall did sound impressed.

  "Have been, yes. Sucked at all of them though. Are your parents home?" Olta felt slightly queasy by the look Niall gave her. He was trying to glare at her but his smile and a very distinct twinkle in his eye gave him away. This could be a nice game.

  "My father is out. So could you show me some moves?"

  "I'm already doing that, like I said I sucked. Never really got any further than this position. How old is this place?" That wasn't exactly what Olta had wanted to ask but she figured that she had better go for a slow built up. That and she was honestly interested in the house.

  "It was built in 1902. You kept up a range of martial arts even though you sucked at it?"

  "Pretty much. My brother has a black belt in karate and my father figured that it was only proper for me to do some self defence. Who built it?"

  "My great-grandfather. What's the highest belt you received?" Olta was silent for a second contemplating both the answer and the question.

  "You know how the system works?" Niall nodded smiling.

  "The highest I got was a blue belt in karate. Ever done martial arts?"

  "No, watched a lot movies though." Olta couldn't help but roll her eyes at that. Niall chuckled. Their eyes locked again.

  "Why is there such a big age gap between you and your brother?"

  "My parents got together in university. David was an accident. Paternal or maternal grand-father?" Niall cocked his head to the left.

  "Paternal. Why do say you suck at martial arts when you clearly don't?" Olta frowned.

  "But you have not seen me in action; trust me, it's not a pretty sight. My karate instructor was biased. What's the family business?" Niall frowned and his smile widened.

  "A lot of things. Primarily investments of various kinds. Why did you come here? I mean this afternoon." Now Olta frowned. Where was Niall going with this?

  "Why didn't you go to your next door neighbours or something?" Niall clarified.

  "Oh bloody fuck." Olta thought. "Please don't mean what I think you mean."

  "Don't know them really and they weren't home anyway. I'm sorry to have been a bother." Olta said instead. She wanted to break the eye contact but somehow she couldn't. The amusement made way for disbelief and the twinkle faded. It was a pity the light mood all but evaporated.

  "I just wondered, is all. Why do you apologize so often? And don't deny it because in the few days I have known you, you must have apologized over fifty times." Niall was stern.

  Olta shrugged, unsure of what to answer and feeling rather uncomfortable. Why did he have to bring this up, again?

  "I haven't really noticed. I mean, do I really?"

  Niall nodded, the disbelief was melting away. It was replaced by a look like the one he had given her at their lockers on Monday. Reminding herself that she had to keep breathing Olta decided to try to jumpstart the game again. Hopefully Niall would drop it.

  "Guess I have a lot to apologize for then. So, these various kinds of investments are they all legal?" Niall didn't seem fazed by her actions and the smirk came back.

  "Don't think I would tell you if they weren't but yes to my knowledge they are.What does your mother do?" Olta smiled at him gratefully. The game was back on.

  "She works as strategist for an international marketing firm. When is your birthday?"

  "January 1st and yes, I'm always happy about ringing in the New Year. Yours?" Olta snickered lightly as she recognized his automated answer to the unasked but inevitable question.

  "Mine is worse. April Fool's day and no, I'm not joking nor am I a joke." Niall looked at her incredulously before he smirked a very big smirk.

  "That is far worse." He said, laughing. Olta nodded solemnly before joining his laughter, covering her mouth as she did but not breaking the eye contact.

  "Do you think my clothes are dry?" Olta asked as their laughter faded. She was worried that if they continued the game she would go tread on more serious matters. Better to quit while you're ahead.

  Niall looked at her questioningly and Olta could have swor
n she saw disappointment flash through his eyes before some sort of realization took its place.

  "I think so." Niall said, glancing at his watch. "Should be, I set the timer for thirty minutes. That should be enough, shouldn't it?" Olta nodded as Niall got up and walked to the door.

  "Be right back." He said, unlocking his door and walking out.

  Olta let out a deep sigh as she heard the door being locked behind her. Smiling to herself she wondered whether she should be offended by the fact that Niall had locked her up, twice. She decided she wasn't and instead let her mind replay the last half hour.

  Talking about an emotional roller-coaster. She had gone from nervous to relaxed to uncomfortable to giddy and back again. She had learned more about Niall in half an hour than she had all week, albeit it more from the things that had been left unsaid than his actual answers. Perhaps she shouldn't have played it so safe.

  Niall, on the other hand, hadn't played it safe with his questions about her apologetic behaviour. What had that been about anyway? And the only thing he had managed to do was very nearly kill the mood. Thankfully only nearly. Maybe they could talk a little more. They were going out after all.

  Suddenly realization hit Olta, hard. She was going to go out with Niall. She felt her hart quickening and was hit by a full attack of the butterflies in her stomach.

  He wouldn't have proposed it if he didn't like her, would he? They were still on, weren't they? The past half hour had been fun, hadn't it? She hadn't made a complete fool out of herself, had she? Could it really be that he might like her? As a friend, of course.

  Before Olta could explore any of these doubts properly she heard a loud voice calling through the house.

  Daniel.

  He was calling for Niall.

  Olta sprang up. She felt a wave of gratitude towards the locked door.

  Then the lock turned and Niall quickly entered the room. Olta took her clothes out his arms. He looked at her grimly and only nodded as he turned to lock his door. This was a bad situation.

  "Niall, do not close that door. Out. Now." Daniel's icily calm voice came through the door.

  Niall locked his door and rested his forehead against it. Olta stood frozen in her spot, shivers running down her spine. She realized she was afraid; she only froze up like this when she was truly afraid. The last time she had frozen up like this very bad things had happened. This situation was really bad.

  "How about no." Niall said matching his brother's tone.

  "Out. Now." Daniel repeated. Olta heard Niall sighed softly.

  "No." Still calm but less firm.

  Mentally willing herself to move Olta finally found herself heading for the bathroom.

  "Really not in the mood for this." A voice filled with menace and cruelty.

  "Fuck you, bastard." Niall spat.

  "We've been over this a million times. You're the bastard, not me. At least pretend you have half a brain cell." Daniel sounded exasperated.

  "Now. Out."

  "No." Niall sounded calm and defeated.

  "Niall." Daniel said warningly.

  Olta had made it to the bathroom. She dropped her clothing unceremoniously on the floor and turned to look at Niall. He was still leaning into his door.

  Olta closed the door quietly and copied Niall stand in the bedroom. The bedroom door lock turned and the door opened.

  "Finally." She heard Daniel say, before she heard the door close and the lock turning again.

  "Well, suspicions confirmed." Olta muttered dryly.

  She pushed herself of the door and started to undress. Her hands were trembling uncontrollably. Taking a couple of deep breaths she tried to steady herself.

  A loud thump sounded from the hallway, quickly followed by another. And another. Olta looked at the wall in horror. Another thump, this time right outside the bathroom. And then silence.

  Olta needed to get dressed, now. She had half a mind to go and break the lock and throw herself between them but she knew that would be stupid. Not only would she probably not be able to break the lock but throwing herself between Daniel and Niall didn't sound like such good idea. Sure, she could use some moves but she doubted whether she would able to take Daniel on. She feared that Daniel would not take kindly to finding her here. And yes, she was simply afraid of Daniel.

  Olta was also scared of Niall' reaction. She understood perfectly well that this was the reason why he had wanted to go out with her. He had wanted to get her out of the house. How was Niall going to handle this? Hell, how was she going to handle this? The last she wanted was for Niall to cut her off because she had lousy timing. just when it seemed they were getting somewhere.

  Apparently something in her brain had been bypassed as she was suddenly aware of lacing her shoes. Her hands were still trembling but they were getting the job done. Sighing deeply she straightened herself. She opened the bathroom door and positioned herself against the door frame, waiting for the lock to turn yet again.

  Chapter Eleven

  "You fucking little shithead, you almost broke my nose." Daniel growled, kneeing Niall in the stomach.

  Niall grasped for breath and tried to keep his balance by leaning against the wall. Daniel, however, kneed him again and Niall sagged to floor.

  Daniel was exceptionally angry. He hadn't even bothered with the usual insincere niceties. As soon as Niall had locked his room and turned to face his brother the first punch had hit his stomach. And he had taken to hitting the face, a sure sign that things were very wrong.

  Niall didn't have to ask what had brought this anger on. If he had been wondering what his brother had been up to, he sure was getting his answer now. All he could hope was for Olta not to alert Daniel his presence. Niall knew his brother wasn't above hitting girls. When it came to exercising his power Daniel wasn't really above anything.

  Why oh why had Daniel come home early.

  For a moment there, life had been going great. Olta had been in his room, looking so good in his t-shirt and with his sweats hugging her hips. They had been playing that silly questions game. Olta laying off of anything too personal and him rattling her cage. He had been a bit pushy with her, he knew that. But the girl kneeled down on his carpet with her straightened back , her hair all curly from the rain, and her eyes on his was a mystery he wanted to understand. Alice and Matilda were right, he had to admit that now. He doubted whether he had to be too careful with her though. Olta was clearly capable of defending herself if she felt need to. Okay, so he shouldn't make her feel like she had to. Great job he was doing there.

  Because instead of having dinner with him, Olta had learned about the dancing. Nobody was supposed to find out. Ever. Hell, the only person who suspected that there was more going on than an occasional fraternal brawl was Matilda. And she only suspected it. Now, a girl he really, really liked, the first girl he had ever liked like that, knew after knowing him only a couple of days. And as if that wasn't enough his dancing partner didn't particularly care for her. Somebody really had it in for him.

  But maybe he could still spin it. Tell her that it been just a fight. Maybe then he could keep his dignity intact, what was left of it anyway. Niall figured that probably wouldn't work though. After all, this was Olta he was thinking about. The very observant Olta, who had a complete blind spot when it came to herself. Niall would have smiled if he wasn't in so much pain.