Chapter One

Ten Years Later

Another night, another party, though for once probably not another woman. Derek Titan looked around the crowded room and forced himself not to yawn. He couldn’t stand attending events where everyone drank too much, laughed too loud and tried far too hard to impress one another.

Derek knew he was what women considered a real catch. Hell, an idiotic magazine had published a write-up on Seattle’s most eligible bachelors and ranked him, with his picture, as number one. He’d been furious and had tried to have himself taken out of the article, but his attorney had spouted some crap about freedom of speech. OK, so there were good points in the First Amendment, but he hadn’t seen many. Since the article appeared, even more women with their eyes on a prize had approached him.

The magazine listed his net worth as equal to Bill Gates’. Though slightly exaggerated, that part at least was related to business. But of what possible interest or relevance was the hackneyed phrase “tall, dark and handsome”? So what if he stood over six feet and had broad shoulders? He gagged when he read of “rippling muscles.” The flipping author even gave advice on how to meet him: don’t bother with stalking him at the gym — he hated those places — but take up running, because he ran every morning, and sometimes in the evenings too, as a way to relieve stress.

Though it hinted, at least the article didn’t quite say what happened after his second-best way to relieve stress. But here it was — the minute he’d finished taking a woman to bed, he just walked away, and that wasn’t something to inspire the magazine’s female readership. Sure, a lot of his women tried to get him to stay, but no one held his interest longer than it took him to zip up his pants.

He’d let a woman beat him once at the mating game. And after Jasmine shattered his heart and destroyed his father’s business venture, he’d lost interest in the female sex — except, of course, for the sex. His priority had long been revenge. He figured that once he got it, he’d think about settling down.

A woman breezed by him wearing entirely too much perfume, and he snapped back to reality. He sighed, then grabbed a glass of wine from a passing waiter.

These parties were all about who had the most to offer. The women were on the prowl, and the men were fishing. He just wasn’t interested.

He watched as a couple of superficial wannabe socialites passed by in low-cut gowns, dripping with diamonds. They were trying to catch his eye, and normally he’d make their day by flirting a little, giving them the impression they stood a chance. Today wasn’t that day. He had a raging headache, and he was pissed that he’d been summoned to this snooze-fest.

“There you are, boy. What are you doing hiding in the corner?” Daniel Titan, his father, had walked up to give him the third degree.

“I’m wondering why I’m here when I’d rather be home with a scotch and my feet up,” Derek replied.

“You’re here because you received a request from your father. I have some things to discuss with you later,” Daniel said in his no-nonsense voice.

“And it couldn’t wait?” Derek questioned.

“Oh, live a little. You’re always so busy adding megabucks to your bank account that you don’t stop to smell the cabernet sauvignon,” his father said.

“I live it up plenty. Hell, I was in Milan last week.”

“You were in Milan on business. That doesn’t count,” his dad told him.

“For me, the ideal time is mixing business with pleasure,” Derek said with a waggle of his eyebrows. Both men relaxed. “Seriously, Dad, I do have a headache. What’s so important it couldn’t wait until tomorrow morning?”

Once Derek had made his first million, he’d moved his father to the city. Daniel, now the chief financial officer of his huge corporation, had been instrumental in the company’s swift and exponential growth. But his dad had gone through hard times more than once while Derek was growing up.

“David Freeman’s here tonight, and he’s talking to some people, trying to get new investors,” Daniel said, his eyes narrowing slightly as he looked at the man who’d destroyed his livelihood some years before.

Derek was on instant alert. He searched the room, spotting his enemy. David was the one who’d made Derek the cutthroat businessman he was. “It’s far too late for him. By tomorrow morning, he’ll know that his company is mine, no matter what he tries tonight,” Derek said.

Derek saw a beautiful woman approach David, stepping up on her tiptoes to kiss him on the cheek. David didn’t even bother to turn and acknowledge her. The man noticed nothing around him if it didn’t have dollar signs on it, not even his stunning daughter.

Derek’s eyes narrowed to slits. He hadn’t seen Jasmine for ten years, and those years had been very good to her. It wasn’t at all what he’d been expecting, although, with her supreme shallowness, he should have known she’d have focused first and foremost on her appearance.

The top of her dress hugged her body, dipping low in both the front and back. Her curves were even more pronounced now that her body had matured. Her gleaming dark hair was swept up in a classic bun, with tendrils floating around her delicate face. Her chocolate eyes had once mesmerized him. They had a hypnotic quality, with a deceptive innocence shining through the thick lashes.

His gut tightened at just the sight of her, and that outraged him. Was he still a complete fool about her? She’d nearly destroyed his entire family, and yet he still wanted her. But that was all right. After all, his full revenge included her; he would have her in his bed again, and then she’d be begging him not to leave. Shrinks might call it closure. To him, everything was far more primitive.

“I’m leaving now, Dad. There’s nothing he can do tonight, and tomorrow’s a busy day for me,” Derek said. After clasping his father’s hand, he turned away and walked from the room without once looking back.