Seduce (Beautiful Rose 0.50)

***

I arrived at work early. With only three days until Delenski arrived with his daughter, I needed to run through some figures to make sure this negotiating went smoothly. If I didn’t know my stuff, then things would go downhill pretty quickly and we could kiss this deal goodbye.

Carly brought in a coffee for me. Things between us had been pretty awkward since our ‘chat’ and I didn’t know how to fix it, or even if I could. Our relationship had become purely professional, to the point where if it wasn’t work related, we didn’t talk at all. I missed the joking around and the laughs we used to have. I even missed her sass, and her smart-ass remarks.

“Thanks, Carly,” I mumbled as she set the cup in front of me. “Oh hey,” I said, catching her before she left. “Can you book dinner for two at Rendezvous for Friday night, please?”

She nodded, her eyebrow raising. “Is this for your mystery girl?” she asked.

“No, it’s for Delenski’s daughter. Dad wants me to show her around town.”

“Right.” Carly nodded, a knowing smile on her face.

“That’s all, thanks,” I snapped, much more harshly than I’d intended.

“Of course,” Carly muttered, leaving the office. I banged my hand down on the desk, angry at myself. I’d barely slept the night before. Most of the night was spent watching Belle sleep and listening to her snore softly beside me. I was so terrified of stuffing this up that it was beginning to affect every aspect of my life.

“Jack!”

I glanced up to see my father walking into the office. I wasn’t surprised that he hadn’t knocked. He owned the place after all, just like he owned me.

“Dad,” I said.

“Delenski is flying in tonight, and leaving Friday. I’ll need you to occupy his daughter while I seal this thing.”

“What, tonight?” I asked, confused. Surely he wasn’t taking this from me? I’d spent the last month working my ass off making sure everything was set just for him to walk in and take over? “Dad, I can handle this,” I said firmly.

“I’m not asking you, Jack, I’m telling you.” My father spoke to me in a patronizing tone.

“You don’t think I can do this,” I realized, sinking back into my chair. My fists clenched tightly beside me underneath the desk. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt so pissed off.

“You’ve been more than a little occupied of late, so yes, forgive me if I don’t think I can trust you with this. This isn’t a corner office we’re trying to sell, Jack. It’s a multi-billion-dollar casino. If you’re head isn’t fully in this, then why the hell would you think I’d let you lead this?”

“Dad, I?

??”

He held up his hand. “Do what you do best, Jack. Keep his daughter happy and stay out of the gossip pages. Do you think you can manage that?” he asked.

I didn’t answer. I could feel my jaw tensing as I clenched it.

“Answer me!” he bellowed.

“Yes!” I shouted. “Yes, I can fucking handle it. Now, can you please get the fuck out of my office?”

He turned on his heel and stormed out.

“Shit!” I yelled, smashing my fist down on the desk. It hurt like hell, but didn’t leave a mark.

I paced around the office, trying to calm the rage that was building inside of me. This was the last straw. He was fucking insane if he thought I was going to let him control me like this. He didn’t want a scandal, hey? Well I was about to create the biggest fucking scandal he’d ever seen.

Chapter Nineteen

I knew right away the hot blonde walking toward me was Lisbeth. I recognized her from her pictures, which, by the way, did not do her justice. As she neared the table, she smiled. Her long, wavy blonde hair swung loosely as she walked. The white skirt she wore hugged her hips and her narrow waist, her tanned skin glowing against it, and the soft pink sheer top revealed almost everything. This woman intimidated even me. All I had read in the numerous gossip articles Carly had dug up told me this girl was hard work. Her life revolved around being in the spotlight, moving from scandal to scandal. She was like the female version of me. Well, me two months ago.

“Jack?” she said, biting her lip as it broke into a grin. She held her perfectly manicured hand out to me.

“Lisbeth. Nice to finally meet you,” I said, taking her hand and kissing it. She sat down opposite me, tossing her hair over her shoulder as she ran her gaze over me. This one certainly wasn’t shy.