You would have thought Stephan was a movie star by how flustered the secretary became when he addressed her. Who could blame her? He belonged in a calendar gracing any month that represented HOT. He didn’t even have to get undressed to make women drool. He had the kind of animal magnetism that worked on the female libido regardless of what he wore.
Nicole turned another page of the magazine.
That was part of Stephan’s problem. He expected women to fall at his feet.
“Nicole,” he said as he stood above her, about a foot away.
“Oh, Stephan. You’re here. Great, I told the secretary not to announce us until you arrived.”
“I expected to come here together.”
Poor Stephan. He didn’t look very happy about being ditched. Nicole fought back a smile. “I had a few places I needed to go this morning.” She laid the magazine down and stood, watching Stephan’s reaction and hoping. The dark blue dress she’d chosen for the day was perfectly acceptable for a business meeting, but it also hugged her lean frame and left just enough of her legs exposed that she felt sexy in it. Another perk of having money was that with one phone call she’d found a makeup artist who was willing to meet her that morning and give her some tips on how to subtly accentuate.
The effort proved worth it. Stephan leaned down and whispered in her ear, “You look incredible in that dress, but I’d love to see you out of it even more.”
She looked up at him from beneath her now long lashes and teased, “Has that line ever worked on a woman?”
He went a sudden shade of pink. “Yes,” he said defensively.
And she burst out laughing at the expression on his face.
He didn’t share her humor.
Nicole didn’t gloat long. Stephan leaned forward, his hot breath tickling her ear before his words did, “So, that dress isn’t for me? You didn’t imagine how my hands would feel as I slid…”
Further conversation was halted by the inner door of the office opening and Gavin Burke, Nicole’s personal lawyer, coming out to greet them. Despite the interruption, it took a moment for Nicole to shake the image Stephan had whispered. Her skin quivered in anticipation of his hands sliding her already short hem higher, cupping her, pulling her against him. She prayed the light flush that spread across her chest would go unnoticed.
Gavin took both of her hands in his. He was several inches shorter than Stephan, but attractive in a cute-boy-next-door-moves-to-NY-and-becomes-a-corporate-lawyer sort of way. There had never been any chemistry between them, but Stephan didn’t know that. Gavin gave her a kiss on one cheek then stepped back and held her hands away from her sides to appreciate her transformation. “Wow. Look at you. You look good.”
Nicole graced him with a huge smile. Gavin had always been kind to her. No legal request was too small. He was only in his late thirties, but he’d made a fortune by helping influential people find creative ways to interpret documents. He could have tried to use their acquaintance to facilitate a connection with the powerful men in her family, but he never had.
And that was why she trusted him.
“I thought it was time for a change,” she said.
He held her hands a moment longer. “You were always beautiful, but now you’re glowing. It’s nice to see you smiling.”
Nicole felt her face flush as she remembered exactly which comment had put that glow on her cheeks.
Stephan stepped closer, looking less than pleased at their conversation, “Stephan Andrade.” Somehow he made his name sound like a threat. He slid a possessive hand onto the small of Nicole’s back.
Gavin released Nicole to offer his hand to Stephan, “Gavin Burke. Before we start, I’d like to make it clear that I represent Nicole’s interests. You might want to have your own people read the contract over before you sign it.”
Stephan shook his hand, but Nicole could have sworn she saw Gavin wince when he did. Stephan said, “I have every intention of doing just that.”
“It’s probably also not a good idea for anyone outside of this office to know that your engagement isn’t real,” Gavin added.
In response to Stephan’s look of displeasure, Nicole said, “I told Gavin the truth. I trust him.”
“Apparently,” Stephan said, not making an effort to hide his disapproval. His hand dropped from her back.
She and Gavin shared a quick look, the kind that makes you giggle in church. She bit her lip and shook her head. Stephan did take himself a bit too seriously, but nothing would be gained by annoying him to the point where he walked out without signing the paperwork.
Gavin led the way to a table where he had the paperwork laid out. After they were all seated, he said, “It’s pretty cut and dried. This is essentially a pre-prenuptial. Read it over. Stephan you’re agreeing that in the event of your engagement to Nicole ending, you will give her the right of first refusal at the same price that you purchased Corisi Ltd. You’re also agreeing that for the extent of time that Corisi Ltd is owned by you, Nicole Corisi will be the acting CEO unless she resigns the position. Nicole, by signing this contract you are going forward with your father’s initial acceptance of Stephan’s buyout offer. The company and it’s profits will be solely Stephan’s until such a time that you either break off your engagement or you marry. Marriage will revert the company to a co-ownership status without the necessity of monetary exchange. Are the terms acceptable to you both?”
A knock at the door was followed by an apologetic secretary’s stepping into the room for a moment, “Mr. Burke, I’m so sorry to interrupt, but there is a man here who is adamant that he see Miss Corisi immediately.”
Who would come here?
Nicole held her breath the long moment it took the secretary to add, “He said his name is George Miles. I told him you were busy, but he insists that it’s urgent.”