In the Italian's Bed: Bedded for Pleasure, Purchased for Pregnancy / The Italian's Ruthless Baby Bargain / The Italian Count's Defiant Bride. Carol Marinelli
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heavy office door opened and Zarios himself wordlessly gestured for her to come inside.
‘You waited.’
He stood at the window, staring out at the darkening Melbourne sky that was thick with rain despite the summer month. Threatening droplets splashed onto the window and she knew that in a few moments, when he’d finished playing whatever his little game was, there was no doubt she’d be out there.
‘I had no choice but to wait.’
‘There are always choices.’
‘Not always.’ She took a seat uninvited, angry now. What choice had her parents had? What choice did she have now other than to sit and wait to see what the master had to say?
‘You will have read about my break-up with Miranda?’ He didn’t turn to see her response; there was just a natural assumption that she had. ‘My father and the board are less than impressed.’
As they should be, Emma thought, but didn’t have the nerve to say it. Her voice was shaky when, after a moment, she found it. ‘Is it true?’ Emma swallowed. ‘That you left her because she couldn’t have your babies?’
‘Why do you owe so much money?’ Zarios countered, and when she didn’t answer he gave a wry smile. ‘We both have our own set of excuses, I am sure. When I first started working for my father it was a small company—building and refurbishing, here in Melbourne and in Rome. I found a property in Scotland—a castle that had the potential to be renovated into a top-class boutique hotel, ideal for weddings, that type of thing…’
Her head pounded with neuralgia. Why the hell was he telling her this? She didn’t need a history lesson, she needed cash!
He must have sensed her impatience. ‘Don’t worry—I am as loath as you are to be in conversation. Believe me, this is not idle chatter!’
‘Good.’ She accepted the glass of water he poured, draining it in one gulp, not caring whether or not it was ladylike.
‘For that to come to fruition we had to borrow, or bring investors on board. My father chose the latter option, and when the situation was repeated he brought in more investors. Ten years ago I was a year younger than you are now—twenty-four years old and still somewhat intimidated by father. The company was divided, with my father retaining a twenty-five percent stake, myself twenty-four. I strongly advised him to make his share twenty-six, mine twenty-five—are you still with me, Emma?’ He must have seen her eyes glaze over, because he snapped her to rapid attention. ‘Had he listened to me then, we would not be having this conversation now.’
‘I can do the maths.’ Emma gave a tight smile.
‘Good—then you will know how important that two percent share is now, when D’Amilo Financials is worth billions. Once my father retires our directors want to rename it, and for my father’s stake in the company to be spread between all the directors rather than passed to me—naturally, I am opposed.’
‘What about your father?’ Emma blinked. ‘Surely it’s up to him…?’
‘He wants what is best for the future of the company, and on recent form he is not sure that is me. As he has said, whatever happens I am still a majority shareholder.’ He registered her frown. ‘My relationship with my father is not the same as the one you had with your parents. He is more a business partner to me than a parent.’
‘What does this have to do with me?’
‘My father wants to see me settled. He is unwell.’
The clipped tone of his voice told Emma he wasn’t angling for sympathy, but no matter what she thought of the son, Emma cared about the father. ‘What’s wrong with him?’ She watched Zarios’s jaw stiffen, saw a flash of annoyance dart across his features at the invasive nature of her question. Finally he gave a brief, reluctant nod, before answering. ‘He requires major heart surgery. His colleagues do not know—I would prefer that it stays that way.’
‘Of course,’ Emma responded. ‘I’m very sorry to hear that.’
He neither wanted nor acknowledged her comment. Instead he moved swiftly on. ‘This is why he is retiring so quickly. He was going to tell your parents about the surgery after your father’s birthday. Given the seriousness of the matter, he is busy getting his affairs in order. He made it clear that if I toned down my behaviour, if I gave him reason to believe that I had changed, he would go against the rest of the board and transfer his stake to me. Miranda and I breaking up has almost put paid to that. However—’ he gave a wan smile ‘—just when it seemed irretrievable a solution has appeared.’ He gave Emma a black smile. ‘He thinks the world of you.’
‘He warned you off me!’ Emma pointed out. ‘I only wish you’d listened at the time.’
‘He doesn’t want me to hurt you, Emma!’ His lips pouted and he blew her a mock kiss. ‘Which is why we’re getting engaged!’
‘Please!’
‘I’ve never made it official with a woman before…’ He smiled at the novelty of his own treachery. ‘It would go a long way to convincing him!’
‘He’d never believe it.’
‘You’re too modest!’ Zarios chided, his sardonic smile mocking her. ‘Why, you’re an excellent liar and a consummate actress, Emma! Personally, I’d never have taken you for a gold-digging whore!’
‘Bastard!’
‘Then we understand each other,’ he drawled. ‘You’ll have no problem convincing him.’
‘As if he’s going to accept that we’re suddenly together—’ Emma shook her head. His proposal was too preposterous for words.
‘Why wouldn’t he?’ Zarios interrupted. ‘We will tell him the truth. We met up again after many years at your father’s sixtieth birthday party and the attraction was immediate.’
Which was the truth, Emma conceded. But only so far!
‘With all that has happened to you recently, it is no wonder things have moved so quickly. Of course it was hard, ending things with Miranda, but my feelings for you…’ his eyes were black with malice ‘…were just impossible to ignore.’
‘Why?’ Emma blinked. ‘Why does it matter to you so much? You’re going to be rich either way…’
‘Honour,’ Zarios said. ‘Look it up in the dictionary when you get home. You might learn something!’
‘Honour amongst thieves, you mean!’ Emma responded. ‘You’re asking me to lie to your own father, remember.’
‘My father is too easily swayed by others—he has the Italian curse of worrying too much what others think.’
‘It must have skipped a generation.’
‘I have no…’ he snapped his fingers as he searched for the word ‘…no doubt.’ He shook his head, clearly not happy with his choice. ‘No guilt…’ Still he frowned.
‘No qualms.’ Emma stared coolly at him. ‘The word you’re looking for is qualms.’
‘It was the D’Amilo name that made our current directors rich, it is my acumen that has lined their pockets, and it is my brain that keeps it that way. I have no qualms about fighting for what is rightfully mine.’
‘Modest, too.’ Emma’s mouth twisted. She was way past even pretending to be polite now. She didn’t have time for this. There was no way she was going to agree, and there was no way he was going to lend her the money. She should never have come back!
‘I don’t believe in false modesty,’ Zarios continued. ‘I am the best—it is as simple as that.’
He sat down then, and stared at her as if commencing a business meeting.
‘I