A Taste of Passion ; Ambitious Seduction
Page 18
She put her mouth to his ear. “Then listen to this,” she said, undulating her hips over him. “We’re going to revamp that website and commission an app.”
He laughed, putting his hands in her hair and bringing her mouth to his for a long, deep kiss. “Je t’aime, Maya,” Nic whispered.
“I love you, too, Nicolas Rayo. And I promise to always be there for you.”
* * *
Ambitious Seduction
Nana Prah
Leaning the back of his head against the chair, he recalled that day as if it had happened an hour ago.
He’d wanted to touch her flawless medium brown skin. From what he could tell, her makeup consisted of dark liner to emphasize her angled dark brown eyes and a rich burgundy lipstick, which drew his attention to her full lips. He’d found it unacceptable to be attracted to the most viable competition for the next open partnership position.
In those few seconds, he’d realized alienating her would be the only way to keep himself from falling into the attraction that lured him closer to her. The zip of electricity that stung his palm when they’d shaken hands had been the deciding factor.
Shaking away the guilt of the past, he focused on the scenery.
He’d been avoiding her. Ever since they’d engaged in the best sex of his life two months ago. One minute they’d been arguing, as they tended to do while working together, and the next... He shoved away the memory of her legs wrapped around his waist as his body started to react.
It had been a good thing the partners hadn’t paired them to work together again since then. Even seeing her in the hallways had him itching to pull her into his arms for a repeat of that night. They were on a collision course for the same position. Being anything but a hostile colleague to Kamilla would end badly. For both of them.
Nana Prah first discovered romance in a book from her eighth-grade summer reading list and has been obsessed with it ever since. Her fascination with love inspired her to write in her favorite genre where happily-ever-after is the rule.
She is a published author of contemporary multicultural romances. Her books are sweet with a touch of spice. When she’s not writing, she’s overindulging in chocolate, enjoying life with friends and family, and tormenting nursing students into being the best nurses the world has ever seen.
Books by Nana Prah
Harlequin Kimani Romance
A Perfect Caress
Path to Passion
Ambitious Seduction
Visit the Author Profile page at Harlequin.com for more titles.
Join Harlequin My Rewards today and earn a FREE ebook!
Click here to Join Harlequin My Rewards
http://www.harlequin.com/myrewards.html?mt=loyalty&cmpid=EBOOBPBPA201602010002
To my best friend and sister, Matilda Ampofo. You are the type of amazing that I look up to and want to emulate.
Acknowledgments
A huge thanks to Zee Monodee, who is the best at what she does. Your guidance has helped to propel me to be a better writer. Once again, I’m sorry that my memory is so bad.
To Glenda Howard, Melissa Senate and Katie Ortolan—my amazing editors. It’s been fabulous working with you.
Thank you, Lisa Whittle. Your legal research and explanation about money laundering was invaluable. Your TEDx talk truly inspired me and I’m so glad we became friends.
My gratitude goes out to every single one of my fans and supporters. You’re the best!
Cathy, Kiru, Debbie and Empi—my appreciation will never stop flowing in your direction.
Dear Reader,
I’m ecstatic that you’ve decided to read Ambitious Seduction. Kamilla and Leonardo have an “opposites attract” quality that I loved writing.
Kamilla grew up in foster care. With intelligence, determination and numerous jobs (which we learn about), she was able to reach her goal of becoming a successful lawyer. Her burning desire of making partner at her law firm stems from the need for economic stability.
Why does a man who is an heir to a dynasty need to make partner, you ask? It has to do with his heart. That’s all I’m sharing.
Kamilla and Leonardo are amazing together. It takes some interesting circumstances for them to realize it, but they’re stubborn, not stupid. I hope their story makes you laugh, shed a tear or two and release a long awww at the end.
I’d love to hear from you. Find me at www.nanaprah.com.
Happy reading,
Nana Prah
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Epilogue
Chapter 1
“If I don’t have the file on my desk in two minutes, I’ll make sure you no longer have a job in five.” Leonardo Astacio slammed the phone into its cradle.
A light knock sounded at the door. If his secretary couldn’t be efficient, she could at least have a backbone. “Come in,” he growled through the raw soreness of his throat.
The short Latina woman in her mid-fifties, who’d lasted longer than any of the previous secretaries, drew up the courage to look him in the eyes. “I’m sorry, Mr. Astacio.” She wrung her empty hands. “The Singleton Financial documents are with another lawyer.”
As a corporate attorney, he excelled at all aspects of the practice, but acquisitions and negotiating corporate contracts worth millions had become his forte. Few others at Peterson, Benton, Monroe and Lanner could touch him. One of them being the woman who drove him insane in more ways than he should allow. He tuned out any thoughts of her.
The rumors going around had everyone on edge. He’d heard that Singleton Financial, one of the highest-ranking financial institutions in the country, representing over fifty subsidiary companies, was thinking of not renewing their contract next month. Leonardo didn’t need to be included in a meeting to understand that if the information was true, it wouldn’t bode well for the law firm. In the past he’d worked with the Singletons. Although the partners hadn’t asked, he’d decided to get a head start on getting them to renew with the firm.
Initiative, intelligence and hard work would get him to partner status. Reaching the goal on his own terms, not with his family’s influence. He’d paid his dues to the company and soon he’d earn his reward.
Not hiding his impatience, Leonardo tapped his pen against the desk. “Who has the file?”
His secretary’s voice quivered when she answered. “Kamilla Gordon.”
Rather than give in to his rage by punching the desk or throwing his custom-made leather chair against the wall, he leaned back and counted backward from ten.
By the time he reached five, he could unflex his fingers, but his favorite Cross pen had split at the joint. He nodded to the woman. “Thank you...”
“Rosario.”
Leonardo’s sniffle reminded him of why holding on to his temper had been so draining, and he attempted not to glower. “Thank you, Rosario.”
Was she waiting for an invitation to scurry out of his office? He pivoted and gazed out at the expansive twentieth-floor view of downtown Cleveland. The scene normally gave him a sense of calm. Not today.
The morning had started out
rough. He’d woken up with a stuffy nose, a sore throat, a cough and a headache. Being sick annoyed him even more than losing. Over the years he’d ensured that weakness no longer made up part of his constitution. The muscles he’d developed over the skinny frame he’d sported in junior high school that helped to catapult him to star quarterback should attest to it. Sticking to a healthy organic diet and strict exercise regime, he never got sick. A sneeze escaped, mocking him all the more.
Kamilla had set him off from the first moment he’d encountered her. It had been his first day transferring in from the London office to the Cleveland branch. He’d requested the transfer because most of the partners preferred to work in the home office and he had to be seen in order to propel himself to partner at a faster rate.
Leaning the back of his head against the chair, he recalled that day as if it happened an hour ago. The staff had gathered for a short introduction. He’d become immobile at his first sight of the woman. Her get-the-job-done reputation had reached him all the way across the Atlantic, but they’d never worked together. He’d wanted to touch her flawless medium brown skin. From what he could tell, her makeup consisted of dark liner to emphasize her angled dark brown eyes and a rich burgundy lipstick, which drew his attention to her full lips. He’d found it unacceptable to be attracted to the most viable competition for the next open partnership position.
In those few seconds, he’d realized alienating her would be the only way to keep himself from falling into the attraction that lured him closer to her. The zip of electricity that stung his palm when they’d shaken hands had been the deciding factor.
Noticing she’d worn a pin boasting of Harvard, he pounced on the rivalry between Yale, his alma mater, and her school. With a snarl, he made a comment about how it was too bad she had graduated from the lesser of the two Ivy League schools. The remark alone could have been seen as a joke, but the condescending tone he’d used had set the stage for enmity between them. Just as he’d hoped, although, he’d felt uncomfortable with his snideness.
Shaking away the guilt of the past, he focused on the scenery.
He’d been avoiding her. Ever since they’d engaged in the best sex of his life two months ago. One minute they’d been arguing, as they tended to do while working together, and the next... He shoved away the memory of her legs wrapped around his waist as his body started to react.
It had been a good thing the partners hadn’t paired them to work together again since then. Even seeing her in the hallways had him itching to pull her into his arms for a repeat of that night. They were on a collision course for the same position. Being anything but a hostile colleague to Kamilla would end badly. For both of them.
Why had becoming friends, or maybe even starting a relationship, seemed more of a possibility since they’d hooked up?
Rolling the chair from the desk, he stood and buttoned his suit jacket. He had a file to retrieve and a full-fledged attraction to resist.
* * *
The hair on the back of Kamilla’s neck stood on end. It would only be a matter of moments before the bull charged into her tiny office, demanding the file. It wouldn’t matter. The rather exceptional secretary she shared with three other associates had made a copy of it as soon as it hit her hands.
Once she’d heard the rumor about Singleton Financial wanting to find another firm to represent their conglomeration, she’d dived for their information. After being trusted to work with them within the past year, although with Leonardo, she felt obligated to encourage them to stay. What had happened to make them want to leave? It couldn’t have been the work she and Leonardo had done for them; they’d been happy customers two months ago.
She wouldn’t focus on what else had transpired during that time, but her skin heated at the memory that was trying to make its way to the forefront of her mind. Soon she’d be face-to-face with the man she’d been avoiding. They’d never been friends, so it hadn’t been that hard to stay away. And yet her body still betrayed her on a daily basis and longed for the bear’s touch.
Shaking off the biggest mistake of her life, she zoned in on her career. If she could maintain Singleton Financial as a client, she’d definitely be made partner. No way would she allow the muscle-bound Astacio to snatch the chance away from her.
Once again she wondered why he even worked for the firm. His family possessed more money than Oprah Winfrey and Bill Gates combined. He could’ve gone to work for his family, started his own law firm or even retired. Jealousy roared to life at how easy his life had been.
A buzz from her phone brought her out of her musings just in time to prepare her for the bear who banged her poor door against the wall before storming in. Their erotic encounter hadn’t changed him a bit.
Canting her head, she presented a smile sweet enough for him to develop cavities. “How may I help you, Leonardo?” For a rather uptight law firm, they held an open policy about calling people by their first names, although most of the employees called him Mr. Astacio out of terror. She’d rather scrub toilets at an office building again, a job she’d had in high school.
He stopped in front of her desk and braced his hands on it. “You have something that belongs to me.”
A thrill shimmied down her spine at being so close to him. Ignoring the way his baritone voice sounded even huskier than normal, she looked around her shared office, glad to find they were alone so they could fight toe-to-toe. “What’s that?”
“Don’t play games.” He pointed to his chest, about to speak again, when an adorable sneeze slipped out. Followed by four more. So the big bad wolf had a cold. From the gossip mill, she knew he never got sick. Detested doing so.
She got to her feet and walked around her desk to the door. She used it as a fan to air the room out. “Since I can’t open the windows, I’d prefer if you didn’t share your nasty germs with me.”
His clenched broad jaw didn’t scare her. Especially considering how his upturned nose now held a tinge of red after blowing it. The man had a monopoly on sexy with his large dark brown eyes and sharp cheekbones. His tailored suit hugged a muscular body she’d jump hurdles to get reacquainted with if he wasn’t such an arrogant ass. And my competition for financial freedom. Mustn’t forget that.
Leonardo held out his hand. “Hand over the file. It’s mine.”
She’d worn her favorite suit to work, so she had an extra dose of power on her side. Although her outfit wasn’t tailored like his, she’d spent more money on the form-flattering dark plum skirt suit than she had on three of her others combined. Kamilla perched a hand on her hip and hitched her upper body forward in a challenge. “Who says?”
“I do.”
Tapping her finger against her chin, she shrugged. “Well, that’s all the verification I need. I’ll give it to you.” She sashayed to her desk and sat on the edge. “Right after I’m finished analyzing it.”
His growl didn’t last long, as a rough cough ripped from his chest. Concerned, she went to her fridge, but thought better of it and then grabbed a room-temperature bottle of water and handed it to him. To her surprise he took it and chugged down half. She didn’t wait for a word of gratitude, knowing she’d probably reach menopause before that happened.
His glare should’ve been vicious, but she found it alluring as sin. He set the bottle on the desk. “I take it you’ve heard the unofficial news about the Singletons?”
She nodded once in response, something she knew annoyed him. He preferred speech when communicating with him. Yes, sir were the words that made him the happiest. Not that she’d ever said them to him or ever would.
His cocky grin set off a spark of anger. Good to know having sex hadn’t blinded her to his annoying haughtiness.
“You don’t have the skills or knowledge it takes to get the job done,” he goaded.
Rather than rise to the bait, she studied her clear polished nails. Manicures were the one thing she neve
r skimped on. She tended to shovel her money toward paying back her colossal law school loans in order to gain financial freedom, but not at the cost of her hands. They gave her a singular feeling of being a feminine professional. Her wardrobe, home décor and social life had suffered, but never her nails.
“Very funny. I believe you said the same thing just before I—” she pretended to cast a fishing line and then roll the handle “—reeled in the Frasiers. And then handled the Moore account in the same month.”
His almost-perfect eyebrows scrunched together as his eyes narrowed. Although her heart started bounding in a struggle to jump out of her chest, she met his gaze. “We’ve both worked with Singleton Financial, but they like me better.”
He grunted. “How do you figure?”
She pointed back and forth between them. “Because I’m likable. To the firm’s detriment, you lack the charm your younger brother possesses.”
The comment seemed to hit home, as his lips formed a thin line. “Kissing people’s asses has nothing to do with hard work.”
“How have you gotten so far in corporate law with your brusque personality?” she mumbled. It wasn’t the first time they’d had this argument. His confidence overshadowed so many negative aspects he possessed.
“Results are borne through planning and persistence. Friendliness is not on the list.” He smiled at her then. Wolfish yet sexy enough to make her shiver. Was it in anticipation or fear?
“Now give me the file so I can get to work.”
With a long-suffering sigh, she went around her desk and closed the thick folder she’d been reading. Holding it out to him, she pulled it back just as his hand was about to grasp it. “I will get the Singletons to sign the contract, Leo.” The use of the nickname brought on the twitch in his jaw muscle she liked seeing. “You can bet on it.”