by Lee, Nadia
Nonsense. He was probably trying to decide if she would cry at bad news and whether he should delegate the distasteful task of firing her to someone else.
“I’m Natalie Hall. My assistant said you wanted to see me.” She noted with relief that her voice didn’t betray any nervousness.
He rose from his seat to his full height, which was impressive. He walked around the desk and extended a hand. “Alex Damon. Nice to meet you.” The baritone this time slithered over her like strands of supple leather. But there was something in his voice that said “nice” wasn’t the word he wanted to use.
The muscles in her neck and shoulders tightened. Ignoring the tension, Natalie shook his hand. It was slightly calloused and infused her cool skin with warmth, and a tingling sensation spread from her fingers to her cheeks. “Pleasure.”
Laughter lightened his eyes and a corner of his lips twisted into a slightly superior smile. He shut the door and gestured at a chair. “Have a seat.”
She sat and crossed her legs. She had the odd feeling that Alex was staring at them, but when she glanced up, he quirked an eyebrow at her.
She tilted her head. He’d been laughing at her from the beginning, but why? Did he find it funny to fire people? No. It was more. She could tell. He was probably too smart to overtly show what was on his mind, but there was a predatory intent in his voice and gaze.
When he sat across from her, barely enough personal space remained to be polite. She could feel a delicious heat coming off his body, smell a whiff of spicy cologne. Something stirred in her, sexual and dangerous. She stomped on it. This wasn’t the time, this wasn’t the place, and he definitely wasn’t the right man to be attracted to. Business and pleasure never mixed well.
“Is there something on my face?” Alex said, breaking her train of thought.
“Excuse me?”
“You’re staring. And I hope you aren’t coming down with something. You look a little flushed.”
She suppressed a surge of mortification. She was usually better at maintaining a professional façade. At the same time she couldn’t help but be annoyed with him. She was sure he was used to women fawning over him. He could’ve been more gracious. Apparently not everyone needed to be politic, just her. “I’m fine.” She added a bland smile to make the message clear.
“Good to hear, since I plan to keep you very busy.”
So she wasn’t getting fired. But the tension remained in her neck and shoulders.
He stretched his legs out. The fabric of his pants spread tautly over lean muscles, and his calves almost touched hers. The heat coming off him was like a furnace. She was certain the move to crowd her was deliberate. She wanted to scoot back, but she’d be damned if she’d retreat.
“An executive from Caissa Enterprises, one of Global Strategies’ European subsidiaries, is going to take over DDE as soon as possible.”
“Sure. No problem.”
“You will brief me on some of the major projects. I plan to be more actively involved until I’m…satisfied.”
She blinked. Yesterday’s edition of the Wall Street Journal had reported that he was returning to Shanghai to oversee several sweeping projects in the burgeoning Chinese market that could be very lucrative for Global Strategies. Although DDE was a profitable subsidiary, it was still only one of many mid-sized entities, not something that should consume much of his attention.
He shifted slightly in his seat, looking at her intently, and his legs brushed hers. She held her breath.
“Do you have any plans for tonight?” he said.
She shook her head automatically. Since her latest breakup six months prior, she’d devoted all her attention to work. Work didn’t disillusion her like Marcus had. She still couldn’t believe he’d proposed to another woman less than a month after they’d split up and married her soon afterward!
“Excellent.” A charming smile appeared on Alex’s lips. “Would you like to have dinner with me?”
Natalie shot him a sharp look. She didn’t indulge in interoffice dating, no matter how delicious the man in the question was. It was the stupidest CLM—career limiting move—she could think of.
“I need to talk more about DDE, but my calendar’s full at the moment. We can discuss it over dinner. I hate to make you extend your workday, but unfortunately it’s the only time I’m available.”
Despite his smooth tone, she couldn’t shake off the feeling that he was amused by her silent response. Was he laughing at her for thinking he might have a romantic interest in her?
She straightened. “It won’t be a problem.” I hope you won’t be a problem.
“Eleanor—my assistant—will send you an email this afternoon. How’s seven for you?”
“Fine.” She rose and shook his hand briskly, purposefully maintaining eye contact even as she felt her hand almost completely engulfed by his much larger and stronger one. He was getting under her skin for some reason, but she wasn’t going to let that affect her. Nope, not at all.
* * *
Alex watched Natalie walk out. When the door had closed behind her, he inhaled deeply. A subtle floral scent lingered in the room. It was quite lovely.
A composed young Asian woman with a sleek chignon wasn’t what he’d been expecting. Not at all the type who usually graced Charlie Rodale’s arm. Besides…given her family background, Alex had pictured a spoiled, entitled brat.
The black skirt suit had flattered her lithe figure, although she’d done her best to appear serious and aggressive—a corporate Amazon look he found distasteful in general but singularly sexy on her. And those stilettos had done amazing things to her legs. Long, shapely, and deliciously erotic. A legman’s fantasy come to life.
A woman who wore shoes like those had a streak of sensuality in her. He pictured her briefly in the shoes and a pair of thigh-highs and felt himself stir.
Alex shook his head sharply and walked back behind his desk. Now was not the time to indulge in fantasy. He’d been upset when Ralph hadn’t been able to follow simple instructions… Did Natalie have something to do with Ralph’s incompetence? She was, after all, the adopted daughter of Brian Hall, a powerful senator with a lot of connections and one of the reasons why it was proving so difficult to take over Rodale International. Or ruin it outright.
And Natalie was Emily Rodale’s goddaughter.
His hands tightened at the thought of the woman he’d hated for so long, the one responsible for destroying his family and ultimately killing his father. Now Emily Rodale had family of her own—a son—a company that allowed her an undeservedly wealthy lifestyle, and a young woman who might as well have been a surrogate daughter.
He wondered briefly if there was something going on between Brian and Emily. It would be just like that bitch to sell herself to a powerful protector.
But none of that mattered anymore. All the pieces were lined up. His position was fully developed, and he knew that his strategy was superior. After years of preparation and maneuvering, he was ready for the endgame.
He would take everything away from Emily Rodale. Everything.
And he would start with Natalie.
Chapter Two
Natalie stepped out of her car in front of an upscale steak house near the Ritz Carlton. A valet took her key, and she hurried inside with her purse and laptop bag. It was seven oh three, and she hated being late. Time was money. Although DDE was more relaxed than Goldreich Stanley, old habits died hard.
Besides this was only her second meeting with her CEO, and she didn’t want to make a bad impression. Just thinking about him made her flush, and the tension returned to her neck and shoulders. She wished she knew exactly what he was after. It seemed like he wanted her for professional reasons…but she’d seen glimpses that warned her there was something very personal underneath as well.
A smiling maître d’ greeted her. She gave him Alex’s name, and he nodded and led her through a dark mahogany walkway. There were little nicks in the wood here and there, each of t
hem a testament to the restaurant’s long history. Caricatures of de Gaulle and Churchill looked down from the yellowed wall above the wooden panels. Ceiling fans stirred the air, sending the smoky aroma of perfectly charred meat her way. She would’ve been looking forward to a great meal if she weren’t meeting Alex.
He was at a small table for two. He rose at the sight of her, and she paused at the unexpected courtesy. She couldn’t decide if he was just old-fashioned about certain things or if it had been a calculated move. Something about him suggested he never did anything without a reason.
“Sorry I’m late,” Natalie said, sitting down.
When Alex settled across from her, she realized how intimate the situation was. His knees brushed against hers under the white tablecloth, sensitizing her skin and making her acutely aware of the proximity of his body. She shifted, sitting at an angle and crossing her legs to avoid touching him.
The silver gray of his eyes sparkled in the candle glow as he looked at her, like lightning reflected on diamonds, and their beauty caught her by surprise, made her mute. She felt herself flushing again and was grateful for the dim light inside the restaurant.
He placed his forearms on the table and rested some weight on them, the movement bringing his large shoulders in close. “So… Ready to bombard me with documents and PowerPoint presentations?”
“Well, now that you mention it, I do have some printouts for you in my bag. I also sent you a soft copy.” She reached down, glad for the distraction. Why did he make her so nervous and flustered and excited all at the same time? She’d had her share of handsome, sophisticated dates. The boarding schools she’d attended were full of the scions of wealthy and influential families, many of them European aristocrats. And the Halls circulated among the crème de la crème of society. It came with the family history of producing governors, senators, and diplomats.
“Work can wait.” He waited until she had sat up again, her hands empty, before he said, “I’m really hungry.”
The way his eyes darkened as he spoke made her mouth dry. She’d better snap out of it soon before she did something stupid. He was talking about food.
“Let’s start with some wine,” he said. “Is there anything in particular you’d like?”
Shaking her head, she gave him a bright smile. “I’ll leave the selection up to you.”
Alex didn’t bother to consult the wine list. Their waiter took the order and returned with a bottle of Perrier-Jouët. She gave Alex a questioning look. He answered it by inclining his head and waited until the champagne was uncorked and poured.
“To your promotion,” Alex said, raising his flute.
Natalie blinked. “I’m sorry?”
“Vivien has also…left, so I’ll need somebody to fill her shoes.” Vivien had been Ralph’s right-hand woman. “Why not you? Congratulations.”
She automatically clinked her flute with his and took a sip. The cool bubbly vintage slid smoothly down her throat and warmed her.
Placing her glass on the table, she debated how she should feel about this unexpected turn of events. Part of her was thrilled, but another part was cautious at the unorthodox way Alex had given her added responsibilities. Every DDE employee was formally evaluated in July and promoted—if there was a promotion—in September. Her coworkers might see the way Alex looked at her and draw erroneous conclusions.
And there was the disconcerting matter of her reaction to him. His effect on her was far more potent than the champagne, and she was fairly sure people around them could tell she wasn’t immune to him, which would further fuel the gossip.
Alex smiled. “I drop in on various divisions and streamline their operations every so often. A sudden shift in resources isn’t that unusual, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
Natalie added perceptive to the list of qualities she was discovering about him.
“So, would you like to talk to me about your expectations?” she asked.
“No. That’ll be Ethan’s job. The executive who’s replacing Ralph.” Alex took another drink of champagne, the corded architecture of his neck clearly visible above his collar and tie as he tilted the glass back.
She fidgeted idly with the flute stem, putting it between her thumb and index finger and moving her hand up and down the cool, smooth length of the elegant column. His gaze dropped to follow the movement, the eyelids lowering. She could sense something change in him, an elemental need surging up from somewhere underneath the polite layers of civilization, and it made her acutely aware of her femininity. The air in the restaurant seemed to grow hotter and thicker. How could a man she’d known for less than a day have such a powerful effect on her?
Thankfully, their waiter reappeared and shattered the hypnotic spell. They both ordered steak and a few side dishes, but while she had a small filet mignon, he ordered the largest slab of beef on the menu, an enormous porterhouse. “I want it so rare it moos on the plate,” he said.
When the waiter had vanished, Alex turned his full attention back to her. “So tell me… How did a woman like you end up with a name like Hall?” There was a slight emphasis on the you and the Hall that might have been offensive, but he was smiling easily. His eyes went to her ring finger. “You aren’t married.”
Her personal life was one thing she didn’t want to discuss with anyone, especially the CEO of her company. Most especially one who somehow was making her think of tangled sheets. But how could she not answer without appearing rude?
She took a long swallow of the champagne. “I was adopted,” she said, her tone discouraging further questions.
“From where?”
She shrugged, irritation surging inside at his refusal to drop the subject. Perhaps he wasn’t as perceptive as she thought.
It always bothered her that she didn’t know. Natalie’s younger sister—her parents’ biological daughter—Belle, was positive Natalie was either Korean or Japanese, while Louise always said she couldn’t tell one Asian from another. Brian hadn’t volunteered an opinion except to say: It’s not that important where you came from, is it, sweetie? All that matters is that we found you, took you into our family, and raised you as one of our own.
A political statement if ever there was one. But then Brian had made a career out of being circumspect.
Natalie shoved unpleasant thoughts of her background aside. Time to change the subject. “You’re not really interested in talking about work, are you?”
“No.”
“So why did you pretend otherwise?”
A hint of humor tugged at the corners of his mouth. “Would you be here if I’d told you the truth?”
“No.”
“There you go.” He gave her an unrepentant grin.
“Devious,” she said, her voice deliberately cool.
He spread his hands. “But hardly criminal. What is criminal is ignoring a smart, sexy woman.”
If he’d shown any sign of mockery or insincerity—even outright flattery—she’d have walked out on him, CEO or not. But somehow the simple way he spoke made her believe he truly found her desirable. His gaze roamed over her as if he could impart the carnality of his presence onto her.
Sudden images of their bodies, naked and panting, raced through her mind, leaving her breathless. Every feminine intuition in her said that if she showed even a tinge of interest, he’d make love to her until she drowned in sensation. A man like him wouldn’t want anything messy like emotional entanglement. Earth-shattering ecstasy was all he promised, all she could ever expect from him.
Well, too bad. Marcus O’Dell had been good in bed, but it just wasn’t enough. She wanted a man who could love her unconditionally, and for the long term.
“I don’t do the interoffice dating thing,” she said. “It’s a rule with me. So—although this is really flattering—it’s not going to work out. Maybe you should find another woman who’ll be happy with what you’re offering.”
He regarded her calmly. “I don’t want another woman. And I think i
t is going to work out.”
“You do?”
“Come on, you feel it. There’s a lot of chemistry going on here.”
True…but still. She gave him her best oh-come-now laugh. “I’m not a teenager anymore. I don’t let my hormones make my decisions for me.”
“Wanna bet?”
Natalie raised an eyebrow. “Do I want to bet?”
“I’ll bet you that you’ll have dinner with me again before the week’s over.”
“And if I do? Then what?”
“Then you lose the bet and owe me a full weekend to change your mind about this ‘no interoffice dating’ rule of yours.”
“What do I get if you lose?”
“Oh, I won’t lose. But if I do, I’ll give you a million dollars.”
Her jaw dropped so fast she was surprised it didn’t hit the table. He couldn’t be serious. A million dollars?
Their food arrived. Although it smelled absolutely tantalizing, her stomach was knotted too tightly to even think about eating. She could already feel the champagne churning dangerously.
The waiter left, and Natalie leaned forward. “You’re joking, right?” she said in a strained whisper.
“About what?” He popped a chunk of steak into his mouth. The chef had taken his instructions seriously. The meat looked like it had barely touched the grill.
“About the bet. And the million dollars.”
“Not at all. One, with six zeros behind it. Cash or wire, your choice.”
She stared at him. There wasn’t even a trace of humor on his face. Her heartbeat accelerated a little, and she shook her head. “You’re going to lose.”
Sighing, he put a hand over his heart. “You wound me. Would you truly condemn me to eating alone for the next four days?”