Entangled Destinies - The Revenge Pact

Chapter 4- A Dangerous Bet

Placing her glass on the table, she debated on how she should feel about this unexpected turn of events. Part of her was thrilled, but another part was cautious at the unusual way Gray had given her added responsibilities. Every SDS employee was formally evaluated in July and promoted, if there was a promotion, in September. Her coworkers might see the way Gray looked at her and draw wrong conclusions.

And there was the unsettling matter of her reaction to him. His effect on her was far more powerful than the champagne, and she was fairly sure people around them could tell she was not immune to him, which would further fuel the gossip.

Gray smiled. "I drop in on various divisions and streamline their operations every so often. A sudden shift in resources is not that unusual, if that is what you are worried about."

Kate added perceptive to the list of qualities she was discovering about him.

"So, would you like to talk to me about your expectations?" she asked.

"No. That will be Everett’s job. The executive who is replacing Richard."

Gray took another drink of champagne, the strong lines of his neck clearly visible above his collar and tie as he tilted the glass back.

She fidgeted idly with the flute stem, putting it between her thumb and index finger and moving her hand up and down the cool, smooth length of the elegant column. His gaze dropped to follow the movement, his eyelids lowering. She could sense something change in him, an elemental need surging up from somewhere underneath the polite layers of civilization, and it made her sharply aware of her femininity. The air in the restaurant seemed to grow hotter and thicker. How could a man she had known for less than a day have such a powerful effect on her?

Thankfully, their waiter reappeared and shattered the hypnotic spell. They both ordered steak and a few side dishes, but while she had a small filet mignon, he ordered the largest slab of beef on the menu, an enormous porterhouse. "I want it so rare it moos on the plate," he said.

When the waiter had vanished, Gray turned his full attention back to her. "So tell me, How did a woman like you end up with a name like Vance?" There was a slight emphasis on the you and the Vance that might have been offensive, but he was smiling easily. His eyes went to her ring finger. "You are not married."

Her personal life was one thing she did not want to discuss with anyone, especially the CEO of her company. Most especially one who somehow was making her think of tangled sheets. But how could she not answer without appearing rude?

She took a long swallow of the champagne. "I was adopted," she said, her tone discouraging further questions.

"From where?"

She shrugged, irritation surging inside at his refusal to drop the subject. Perhaps he was not as perceptive as she thought.

It always bothered her that she did not know. Kate’s younger sister, her parents’ biological daughter Bianca, was positive Kate was either Korean or Japanese, while Eleanor always said she could not tell one Asian from another. Arthur had not volunteered an opinion except to say: It is not that important where you came from, is it, sweetie? All that matters is that we found you, took you into our family, and raised you as one of our own. A political statement if ever there was one. But then Arthur had made a career out of being careful with his words.

Kate shoved unpleasant thoughts of her background aside. Time to change the subject. "You are not really interested in talking about work, are you?"

"No."

"So why did you pretend otherwise?"

A hint of humor tugged at the corners of his mouth. "Would you be here if I had told you the truth?"

"No."

"There you go." He gave her an unapologetic grin.

"Devious," she said, her voice deliberately cool.

He spread his hands. "But hardly criminal. What is criminal is ignoring a smart, sexy woman."

If he had shown any sign of mockery or insincerity, even outright flattery, she would have walked out on him, CEO or not. But somehow the simple way he spoke made her believe he truly found her desirable. His gaze roamed over her as if he could impart the raw desire of his presence onto her.

Sudden images of their bodies, naked and panting, raced through her mind, leaving her breathless. Every feminine intuition in her said that if she showed even a hint of interest, he would make love to her until she drowned in sensation. A man like him would not want anything messy like emotional entanglement. Earth shattering ecstasy was all he promised, all she could ever expect from him.

Well, too bad. Mason Reed had been good in bed, but it just was not enough. She wanted a man who could love her unconditionally, and for the long term.

"I do not do the interoffice dating thing," she said. "It is a rule with me. So, although this is really flattering, it is not going to work out. Maybe you should find another woman who will be happy with what you are offering."

He regarded her calmly. "I do not want another woman. And I think it is going to work out."

"You do?"

"Come on, you feel it. There is a lot of chemistry going on here."

True, but still. She gave him her best oh come now laugh. "I am not a teenager anymore. I do not let my hormones make my decisions for me."

"Wanna bet?"

Kate raised an eyebrow. "Do I want to bet?"

"I will bet you that you will have dinner with me again before the week is over."

"And if I do? Then what?"

"Then you lose the bet and owe me a full weekend to change your mind about this ‘no interoffice dating’ rule of yours."

"What do I get if you lose?"

"Oh, I will not lose. But if I do, I will give you a million dollars."

Her jaw dropped so fast she was surprised it did not hit the table. He could not be serious. A million dollars?