Modern Romance Collection: January 2018 Books 1 -4. Dani Collins
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was quite something to watch, as Alexei simply listened while Elle outlined her terms, declared them non-negotiable...only to stiffen defensively as Alexei discounted all but one of them, before stating his terms.
Stalemate.
‘You’re new in town,’ Elle dismissed haughtily, only for Alexei to qualify,
‘But not new to business dealings.’
‘My terms cannot be bettered.’
Alexei merely lifted an eyebrow. ‘I disagree.’
‘Really? By whom? A firm who’ll use a superior to broker the deal, then pass the client on to a less experienced staff member?’
‘No.’
Natalya saw Elle’s eyes narrow in speculation. The ADE Conglomerate was huge. To have Alexei as a client would be a very large feather in the woman’s cap.
It would be interesting to tell which card Elle would play.
‘Then there is nothing more to say.’
Alexei’s shoulders lifted in a negligible shrug. ‘So it would seem.’
The word-play game had just moved up a notch.
A waiter delivered their entrees, which were eaten in supposedly companionable silence.
Was this the final act in negotiations, and, if not, who would concede?
Natalya’s money was on Elle, given it was Alexei who held the power.
Conversation during the main course centred on world economics, a subject in which both Alexei and Elle were well-versed.
Dessert was declined, and Alexei chose not to linger over coffee, stating the meeting concluded.
That was it?
Unbelievable.
Alexei indicated Natalya take care of the bill with ADE’s corporate card...which she did, following him from the restaurant to witness Alexei’s limousine sliding to a smooth halt at the kerb.
It was then Elle moved a few steps to his side.
‘Have your lawyer email me a copy of your terms.’
Alexei didn’t miss a beat. ‘There’s no point.’
‘I’m prepared to consider a few adjustments.’
Really? Natalya mused as she heeded the faint pressure of Alexei’s hand at the back of her waist as Paul appeared and opened the limousine’s rear door.
Alexei refrained from making any comment as he followed Natalya into the rear seat and gave Paul instructions to leave.
‘Checkmate?’ Natalya offered with a tinge of cynicism, and incurred his measured glance.
Wednesday morning there was a courier delivery from Elle Johanssen containing an amended list of Alexei’s terms. All of which, with the exception of three relatively minor clauses, Natalya noted, had been accepted.
‘Return to sender,’ Alexei instructed within minutes of perusing the document. ‘With an attached letter rejecting the amendments, reaffirming ADE no longer require her services.’
Natalya keyed the relevant words into her iPad, glanced up and caught his slightly raised eyebrow.
‘The three clauses are quite minor.’
Alexei’s gaze was impossible to discern. ‘I was unaware I requested your opinion.’
Was it her imagination, or did the room temperature suddenly drop a few degrees?
‘You were present when Elle Johanssen requested a list of my terms,’ he reminded. ‘My parting statement to her was clear, was it not?’
‘Perfectly. But she’s...’
‘Playing me.’ His eyes seared her own. ‘Something I refuse to allow anyone to do...under any circumstance,’ he added in silky dismissal.
Okay, duly noted. Natalya collected the paperwork. ‘I’ll ensure this is returned today.’
‘Via courier.’
Natalya inclined her head. ‘Of course.’
‘No further input you’d like to add?’
She didn’t miss a beat. ‘Nothing you’d want to hear.’ Not the best exit line...yet there was a small degree of satisfaction in having had the last word.
And in doing so, she failed to see Alexei’s lips quirk with mild amusement.
Natalya Montgomery was the antithesis of the carefree young woman he’d once known. Now she rarely smiled in his presence, which shouldn’t concern him, yet it did, for he could too easily recall the way her voice would subside into a husky purr as he pleasured her. The sweet slide of her mouth when she caressed his body, teasing, tasting with such delicacy it drove him mad...until he took control, and it was she who gasped as he used his mouth to trace a tortuous path to the apex between her thighs, edging them gently apart to savour the acutely sensitive clitoris, using his tongue to drive her wild with need as she begged for his possession. And cried out as he moved over her and surged in deep as they both became swept up in the throes of a passion so intense there was only them...devoid of sense of time or place. So completely lost in an acutely sensual climax.
Alexei had contemplated for ever, his ring on her finger, a home, children...the complete package.
Only for everything to suddenly and inexplicably change.
Alexei leant back in his office chair and idly took in the cityscape, brilliantly clear on a mild summer morning. Beyond the many varied buildings the sky and sea appeared to meld as one.
The past couldn’t be changed. There was only the present, and the future. Together with a plan...one he was determined to win.
IT WASN’T SURPRISING the media channelled social and business reports around Alexei’s every move...or so it appeared.
He was the new man in town. Successful mogul, ruggedly attractive with a dark earthy quality that had the social set flooding him with invitations.
Very few of which he chose to accept, preferring two prominent events, the proceeds of which aided worthy children’s charities.
Both events drew national media attention, and resulted in photographic evidence of his presence with a different glamorous socialite clinging to his side. Each almost visibly simpering at having gained his notice.
Instructions for flowers...specifically roses...to be despatched to each socialite with the following message...
My personal appreciation for an enjoyable evening.
Really?
How personal was personal?
As if Natalya cared.
Although he did, in her eyes, redeem himself slightly by gifting a sizable donation to each nominated charity.
Laudable, Natalya conceded, or calculated...and mentally derided the latter as prejudicial, in spite of the fact he ranked numero uno on her list of least favourite people.
On the other hand she had to admit he worked long hours, for it soon became apparent he was the first to arrive each morning and the last to leave. No one could achieve what he managed on a nine-to-five schedule. A factor which had obviously enabled him to reach his current level of success.
His prominence in the business sector seemed to grow with each passing day, as did the respect of his peers.
Everything her father could...and should have had if he’d paid more attention to business instead of frittering company funds with magnanimous abandon.
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