In Bed with the Boss

WHAT ON EARTH WAS SHE DOING HERE? Maria felt her stomach churn as the chopper flew low over the trees. A vast expanse of lush tropical rainforest spread out below her, its canopy forming a thick green roof that protected and shrouded the strange mysteries of the forest floor. She would have been enthralled by the untamed, beautiful beauty of her surroundings at any other time, but she was just too anxious to think about anything but the meeting that was about to begin. The meeting and the man. What on earth was she doing flying over the Brazilian rainforest in this unbearably hot, scratchy suit, putting herself at the mercy of a man who didn’t understand the meaning of the word? Lockwood Corduroy. Brilliant, dangerous, damaged. When I thought of him, so many words came to mind, none of them gentle or comforting. He was reportedly so skilled with numbers that the financial press compared him to a walking computer. He was shockingly wealthy and had more authority than kings and presidents. Which didn’t seem good, Maria Blake drearily reasoned as she gripped her seat, given her aversion to technology. A flooded river snaking through a narrow gorge and plunging over rocks beneath her caused the trees to split. She turned to the pilot for clarification, asking, “He has properties all over the world—so why is he living out here?’ The pilot kept his eyes on the treetops. “Because the world won’t let the man live in peace. “He likes his privacy.” Which fitted with what she’d heard about him. The list of unflattering descriptors included ruthless, unemotional, and unsentimental. Even though the man avoided giving interviews, there was enough information available to him. ‘He’s a loner?’ Well, if that’s what you’re asking, I wouldn’t exactly describe him as warm and cuddly, though women don’t seem to mind. Being evil and dangerous just seems to attract them. That and the power. Women can detect power at a hundred paces. The pilot touched the controls and cast a sidelong glance in her direction.” You don’t look like his usual type,” he said. His usual type? Maria almost giggled as she wondered how someone could mistake her for a billionaire’s girlfriend. ‘I have a meeting with Mr. Corduroy. The initial investment for my business was made by his corporation, and that decision had a profound impact on her life. He’s what they call a business angel, but given that you work for him, I assume you already know that. ‘Angel? The chopper swooped uncomfortably close to the treetops while the pilot shook with laughter. Lockwood Corduroy—angel?’ ‘It’s an expression. It indicates that he invests in tiny firms that pique his attention. He had shown interest in hers. Until recently. Maria tried to patch up her shattered confidence by lifting her briefcase into her lap and stroking the surface when the bad feeling in her stomach abruptly returned. The pilot was still laughing. ‘Angel. I don’t know what he does for a living, but I can tell you one thing: “The man is no angel,” he said, keeping his eyes on the horizon as he fiddled with the controls. Refusing to let him frighten her, Maria straightened in her seat. I don’t take everything I read in the news as true. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be here,’ he said as he cast a glance her way. His rugged, worn smile had a hint of sympathy. I can tell you’re a brave girl with a strong mind, and that’s excellent because it will help you get far out here in the jungle. ‘There’s nothing gutsy about attending a business meeting.’ That would depend on who you’re doing business with, the chopper soared across a valley covered in greenery as the mountains Maria and fell. ‘And where. Few people possess the bravery to go see the wolf in his den. Maria was determined to remain open-minded, but she noticed that her mouth was drying up. ‘You call him the wolf?’ ‘Not me. That’s what everyone else calls him. His hands shifted on the controls, and the helicopter lost altitude. I just call him the boss.” Maria briefly closed her eyes as she struggled not to lose her lunch along with her stomach and nerve. She had never been very adept at riding roller coasters. ‘I’m sure Mr. Corduroy is a very reasonable man.’ ‘Are you?’ He fixed his eyes on a spot far below them. Then you have undoubtedly never met impound. We’re going down.’ Going down? Maria glared at him in worry, her concerns about getting sick and the risks posed by Lockwood Corduroy temporarily overshadowed by that unsettling assertion. “Are you saying we’re landing or crashing?”’ But the pilot didn’t answer. He struggled with the controls with gritted teeth and narrowed eyes. A tiny landing pad suddenly appeared, saving them from plunging into the trees just in time. He lowered the machine to the ground and had it land like a massive insect in what appeared to be a narrow space between the trees. Maria said with a shaky smile, “Not crashing, then.” She then let out a breath she had been holding. ‘I had a mental image of carnage.’ The pilot flipped a switch in front of him and warned, “There’s going to be c*****e if you’re meeting with Corduroy. “I’ve witnessed adult guys crying after spending five minutes with him. Take my advice and fight your corner. Wimps are the one thing the employer despises the most. Miss Bella, welcome to the tropical forest of the Atlantic. One of the planet’s most vulnerable little ecosystems. ‘You’re leaving me? Here? In the middle of nowhere? Maria tilted her head and peered out the window, and it wasn’t until then that she noticed the lodge—a structure that appeared to be made entirely of glass domes and smooth, worn wood. It had been so skillfully constructed to blend into the forest that it appeared almost to have developed spontaneously among the trees. She exclaimed as she took in the walkways that were hung above the woodland floor. “It’s amazing. “Amazing.’ The pilot was laughing to himself. Lockwood Corduroy—angel. He rubbed a hand across his brow to remove the sweat beads while continuing to chuckle. `Go outside and keep your head down until the blades are no longer a threat. “After picking up a parcel in Rio, I’ll take a flight back to Sao Paulo. Maria refused to give up her final connection to civilization as she remained firmly seated. ‘You’re not waiting? He said I could only have ten minutes …’ She had no choice but to go all this way for just ten minutes, even if it was absurd. It was either that or giving up, and she had no intention of giving up. She knew that ten minutes was never going to be enough time to get herself out of the hole she had fallen into, so her only hope was that he’d agree to give her more time. If there are still any of you when he’s done, I’ll return and pick up the pieces. Take that walkway over there on the left, and whatever you do, stay on it. This is not a theme park; this is the jungle. Watch out for the wildlife.’ ‘Wildlife? She had been too preoccupied and worried about the conference to even consider wildlife. She cast a suspicious gaze into the forested area that was surrounding them. Some areas were completely shaded, but in others, the sun broke through the dense tree canopy and was reflected like spotlights onto the forest floor. Was it her imagination or was it all moving? ‘You mean insects?’ He gave a wicked smile. According to the most recent estimate, there are over 2000 distinct species. And they’re just the ones we know about.’ Maria adjusted her skirt over her knees while trying not to think about all the legs that were scurrying in her direction. She wished she had been wearing pants. Snakes, too?’ Oh, yeah, there are snakes—and then there are the enormous anteaters, jaguars, and the—” His grin widened as he cast a glance at her woefully inadequate shoes.” She interrupted him with a breathless, trembling smile and said, “OK, I think I’ve heard enough. “She would be grabbing his arm and pleading with him to take her home any second. If this area were that unsafe, Mr. Corduroy would not reside here, I’m certain. The pilot threw back his head and laughed. You know nothing at all about him. Because it’s so dangerous, baby doll, he lives here. He has a low boredom threshold. Enjoys living life “on the edge,” so to speak. Baby doll? Maria became so enraged by his thoughtless treatment of her that she temporarily lost her temper. She has experienced patronizing and undervaluing her entire life. People had questioned and dismissed her for her entire life. And she’d proved them wrong, over and over again. She had battled against the odds and won. Until now. Now she was in danger of losing everything she’d worked for. And she wasn’t going to let that happen.