I pushed through another set of bicep curls. Fuck. I was gonna be sore for the next week. Why did I do this to myself? I set the weight down with a thud.

Time for the treadmill.

“Bro, why are you killing yourself?”

It was Silas, a good friend and workout buddy. We went to the gym together every weekend and once during the week, like tonight.

I tried to smile. “Nah, just trying to get a personal best, that’s all.”

“Cool. Can you spot me on the chest press?”

“Yeah, sure.” I slapped him on the back with my towel.

Truth is I was frustrated as hell because Bella wasn’t answering my calls or returning my texts, and it drove me nuts. I keep going through that night in my head. Did I do something wrong? Did I offend her? Hold her neck too tight while fucking her? I sort of regretted that now. That’s a move for when there’s more trust between a couple, I guess. Not when you just met. She didn’t seem to mind. In fact, she specifically consented, so I doubted it was that.

I tried to keep my mind in the present, especially since I was spotting Silas, but my mind kept hopping back to Saturday night and the way her silky skin felt beneath my fingers, how her hair stuck to her collarbone as our bodies radiated heat, and how I’d buckled over onto her when I came.

“Help!” came the frantic cry, interrupting my reverie.

Fuck! I grabbed the barbell crushing Silas’ chest and lifted it back onto the rack.

“Shit, I’m so sorry, man!” I rushed around the rack to check on Silas. He was coughing and pushing himself up to sit. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, yeah, I’m cool. But what the fuck? Pay attention. Or take me out for a beer and tell me about her,” he said with a smirk.

“About who?”

He raised a brow and gave me a look. “Whoever you were just thinking about while I was practically strangled to death here.”

I chuckled. “Fine.” I had to tread lightly. It wouldn’t be good to over-share, because my love life was always a hot topic of discussion, provided there was anything to discuss.

We showered and changed, and took a booth in the back of a swanky bar. Eyes followed us through the bar. Silas was almost as rich as I was, and we were both single, so the gossips watched us like hawks.

“So, who’s the girl? And why’s she so special?”

“What makes you think she’s special?” I popped a cocktail shrimp in my mouth.

He laughed and took a sip of his beer. “You’re joking, right? It was as if you’d entered a different dimension back there at the gym. You must’ve been thinking about her.”

I looked around at the other tables while I decided how to answer him.

“Not that I have to tell you, but this is just between us, okay? Or else I’m going to really kill you with a barbell next time.”

“Scout’s honor.”

I examined his face. He seemed genuine enough.

“Fine. I had a good date on Saturday.”

Silas let out a low whistle. I shot him the look of death, and he zipped it.

“As I was saying… The date went well, but I haven’t been able to get a hold of her since then. And it’s been what, three or four days?”

Silas’ brows shut up and he leaned forward. “You’re stressing about this chick after three days? Is she made of clear diamonds or something?”

Hmm. Diamonds. I liked that.

“Nah, man. I mean, she’s cool, and she seemed into me. So what’s with the silent treatment? I don’t get it.”

“Hmm. Well. I don’t know what to tell you. Doesn’t sound like you’ve had this issue before.”

That was the understatement of the year. Women normally fall all over themselves to be with me, whether I showed interest or not. Goes with the territory of being a billionaire. But not her. The one woman I wanted to see again was ghosting me. She was ghosting me!

“Think she’s ghosting you?”

Fuck. I wanted to scream.

“Maybe.”

“Can you get in touch with her through her work? Ask her boss for a document or something that needs to be hand delivered?”

I looked at him in puzzlement. “What the fuck? You mean get her boss to send her over? Isn’t that creepy as fuck?”

Silas chuckled and shrugged. “Desperate times call for desperate measures.”

I shook my head. I had to remember never to set him up with my sisters or cousins. Or anyone I liked.

“I’m not desperate. I want to get to know her better, that’s all.”

“What’s her background?”

“Like where’s she from? American, I guess.”

“Nah, I mean money wise.”

“She’s not from money. She’s a legal assistant.”

He shrugged. “Maybe she has a complex and is intimidated.”

“You think?” Finally, he said something that might make sense. She seemed pretty comfortable, though.

We were interrupted by my phone’s ring. My heart skipped a beat. Could it be her? I glanced at the display. Damn. It wasn’t her, but it was almost as good. I answered and got up from the table, indicating to Silas that it was a private call.

“Hello?” I looked around the restaurant for a quiet spot, but there was none. I grabbed my jacket and went out onto the street. “Hi Delilah.”

“Hi Conrad. I’m glad I got a hold of you.”

“Me, too.”

“How are you doing? Is everything well?”

“Yeah, Delilah, it’s just that—“

She must not have heard me, because her voice cut me off.

“I have good news. I’ve found a great potential match for you! Would you like me to send you her details? She’s utterly fascinating, and I think you’ll be amazed.”

I thought about what she said. Everyone knew she was good at what she did, and she did match me with Bella, so whoever she had in mind for me was probably okay, but damn. I didn’t want to meet anyone new. I wanted Bella.

“Thanks, but actually, I had a great time with Bella on Saturday.”

Delilah’s voice rose an octave. “Is that right? I’m so glad to hear that! I told you she was a gem. So, when are you seeing her again? And do you have any more questions about her?”

Should I tell her Bella’s disappeared? I didn’t want to put her in Delilah’s bad books. Maybe she’s had some kind of emergency.

“I’m sure we’ll get together soon. Trying to figure out our schedule, that’s all.”

“Okay. Well, I’m delighted to hear things are going well. I knew you’d be perfect together. Just give me a call if there’s anything I can help you with.”

“Will do.”

Shit. I thought maybe she was going to have some news for me about Bella. Or maybe a message, like she lost her phone or my phone number or something and couldn’t get a hold of me. No such luck.

I went back to Silas, and promptly changed the subject.

This wasn’t going to discourage me. I didn’t build the best performing hedge fund by being afraid of a little challenge. My diamond, my Bella, was going to be mine.