Entangled Destinies - The Revenge Pact

Chapter 2- An Unexpected Invitation

The door to the office was open, but Richard’s name plaque was gone. Years of wear and tear had left the ivory walls slightly dingy, except for a couple of pristine squares where he had hung framing Picasso prints. The office looked barren without Richard’s clutter, mostly family pictures and souvenirs he had collected over the years.

Someone with cropped black hair sat in an executive leather chair, facing the windows. Torrents of rain blurred the view of gray roads and red brake lights. A large, tanned hand was holding a cell phone to an ear. Kate took a long breath and counted to ten, welcoming the respite before she had to face Gray Sterling, the chairman and CEO of Apex Global Holdings, SDS’s parent company. She had never seen him in real life, although there were plenty of pictures in glossy gossip magazines. Being one of the planet’s most eligible bachelors and a self made billionaire tended to make one’s face well known.

Finally he snapped the phone shut and swiveled around to face her. "Yes?" His voice was a steely baritone that demanded an immediate answer with just that one syllable.

Even seated, his entire body emanated authority and raw sexuality. The dark, tailored suit he was wearing tried to throw a veneer of civilization over him but failed. He would have been frightening if it were not for the iron control in the winter gray eyes that said he ruled, not his primal instinct. She shivered as his gaze brushed over her, head to toe and then back up to her face. She had the most absurd feeling that he was undressing her with his eyes.

Nonsense. He was probably trying to decide if she would cry at the bad news and whether he should delegate the distasteful task of firing her to someone else.

"I am Kate Vance. My assistant said you wanted to see me." She noted with relief that her voice did not betray any nervousness.

He rose from his seat to his full height, which was impressive. He walked around the desk and extended a hand. "Gray Sterling. Nice to meet you." The baritone this time slithered over her like strands of supple leather. But there was something in his voice that said "nice" was not the word he wanted to use.

The muscles in her neck and shoulders tightened. Ignoring the tension, Kate shook his hand. It was slightly calloused and infused her cool skin with warmth, and a tingling sensation spread from her fingers to her cheeks. "Pleasure."

Laughter lightened his eyes and a corner of his lips twisted into a slightly superior smile. He shut the door and gestured at a chair. "Have a seat."

She sat and crossed her legs. She had the odd feeling that Gray was staring at them, but when she glanced up, he quirked an eyebrow at her. She tilted her head. He had been laughing at her from the beginning, but why? Did he find it funny to fire people? No. It was more. She could tell. He was probably too smart to overtly show what was on his mind, but there was a predatory intent in his voice and gaze.

When he sat across from her, barely enough personal space remained to be polite. She could feel a delicious heat coming off his body, smell a whiff of spicy cologne. Something stirred in her, s****l and dangerous. She stomped on it. This was not the time, this was not the place, and he definitely was not the right man to be attracted to. Business and pleasure never mixed well.

"Is there something on my face?" Gray said, breaking her train of thought.

"Excuse me?"

"You are staring. And I hope you are not coming down with something. You look a little flushed."

She suppressed a surge of mortification. She was usually better at maintaining a professional façade. At the same time she could not help but be annoyed with him. She was sure he was used to women fawning over him. He could have been more gracious. Apparently not everyone needed to be politic, just her. "I am fine." She added a bland smile to make the message clear.

"Good to hear, since I plan to keep you very busy."

So she was not getting fired. But the tension remained in her neck and shoulders.

He stretched his legs out. The fabric of his pants spread tautly over lean muscles, and his calves almost touched hers. The heat coming off him was like a furnace. She was certain the move to crowd her was deliberate. She wanted to scoot back, but she would be damned if she would retreat.

"An executive from Vench Enterprises, one of Apex Global Holdings’ European subsidiaries, is going to take over SDS as soon as possible."

"Sure. No problem."

"You will brief me on some of the major projects. I plan to be more actively involved until I am, satisfied."

She blinked. Yesterday’s edition of the Wall Street Journal had reported that he was returning to Singapore to oversee several sweeping projects in the burgeoning Asian market that could be very lucrative for Apex Global Holdings. Although SDS was a profitable subsidiary, it was still only one of many mid sized entities, not something that should consume much of his attention.

He shifted slightly in his seat, looking at her intently, and his legs brushed hers. She held her breath.

"Do you have any plans for tonight?" he said.

She shook her head automatically. Since her latest breakup six months prior, she had devoted all her attention to work. Work did not disillusion her like Mason had. She still could not believe he had proposed to another woman less than a month after they had split up and married her soon afterward.

"Excellent." A charming smile appeared on Gray’s lips. "Would you like to have dinner with me?"

Kate shot him a sharp look. She did not indulge in interoffice dating, no matter how delicious the man in question was. It was the stupidest CLM, career limiting move, she could think of.

"I need to talk more about SDS, but my calendar is full at the moment. We can discuss it over dinner. I hate to make you extend your workday, but unfortunately it is the only time I am available."

Despite his smooth tone, she could not shake off the feeling that he was amused by her silent response. Was he laughing at her for thinking he might have a romantic interest in her?

She straightened. "It will not be a problem." I hope you will not be a problem.

"Elara, my assistant, will send you an email this afternoon. How is seven for you?"

"Fine." She rose and shook his hand briskly, purposefully maintaining eye contact even as she felt her hand almost completely engulfed by his much larger and stronger one. He was getting under her skin for some reason, but she was not going to let that affect her. Nope, not at all.