A Taste of Passion ; Ambitious Seduction

by Chloe Blake

  Her mother sniffled again.

  “Did you make love to him?”

  “That is none of your business!”

  “You did. What did Steve say about that?”

  “I never told him.”

  “So many secrets. How do you live with yourself?”

  “I did it for my family. So don’t you dare judge me.”

  “Oh, I’m judging you, Mother. All these years I thought he never wanted me. He wanted me. Why was that so threatening?”

  “Because I knew you would leave.”

  “What?”

  “I wanted my family here, not spread out across God knows where! Girl, your grandmother, God rest her soul, had been born on a planation in Virginia. She had siblings who were taken away that she never saw or heard from again. She wasn’t going to let her daughter go, and I wasn’t going to let you go.”

  Maya struggled to speak through a wellspring of tears. “Mom, when you put it like that I understand, but maybe you didn’t realize that I would never let you go. Even if I had gone to Paris to visit my father, you would have always known where I was, and I would’ve always come back.”

  They talked for a long time after that, years of secrets peeling away, and Maya was convinced that selling the business to Nic was the right thing to do.

  But still one question remained. What was she going to do about Nic?

  Chapter 16

  Maya was fresh from a shower and raiding her minibar when an insistent banging on her door filled the room.

  “Who could that be?” she whispered to herself sarcastically. If she stayed quiet, would he go away?

  Nic’s voice boomed through the door. “Open the door, Maya. I know you’re in there.”

  Rolling her eyes, she clutched her robe to her chest and opened the door, surprised to find Nic still in his tux and clutching a very angry looking Daphne by the elbow.

  “Putain!” Daphne’s string of French sounded blistering. She ripped her arm from Nic’s grip, then looked Maya up and down.

  Nic dipped his head. “I’m sorry for the interruption. But Daphne has something to say to you. Don’t you?”

  Daphne shrugged a pretty shoulder.

  The elevator dinged, and a few drunken revelers stumbled past them. Realizing they’d gone the wrong way, they stumbled back the way they came.

  “May we come in?” Nic asked.

  “I don’t think so.” Maya was done accommodating these two. “Better make it quick.”

  Nic nodded to Daphne.

  Daphne’s mouth flattened. “This is stupide.”

  “Spit it out!” Nic snapped.

  Daphne turned to Maya with a haughty sneer. “Pardonnez-moi.”

  Nic barked a string of French at Daphne, which had her turning white. “Try again,” he said in English.

  “I am very sorry for the things that I said.” Daphne’s voice was nowhere near apologetic.

  “Which things?” Maya asked sweetly. The elevator dinged again, and a larger and louder crowd spilled into the hallway.

  “Merde—” her gaze narrowed as she took in the rowdy crowd “—this is not the place for this!”

  “Say your piece and you can leave!” Nic snapped.

  “Bien,” she said with a huff. “We’re not engaged.”

  “And,” Nic prompted.

  “We’ve never been engaged.”

  “And?”

  “Isn’t that enough?” she hissed.

  “And you’ll have nothing to do with the vineyard because...?” he said.

  “Because I lied.”

  “Just like you lied about...”

  “Our engagement,” she said, heat rays darting from her eyes.

  He turned to Maya. “How was that?”

  Maya cocked her head at Nic, then turned to Daphne.

  “When did you last sleep with him?”

  Daphne gave Nic a sly look, but he lifted a brow at her. “The truth.”

  “I don’t even know...” Daphne rolled her eyes. “Five years or something.”

  Maya slowly shook her head. “You’ve been pining after him for five years? Jeez.”

  “It’s not pining when you love someone,” Daphne spit.

  “It is if they don’t love you back. Oh wait, that’s not pining, that’s pathetic.”

  Daphne let out a high-pitched roar before she lunged at Maya, but Nic caught her flailing arms first and secured Daphne in a bear hug.

  Nic gritted his teeth against her struggling body, but kept his voice calm when he turned to Maya. “Have you heard enough?”

  Maya held Nic’s gaze and thought for a moment of all the secrets and lies she’d heard over the past two weeks. Yeah, she’d heard enough.

  “I think we’re done here,” Maya said.

  “Get off me then,” Daphne spit. Nic pulled his arms away quickly, leaving her to stumble a bit before getting her footing. She graced the two of them with an evil look, then marched down the hall toward the elevators.

  Nic turned back to Maya. “I’m sorry, too.”

  Maya clutched her robe tighter. “For?”

  “For letting it get this far.”

  “I just don’t understand how she knew all of those things. And that ring—did she just happen to have an engagement ring lying around her apartment to torture me with?”

  “I don’t know,” he said, anxiously slipping his hands in and out of his pockets. “I just don’t want you upset.”

  He looked so earnest that Maya felt her anger lighten. How much could she really blame him for Daphne’s maliciousness? If she was honest, her anger was a byproduct of jealousy. Even after she knew it wasn’t true, just the idea of Nic asking Daphne to marry him was enough to make her want to set something on fire.

  “I’m not upset...anymore.”

  “Can I come in?” he murmured, moving farther into the doorway.

  “Um,” she said to get a handle on her overactive mind. A movie reel of possibilities flashed behind her eyes. Her stripping him of his tux. Him shoving off her robe. Her legs wrapped around him. His mouth on her—“No, Nic. I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

  He frowned. “You’re still upset.”

  “No, I’m just being practical. We have business to discuss tomorrow. Things are changing...ending. I need some time to process everything. So good night. Thank you again and I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  She tried to push the door shut, only to feel a hard resistance. Nic held the door in place with one hand, anguish in his gaze. Before she knew what he was about, he grabbed her face gently and brought his lips to hers. Her lips met his so easily that for a moment she forgot that she had been angry, forgot that she was signing away her father’s business the next day, forgot that she was leaving Paris.

  But it all rushed back when he pulled away, his gaze roaming over her face. She thought he was going to say something, but he didn’t. With a weak grin, he gave her a slight nod and backed away from the door.

  “Sweet dreams, chérie. I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said before disappearing down the hall. She didn’t close the door until she heard the elevator ding.

  * * *

  “Nicolas?” the old jeweler questioned when Nic hurried through his shop door, reached into his jacket pocket and placed a velvet box down on the glass showcase. “Is there something wrong with the ring?”

  Nic put his palms up. “The ring was perfect, until another woman got her hands on it.” The jeweler was wide-eyed as Nic relayed the story: Daphne looking for him in his office while he dealt with a problem in the kitchen. He’d left his jacket on the desk, where she had picked it up and found the ring in the pocket. “I never should have left my jacket alone. And now I can’t give it to the woman I wanted to, not that she’d take it at this point.” He ran a hand through his hair, rememberi
ng the look she’d given him before closing her hotel room door. Her eyes had held a distance that made him uneasy.

  The jeweler bent over the ring and held a small glass to his eye. “The diamonds are perfect. I’ll take it back, of course, but how would you like to replace it?”

  Nic gave a blank stare to the jewels in the showcase, then looked at the jeweler.

  “Second thoughts?”

  “You must see this all the time.”

  “Not as much as you think. Men who design their rings usually know what they want, or should I say who they want.”

  Nic gave a slow nod. “I do want her. I’m just not so sure she wants me.”

  “Ah, a risk.” The old man turned around and opened a locked cabinet behind him. He pulled out a long velvet display of six engagement rings and carefully set them on the glass with a smile. Each unique, intricate design held a dazzling stone that sat in a bed of smaller diamonds. “But one worth taking, I expect. I haven’t shown these to anyone. They were specially designed for the royal family as choices for the prince’s fiancée. I only show them to my best customers. And you look like you need something special.”

  They were special, just like Maya. He picked up the one on the end.

  “Fifteen-carat emerald cut, flawless of course,” the jeweler whispered. “We call it the Grace Kelly, as it’s similar to the one Prince Rainier III of Monaco commissioned for the actress.”

  “It’s stunning.”

  “Indeed.”

  Nic stared hard at the ring, hoping it would tell him what to do. Instead, all he heard was his mother’s voice. Don’t let love ruin you.

  Too late, Mother. Too late.

  * * *

  Maya checked the time as she walked into James’s office. His team of associates welcomed her and led her to his office, where he was pacing, on the phone with another client. He waved her into a seat, which she gladly took since Nic hadn’t yet arrived and she was a little nervous about seeing him. The disappointment on his face when she’d refused his company the night before had stayed with her most of the night and reappeared this morning. He was the last person she wanted to hurt, and today, as they settled her father’s estate, she would make that clear.

  Maya scrolled through her phone as she waited, triple checking her flight times for the next afternoon. Her thumb hovered over a new email that popped through, an interview confirmation for One Consulting Group. She sighed. Executive vice president of consumer goods—the title rang in her ears and her business card flashed in her mind, and yet her excitement fell short. It was a great opportunity, she told herself. Probably everything she wanted and deserved. So why wasn’t she happy about it?

  She turned at the sound of footsteps and saw Nic striding quickly toward the office. He caught her gaze and smiled a little. Her heart beat faster and almost burst when he walked straight toward her and kissed her on the lips.

  “Bonjour,” he whispered.

  “Hi,” she breathed, trying to steady her pounding heart.

  When they both looked up, James was staring at them, his phone held away from his ear and a blank look on his face, like a mannequin. His eyes darted between the two until Nic took a seat next to Maya, then he cleared his throat and took his seat. “Good morning to you both. Now, Jennifer will FaceTime in at any moment. Ah, here she is.” James touched the iPad, which was set on a stand at the edge of his desk, and Jennifer’s yawn was caught on video. It was early morning in California, and Jen, it looked like, was still in her pajamas.

  “Morning all,” Jen said, just before taking a sip of coffee. “If you don’t mind, I need a quick word with my client. Maya, I’m calling you now.”

  James directed Maya to an empty office.

  “You aren’t even dressed,” Maya joked, after she’d left Nic and James.

  “You do realize what time it is here. Look, I know you are planning on giving up your shares today so I had Nathan send me the new figures—”

  “Jen, don’t try to talk me out of this. I know it’s the right thing. I wasn’t sure before, but I have an interview with One Consulting on Tuesday and it’s everything I’ve been working toward. I think it’s a sign that I’m doing the right thing.”

  “That’s not what I was going to say—”

  Maya turned and Nic was in the doorway. “Sorry, I’m just checking on you.”

  “No, it’s fine. We’re ready.”

  “Maya—” Jen started.

  “Jen, I know what you’re going to say. I want to do this.”

  “You want to give away your father’s business?”

  Maya paused, unable to answer. “I want to do what I think is best for my father’s business.”

  “Maybe you being at the helm is best.”

  “I’m not at the helm. I have a partner.”

  “Not according to this—”

  “I know.”

  “You’ve seen these figures?”

  “Of course. The Dechamps contract gave us a nice end-of-year boost. That’s what I wanted for Nic.”

  Jen paused. “Are we talking about the same thing here?”

  Maya waved her hand in the air. “Of course we are. Let’s get started.”

  “Okay...see you in the other room.”

  After emailing some things to Jen, they proceeded with what felt like a divorce. Every piece of paperwork James presented and explained was a transfer or dissolution of some sort. Jen chimed in several times to demand amendments where needed, while Nic and Maya nodded and listened, then secretly smiled at each other when the two lawyers got into a debate.

  “Did you sleep well?” Nic asked, his voice only for her.

  “Not really. You?” She wanted to touch him.

  “Not at all. I... There...there was something I wanted to ask you.”

  Maya turned her body toward him, sensing unease. “What?”

  “Maybe we could take a break for a moment—”

  James interrupted. “Now, Maya.” He handed her several papers. “If you initial here and here, then sign here, here and here, then the shares will be transferred to Nic, and then Nic will wire the money into the account specified within three business days.”

  Maya looked up and saw James holding a pen out to her. She looked at Nic, who met her gaze. “You don’t have to do this.”

  Maya sighed and looked around the room before bringing her gaze back to Nic. “I think I do.”

  Nic frowned. “Because you want to get back to LA?”

  “I...my life is there.”

  “What if it was here?”

  Her eyes flashed. “What?”

  Nic wrung his hands. “Let’s talk for a minute. I want to run something by you.”

  “What else is there to talk about? You promised to keep the company intact. I believe you. Your offer for my share is generous. I appreciate that.”

  “You mean offer for the whole company, don’t you?” Jen chimed in. All three heads swiveled to the iPad and the hard-nosed lawyer in her pajamas. “Because according to this fiscal statement, this is the third year that Albert’s accounts, now Maya’s accounts, brought in ninety percent of the revenue of the company and therefore can claim automatic rights to one hundred percent of the shares, per the clause on page twenty-one, section D of the contract.”

  “What?” All three heads swiveled around.

  “I don’t understand,” Maya said to Jen.

  Jen adjusted her glasses. “I thought you did... That’s what I was trying to tell you.”

  Nic stood and walked behind the chairs, his hand clutching something in his pocket. Maya twisted toward him. “Nic, I didn’t—” He ignored her, looking instead at James. “Is this true?”

  James flipped through papers and punched numbers on his calculator. He sighed and slowly nodded. “Yes, it is. It seems that the lapse of the Dechamps
account, which had been under your name, has decreased your contribution. And the current contract with Dechamps is under Miss North’s name.”

  Maya shook her head rapidly. “Well, that’s a mistake. Just reassign the account to Nic.”

  “The contract is done. Here is the copy, with your name as broker.”

  Maya looked at the contract, then whirled around to Nic. “This is a mistake. We can fix this.”

  “There is no ‘we.’ Only you and your company.”

  He wasn’t looking at her; his brow was furrowed over a restless gaze that seemed to dart from the contracts, to her and then to the floor. He was sort of frozen in a state of mild shock, like she was. One moment she was handing him her shares, the next she owned the entire company.

  The company his father helped to build.

  Maya heard Jen and James in discussion, then walked to Nic and touched him on the arm.

  “Nic, I don’t know what to say.”

  Nic turned to her, but his eyes had changed. He looked at her like he didn’t know her. “There is nothing to say. The business is yours. I hope you’ll keep me on as an employee.” The sarcasm in his voice stung. He stood and stalked toward the door.

  “Nic,” she called out. He turned at the office door and looked at her for a long moment before he spoke.

  “Congratulations,” he said in a low voice, then walked out.

  Maya whipped around to James, whose face was red. “Fix this!”

  James held his hands up.

  Maya stormed out into the street, unsure of where she was going. Back to the hotel? To the vineyard? To LA? She wanted to go home, but she was no longer sure where that was.

  Chapter 17

  The next morning, Maya lay in bed at the vineyard—her vineyard—trying to find the emotional strength to get out of bed and face the fact that in her effort to keep her father’s business afloat, she’d somehow taken it away from the one person who actually knew how to run it.

  She rolled over and grabbed her phone, hoping to see a voice mail or a text. She let the phone drop onto her comforter. All of her calls and texts went unanswered. After leaving James’s office, she had hoped to find Nic in his office at the hotel, but no one had seen him. Like a fool, she had stayed in the lobby hoping to run into him, but he never showed.