Chapter 2

Hunter

I tilted my head and tried to see out of the windshield, wondering what was keeping my assistant, Lark, from entering the car. She closed the door behind her, and leaned back while talking to someone, and I looked over at my driver with my eyebrows raised, silently asking him what that was all about. He just shrugged and shook his head in reply.

Well, she was in charge of my schedule, so if she wasn’t in a hurry, then we most likely had enough time before my next meeting. I sat back and relaxed, crossing my ankle over my knee while I scrolled through my emails.

It didn’t take her long, anyway. She climbed into the car and ordered Lenny to start the car. I looked at the rearview mirror, and spotted a redhead waving at us as we pulled away.

“Friend of yours, Lark?” I asked, and she shook her head.

“She works as the shopkeeper from the auction house I just visited,” she replied.

“They didn’t have it,” I stated, already expecting the answer.

“No, they didn’t. She did, however, provide information on where it may be,” Lark said. I looked at her thoughtfully.

“She ran out of the shop to tell you that?” I asked, and Lark nodded. “That was nice of her. So, what did she say?”

“She said there would be a very private auction happening at the Kaede Hotel three days from now, with very rare items being displayed,” Lark said. “Maybe there’s a chance your grandmother’s portrait would be sold there, sir.”

“Kaede Hotel. That’s the hotel chain I’m in discussions with on buying out from the Kaede Group?” I told her. “Why weren’t we made aware of this?”

“I’m not sure, sir. But the shopkeeper said the details about the auction we’re being kept secret, so others may not know about it,” Lark suggested.

“Which means there’s also a big possibility the whole thing is one shady transaction,” I said, narrowing my eyes. I wasn’t liking this new development one bit. I had built up an incredible reputation, and buying out a place that might taint it, was leading me to second thoughts.

“Schedule another meeting with the board members regarding buying out the Kaede Hotel,” I ordered. Lark nodded, already keying it on her planner. “And have someone secure us an invite to that auction. I want to see for myself what goes on in there.”

“Anything else you’d like to add, sir?” Lark asked, making me smirk at her.

“Yeah. Let’s take the long way today. I want to make those idiots at my next meeting sweat a little.”

“…As you wish, sir.”

***

After that mind-numbingly long meeting, I swung the door of my office wide open, releasing a long sigh. Lark followed me in, her nose buried in the timetable flashed on her iPad. I took my suit jacket off, and threw it over the couch while I walked towards my desk. I loosened the knot on my tie and turned around, watching Lark prattle on about my schedule for the rest of the week.

I amused myself by listening to her, until I got bored and decided to try something.

I walked over to Lark, taking slow and deliberate steps. She saw me coming near from the corner of her eye and put her iPad down, taking a step away from me.

She kept walking backwards until her back hit the wall, and I placed one hand on the wall, semi-caging her with my chest. I smirked devilishly at her, and bent my head lower so that my breath could tickle her face.

“Ms. Mayfield,” I crooned.

“Mr. Drake,” she quipped, blinking up at me. Her metal grey eyes were obscured by those large glasses she always wore, and the only things I’ve seen her wear at the office are knee-length skirts and blazers, all in neutral colors. She’s pretty and proper, sure, but I bet she would look a hell of a lot more amazing if she just put a bit more effort into her appearance.

“You know, these endless meetings and negotiations are starting to wear me thin,” I said softly, raising my other hand, and taking a strand of her blonde hair from her ponytail. I played with it, rubbing the ends between my fingers as I stared deeply into her eyes. “So, what do you say you and I go someplace for dinner? My treat.”

She blinked her eyes twice and held the stem of her glasses in between her fingers as she stared back, completely unfazed by my seduction.

“If you have time to be goofing off like this, sir, then I must suggest you use that time to sign all the paperwork I left on your desk this morning,” she said.

I snickered and pushed myself off the wall, letting her walk past me and into the center of the room. She passed the test again, with flying colors.

“You know, Lark, this is exactly why I keep you around,” I told her, walking back to my desk to sit down. “You never fall for my schemes.”

“As I’ve told you countless times, sir, the only thing I want to climb up on is the corporate ladder,” she replied, making me chuckle. She pulled an envelope from inside her purse and pushed it on top of the desk towards me. “I’ve secured the invitation to the auction at the Kaede Hotel, sir. They will be shutting down the place for other visitors, so I took the liberty of reserving a room for you, so you needn’t have to go through security checks at the entrance.”

“Thank you, Lark,” I said, pulling the invitation out of the envelope and skimming over the details. “Did you get any intel on who else will be attending?”

“I’m still working on the confirmed attendees, sir, but here is a list of prospective guests and bidders,” she said, pulling out another piece of paper from her file. “Oh, and you have another meeting with Corbin Motors later at lunch.”

“Move that to 3:30. I have an emergency conference call with our branch in Shanghai,” I told her.

“Is this about the drop in their productivity the last couple of months?” Lark inquired. I nodded with a grunt. “Has your decision on cutting their yearly budget been finalized?”

“Yes, and they’re not going to like it,” I told her.

“I’ll call Corbin then, sir,” she said, walking out.

“Thank you,” I called out.

Maybe I should give Lark a raise. She is the sixth person I’ve hired for the position, and not once has she tried anything with me. The women I hired before were only interested in the position because they thought it was the easiest way to get with me…and in my bank account. Granted, there were some I let access to, provided I liked their outer package…but after a wild ride, I always let them go the very next day.

It was probably why I always kept trying something with Lark. I was relieved there was at least one woman who was focused on her job, and not interested in my rank as one of the country’s most eligible bachelors. Honestly, the day she gave in to my tests, I wouldn’t know where I was going to find another secretary as brilliant as her.

I was definitely giving her a raise.

I waited for my laptop to finish its updates, and my eyes caught the edge of the invitation again. I took it out of the envelope and turned it over. Would I really be able to find my grandmother’s portrait here? I’ve tried so many places already that I’m starting to think I may never be able to locate it again.

I crushed the envelope in my fist as I remembered the reason why I was looking for it in the first place.

“If he knows what’s good for him,” I said out loud, my eyes glaring at the image of the man I conjured up right in front of me. “He better not be at that auction.”