Bearly Escaped Read online

  "Yes! She's the one. I've never been this certain of anything in my life."

  "Just asking, you know there are a lot of people especially shifters after your wealth and jealous of your fame. I won't say that I know the specifics but could it be possible someone planted her just to get your attention? It could just be an infatuation. Although I'm not sure how and why you would fall for that. Think again!"

  Spencer turned his head to see Ari ready to start singing and looked back to Brendan, pressing his hands

  "I appreciate the fact that you are looking out for me. Yup, I'm infatuated with her. I don't know the second thing about her. I've met her just a couple of hours ago. I get it why you would think that this is just the hormones talking. But believe me, I know. I've asked myself the same questions. I just know. Trust me on this!"

  "Sure bro!"

  With that, they focused back on Ari.

  Oh Boy! She's good!

  Spencer smiled contentedly and looked at Brendan staring slack-jawed straight ahead.

  That's my mate! She's gorgeous and has the voice of an angel!

  Spencer let his eye wander and realized that like Brendan, Ari had enthralled everyone. The crowd was cheering now.

  His keen business side was happy at the prospect of selling records. Maybe there might be a world record in selling records that he could go after.

  In time, Ari completed her second song. She looked nervous as if she wasn't sure if she did well at all.

  How could she be this oblivious to her talent!

  Spencer shook his head and stood up and began to clap

  Brendan and the others joined him and a thunderous clapping echoed throughout.

  A grateful smile instantly appeared on Ari's face and tears started rolling down her face.

  C H A P T E R 7

  The audition was finished. At least the singing part.

  She had terrible butterflies now which surprised her. The lights glared and made her all the woozier. Singing on the stage was the hardest part and she had hit the ball out of the park seeing the response. That was solace for her.

  Spencer was all smiles as he walked over and shook her hand. His eyes told her of how much he loved her performance.

  Maybe there was something else there too; something that made her feel it was more than just admiration for her singing.

  But she felt wary around him. After all, he had disguised himself to keep a tab on her. Although she accepted that it was not a big deal and ultimately helped.

  Hector, err, Spencer had brought to the fore hitherto hidden desires deep within her when he embraced her as she fell. She felt woozy then too. It was as if he had swept her off her feet. Her heart-strings had been pulled and she felt an unfamiliar longing to be held again in his arms, feel his gaze wander over her and relish the admiration he had shown. It all seemed unreal to her and she feared it was all a dream which could be over any second.

  "That was... that was... umm, I don't think any of the words I know could do justice to what I felt when you sang!"

  Ari grinned. As they say, the way to a woman's heart is genuine praise.

  Still wary, she mouthed," Thank you," as she saw the rest of the crew begin crowding around her. Spencer was by her side as she stood smiling and accepting all their praise with grace.

  She saw a tall man with sharp features, who stood to the side in the shadows, keenly observing her, darting his eyes over her and then over at Spencer. Their eyes met for a moment and he smiled at her. There was something devilish in that smile, something she couldn't put a finger to. She put on a forced smile.

  Spencer shook her out of her trance even as she wondered who that was. The moment he touched her, the same weird tingling ran through her body again, sending waves of muted pleasure.

  "What are you staring at?" he whispered.

  "A strange man, there. He was smiling at me and ..." she pointed in the general direction and there was nobody there.

  Surprisingly, try as she might, she couldn't remember the man's features at all. It was as if she was under some kind of hallucination. Or occult magic.

  "There's nobody there!"

  "Okay. I want to be out of here now. I don't feel safe here", Ari grabbed Spencer's forearm without conscious thought and started walking, tagging him along.

  "That was my thought as well. By that I mean, getting you out of here," Spencer smiled as he patted her arm and they strode out.

  Ari smiled. His touch quelled her fears; she relaxed her squared shoulders as she exhaled and let her belly flop outward. The show was over, Jeez! She now felt the cold wind on her face; her nervous energy had kept that at bay for a while but she was back to being what she always was—a plump girl sensitive to the cold.

  She rubbed her hands on his coat subconsciously. A moment later, realizing her folly, she shrank back and shook her head. She noticed how they walked in lockstep. Left. Right. Left. Right. Her body seemed to have a mind of its own.

  The crimson-red sky was lit with an effusive glow that belied the darkness that would soon follow, sooner than later. The nip in the air made her want to speed up.

  She asked, "Jeez, can we hurry?"

  "To where exactly?" he quipped

  "To my car, duh!"

  "Mind if I propose, uh, a different itinerary?"

  "Jeez, are you asking me for a date? Aren't you, like, my boss, if I accept your contract?"

  Maybe it was the adrenaline still trundling along in her, Ari squared her shoulders ready for a confrontation.

  "Relax!" said Spencer as he rubbed her back in slow thoughtful motions. She sighed and let out a breath of relief.

  He continued. "My dad, he was pretty smart, said that to really know a person, you need to share something, a meal, an apartment, a ride. And I've found a lot of value in going for a meal with someone I'm going to work with. Sounds fair?"

  She looked up at him. She thought about her life and how this simple truth seemed to be so obvious yet she was oblivious to it, until now.

  "You dad was perceptive. What if I say no? ", Ari asked, twirling her hair.

  They walked up to a shiny, green sportscar. You know, all style, all power. The one that screams vroom!

  "I can pull up some good restaurants on my phone or you tell me where ...," he stopped midsentence as she walked around the car, her hand tracing a line over the metal exterior.

  "Holy smokes! The Aventador LP740-4S Roadster! 6.5-liter V12 engine! Zero to a hundred kilometers per hour in, what, a mere 2.9 seconds! Top speed 217 miles an hour. Carbon ceramic brakes! Corinthian plush leather seats! Are you kidding me?"

  Spencer stood soundlessly, letting her admire his baby.

  "I didn't take you for a car aficionado. Color me impressed."

  "Hey, Boss. I will do anything at all, anything, if you let me drive this thing. Not much a couple of laps around the track over at Dersey."

  "What if I say no?" Spencer smirked.

  Ari laughed and she went over to the valet to get the key. If this was the ride, she would do the driving. She somehow felt comfortable and confident with Spencer around.

  The valet dressed in black was looking around aimlessly, waiting for his tip perhaps.

  Spencer called him over. "Can you get me a car that's commonplace in this area? Something that doesn't stand out? Get my drift?"

  The valet seemingly flummoxed for an instant, began looking here and there on the ground as if he could find that car somewhere there.

  "Give me five minutes", he said and ran back to the parking.

  "What was that all about? You don't want me to drive it. You don't trust me? I thought we were getting out of here quickly and I think that was a pretty quick car, by that I mean, both pretty and quick. Pun intended."

  Spencer chuckled loudly.

  "You think it an easy life being a billionaire? Yes, it's a life of luxury beyond your dreams. But it has a flipside. Being in a car like that, in here, that's asking for trouble. I can deal with that, but you, you a
re not ready. I get the feeling that you don't like being in the spotlight."

  "That was so moving, Boss. You, me and your billionaire problems.", Ari mocked him playfully.

  I wonder what I can get away with!

  Ari thought billionaires were supposed to have quick tempers and arrogant as hell and selfish to boot. But Spencer was the opposite. He was cool-headed and smart. Maybe he was not just any billionaire. He was different.

  "Call me Spencer. I don't like bossing around."

  "Well, I do. And you will see that in time."

  The valet arrived with a beat-up Corolla, maybe ten years old. It was passable with her inside it, definitely not the dashing, glamourous Spencer. But she understood why he needed to keep a low profile.

  "Thank you, really appreciate the short notice ", he handed a couple of hundred-dollar notes from his wallet to the shocked valet.

  Seeing his shock, Spencer palmed another couple of hundreds to the speechless valet.

  "That should be good, right?"

  "Boss, err, Spencer, that's enough. I know you have billions with you. But if you start handing them out like candy, soon there won't be any left for you. And you wanted to keep unwanted attention away, huh? And I think he's more than happy with that." Ari grabbed Spencer's arm and dragged him to the driver's side.

  The valet disappeared, probably not wanting to deal with the chance that the rich guy might have second thoughts on the tip.

  "Hey, cut me some slack! I don't know the going rate for a tip. I have multiple chauffeurs remember. It's been a while since I've been on my own", Spencer retorted as he shrugged.

  "So I assume you want me to give some recommendations since you are the visitor here?" Ari asked as she leaned on the door.

  "That'd be great! Just a thought, don't limit yourself to upscale restaurants. Even something like a hole in the wall is ok with me."

  "Saving some dough, right after splurging some?" Ari couldn't resist playing with him.

  "Good one! I'll tell you once I get in the car!", Spencer grabbed the handle on the passenger's side for Ari to get into.

  There was still some chivalry left in the world.

  Could be his standard operating procedure to get close to girls!

  Ari was in two minds. It was a fact that she had nailed her audition and her billionaire soon-to-be boss was taking her out for dinner. Then there was also the fact that the same guy had a reputation for having multiple girlfriends, going through them like a new dress a week—which she probably would love to if she had the money or a beau like Mr. Spencer — and was taking her alone to a restaurant. Yes, it was her city and she knew it like the back of her hand. But still...

  It was also true that Spencer was kind of broken her trust by using a disguise to keep tabs on her at the start. But it was also true that he seemed fine, no glaring character issues yet and he was treating her like a princess like she wanted to be. And besides, why would a Billionaire be romantically interested in her? Worst case, she had her cellphone in case of emergencies.

  Should I trust him or not?

  "Okay. Let's roll. Have you made up your mind yet?"

  "Huh?"

  Did he just read my mind?

  "About where to eat?", Spencer cocked his head suspiciously.

  "Oh that! Let's go to The Great lion. It's a Chinese place, not too glamorous and kind of on the down-low. I presume that's why you mentioned holes in the wall and stuff."

  Spencer smiled.

  "Yep. You get me already!"

  Ari's face bloomed at that hint.

  Just as the Corolla was to peel out, a tall, lanky fellow with a baseball cap appeared at the window.

  "Where are you off to, bro?" he asked leaning on the window.

  "Hey Brendan, say hello to my newest talent, Ari. We are going out to celebrate. And," turning to Ari," and this is my brother from another mother, my confidante and my closest friend, Brendan."

  Brendan peered through the window at her closely.

  "Hey, nice to meet you. I was frankly trying to get a hold of you to tell you that... the audition was simply out of this world. But looks like Spence whisked you away before anyone could get a hold of you."

  "Thanks, Brendan, that was very kind of you."

  Now please fuckoff!

  Ari finished the sentence in her head.

  Brendan seemed to pick up on the hostility

  "See you later guys. Have a good evening! "

  Ari thought there was something odd about him and heard an almost-out-of-hearing-range soft thump while he was talking to them. Maybe just a tap from his hand.

  She quietened her mind and focused on the billionaire driving her as she eased into her seat.

  Let's go with the flow. Let's see what this magical day has yet to bring!

  The worn-down Corolla's tires squealed as Spencer floored the gas pedal and they were off.

  "Hey! Remember this is not one of your zero-to-hundred-in-a-microsecond cars,"said Ari as she gripped the sides.

  Spencer nodded with a smile as the city passed by in a blur.

  C H A P T E R 8

  Ari had finally agreed to accompany him for dinner. She was different from the others. A big dash of belligerence, that made her unique and also surprised him.

  He had been used to girls eating out of his hand but this girl was not like them. She would be a hard nut to crack. His wealth had been enough to get other girls to swoon over but those shallow girls didn't hold a candle to Ari. She was worth chasing, worth having as a partner even without the fated mate complication.

  We will give it food and it will eat willingly!

  His inner bear rejoiced at the thought. After all what greater act of companionship could be better than the simple act of eating and sharing a meal, especially for the bear.it was used to more crude ways of companionship and love.

  It hadn't bothered him at all to have her hands shooting all over the place in a bid to find the right turns. And like all besotted men, he loved seeing her talk animatedly about all the local must-see places and their histories as they passed by.

  He sighed wistfully as she finally spotted the place. A long drive at night. One of those things you thought you could only enjoy alone, until now.

  "We would've reached sooner if you hadn't kept messing up directions. I thought you knew this place!" Spencer grinned as he grabbed the car's door to let his princess alight.

  Parking the beater on the roadside, he touched Ari at her small of her back and guided her inside the restaurant.

  "That's odd! I've never seen this place this empty before. I swear, this place runs packed all the time."

  "Looks like it's our lucky day, then."

  "Did you have any hand in this?" Ari threw a questioning glance at him

  "No, not at all. I could but... I don't need to do that to impress the ladies."

  This was Brendan's doing most likely. He knew the ins and out of almost everything and was prone to surprising people when they least expected.

  I wonder what other surprises he has in store!

  Once they were comfortably seated, Ari got talking to the host who seemed to know her well. A lot of giggling went back and forth while Spencer smiled at her.

  The simple, spartan decor surprised him. Most places with really good food had tended to skimp on these. Spencer hoped it would be the same her. He realized that he could pay more attention to the woman in front of him. His mate.

  He caught himself looking at her in the tiny reflections on the crystal glasses on the square ordinary-looking metal table. The background music soothed him, relaxed him. Her relaxed countenance made him glad.

  As he leafed through the drink menu, he resolved not to get anything that dulled his senses. Ari was too beautiful to appreciate with dulled senses.

  Shifters rarely drank alcohol. Senses needed to be sharp at all times.

  Ari felt weirdly comfortable. The dimmed lighting set the mood well.

  The small acts had not gone unnotice
d, especially the way he took care of her when opening car doors and holding her hand as she stepped out.

  In her book, chivalry was not dead yet and these little things told her more about the kind of man Spencer was than the tabloids ranting for attention with smear jobs. Nobody had done anything like that for her, in a long long time.

  Ari felt protected and safe. She felt she could speak her mind and Spencer wouldn't judge her just because of her body.

  Ari spoke freely now.

  "You know, I was just thinking. How does an arrogant billionaire—the word on the street, not mine— be gentlemanly enough to open car doors? Is that a billionaire thing that I don't know of?"

  "Ahh! Don't trust those rags! Besides, I'm not always a gentleman," he said the word with a low heady intonation that made no bones about the implication.

  Resting her face on her upright palm, Ari's heart raced as the implication unfolded in her head and she saw Spencer's taut body gleaming with sweat, his muscles all too visible on his naked body and he pulling her along for a quickie, his huge thing ready to fill her, her moans ....

  "What did I lose my dear Ari to?" Spencer snapped his strong nimble fingers in front of her face.

  Snapping back to reality, she grinned at Spencer and gingerly hid behind the menu lest he read her mind.

  "Nothing. I was thinking of what to get for a drink."

  Her meager salary only let her afford fast food and pop. That might have been a reason why she had always been a big girl. Yeah, dieting and other such fads come and go, but that had not put a dent on her.

  "See, I'm being adventurous tonight. Why don't you order something for me? Something I would never order in a million years! And I'll do the same for you?" Spencer spoke with a glint of mischief in his eyes

  Ari didn't like being bossed around at all. But there was something different about this. She wanted to be bossed around by her billionaire boss.

  "Ooh. Like exchanging mixtapes? I loved that", Ari said.

  She paused for a moment and looked at Spencer quizzically.

  "Did I sound like an old hag? Do you know what a mixtape is?" she continued.

  "Of course. Do you think I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth?" Spencer replied with a smirk.