Page 25 of Worth Every Penny
He steps closer, and for a second I think he’s going to cross the room and take me in his arms, but he stops, and his voice is tender when he says, “Kate…”
Kate?
But not even the use of my full name is enough to penetrate my fury. I let my hands fall. “When you saw how much I didn’t want this to happen, you threw money at the issue. An extra ten million.” My whole body is trembling, and where my voice was scratchy before, it’s raw now. “And now this?” I indicate the luxurious spa area. “Do you think you can buy me? That you can get your wallet out and I’ll do exactly what you want?”
Nico’s flinch is the merest crack in his veneer, instantly smoothed like it was never there. “That money wasn’t an attempt to buy you. It was a gesture of goodwill.”
“Save it for Jack. I don’t want your goodwill. And I don’t want your hot oil massages either.” I sound like a total bitch, and Ireallyloved that massage, but I’m not about to admit that to Nico. But he’s so unmoved that I keep goading him. “If it had been up to me, I would never have sold our company to you, no matter how much cash you were willing to pay. I will not be bought.”
Explode, you prick. Yell back at me. Give me some hint you feel as strongly about this as I do.
But he keeps his calm, staring at me for a moment before glancing at his watch. “It’s time for lunch. We’re booked in the private dining area upstairs. There’s a delicious seabass dish on the menu. I recall it’s your favourite, so I ordered ahead for both of us.”
My mouth falls open. Is he for real? Does he think I’ll sit and eat with him after everything I just said? But I doloveseabass.I can’t believe he remembered that. And I’m starving. I press a hand to my stomach, hoping it doesn’t rumble.
“I don’t eat fish anymore,” I lie.
His expression opens with surprise. “What do you eat?” He points back at the door. “I can change your order.”
“Don’t. I have lunch plans,” I fire back, picturing the room temperature contents of the Tupperware I stuffed in my handbag this morning.
Nico smooths his tie with one hand, staring at me like I’m a scientific exhibit he’s never encountered before. Clearly, rejection is not something he’s had much experience with. “I’d advise you to reconsider. It’s a rare opportunity for an employee as junior as you to be invited to lunch with the CEO. In fact, it’s unheard of.”
The arrogance.But he has a point. A one-to-one lunch with Nico Hawkston is career gold dust, but I’m too irritated to see it that way.“You didn’t invite me to lunch.” I fist my hands at my sides to restrain the urge to flap them. “You ambushed me. And now you’re expecting me to drop to my knees and thank you for it.”
As soon as I’ve said the last sentence, I immediately want to shove it back inside my mouth as a hot blush burns my cheeks.
He draws back slightly, one eyebrow creeping up. “I was expecting no such thing.”
Just me with the filthy mind then…
“A simple thank you would have been enough,” Nico adds, his mouth twitching in amusement. “But don’t let me stop you if you’re more comfortable on your knees.”
Holy shit.What did he just say?
He gestures to the floor like he’s waiting for my kneecaps to hit the tiles.
I straighten my spine to meet his gaze head on, trying to muster as much dignity as possible while dressed in a fluffydressing gown.He’s messing with me, but there’s a definite heat in those dark irises, like he knows exactly what effect his words have on me. It scorches a path down to my core. If I don’t get out of this room soon, I have no idea what’s going to happen, but it won’t be good for my career.
I glance at the door, hoping to make an escape. “If there’s nothing else, I should get back to the office.”
He raises a hand to deter me from moving. “There is one more thing I wanted to discuss before you go. Your spa project—”
“No!” White-hot anger rushes through my system, propelling me to take a bold step in his direction. “You might have bought my father’s company, but keep your greedy hands off my project. That was my father’s dream, and I’m going to be the one to complete it. If you dare interfere, I swear to God, Nico, I will kill you myself. You already messed things up enough for Dad. I won’t let you do it to me—” I’m so carried away on a crest of outrage that it takes me far too long to notice that Nico’s staring at me like I’ve gone completely crazy.
He closes the distance between us, and his energy hits me like a wall. I’m way too worked up for him to be increasing his proximity like this. What is he doing?
He tilts his head and raises a brow. “You were saying?”
“I thought…” I frown, shake my head just a fraction.
“You don’t think much of me, do you?”
The question takes me by surprise and all I can manage in response is a gulp.
“I have no intention of taking your project,” he continues. “I know how capable you are. Jack’s always singing your praises. And David Webster tells me you’ve done a stellar job thus far. The feedback is good. Great, even.”
“Then what were you going to say?”