The Billionaire's Revenge

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Leah

What the actual f**k?

When I stepped out today for this meeting, I felt a lot of things. I’d felt nervous, angry and finally I’d even felt brave. Nothing on earth could have prepared me for the sight before me.

Cesare Lucas?

Help. Somebody pinch me!

This had better be some kind of sick joke the universe was playing. I blinked repeatedly, maybe all that anxiety was messing with my head.

Regarding me lazily with a mocking expression, his face broke into a sinister grin. Oh no. Could this situation get any worse?

I probably looked like some sort of halfwit, gaping at him like he was a relic from the past. Forcing my legs, I made the move to the giant desk in the middle of the office. It felt like I was walking into a lion's den. About to be ripped to f*****g pieces.

Smile Leah. Schooling my features into one of calm elegance, I smiled brightly.

Nice try knocking me off my feet. Jerk!

Did Noah know? I’d kill him this time for real.

“Hello Mr Ces… uh Conti, what a pleasant surprise! May I have a seat?”

Cesare had always been a shameless pervert. Even when we were younger, he’d stare at my boobs this way. Shamelessly and heatedly.

He reclined in his seat now, his eyes drowsy with unhidden lust. Heat spread all over me and I felt my skin redden furiously in embarrassment. So I had large breasts, big deal! I wouldn’t let this ...caveman sexualize me any further!

Fighting the rising urge to shield my chest from his heated gaze, I cleared my throat loudly.

“Excuse me, Mr Conti?”

He chuckled softly. Asshole.

“I heard you the first time Miss Edwards, have a seat. I’ve been waiting for you.”

“Thank you, Mr Conti.” I briefly took in my surroundings. Whoa.

“I’m here to discuss your interest in Edwards Winery.”

“So I’m told.”

Ignoring his jab, I carried on, “I know you’re offering to buy out our winery and you seem to have reached some sort of agreement with my brother. But we’ve given it some thought, and we decided it would be better to give it some time before we consider selling the winery.”

I paused, waiting for some sort of reaction. Nothing.

“We are confident that given some time, we would be able to stabilize the winery and increase our output. I’m really sorry about all of this. Noah…it was an oversight on his end. I apologize on his behalf.”

The silence was deafening. I rattled on before I lost confidence “We would like to call off the acquisition Mr Conti. We are thankful however for...”

“So you’re here to fix little Noah’s mess, big sis” he drawled.

Rising menacingly from his seat, he strolled towards me. My stomach dropped as he perched on the side of the desk, his muscular thighs now spread nonchalantly in front of me. Shuffling in my seat, I tried to ignore looking at that part of him that bulged so obviously against his fly. He was … hard.

Cesare smelled so gooood. I pressed my legs tightly to quell the fluttering sensation at my core. Aging certainly favored him, his features looking more chiseled than I remembered.

I peered at him from the side of my eyes. Oh my.

His dark curly hair was cut shorter than I remembered, his sexy grey eyes adorned with ridiculously thick lashes, all thanks to his Italian genes. His lips, those dark berries had the most defined Cupid’s bow I’ve ever seen on anybody.

Cesare was a work of art. He won in the department of genes. He was such an achingly gorgeous, smoking hot man.

“If you’re done mind f*****g me, I’d like you to listen up.”

And of course, a glorified dickhead.

My face heated fiercely. “If you took your time to do some research before sauntering in here like a nymph—“

What?

“Excuse me, Mr Cont—“

“You’d find out that the sale is a done deal. Your brother Noah signed the agreement already, and all that’s left is to take over the winery.”

He leaned closer and whispered “So no, you cannot refuse the offer. As a matter of fact, it’s not an offer. It’s a successful transaction. Signed and sealed.”

My head reeled wildly. I couldn’t tell if it was the shocker he just delivered or the heady scent of him encircling me right now. He smelt like sin, the earthy tones of his cologne overwhelming me with him so close. I felt my n*****s harden in response and my girl bits clenched in anticipation.

I tried to think of something to say, but my brain felt like mashed potatoes. The attraction between us had always been fatal.

Old memories came flooding in, Cesare suckling greedily on my boobs, Cesare feasting on my p***y while making growling noises, Cesare gazing at me heatedly while I cried out his name in a haze of mind-blowing climax. Cesare whispering his dirty thoughts in my ears as he pummeled me roughly.

Fuck.

The way his stormy grey eyes dilated told me he was reminiscing about the same memories. A strangled sound escaped my lips and he grinned knowingly, pinning me with an intense gaze.

Oh, God. Leah get a grip.

“I didn’t … I didn’t know that! Noah didn’t tell me that!” I sputtered in dismay.

I could think up fifty ways to kill Noah right now.

“He’s a child Cesare! You know that. Your lawyer knew that! His decisions aren’t levelheaded. The winery belongs to both of us, it can’t even be legal to sell it off without my consent.”

“The documents on my desk say otherwise Leah,” he stated softly.

“All I’m asking for is some time Cesare. Six months and I’d fix everything. The money, I’d make sure he returns every single penny. I can’t sell the winery, Cesare. You know that” my voice felt like lead in my throat. “Please.”

“Well, who knew Leah Edwards could plead. The eighth wonder of the world.” he drawled coldly, his once heated gaze now chilly.

“I’m a businessman through and through Miss Edwards, I have no allowances for sympathy. Your brother wanted to sell, he had every legal requirement and I wanted to buy, so we struck up a deal. There’s nothing illegal about that.”

He smiled maliciously."This isn’t Melbourne Lane where all things conformed to the queen’s whims. This is the real world. Now if you would excuse me, I have work to do. Shut the door on your way out.”

Nine years. Nine years and Cesare was still a f*****g vengeful asshole!

And with that he was back at his seat, picking up the receiver to make a call. Probably to let the old lady I saw on my way up here know that our appointment was over. No please. Desperation washed over me in folds and I leapt up, grabbing his hand to prevent him from dismissing me finally.

“Wait!”

Uh oh

His dark brows were arched now, glaring at me like I’d gone crazy. Maybe I had. This whole thing was driving me insane!

I released his hand immediately and hurriedly apologized, my words pouring out in a jumbled mess. “Wait, Cesare, I’m sorry ....I don't know what came over me.” Truly I didn’t. “Please don’t dismiss me. I know.. I know you think I wronged you in high school, l—”

“I don’t give a damn about high school Miss Edwards” he spat coldly. “This is about business. I have no reason to halt the acquisition of the winery for six months just so you could prove something to yourself. You see…”

His eyes narrowed to slits.“I would be losing months of business, good business, and all for nothing. Unless you can make me a better offer, my answer remains the same”

“You cannot fix everything for him Leah.” he sighed. “Give it up. Actions have consequences. Go back to being pretty and baking rainbow cookies or whatever else it is you do. This can’t be fixed.”

I tried to think fast. There had to be a way to convince him. I didn’t miss the fact that Cesare seemed to have researched me. How long had he been planning this? Was this some sort of revenge scheme?

“Four months? Give me four months Cesare. If I’m not able to fix things I would let the winery go without any hassle. Please!”

“Still not good enough Miss Edwards”

I could tell when a thought planted in his head. He leaned back slowly, a mischievous expression fixed on his face.

“I have an offer for you, Miss Edwards. I need a live-in chef. Hot meals, delicious pastries, and Italian dishes. If my memory serves me right, you’re a terrific cook Leah.” Oh no…no. “I’ve been stalling on getting one because I’ve had issues trusting anyone with what I eat.”

I swallowed as he sat up slowly, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “But you, we both know you can’t hurt a fly, Leah, much less a man. That is, aside from your expertise in treachery.”

Well, snapping your neck doesn’t sound like a bad idea to me right now!

“You’d be a good girl, cook my meals, keep me warm and fed and I would give you the six months you want so badly. After our agreement is up, if the winery isn’t stabilized, I take over. No. Hesitation.”