The Secret Boss

Once they walked into the hallway away from the noisy banquet tables, Jude pulled his arm away from Salma and looked down at her with a smile.

"Remind me, Miss Thompson... when did I ever ask you to bail me out back there?"

Salma stopped under a wall lamp, fixing her dress. "You didn't."

"Then why tell three hundred people you're handing me a three-billion-dollar blank check?" Jude shook his head lightly. "The way you said it, the whole room thinks we're getting married by midnight."

Salma took a breath, looking right into his eyes. "Jude, I'm offering to put three billion dollars of my family's cash behind your name with zero strings attached. Do you know how many guys in this city would kill for that kind of backing?"

"I appreciate the thought, Salma, really...but I don't need your money," Jude said straight up.

Salma stared at him, lost for words, before lowering her voice. "Wait... don't you want to buy the Heavens Club?"