Page 3 of Billionaire In Vegas

I raised my eyebrows and did as I was told. Normally, I read all the outdated magazines in the lobby before Kadija made an appearance.

Speak of the devil, she met me immediately as I entered.

“Lacey Cabot. Now if you aren’t a sight for sore eyes.” She gave me a big hug as if we hadn’t seen each other in years, when actually it couldn’t have been more than three months.

I hugged her back, no matter how uncomfortable it made me. I hated hugs from strangers and yes, I’d known Kadija for a couple of years now, but I didn’t even hug my aunt who’d practically raised me. Actually, my aunt didn’t hug anyone. She was a stoic woman. I tried my best to take after her, but I wore my emotions on my sleeves, no matter how hard I tried to hide them.

As expected, Kadija could see that I was surprised. She smiled at me, showing off her deep dimples in her flawless caramel-colored face. Her hair was in dreadlocks and artfully arranged in a bun on top of her head. She smiled at me as if she had the best secret she could barely contain.

“I know, I know. I practically tackled you when you walked in, but Lacey, I got a call from a friend of a friend who is looking for a personal assistant. It’s a great opportunity for you!”

I frowned. “A personal assistant gig? That’s not my thing.” I had an issue with the idea of being at someone’s beck and call.

“You don’t have any office work or something along those lines?”

“He’ll pay you seventy-five dollars an hour.”

I blinked. “Excuse me?”

Kadija smiled like the Cheshire Cat. “Uh huh. Now you change your tune. Come on, step into my office.”

I followed her silently in a state of shock. What person in their right mind would pay some stranger seventy-five dollars an hour to just do menial tasks like fetching the dry-cleaning and paying their utility bill? I narrowed my eyes.

“Who’s the client? Isn’t that a lot, even for a personal assistant? It must be someone crazy difficult.”

“Not at all. I promise you that.” Kadija smiled in an assuring manner from the opposite side of the desk.

I didn’t believe her and I said as much. “Come on, Kadija. Seventy-five bucks an hour? For how long?”

“Oh...well…indefinitely,” she said, pulling at the sleeve of her blouse.

I didn’t like the sound of that. “So let me get this right, someone indefinitely needs a personal assistant and is willing to pay me seventy-five dollars an hour for my services?”

She nodded, “I know it sounds crazy—”

“Yep.”

She continued, “But it’s a legitimate job.”

“Tell me about the client.”

She smiled in relief, probably thinking my curiosity would get the best of me. “His name is Oliver Foster. His personal assistant just recently retired so they’re looking for a replacement. Have you heard of the Foster family?”

I shook my head. “Should I have?”

Kadija shrugged, “They’re one of the oldest families in the area. They keep a pretty low-profile.”

I made a noncommittal sound and Kadija continued, “My source tells me he’s a harmless old man who just needs a little companionship.”

“Sounds a little like an escort service—”

Kadija tossed her hands up. “At least try to work with me here, Lacey. I’m offering you the opportunity of a lifetime and didn’t your car just die?”

She was referring to my early 90s Honda. I loved that car and I had been too cheap to replace it. I didn’t like the idea of taking out an auto loan, so when my car had died, I started taking the bus everywhere instead. I wasn’t enjoying it. Public transportation drove me crazy. I didn’t like all the people sitting so close to me, randomly talking to me or having to reach over people to signal for my stop. I hated it, but I hated the idea of debt more. I watched my aunt struggle with debt while she raised me and I didn’t want to repeat that experience in my own life. For the most part, I was a practical person and I didn’t like complications.

“Yes, my car died,” I admitted with a sigh.

“And for the amount of money you’ll make working as Mr. Foster’s assistant you’ll be able to buy a car with cash or at least put down a nice down payment pretty soon...”