Hot, Sexy & Bad

by Angelo, Judy, et al.

  “Well, you knew he was big, didn’t you? After all, the man was introduced as the CEO.” Lena shook her head. “Weren’t you listening?”

  “I heard all that,” Arie gave an impatient shake of her head, “but I thought he’d been hired for that job. I didn’t know he owned the whole shebang. The man is a European billionaire.” The words came out in a soft, almost reverent whisper. “I could see he was important, I just never guessed how much.”

  “Well, now you know.” Lena walked over and perched on the side of Arie’s desk. “And, like I said, way out of your league.”

  Arie grimaced then heaved a dramatic sigh. “Maybe you’re right. There’s no way a man like him would be interested in someone like me.”

  “Maybe?” Lena cocked an eyebrow. “I’m always right.” Then, shaking her head, she gave Arie a sympathetic smile. “That man moves in circles way different from ours. He probably doesn’t even live here. We may never lay eyes on him again.”

  Arie’s heart sank. That was a depressing thought if there ever was one. It wasn’t that she had her head in the clouds. Of course she knew she didn’t have the chance of a snow cone in hell but the thought that she would never see him again…

  “Hey, this is some interesting stuff.” Lena peered at the monitor then reached out to tap the down arrow so the photo scrolled up and more words appeared on the screen. “Italian, thirty-one years old, from the mega-rich Milano family in Italy. Four generations rich. Crimey.” She scrolled some more. “Hey, he went to school here. Got his MBA from Stanford. Nice.”

  Arie grimaced. Much good that would do her. The man was still inaccessible in so many more ways than one.

  Why couldn’t he have been from a humble background, a man who’d had to work to create his wealth? At least that way he would have some sort of connection with ordinary folk like her. Better yet, why couldn’t he have been an employee of the firm, a struggling artist or even a model? Anything except what he really was – way out of her reach.

  Because this weird attraction she had for him, it wasn’t just his looks. There was something about him that she couldn’t explain, something that just clicked.

  “And guess what?” Lena’s chortle broke into her musings. “He’s free, single and disengaged. How is that even possible?”

  Arie groaned. “Don’t rub it in, will you?” Reaching for the mouse she clicked to close the screen, effectively removing from view the source of her distress. “I almost wish you’d said he was married. That’d be sure to knock him out of my system real fast.”

  Lena laughed and leaned over to comfort Arie with a quick back rub. “It’s okay, honey. You aren’t the first to obsess over an inaccessible hottie and, trust me, you won’t be the last. All part of growing up, my dear. You’ll soon find a stable, steady man who’ll be home every evening by six.” She got up off the desk, still sporting a smile. “And at the end of the day you’ll be glad you went for regular and reliable rather than suave and sexy. The sexy ones? Nothing but trouble, and I speak from experience.” With a laugh and a shake of her head she turned and headed back to her office.

  That left Arie feeling even more depressed. Regular and reliable, Lena said. Somehow, that didn’t appeal to her one bit. Perverse creature that she was, what really turned her on was hot, sexy and…

  She shook her head, stopping herself before she went any further. It was just too bad but she would be getting none of that, at least not today. She had a busy day ahead of her and the last thing she needed to be doing just then was wasting any more of her precious time pining over Rome Milano.

  Honestly, I need a life. Mumbling under her breath, Arie got up from behind her desk and headed for the door. She had a wedding to cater on the weekend and she needed to get some air. Now was the perfect time to run out and get all her errands done. That’d be sure to pull her mind away from matters that were only getting her all hot and bothered.

  She didn’t get back to the office until almost five o’clock that afternoon and she was in good spirits. The fresh air had done her good and on top of that, she’d found some great deals in Wedding Belles. It was her luck to go shopping for supplies the day they were having their after-Thanksgiving and getting-ready-for-Christmas sale.

  “Hey, look at these,” she called out as she used her foot to nudge Lena’s office door open. “White orchids. They’re going to look great on the buffet table, don’t you think?”

  “Well, you’re in a good mood.” As Arie turned, her arms full of bags, silk bouquets and streamers, Lena hopped up and ran to help her. “Come on, rest them over here.”

  With a happy sigh, Arie relinquished her load to her partner, her face beaming. “We’ve saved a lot of money this time and it will all be going to the bottom line.”

  “Sweet.” Lena hurried over to plop the armload of supplies on top of her already crowded credenza. When she turned there was a sly smile on her face. “But now I have a spanking for you.”

  “For me? What did I do?” Arie gave her a mock frown. “Don’t tell me I forgot to give you a receipt or something. You’re such a pain when it comes to book-keeping.”

  “No, you forgot your cell phone. As usual.”

  “Oh.” Arie tapped the pocket of her slacks. “I thought I had it on me.”

  “Nope, but you should have. I was trying to call you.”

  “Yeah? What about?” Arie shrugged out of her sweater and walked over to hook it on Lena’s rack. “We got a last minute booking?”

  “Better than that. Better for you, anyway.” Lena gave her a mysterious look that made her frown.

  “What’s that supposed to mean? Hey, did you double book me?” She folded her arms and glared. “Tell me you didn’t.”

  “No, I didn’t. I got a phone call for you.”

  “On my cell phone?”

  “No, on the office line. I was trying to reach you on the cell to tell you about it.” Lena’s smile grew wider and even more mysterious. “Guess who called?”

  “Oh, please. Not the guessing game. Just tell me, already. You know I hate it…”

  “Rome Milano.”

  “…when you do that. You always…” The words caught in her throat. Her eyes widened as she stared at Lena. “Did you just say Rome Milano?”

  Lena gave her a super-satisfied grin. “I did.”

  “You’re kidding, right?” Arie felt her heart jerk in her chest. “He doesn’t even know me. Why would he call?” She sucked in her breath as a thought flashed into her mind. “Does this have anything to do with the event we catered for them? Was there a problem?”

  “Didn’t sound like there was a problem to me. His assistant was as chirpy as could be.”

  Arie narrowed her eyes. “I thought you said Rome Milano called.”

  Lena shrugged. “His office called. Same difference. Mr. Milano summoned you to a meeting tomorrow afternoon, three o’clock. I accepted on your behalf.”

  “A meeting?” Baffled, Arie cocked her head to one side as she stared at her friend. “What sort of meeting?”

  Lena shook her head. “Don’t ask me. But does it matter? You got what you’ve been dreaming of. You’re going to see your man.” Lena chuckled. “I thought you’d be jumping all over the place at the news. Aren’t you excited?”

  Slowly, Arie nodded, letting the news sink in. As she thought about it her face melted into a smile then broke into a wide grin. “Of course, I’m excited. I was just…in shock.” Then, as another delicious thought slipped into her mind she gazed off into space, losing herself in a momentary fantasy. “Maybe he likes me?”

  That made Lena laugh out loud. “You’re quite the dreamer, you know that?” She walked back to her desk and plopped down in her chair, still shaking her head as she smiled up at Arie. “One thing’s for sure, you’re not short on ambition.”

  Arie smiled back but she didn’t say a word. Out of the blue she’d been blessed with this chance to see Rome Milano again. Right now the gods were on her side and she would not squa
nder their gift.

  If she played her cards right she might just get a date with hottie Rome Milano, and it might just happen by the holidays.

  ***

  Rome picked up his cell phone and glanced at the time. Two fifty-six. In another four minutes he would see his mystery woman again.

  His personal assistant had set up the meeting and had even gone through the trouble of putting together a folder with a profile of the woman, including photo, résumé and more. Pity he hadn’t had the chance to go through it. He’d come back from Italy two days later than planned, walking off the plane straight into a board meeting and it had been non-stop meetings ever since. He’d only just got back from one three minutes earlier.

  It didn’t matter, though. He didn’t need to see the girl’s resume to know that she’d be good at whatever task she was assigned. He could see it in the way she carried herself – back straight, mouth set in a determined line, eyes never wavering as she met your gaze head-on. The girl was bold and he could see she was businesslike. She would be a great addition to any team. And the fact that she’d caught his interest in other ways was totally irrelevant.

  At exactly three o’clock he heard a knock at his door and Iyana stuck her head in.

  “Miss Angelis is here to see you.”

  Excellent. His guest had passed the first test. She was right on time.

  “Send her in.” Rome got up from around his desk and walked across the four hundred square foot space. He always made it a point to meet his visitors at the door and today would be no exception.

  He was almost there when Arie Angelis stepped in, looking nothing like when he’d first seen her. If anything, in her navy-blue tailored skirt suit she looked even more stunning.

  Her long blonde hair was swept up in an elegant bun and her soft lips, now colored dusky pink, seemed fuller than he remembered. But those eyes, as blue and mysterious as the ocean, were still just as bold and just as direct. The girl didn’t have a shy bone in her body.

  “Miss Angelis.” Rome held out his hand and when she smiled and slid her soft one in his, he shook it and gave her a deferent nod. “Thank you for coming on such short notice.”

  “It’s my pleasure,” she said, her smile brightening ever so slightly, a hint color kissing her cheeks.

  For one brief moment he could not move, nor did he want to. He was no poet but he’d almost say her fresh-faced beauty was like the dawning of a brand new day. Captivating.

  Realizing he’d been holding her hand just a little bit too long, Rome released her and directed her to a seat then he circled the desk and sat down behind it. Sitting back in his chair, he propped his elbows on the arms and tented his fingers. “I imagine you’re wondering why I asked you to come.”

  Her lips curled in a smile and she gave a slight nod. “You could say that.”

  “I won’t waste your time or mine. Let me get straight to the point.” He sat forward in his chair and rested his folded arms on top of the desk. “How much money do you make per hour?”

  Arie’s eyebrows shot up then her brows knotted in a frown. “Excuse me?”

  “I asked you how much money you make. What? Five bucks an hour? Six?”

  Her smile long gone she stared back at him in confusion. “Um…why? What does that have to do with our meeting?”

  Rome gave her a confident smile. “It’s got everything to do with our meeting. I’ve got a proposal for you.” He sat back in his chair again, his eyes never leaving her face. “As a server you probably make five or six dollars an hour plus tips, with little chance of moving up the ladder. How would you like to work for me instead?”

  “Excuse me?” she asked again, looking even more confused.

  He laughed. “What? Too good to be true? I thought you’d jump at the chance to make some real money.” When she didn’t answer right away he continued. “I know you’re wondering what I’ve got in mind. Don’t worry. This position is perfect for you. My company needs an event planner and I have no doubt that you have all the skills necessary.”

  That seemed to draw a reaction but instead of the smile of joy he was expecting, her lips tightened and her brows fell. Instead of effusive expressions of gratitude, Arie Angelis fixed him with a glare so cold he knew he’d pissed her off. “Is that what you called me here for? To offer me a job?”

  That made him pause. What did she think he’d called her in for? A tête-à-tête? “Look, Miss Angelis, this is strictly business. I’m making you a very attractive job offer. You would make several times the pay you’re getting now.” As he stared back at her Rome could not stop himself from frowning. Miss Angelis had accepted his meeting invitation right away and he knew part of that quick response was because of that fleeting but real connection they’d shared the first time they met. In offering her a job he was not only creating an opportunity for them to actually get to know each other, he was opening up a wide world of opportunity for her. She would actually be able to make a good living. Didn’t she see that?

  “And what makes you think I’m a server?” She lifted an eyebrow but there was no mirth in her eyes.

  “You were serving, weren’t you?” His frown deteriorated into a scowl. What was her problem? He’d been so confident she would jump at his offer he hadn’t even contemplated the possibility of her refusal. But now, with her display of attitude, she was really pissing him off.

  “Miss Angelis,” he said, his voice cool and the look he gave her even cooler, “I’ll only say this one more time. I’m offering you a full-time position here at Belitalia. The salary and benefits far exceed the market average. Take it or leave it.”

  Rome watched the emotions flit across Arie’s face and for the life of him he could not figure out what she was thinking. At first he saw what looked like a flash of anger and then he saw doubt but then her brows smoothed and a hint of a smile touched her lips.

  He almost smiled back. The girl was finally coming around, and it made sense. She would be a fool if she didn’t.

  “Mr. Milano, thank you so much for your job offer,” she said, her face suddenly soft and even pleasant, “but I’ll leave it.”

  “Smart move,” he said as his face broke into a smile. And then he stopped. “You’ll what?”

  “I’ll leave it,” she said, her face still pleasant, her smile growing wider. “Thank you.”

  And with that she got up, turned around and walked right out of his office.

  “What the…” For several seconds Rome just sat there, staring at the closed door. “Well, I’ll be damned.” As the words left his lips he got up and shoved his chair back then stalked across the room. He was about to throw the door open when he checked himself. Just in time. How the hell would it look if he went after her? No. Wasn’t going to happen. It would be a frigid day in hell before he went running after a woman.

  Particularly a dimwitted one who didn’t know a good thing when it was handed to her on a silver platter.

  Shoving his hands in his pockets, Rome gave a grunt of annoyance and walked back to his desk. He wasn’t used to rejection, not from anyone, and definitely not from a woman.

  He shook his head, for once in his life utterly confused. He was used to members of the opposite sex falling all over themselves to get to him. So what was it with this one?

  Rome drew in his breath then let it out slowly, and as his surprise and anger subsided he laughed and shook his head. He’d probably just met one of the few women in the world who could tell him no.

  And that made him all the more intrigued.

  Some way, somehow, he would have to get to the bottom of this one. Whether she liked it or not, he would have to see her again.

  CHAPTER THREE

  Talk about arrogance. That was Rome Milano’s middle name.

  The nerve of the man, to think that all he had to do was drop a job offer in her lap and she would fall, swooning at his feet in gratitude. What did he take her for?

  It was an infuriated Arie who marched into the office next day
. She was taking Rome’s behavior as an insult and it had already colored her day. And the color was the fiery-red of rage.

  “Hey, what’s up with you?” Lena swiveled around from the reception counter and stared at her as she walked in, slamming the door behind her. “Got up on the wrong side of the bed?”

  “I hate men.” Arie shrugged out of her sweater and, instead of hanging it on the rack at the entrance, she threw it onto the coffee table in the reception area. Today she was in no mood to be neat. “That’s what I get for liking a man who’s too pretty.”

  That made Lena cock a curious eyebrow. “With that speech it’s a good thing the receptionist isn’t in yet. I could just see her gobbling up this juicy bit of gossip.” She jerked her head toward her office. “Come on in and let’s talk.”

  Inside, Lena poured Arie a cup of tea then sat down to hear the full story. “So tell me what’s pissed you off this time. I’m guessing your meeting with Rome Milano didn’t go too well.”

  Arie gave a snort. “You got that right. It didn’t go well at all. I thought the man was calling me to a meeting to discuss business. You know, one business leader to another.” Too annoyed to want to sit there sipping tea, she deposited the cup and saucer on Lena’s desk. “I’m a leader in my field, just like he is. Why couldn’t he take me seriously?”

  Lena frowned. “So what did he do? Make a pass at you?” Lena’s face darkened. “Just say the word and I’ll have my lawyer on him so fast he won’t know what hit him. Big shot or no, he can’t do that and get away with it.”

  “No, he didn’t make a pass at me.” Arie grimaced. “I almost wish that was it.”

  “Then what?” Lena’s dark eyes were filled with confusion. “What did he do that made you so upset?”

  Arie grimaced again then she gave a grunt of disgust. “He offered me a job.”

  For several seconds Lena stared at her, the confusion never leaving her face, then she shook her head. “Okay, so let me understand this. Rome Milano pissed the hell out of you because…he offered you a job?”