The Business of Attraction

by M K Lansbury

  Insolently, he pushed the open documents toward Beata and snapped a pen on top of it in silent command.

  Zara completely ignored the Finder side of the table and smiled at Beata and Lawrence. “Beata. I come bearing great news.”

  Beata paled. She hadn’t expected Zara to say that!

  “Zara? Ally? What are you doing here?”

  Zara’s eyes fell on the files on the table, agreements turning over ownership of all Soul Mate consisted of to Rick Ulster. A game of revenge played by Rick and Kassandra against Lance. Zara and Ally had gotten entangled in the crosshairs. Their only fault?

  Owning and creating the one thing that could bite off a big chunk of Finder’s market share. The thing that Rick leveraged to oust Lance.

  It wasn’t personal when Rick’s game began. But now? Now that Zara had fallen in love with Lance? Now it was extremely personal. Zara, Ally, and Lance had joined forces to put Rick in his place.

  “We have a proposal for you and your husband, Beata.”

  Beata got off her seat in swirls of white silk and hurried over to Zara and Ally. “What are you talking—”

  Rick’s voice boomed in the conference room. “Let’s just sign the papers and be done with this ordeal.”

  Leaning back in his chair, Rick tossed the pen across the table toward Beata and Lawrence. Then proceeded to cross his ankles at the edge of the table. The soles of his shoes faced Lance. The imperceptible tightening of Lawrence’s jaw was lost on no one.

  Rick knew he had won. He had his knee on a dying man’s throat and was ready to do anything to make him say uncle.

  Beata sounded calm. “We will sign the papers shortly, Mister Ulster.”

  “I don’t have all—”

  “Zara, what’s this proposal you’re here to discuss?” Beata cut off Rick’s arrogant statement, her voice slightly lifted and resonating with command through the conference room.

  “Lawrence, Beata, we’ve got a better offer for Soul Mate.”

  Beata’s smile spread wide, and Lawrence just looked extremely confused and still very angry at Rick.

  Zara smiled at Beata. “We’ve found a better deal for you and Lawrence. One that will get you more money for Soul Mate, and also retain a seat on the board.”

  Beata’s forever-composed, forever-perfect appearance took a hit. “Are you serious?”

  “Yes,” Ally announced. “The company will still be run by all an-female team—just like we always planned for Soul Mate.”

  Zara lifted a brow at a visibly fuming Rick, just as she heard the approaching footsteps behind them.

  Chet, his mother Janet, and a tall, striking lawyer named Greta Lake strode inside the conference room. Greta was the one who walked all the way to Beata and handed her a file.

  Beata’s hands shook as she opened it. The ominous silence spoke volumes as Beata’s mouth fell open, and her eyes lifted to Zara’s. Happy tears shimmering in her eyes, she grinned at Zara and Ally. “I knew this girl team could take anyone down.”

  “Are we done with this sensational girly drama?”

  All heads turned to Rick’s face as he continued in a bored drawl.

  “It’s very cute, and I'm getting all teary-eyed. But let’s get back to business like it’s supposed to be done. Mister Cho, you know what’s best for your investment.”

  Zara was tempted to get mad but actually found the whole cool-guy act extremely ridiculous. A laugh escaped her, and Ally joined in.

  That nonchalance is what made a dent in Rick’s arrogant demeanor. He glanced at Beata with a glimmer of panic.

  His voice dripping with exaggerated respect, he sighed. “Whatever the offer is on there, I’m quite happy to match it. My board is very interested in getting Soul Mate.”

  Beata locked eyes with Lawrence, who hadn’t even seen the number on the offer from Morrissey Industries. “And do what with it, exactly? Because this plan . . . this would allow us to keep some of our investment.”

  “Finder is the industry leader.”

  Beata grinned at Rick. “For now, at least.”

  Rick sat up to see Beata walk over to Lawrence. She stood next to him, clutching his shoulder.

  “Cho Holdings has decided to accept the offer from Morrissey Industries.”

  “What in the—!” Rick slammed both hands on the conference table and lurched to his feet. “No!”

  His incomplete, childish rant hung in the silence of the conference room as all occupants now were in a finale standoff—facing each other.

  “If you’re done with your tantrum, Mister Ulster, us ladies have business to attend to.”

  Rick turned red, then white, then red again. Zara had a feeling he would actually explode with the anger building inside him. He whirled around, shoving Kassandra out of the way as he stormed out. The Finder board members followed suit.

  Kassandra, looking like she was about to break down, lifted her chin and strode out.

  “Oh my god, you guys!” Beata shrieked and rushed forward. The white, full-sleeved dress hugging her stunning figure, she wrapped an arm around each of the girls’ necks then turned to Janet Morrissey.

  “Mrs. Morrissey, it’s a pleasure to finally meet you. It’ll be my greatest joy to hand over the reins of Soul Mate to you and Chet.”

  Janet Morrissey teared up. Zara smiled, clutching Ally’s arm and squeezing it as they leaned into each other, finally able to relax after long, panicked hours that had led up to this meeting.

  “My son tells me you’ve made him feel very welcome at Soul Mate. It has become his new family. I’ve never seen Chet more excited about anything, ever. And I feel like this makes the perfect business sense. Zara, Ally, you two are going places. And I’d love for Chet to be on your team for the ride.”

  “We could never get where we are without Chet, Mrs. Morrissey. Thank you. I can’t express how grateful we are for your kindness. And your faith.”

  Mrs. Morrissey hugged the teary-eyed Ally, and then Zara. Lawrence Cho led them to the chairs the devils had just vacated. Files were spread out on the table, and Lawrence Cho listened to Greta Lake before picking up the pen and signing the dotted line.

  “Soul Mate is all yours. It’s been a pleasure doing business with you!” He shook hands with Janet Morrissey and Chet.

  “Come on, now, Lawrence. Enough business,” Beata crooned and turned to Zara and Ally. “I've learned so much from you. Even though I'm no longer part of the team, I wish you the very best. And I’ll always be here if you need me. Please allow us to throw you a little impromptu celebration.” She grinned. “There’s an incredible restaurant on the fiftieth floor; let’s celebrate this with a great meal.”

  “Yes!” Chet hollered like his old self, and everyone filed out of the room.

  Zara watched them; every single one of them was part of a family she had built for herself—outside of her family at home.

  Thinking of family . . .

  She glanced over her shoulder. Lance was right beside her, a smile playing at his lips, the same affectionate adoration glistening in his eyes.

  “Don’t look at me like that,” Zara teased as she clasped his hand, her fingers twining through his. Zara desperately needed this private moment with Lance.

  “Like what?”

  “Like you like me?” Zara bit her lip, blushing as she leaned closer and placed her free hand on his heart.

  “That wasn’t what I was gunning for actually,” he said, slightly disappointed.

  “Mhmm?” Zara chuckled and lifted her chin until their faces were inches apart. She loved how she had to tilt her head back to look him in the eyes.

  His hand lifted, clutching a strand of hair that had freed itself from her loose French braid. Smoothing it off the side of her face, he shook his head. “I was aiming for looking at you like I love you.”

  Zara bit her lower lip and smiled as her head pressed into the center of his chest. Hurriedly, possessively, she wrappe
d her arms around his waist and inhaled the scent of his body, relishing in his strong embrace as he squeezed her closer.

  “That works too, I guess,” Zara whispered, just as his lips pressed to the top of her head.

  For long moments, they savored the calm that had come after the storm of fear and uncertainty.

  Until another thought struck her. Her head lifted, her eyes wide in shock.

  “Lance!” She hissed in a harsh hiss.

  “What?”

  “We did it.”

  He chuckled. “Yes, we did. Isn’t that what we were just celebrating?”

  “No.” Zara stepped back. “We’re no longer on the opposite team! That means . . . if we’re no longer enemies . . .”

  “Competitors.”

  “Yes. Does that mean we—?”

  Lance’s laugh erupted out of his chest like a thunderbolt, but half of it was muffled against her mouth. His lips caught hers in a rushed and utterly soul-consuming kiss. He stole her breath and replaced it with his own. He gave and he took, and she warmed deliciously in his arms. Clutching handfuls of the lapels of his suit jacket, she savored the perfect, victorious moment.

  Lance was hers.

  That something she hadn’t imagined ever happening in this lifetime. Of course, Lance had lost a great deal for them to be able to be together. But he didn’t seem to mind. He seemed just as happy being by her side.

  Long minutes later, Lance broke the kiss. Breathless, he rested his forehead against hers, stroking the side of her jaw with his knuckle. “You know what?” he said, almost darkly.

  Zara’s brows furrowed. “What?”

  “I’d like to use this moment to formally ask you . . .”

  Zara's heart dropped. “What?”

  “For a job at Soul Mate.”

  Zara’s horrified laugh rang into the conference room. Playfully, she pushed at his chest and caught him by surprise. He stumbled back, laughing as Zara glared at him. Her hands on her waist, she shook her head ominously, in the most definitive NO she’d ever said to anyone in her life.

  “Absolutely not, Mister Chase. Over my cold, dead body!”

  They were still laughing when they left the conference room and made their way up to the fiftieth floor to join in the festivities.

  Zara leaned into his strong body and closed her eyes as reality pierced her in sweet jabs.

  The forbidden was all hers.

  EPILOGUE

  Where We Met . . .

  I called this the glass palace.”

  Lance chuckled from his vantage point on the sand. “Can’t believe it’s been over a year.”

  “I know, right?” Zara plopped herself down next to Lance. Resting her head against his shoulder, she stared at the beach. “It’s nice here. It’s just as nice as it was back when I first saw you.”

  “I thought you said the glass palace in Montauk was a pretentious dollhouse . . . that looked like it would break at first use.”

  “Well, it looks rather fragile, don’t you think?” Zara whirled around, so did Lance. They gaped at the house where they had first met, where Zara had pretended to be Samantha Wilkins and he’d stood by the bonfire all alone. “I don’t think I was exaggerating in that description.”

  “Well . . .” Lance’s eyes darted over the glass house. “You're right.”

  “As always.” Zara grinned.

  Tristan glared at them from his spot on the deck of the house, confused.

  “He thinks we’re staring at him.” Zara chuckled.

  Instantly, Lance lifted to his feet with the grace of a sleek panther.

  In awe, Zara gaped at him as he reached for her hand. For a moment, she was engulfed in a surreal world, like she did often with Lance. He wore a white V-necked T-shirt with grey shorts, his hair mussed up, completely unaffected by the Christmas chill at Montauk beach. He looked disheveled and scruffy and hot, and it hurt her heart just looking at him.

  Zara gave him her hand, knowing in her heart that she would follow him to the ends of the earth.

  Good thing he simply led her toward the water.

  The surreal out-of-body moment shattered as soon as Zara’s toes dipped into the ocean. “It’s cold!” she shrieked.

  He laughed and stopped when they were a foot deep in water. Waves crashed around their legs, and he hauled her into his chest to warm her.

  She snuggled into him, closing her eyes. Laughter rang out from the glass palace—a place she’d deemed lifeless and cold and impractical. Life was surely full of surprises.

  Inside Lance’s Montauk glass palace, Ally was helping Zara’s parents prepare a Christmas feast. Tristan and his sister were chatting on the deck with Ally’s father. Her heart twisted in her chest as she realized how Lance must feel. He was the only one with no family with him on Christmas day.

  “Did you get in touch with your mom?” Zara asked before she could stop herself.

  She rested her chin on his chest and stared up at his handsome face. The cold didn’t bother her anymore. She could happily stand there with Lance forever.

  “Yeah. She’s on a cruise to the Bahamas.”

  Zara nodded, wondering why he didn’t tense up like he always did while talking about his out-of-the-picture family.

  “Your father? Did he answer your voicemail?”

  “Dad’s assistant did.” Lance grinned as if finding the whole discussion extremely amusing.

  Zara smiled. “Not that I particularly enjoy scraping old wounds, but do tell me how you stopped being bothered by all of this?”

  “Simple. I have a new family now.”

  Zara chuckled, glancing at the bustling life in his house. “Yeah, you do.”

  His fingers clutched Zara’s chin gently, pulling her face back to his. “My family is right here with me. She’s all I need.”

  Zara’s heart thudded hard. She swallowed against the painful lump of emotion tightening in her throat.

  He pressed a kiss on the tip of her nose. “You're the only reason I didn’t return to the tech business and went into hospitality.”

  Zara laughed out loud, the sound ringing out over the ocean. “You purchased the biggest resort in Calistoga because of me?”

  “Of course.” He chuckled. “What did you expect me to do? I lost my job. You told me you’d rather die than hire me. I had very limited options.”

  “Oh, poor you. Buying a multi-million-dollar resort because you didn’t have any job opportunities.”

  Lance bit his lip, squeezing her tight into him. “You're undoubtedly the most annoying woman I’ve ever met.”

  “Thank you. The good thing is I don’t even have to try.”

  “I love it.”

  “Tell that to me next Christmas when you’re sick and tired of me,” Zara joked.

  His smile faded a little, and he shook his head no.

  Zara stiffened at the serious look in his eyes. Her confusion grew worse as he lowered himself onto his knees in over a foot of water.

  “I know this isn’t as cool as it happening in the middle of a rainstorm, but . . .”

  “What are you—?” She stopped midsentence as he pulled out a box from his pocket and popped it open.

  Within folds of velvet sat the most exquisite yellow gold ring, a square-cut diamond in the center. A diamond that was wide enough to cover the entire width of her finger.

  “Are you mad?” Zara cried, tears streaming down her cheeks.

  “Madly in love with you, yes.”

  Zara sobbed, covering her face with both hands as he reached to steady the box.

  Zara’s panic mounted by the nanosecond. “Lance, you’ll drop it in the ocean, and we’ll never find it. I’ve seen it happen before.”

  Lance laughed out loud, wobbling in the water, “Oh, believe me, I'm not taking it out of the box in the middle of the ocean. Not at all. So will you marry me?”

  Zara bit her lip. “I guess I’ll have to ask Ally’s
algorithm if we’re a good match.”

  Lance pursed his lips, turning a little pale as he lifted his brows. “Zara?”

  “Yes?” she sniffled, grinning.

  “Can you quickly call Ally and ask, because if I stay in the water for a little while longer, I'm afraid you won’t have a fiancé to marry anyway. Cause it’ll be a cold, wet, and early grave.”

  “I thought you wanted to experience what it’s like in the water. You know, like in the rain?”

  “How about the summer rain instead?”

  Zara and Lance splashed their way out of the water laughing. Once at the beach, Zara allowed him to take the exquisite ring out of the box. She was beaming when he slid it onto her finger.

  Zara clutched his face with both hands, recalling how she’d once fantasized about being able to do just that. She stroked the sides of his jaw, the hint of stubble grating her palms, and leaned up on her toes to kiss him.

  On the same spot where they’d first met, Zara wiped her tears off her cheeks.

  “So this means you’ve said yes?”

  “Yes. Yes, I’ll marry you.”

  DEAR READER

  “But some secrets are too delicious not to share.”

  Suzanne Collins

  Let’s face it. We all want to possess secrets. Secrets about ourselves, and secrets about others. In a day and age where it feels like everything is shared through social media, there’s something telling about keeping some things very hush-hush.

  When I decided to begin writing books under my own name (after having ghost-written a number of others’) I was scared to tell people. I was afraid they would laugh or not think that I was up to it, and I was also afraid that it would put too much pressure on myself. It was a BIG decision and one that I didn’t share until my first book was completed (the novella An Angel in Disguise).

  But then I was able to share the news with my best friend, and suddenly it became a greater secret. It was now shared by two people, and allowed us to get even closer.

  And now that my secret is revealed and I’m a published author (that’s hit #1 on the Amazon charts!) I relish the opportunity to dive back into the world of secrets with this first book in my Secret Sweet Romance series.