by Leanne Banks
“You’ll know,” he said.
Emma closed the door to Damien’s office behind her and wanted to melt into the hardwood floor. Mortified, she covered her face with her hands. What was wrong with her? She prided herself on her ability to present a calm demeanor in every situation. Yet she’d been babbling to Damien Medici.
She’d worked for Max De Luca, who’d been called the man of steel. She may have felt intimidated at times, but she’d managed to hold her own. For Alex Megalos, she’d maintained the highest level of discretion. Given his playboy reputation before he married Mallory James, she’d encountered more than a few phone calls from overzealous wannabe girlfriends.
Yet here, she’d glimpsed slices of humanity, even humor, when she’d expected Damien to be a block of ice. She found his strength and complexity compelling, almost seductive.
Appalled at the notion, she castigated herself. “Ridiculous,” she muttered. Damien Medici was going to slice MD to shreds. He was the enemy.
Two
The next morning, Emma walked into Max De Luca’s office suite to give him an update on Damien Medici. She felt a combination of nerves and disappointment as she faced Max, a tough VP whose heart had softened because of his wife Lilli and his son David.
“The only thing I know is that he has already begun to put together a termination list and that he asked for information from these departments.” She handed her former boss a typed report.
Max glanced over the report. “What about the computer?”
“He’s using his own laptop and told me to give the desktop to someone else who needs it. He uses his cell phone for all his calls, except for people inside the company. I included those calls on the report.”
“I see,” he said, thoughtfully reviewing the information. “Based on this, I think he’ll start cuts in middle management.”
Emma bit her lip.
Max shrugged. “I agree that MD needs to streamline. I just want to make sure we don’t cut anything vital to our future. Middle management isn’t a bad place to start, as long as he doesn’t want to cut too deeply,” Max conceded. “Both Alex and I agree that Medici isn’t the right man for this job, but James Oldham is determined to stay on the side of the stockholders. He has won the position of chairman of the board, and he clearly intends to keep it. He is the most dictatorial chairman I’ve ever encountered at MD. Keep me posted. Let’s meet next Tuesday at the same time.”
“I’m sorry I don’t have more information,” she said.
Max gave a cynical smile. “Medici’s no fool. He clearly trusts no one. If you learn anything new, use your cell to call my cell or Alex’s.”
“Of course,” she said and left his office. She took the elevator down two floors to Damien’s office suite.
As she entered the office, she was surprised to see a light shining from beneath the door to the inner office. The door was slightly ajar and she could hear Damien’s voice. Stepping closer, she listened.
“Mr. Oldham, if you truly want Megalos-De Luca to be at the top of its game, you’ll have to give me free rein on the cuts. I accepted this contract with you based on your promise to let me do what I do best. If you’re finding our agreement difficult, I can leave today.”
Emma dropped her jaw in shock. James Oldham was chairman of the board. No one dared speak to him in such a way.
“I’ve been through this many times, Mr. Oldham. I understand you’re concerned about bad PR. A well-publicized termination package and a reemployment assistance program will go a long way to softening the blow.” Damien paused for a second. “What’s your answer? Will you give me the latitude you promised or not?”
Several seconds passed and Emma held her breath. If only James Oldham would just say no, then no one at the company would need to deal with him, including her.
“I thought you would see it my way,” Damien said in a triumphant tone.
Emma’s heart sank.
“I’ll be in contact soon,” Damien said, his voice louder as he moved closer to the door.
Emma fought a sliver of panic. He could not find her eavesdropping. She quickly moved to her desk and began to hum an off-key version of a song by Fergie as she turned on her desktop and set down her lunch and purse.
“Emma,” Damien said from behind her.
Despite the fact that she knew he was there, she jumped. “Oh, hello. You’re here very early.”
“As are you,” he said, studying her.
She prayed he couldn’t read her mind. “I have this new boss who is even more of an early bird than I am. It’s a real challenge to out-early him.”
His lips twitched. “I don’t expect you to work the kind of hours I do. I’ve been described as a workaholic by more than one person.”
“And are you?” she asked, thankful for the diversion.
“I’ve never been afraid of hard work. That attitude has served me well. My work is my passion. My mistress.”
“But don’t you want human companion—” She quickly realized she’d stepped outside the line of professionalism and broke off. “I apologize. That’s none of my business.”
“You’re correct. It’s not, but I could ask you the same question.”
Emma thought of her mother and all the money and effort it had required to get her out of trouble. Time and time again. “I have family.”
“So do I. Brothers,” he said. “We made contact again after we became adults.”
The way he looked at her made her feel as if he could see inside her. There was a terrifying sexiness to his power. She suspected that he was the kind of man who could make a woman do anything he wanted and make her like it, too.
She wanted to withdraw from his appeal. She wanted not to feel the pull toward him, the forbidden attraction. She wanted to be able to be perfectly professional, perfectly removed. And she would.
“So you do,” she said. “Forgive me. I’ve gotten off track. What can I get for you?”
For just three seconds, his gaze flicked over her with a heat that burned through her gray Ann Taylor suit, white blouse and maybe even through her department store bra and panties to the soft flesh beneath.
Emma held her breath.
“I’m still making evaluations based on the reports I’ve received. I’ll be asking for information from other departments later today.”
Emma’s breath came out in a whoosh which she attempted to hide. She clasped her hands together. “Okay. Just let me know,” she said and watched Damien return to his office and close the door.
“Get yourself together,” she told herself. The only difference between Damien and her previous bosses was that Damien was worse, far worse. And far more forbidden.
The following day at lunch, Lilli De Luca burst through the door to Damien’s outer office suite with her baby David in her arms. “Hi, Emma! We’ve missed you.”
David, with his curly hair and bright blue eyes, beamed. “Mmm,” he said as he looked at Emma.
Emma couldn’t help smiling back at him. “What a sweetheart. Omigoodness, look at how he’s grown,” she said, extending her arms.
David went to her willingly. Emma dipped slightly under his weight and glanced at Lilli. “He’s gained.”
Lilli smiled and groaned at the same time. “Tell me something I don’t know.”
“He’s so friendly, though. I thought he would be clingy,” Emma said, bouncing as the baby stuffed his fist into his mouth. “Teething?”
Lilli nodded. “I’m told he’s in that in-between stage. A few more months and he’ll get clingy.”
“He’s gorgeous,” Emma said. “And such a sweetie.”
Lilli smiled with pride. “I couldn’t agree more. Max is busy on a conference call. He told me a visit from David and me would cheer you up. How’s it going?”
“It’s going,” Emma said because nothing else really seemed appropriate.
Damien’s door swung open and he glanced at the three of them. He lifted his eyebrow in inquiry at Emma. “Mrs.
De Luca,” he said.
“And David,” Emma added.
“Call me Lilli,” Max’s blond wife said. “How are you?”
“Fine, thank you. And you?”
Lilli smiled, glancing at David. “Busy. I see you won the lottery and got Emma assigned as your assistant.”
He gave a slight nod. “Yes.”
“Alex and Max have been locked in warfare over who gets Emma as their assistant. Consider yourself very lucky,” she said.
“I do,” he said, glancing at Emma and then at the baby. “This is Max’s son?”
Lilli nodded. “The joy of our lives.”
David looked at Damien curiously and Damien extended his hand toward the baby. David grabbed the man’s thumb and tugged.
Damien smiled. “Strong grip,” he said. “He will have a strong will.”
“Not too strong, I hope,” Lilli murmured. “Would you like to hold him?”
Damien hesitated. Something inside Emma forced her to move before he could respond. She pushed the baby against his chest and he instinctively cradled David in his arms.
“Hello, there,” he said.
David stared at him, transfixed, then blew a bubble.
Damien’s lips curved slightly. “David is a good name for you. I can see you throwing a rock and felling Goliath.”
“A modern-day Goliath,” Lilli said. “Who would that be today?”
Damien met her gaze. “Interesting line of thought,” he said and passed the baby to his mother. He nodded. “It’s a pleasure to see you again.”
“And you,” Lilli said. “You have a difficult job. I don’t envy you.”
“I lead with my mind, not my emotions,” Damien said. “I perform best that way.” He glanced at Emma. “I need reports from some additional departments.”
More terminations, she thought, but schooled her expression. “Let me get my notepad.”
“I should go,” Lilli said. “It’s good seeing you again, Emma. Call me sometime. We could meet for lunch.”
“Thanks,” Emma said, feeling a tightness in her stomach. “That sounds great. Thank you for stopping by.” She picked up a pad and headed for Damien’s office.
Moments later, after he’d listed the departments, she nodded and rose from the chair in front of the desk.
“You look pale,” he said. “You hate what I’m doing.”
“You see revenue,” she said. “I see people’s lives and families.”
“Ultimately,” he said, “revenue affects people’s lives and families.”
“I suppose,” she said, feeling tired.
“Take the rest of the day off,” he said.
She snapped her head up. “I couldn’t.”
“Yes, you could and you will. I take care of my own. I’ve been a manager long enough to know when one of my employees needs a break. And you need one now.” He waved his hand. “Go shopping, take a nap, sit by the pool. Do whatever women do to relax.”
She smiled. “I don’t shop to relax. I’m not a big napper. And in case you didn’t notice, I’m not chasing a tan.”
“I noticed,” he said, his eyes slightly hooded. “Find a way to take a break. You need it.” He glanced down at his laptop screen as if he were dismissing her.
She rose slowly, unable to look away from him. He was right, but sometimes she didn’t know how to relax. “What about you?” she couldn’t help asking, even though she should. “How do you relax?”
He lifted his head, meeting her gaze. Had she really dared to ask him that?
“I don’t,” he said. “It’s not necessary for me.”
She tried to bite her tongue, but her reply escaped despite her better judgment. “Pot. Kettle.”
His eyes narrowed. “Go home.”
“I will,” she said. “But pot. Kettle. G’night.”
Emma arrived home and checked her voice mail, bracing herself as she heard her mother’s voice. She sounded fine, but Emma could never be quite sure. She dialed her mother in Missouri. “Hi, Mom. How are you?”
“Good,” her mother said. “I worked at the drugstore today. There was a big sale on ibuprofen, so everyone was stocking up. It kept me busy. You’ll be happy to know I didn’t do any gambling.”
“I am,” Emma said.
“But it sure is boring as hell,” her mother retorted when Emma failed to rise to the bait.
Emma’s stomach twisted. “Boring as hell” was a red flag. It was one of the first signs that her mother was falling off the gambling wagon.
“Would you like me to come see you?” Emma asked. “I could probably come this weekend.”
Emma’s mother laughed. “No. I’m not in any trouble. You can stay where you are.”
“Are you sure?” Emma asked. “Because I can—”
“No, no. You don’t need to interrupt your schedule for me. We’ll see each other in June. That will be just fine for me. Have you been out with any new men lately?”
“Work has been busy for me, too,” Emma hedged. “I need to get used to my new boss.” Emma wasn’t sure that would be possible with Damien.
“Is he young and handsome? Maybe you could go out with him. I never understood why you didn’t date your other bosses. They were young, handsome and rich.”
Her mother just didn’t understand. “Mom, part of the reason I’ve succeeded is because I keep my professional life separate from my personal life.”
“What personal life?” her mother countered. “All you do is work or take classes. When are you going to do something fun?”
Emma bit her tongue. She hadn’t had time for a lot of fun with her mother’s gambling addiction. “When things settle down a little bit,” she said and switched the subject. “Is everything okay with your apartment? You mentioned a problem with your garbage disposal.”
Ten minutes later, she hung up and released a heavy sigh, but she couldn’t escape her uneasiness. Emma’s mother had left Las Vegas three years ago after Emma had bailed her out of another bad debt. The goal had been to remove her mom from temptation. So far, it had worked, but Emma never felt as if she could let down her guard.
With her salary, Emma could be living in a luxurious condominium if she chose. Instead she always felt as if she needed to save it all away just in case her mother faltered again.
At times her worry had consumed her—she’d only found relief in work or the classes she took. Lately, however, she’d found herself craving something more. Not gambling, thank goodness, but perhaps friendship or companionship. She’d shied away from close relationships partly because of her shame over her mother’s problems, but it had been three years since her mother’s last gambling incident. Maybe she should try going out. Emma pictured herself hitting the club scene and cringed. Doing laundry or charity work would be easier and more productive.
Despite the fact that she was aware of every move Damien made during the next week, Emma kept her professional facade firmly in place. Inside, she was insatiably curious. His scar fascinated her. She wondered how he’d gotten it. She wondered where he got those calluses on his hands and how they would feel touching her.
There was a ruthless, dangerous streak about him that intrigued her. He was clearly a predatory male—there must be a woman or women in his life. His sexuality was too strong for him to be a monk.
Exhausted by the time she arrived home at the end of the week, she went to bed early only to dream of him. In a steamy vision, he held her with his dark gaze, then took her into his arms. Her heart hammered against her chest and she knew she should pull back, but she couldn’t find the energy or the will.
Suddenly his muscled chest was bare against hers, his tanned skin gleaming in the moonlight. Her breasts grew heavy with arousal. Restlessness hummed in her blood. She arched against him, wanting more, wanting that firm mouth of his on hers. Standing on tiptoe, she opened her mouth as he dipped closer to her. Closer, closer…Anticipation vibrated through her. Almost…
The image turned black.
&
nbsp; He disappeared.
Like magic, one second he was there, the next gone. Frustration coursed through her. Where had he gone? Why—
She made a muffled sound of dissatisfaction and was suddenly aware of her rapid breaths and the sheet twisted at her waist. Her eyelids fluttered and she opened her eyes to the semidarkness of her room and the whir of the ceiling fan overhead. Her body was hot, aroused, ready.
Emma covered her head with her hand and groaned. “Oh, no.” It was bad enough that she couldn’t stop being aware of Damien every second she was in the office. Now he was invading her dreams. She was going to have to do something drastic. She was going to have to take Mallory Megalos up on her offer to set Emma up on a blind date. Emma needed a distraction. A male one.
Three
A rare rainstorm hit the Las Vegas area as Damien left the MD parking lot in his Ferrari. The car was one of his indulgences and the only times he didn’t drive it were during a hailstorm or in snow. About a mile from the office, he braked at a stoplight and caught sight of a stranded motorist on the side of the road.
Taking a second look, he realized the person wearing the bright yellow rain slicker looking beneath the hood of the subcompact was his assistant, Emma. Checking his rearview mirrors, he motioned for the driver in the next lane to let him pass. Moments later, he pulled into the parking lot and lowered his window.
“Need some help?” he asked.
Emma whipped her head around to gape at him. “Damien?”
“Yes. Do you need some help?” he repeated.
Her eyes wide with surprise, she shook her head. “No, I can handle it. I was just seeing if it was something obvious like a loose battery cable or something.”
“And?” he prompted.
“And it looks like I’m going to have to call the car service. They guarantee to arrive in an hour, so I’ll just wait in the car. Thanks, though.”
