The Dare Collection June 2019. Rachael Stewart
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a moment, please?’ Tyler requested, his voice buzzing with suppressed excitement.
They retreated to confer with muted voices. The camera followed them, leaving us alone for a minute.
‘It makes good business sense to partner up,’ Damian murmured from beside me.
I turned the full force of my glower on him. ‘Not to me, it doesn’t.’
‘Why not? Your obvious animosity aside, are you seriously suggesting you don’t think that this could work out for both of us?’
I shrugged. ‘It probably would if I trusted you as far as I could throw you. But I don’t.’
His expression bordered on furious. ‘I guess I was wrong about your ability not to let past encounters get in the way of a sound deal. I’m...disappointed.’
To my infernal annoyance, my heart dipped. As if his opinion mattered. As if the echoes of my mother’s voice in his words were real.
I wanted to slap the look off his face. But despite myself I was fascinated by Damian’s effect on me when no one else so far, besides my mother, had ever made me doubt myself. Wasn’t that why I’d acted so out of character that night in Boston?
Despite having reached into my burgeoning business and yanked the heart out of it, he still both terrified and thrilled me.
Every time he looked at me, whenever I smelled that intoxicating aftershave, I got that stupid urge to trace my fingers over his square jaw, intimately acquaint my skin with his stubble.
It was insane.
I really needed to get it together.
‘Even if I trusted you, which I don’t, five years is a long time in business. I don’t want to be stuck with an absentee partner. You evaded my query earlier so here’s your chance to quash the rumours that you’re relocating back to England shortly.’ His reputation as a genius with the Midas touch was unquestionable, but still...
His shrug was laid-back but the tension vibrating from him told a different story. ‘I’m part of a family that runs a multibillion-pound conglomerate. Even if I were permanently based here in New York, I’d still have varied business interests that demand my attention. But regardless of that, we have an opportunity here that’s guaranteed to be wildly successful with me as part of it.’ His voice brimmed with arrogant confidence.
‘You’re very sure of yourself, aren’t you?’
‘I don’t need to crow about my successes, Neve. They speak for themselves.’
‘Spoken like a true egomaniac.’
Far from being irritated by my waspish response, he gave an insanely sexy smile. ‘Keep giving me compliments like that and I might just fall for your charms.’
‘Sorry. My one compliment started and ended there.’
His smile slowly dimmed. ‘Shame.’
Before I could ask what he meant, the Weston twins returned to the stage.
Sam smiled and I cautioned myself not to get excited. ‘We love everything you stand for, Miss Nolan. My best friend and her fiancé stayed at your hotel the week before they got married and they adored it. We really want to go with you...’ my heart dropped as she paused and meshed her fingers together ‘...but on the basis of a two-year deal with The Mortimer Group attached as a possible future partner and Mr Mortimer as a consultant. For that we’ll offer Mr Mortimer a ten per cent share of our company.’
Damian shrugged. ‘It’s not the perfect deal but it’s interesting enough. I’m in.’ He glanced at me. His gaze wasn’t challenging. It was almost...hopeful.
Silence thrummed through the charged space.
Aware of the cameras trained on me, I cleared my throat. I was a strong, intelligent businesswoman. I couldn’t afford to crow at the win I sensed within reach or exhibit my fierce reluctance to have Damian attached to my business.
Besides...wasn’t this the perfect opportunity? His professional involvement would be abstract but he’d be within reach of the sexual plans I had in mind long enough for me to deliver that final coup de grâce my soul, and my pride, needed.
I plastered on a smile, aware that the fifteen-second suspenseful silence we’d agreed with the production team to add extra drama to the show was slowly ticking by.
Again, I met Damian’s gaze. Hope had given way to blatant, challenging hunger. One that dared me to come out and play. My skin grew hotter, that insane urge to tangle with him and win this time rushing through me again.
A two-year deal with the twins and Fantasy Rooms was the best thing that I could deliver to my hotel right now. It was the perfect platform from which to launch myself internationally, to show my mother that I could make an even better success of her parents’ business despite her doubts.
And by the end of that term I’d prove to the twins that they were better off with me in the long run than with Damian.
‘Have mercy, Neve. The suspense is killing us all,’ Damian mocked with a half-smile. ‘I know this is a TV show but do you want your potential new partners to have heart attacks before they sign on the dotted line?’
A little embarrassed, I glanced over at the twins, who were staring at me with identical expressions of apprehensive hope.
Tyler’s imploring brown gaze met mine and a part of me grew excited for them because their dream was coming true.
Perhaps it was a little foolish to lay my heart on the line for them but I intended to protect their business just as fiercely as I would mine so they’d never know the kind of betrayal I’d felt at the hands of Damian Mortimer.
Fortified by that belief, I nodded. ‘I’m in.’
Sam gave a shocked, ecstatic gasp. Tyler’s smile stretched wide as he fist-pumped. My own smile widening, I stood and approached them.
‘Thank you,’ Sam gushed.
‘I’m excited...we’re both excited you’re on board,’ Tyler said as he held onto my hand, still grinning wildly.
The camera zoomed in, and I sensed Damian approach. My stomach dipped as I felt heat from his body caress mine.
‘Congratulations,’ he offered, shaking Sam’s hand.
His gaze slid to where mine was still held in Tyler’s and narrowed imperceptibly.
The observation sent a pulse of electricity through me but I ignored it. The other Raiders joined us, offered congratulations of their own.
Damian thrust his hand at Tyler. They shook hands abruptly as the director shouted cut.
‘We’re so glad you’re on board, Miss Nolan. You’re our inspiration, the reason we decided to come on the show,’ Sam said with a wide smile.
‘I’m beginning to feel like a spare part,’ Damian drawled, brittle amusement tilting his lips.
‘No,’ Tyler piped up. ‘We hoped you’d be on board too but Nevirna was always our target. No offence.’
‘None taken. For your sake, I hope your gamble pays off,’ Damian said in a cool tone.
‘So what happens now?’ Sam asked me.
‘Now I get my lawyers to put together a contract package. I expect Mr Mortimer will also do the same. But before that I’d love to see a real-life sample of your work.’ I already had my ideal fantasy room in mind.
‘Of course,’ Tyler responded immediately. ‘We’d love to show you a full scale of our work. We put a few of our outfitters on notice on the off-chance we might need them. We’re at your disposal to start immediately if you wish.’
Impressed by their forward thinking, I reached into my jacket and handed over my business card. ‘You’ll have my email with