Rival's Challenge

Orla looked at him, still affronted. ‘Of course not. How unprofessional do you think I am? And I did not go looking for a one-night stand either. And that dress happens to be perfectly respectable—it’s from a well-known designer.’

She went even hotter as she admitted with extreme reluctance, ‘I do have something to wear underneath it, but I forgot to bring it with me. And I didn’t want to look too conspicuous in this suit.’

Antonio leant back against the window frame now and crossed his arms over his chest again. ‘So you were scoping out the competition.’

Orla pursed her lips and said nothing but then Antonio raised a brow and she realised that if she didn’t admit the truth then how could she justify going to the bar to drink alone? Even though there was nothing inherently wrong with that.

Angrily now she admitted, ‘Fine, yes, I wanted to get a feel for your hotel and business.’

She glared at him mutinously. ‘But I got sidetracked. Perhaps you knew who I was, Mr Chatsfield, and you were seeking to distract me?’

He shook his head, his face unreadable. ‘I didn’t know who you were. In fact, I was under the impression that your father was coming to this meeting, not his daughter.’

Fire racing up her spine, Orla said, ‘And no doubt you would have preferred to meet with him than a mere woman?’

Antonio’s eyes flashed. ‘I’m not a misogynist, Orla, so don’t pin that label on me. I don’t have a problem dealing with you over your father as long as you’re up to the task … and right now let’s just say that the information I have to go on is rather more weighted in the personally intimate department than business.’

Cheeks burning at that, Orla met Antonio’s gaze with as much froideur as she could muster when she felt as if she was on fire all over. ‘Well, I hate to have to remind you that the feeling is mutual. I’ve never had a one-night stand in my life, and believe me, as experiences go it’s right up there in the “never to be repeated” column.’

Orla took up her briefcase and turned to go but was caught by the arm.

She looked back to see Antonio’s face hard with displeasure. ‘Don’t think I didn’t get that impression when I woke up to find the mysterious Kate gone. But not for a second do I believe that last night wasn’t as pleasurable for you as it was for me. Our bodies didn’t lie, sweetheart, and if I kissed you right now I could have you flat on your back on that table in seconds.’

Orla’s blood got hot at the vivid image that invaded her mind of being splayed across the table. She wrenched her arm free. ‘Of all the egotistical arrogant jerks … This meeting is most definitely over, Mr Chatsfield. Last night was a huge mistake. I wouldn’t let you take over our business now if you offered triple what you’re offering to buy us out. And I wouldn’t sleep with you again if you begged me.’

Those last words were needless and childish but Orla felt sick inside to acknowledge just how far off her own rigid tracks she’d gone after last night. She’d wilfully jeopardised everything for a fleeting moment of pleasure.

Antonio stood back and Orla was once again struck by his sheer size compared to hers. She hated feeling so fragile. But you didn’t hate it last night, a small voice mocked. No. She’d revelled in it.

His gaze was disdainful as it swept her quickly up and down. ‘I’ve never begged for sex in my life and I don’t intend to start now. And I wouldn’t be so quick to cut off your nose to spite your face—you need us. I don’t see any other hotel chains rushing to your aid. Who else has the resources we have in these straitened times to dig you out of the hole you’re in?’

He wasn’t finished. ‘And I think you can give up Mr Chatsfield—that became redundant right about the first time I brought you to orgasm last night.’

Orla gasped at his crudeness even as a hot flush seemed to sweep her from head to toe. She was losing it. ‘You’re doing us no favours, Chatsfield. You’re interested in taking us over purely because it suits some purpose of yours. And I’m going to find out what that purpose is.’

Antonio’s eyes flashed at her continued use of Chatsfield and bit out acerbically, ‘Perhaps if you’d spent less time indulging that wickedly wanton siren you’re so desperately trying to hide underneath that virginal suit today, then you might be a little closer to figuring it out.’

Orla’s hand lifted and it had cracked across Antonio’s cheek before she’d even realised her intention. He didn’t even flinch. White with fury and shock at her unprecedented physical violence, Orla swung around and stalked out of the room, her entire being suffused with humiliation and anger.

Antonio looked at the door, the slam resounding in his ears. Damn the woman. He should never have allowed a part of his anatomy to dictate his actions last night, no matter how intense the attraction. His cheek burned after her slap but he welcomed it. He deserved it for being so reckless. So downright unthinking. And he knew he deserved it for what he’d just said. He’d lashed out because he was angry with himself. She was right; he’d pursued her. And he knew that she could have been wearing a sack last night, and today, and he’d still want her.

He swung around to the window again and cursed volubly. Because of this moment of supreme weakness on his part, he could fail his sister. This was the only thing she’d asked of him: to initiate a takeover of the Kennedy Group and prove to their newly installed autocratic CEO that they had it within them to expand, in spite of negative publicity and their badly dented reputation.

When he’d left to join the Legion, Cara, their baby sister, had been only ten. Little more than a child. Antonio couldn’t go back in time and rewrite history or suddenly reappear in his siblings’ lives as if nothing had changed. He may have kept an eye on them over the years, but that wasn’t the same as being there, being present.

But he was here now and his priority was to support his sister and, in so doing, his family also, no matter what. And if that included taking over Patrick Kennedy’s hotel business, which was ripe for the picking, then so be it. He could do this. This was easy compared to what he’d been through.

So he would not let some slip of a woman get in his way. No matter who she was or how much she turned him on. That was a purely physical and chemical anomaly. He could control it. He had to. Because as surely as night would follow day, Orla Kennedy would be back with her tail between her legs. Because she had no choice.

And when she came back, Antonio would be waiting.

‘Are you sure this is our only option?’ Orla tried to hide the panic she was feeling. She looked at their solicitor and he sighed volubly.

‘No matter how many times you ask the question, Orla, the answer stays the same. Yes. A takeover by the Chatsfields is our only option to avoid out-and-out bankruptcy right now.’

‘Right now.’ Orla seized on this glimmer of hope. ‘If we can hang on for a little longer—’

Tom cut her off. ‘You’ll have nothing to hang on to. Time is of the essence. If we don’t look at their offer seriously they could well take it off the table completely. And no one else has their resources.’