ANTONIO

“I wouldn’t go in there,” Cassie says, stepping in front of me just as I reach for the handle of Lauren’s office door.

I stare down at her, trying to control my anger that’s about to boil over. “Cassie,” I say, trying to plaster a fake smile on my face. “I know you’re doing what you think is best for Lauren, but she shouldn’t be here right now.”

“I know.” Her lips purse, and she takes a deep breath. “I told her that already, Mr. Forte, but she told me to keep my opinions to myself.”

I rest my hands on her shoulders and give them a light squeeze. “Let me just talk to her for a minute. Maybe I can talk some sense into her.”

“She gave me strict orders not to let you anywhere near her office.”

“So, walk away, and I’ll let myself in.”

Cassie nibbles on the corner of her bottom lip, staring up at me. “I don’t know.”

“Just go,” I tell her because I’m going into the office even if I have to pick Cassie up and set her aside. No one is going to keep me from Lauren, even her tiny pit bull of an assistant.

“I’m going to trust you because you brought her back safe. But this is a one-time deal, Mr. Forte. I never go against Ms. Bradley’s wishes, but I will this once because she shouldn’t be here today.”

“Thank you, Cassie.” I smile, giving her shoulders another light squeeze. “I promise you won’t regret it.”

She hesitates for a moment before she backs up, keeping her eyes locked with mine. “I won’t be far,” she says.

I knock lightly before opening the door. “Lauren.” I gaze at her as she sits at her desk with the sunlight streaming through the windows, bathing her in light.

She’s out of her seat quickly, walking in my direction with narrowed eyes. “Get out.”

“I’m not leaving.”

She tries to slap me, but I grab her hand and pull her into an embrace. She wiggles against me, but I don’t break the hold. “You shouldn’t be here.”

She glares at me as if I’m the monster that kidnapped her. “You’re not my father, Antonio.”

“We talked about this. It’s not good for you to be here so soon.”

Her stare turns icy. “It’s hard to steal my company when I’m here, isn’t it?” She steps back as soon as I drop my arms. “I always knew you’d stab me in the back.”

Her words rock me to the core, but I step forward, unable to put more space between us. “You can’t be serious. I’ve done nothing to you, Lauren. You need to come home.”

She crosses her arms in front of her chest, raising a shoulder as she glares at me. “I heard you on the phone this morning, and I’ve spoken with Josh.”

She steps back as I move closer. “I didn’t stab you in the back.”

“The merger is going through. You did it without even asking for my thoughts.”

She has a point. I may have gotten ahead of myself, but the board was pushing for the deal to move faster. With everything she’d been through, I thought I was doing what was best for both of us. I thought I was doing what was best for everyone, but clearly, I’ve been selfish.

“The boards could no longer wait, and I thought it was in your best interest if I handled everything myself.”

She jerks her head backward as her eyes widen. “Did I miss the memo where you speak on my behalf?”

I rub the back of my neck and feel like the biggest asshole in the history of the world. Even if I wanted her to rest, I should’ve at least kept her in the loop about everything that was happening. “I’m sorry,” I say, bringing my eyes to hers. “I didn’t want you to worry about anything.”

As soon as the words leave my mouth, I wish I could reel them back in. I’m not sure I’ve ever said anything so stupid to a woman or a business partner before. How could I think that handling everything on her behalf would give her peace of mind?

I drop onto the couch just behind me and lean back. My eyes travel up the length of her body. Fierce and beautiful in her anger directed at me, she rocks back and forth, her fury coming across in her movements and her eyes.

“Listen,” I say, motioning for her to come to me, but she shakes her head and squares her shoulders. I drag my hands through my hair, trying to figure out what to say next that won’t have her tossing me out on my ass in the next minute.

“The deal is in motion now, Antonio. There’s nothing you can say to stop it. Everything I’ve worked so hard for all these years is ruined.”

“That’s not true.”

Everything I’ve done is for her. There is no one else in the world I’d give up my place in the company for except her, but she has no idea about the inner workings and what I’ve already set into motion.

“It is. You rush in to rescue me and then rip away my life. You should’ve just left me in that cabin with Trent.”

I rise to my feet and stalk toward her, filled with rage. “Shut your mouth.” I grip the back of her neck and bring her lips to mine. “I’m saving our companies and our careers, Lauren.”

Her rough, fast breathing matches mine as she glares at me. “You lie,” she growls.

I stare into her fiery eyes as her warm, sweet breath cascades across my lips. My hold on her neck loosens as my fingers tangle in the hair at the nape of her neck. “Everything I did is for you.”

Her hands push against my chest as she struggles to get out of my grip. “Let me go.”

“I won’t.” I glower at her until she stops trying to break free from my hold. “Not until you listen to me.”

She goes rigid in my arms and purses her lips. “Talk.”

I lean forward, pressing my lips against hers. I need the connection. I need her to remember what we had just a few days ago, or hell, what we had before she overheard my conversation this morning and thought I was still trying to steal her company. My tongue slides across hers, and they tangle together. Anger fuels our kiss with each passing second as her fingers dig into the skin at my neck. When I finally pull away, her breathing matches mine as we gasp for air.

“Don’t do that again,” she says before pulling her swollen bottom lip between her teeth.

I wrap an arm around her back, solidifying my hold on her. “You’re mine, Lauren, and I’m yours. I’ll do what’s necessary to make you happy, no matter the cost.”

“You can’t kiss me, profess your love, and then rip away my dream, Antonio. You’re not playing fair.”

Leaning forward, I place my face in the crook of her neck and close my eyes. Even in her anger, I feel at peace. “I’m not ripping anything away. I have made it very clear that you’re to be the CEO of the new company.”

She jerks away and out of my hold. Her eyes search my face, trying to find the lie in my truth. “But…”

“I’m giving up my position for you.”

LAUREN

I stumble backward, speechless.

I couldn’t possibly have heard him correctly. He’s giving up his position at the company for me?

I blink repeatedly and stare at him again. The Antonio Forte I knew, the notorious asshole and CEO of Cozza who is spoken about in whispers, wouldn’t give up his seat so quickly.

“Why?”

He drags his hand through his beautiful, dark hair, but he keeps his eyes on mine. “It’s the right thing to do.”

I rest my bottom on the desk behind me to avoid falling over. My body’s tingling, and everything feels so surreal in this moment, almost as if I’m dreaming. “When have you ever done something because it’s right?”

He moves forward, stepping between my feet. He touches my chin, forcing me to look at him. “I do when you’re involved.”

My heart flutters as he says the words. I open my mouth and close it again, unsure of what to say. I can’t figure out why he’d do that. It shouldn’t matter that I’m involved because a few days together doesn’t make up for the career he’s spent his lifetime building. “I mean nothing, Antonio.”

“You mean everything.” He grips my hips as he steps forward, and I lose my breath. The look in his eyes says everything without his uttering a word. There’s an intensity behind the ocean blue that I haven't seen before.

I flatten my palm against his chest and press myself against him. “I…” I don’t know what to say. I’m rarely at a loss for words, especially when it comes to Interstellar, but Antonio has knocked the wind right out of me. “How? We’ve barely spent time together.”

I’d be lying if I didn’t admit, at least to myself, that I feel the same way about him. The weekend alone with him changed how I view him. He’s not the monster I thought based on the way he’s portrayed by others in our industry. Yes, he’s difficult, unforgiving when he’s going after something he wants, but there’s more to him than meets the eye.

“Lauren,” he says as he brushes the backs of his fingers against my cheek tenderly. I move into his touch. “I know you don’t believe in fate, but I do.”

You’re mine, and I’m yours.

I swallow hard as my heart starts to beat faster, and the words he spoke moments ago repeat in my head. No one has ever said them to me. Not even Trent in all his jealous insanity. Antonio said the words with so much tenderness and fierceness that I could almost feel them caress my soul.

“After our night together, I couldn’t get you out of my head, and I drove myself crazy. I thought I’d never see you again, but then you were placed in front of me. Even though we were enemies, I couldn’t imagine not touching you at least one more time.” He closes the space between us and pulls me forward, pressing our bodies together. “I had a grand plan for our weekend on the island, but the first night, it went to shit. I couldn’t use you. You’re more beautiful than any star in the sky.”

Tears start to form in my eyes as he speaks. My mind is telling me to keep fighting and not to fall for his romantic words, but my heart and the feel of him against my skin make me want to cave.

His gaze captivates me. “I couldn’t go through with it. When we lay on the beach and stared into the heavens, I decided I wanted more from you than a weekend. I’ve searched all my life for someone, Lauren, and never found anyone special before you strolled into my bar.”

“You walked into my bar,” I correct him with a tiny smile.

The seriousness on his face eases as he grins and shakes his head. “Before we left the island, I knew I’d do anything in my power to make you happy and keep you by my side. And when you were kidnapped, I almost went out of my mind.” He pauses, and the seriousness returns. “I would’ve killed Trent with my bare hands to save you.” He brushes a strand of hair behind my ear before his finger slides down my face, tracing my jaw. “There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you.”

I stare into his eyes, still in disbelief. “But giving up your company…”

He places his finger over my lips. “You’re the right person to lead us into the future, and I’ll be at your side the entire time.”

I wrap my hands around his neck and fight back the tears. “I don’t know what to say.”

“Just say yes.” He smiles.

“Yes,” I say quickly. “But only if you’re at my side.”

“There’s no place I’d rather be,” he says and pauses before his hand that had been resting on my hip slides under my ass. “Unless you’re naked, then I want you under me.”

I laugh softly and lean forward, pressing my lips to his. Closing my eyes, I forget the anger that filled me just minutes ago.

Like an ass, I had everything all wrong.

Antonio wasn’t trying to steal Interstellar from me. I’d grown so paranoid and let my assumptions about him lead me astray. I needed to remember that the man in the elegant business suit was the same man with the sexy smile and sun-kissed skin on the island. The same man who held my hand and stared up at the night sky for hours without uttering one complaint.

Our tongues tangle together as his hand grips my ass roughly. My fingers are in his hair, holding his face to mine as I kiss him with so much force my lips sting.

“Yes,” I murmur into his mouth as his free hand cups my breast, and my body moves toward his palm.

I want him.

Right now.

Right here.

I want Antonio Forte.

The complicated Italian man with an ego that preceded him and gave me pause.

“I need you,” I whisper.

He lifts me into the air, placing my bottom flat against the desk. His legs push mine apart as our kiss deepens, and I start unbuttoning his dress shirt.

“Ms. Bradley,” Cassie says through the door before knocking lightly.

My eyes fly open as I scramble to break free of his hold. “Oh God. What are we doing?”

Antonio grins and tightens his grip on my leg. “Cassie, we’re a little busy. Can you give us five minutes?” he calls out over his shoulder because Cassie thankfully hasn’t walked into my office.

“I wish I could, but the board is waiting on Ms. Bradley.”

“Fuck,” I hiss and push him away gently. “Why now?”

He backs up, watching me.

“I’ll be right there!” I yell to Cassie before I slide off the desk and pull my skirt down before trying to smooth out my shirt. “Ugh. I can’t go in there like this.”

He smiles. “You look perfect.”

He reaches for me, but I push him away again. “No. No. There’s no time.” I groan when I turn to the side and catch my reflection in the mirror. “This isn’t going to be our normal office activity, Mr. Forte. I can’t go out there like this.”

“If I have my way, Ms. Bradley, you’ll walk out like this every day. This is only the beginning.” He smirks. “Finish your meeting, and then I’m taking you home.”

I’m screwed.

I know I am.

How am I ever going to go back to being the hard-nosed, no-nonsense CEO I was before with this beautiful man distracting me at every turn.

I leave Antonio in my office and head into the vulture pit to face the board of Interstellar about the merger.