THE MEETING WITH the new company’s CEO was a mere formality, Natalya assured herself as she left Marc Adamson’s office and made her way along a wide corridor with strategically placed alcoves featuring magnificent floral displays on glass-topped stands. Professional renovations, individual reception areas bearing luxe new carpeting, expensive leather seating, artwork gracing the walls.

A major upgrade from the old-school style her father had favoured.

A faint smile curved her generous mouth. New owner, new vibe.

From a personal perspective, there was a sense of satisfaction in having been offered the position as the new company owner’s PA. The plus aspect being a very satisfactory salary package.

It would be interesting to discover how many office staff employed by her father had been retained.

As yet the new owner’s identity hadn’t been disclosed, with one media-projected rumour referring to an American-based billionaire.

If correct, she mentally sketched him as being over fifty, maybe older, with access to inherited family money. Of average height, possibly bearing a paunch, together with thinning hair or a toupee.

A new broom sweeping clean...or perhaps a figurehead content to delegate and spend time schmoozing at various functions with the city’s social elite?

Whatever...first impressions were key, and she tamped down the faint onset of nerves as she approached the CEO’s executive area.

‘We’re not fully operational until Monday. Just knock on the door and walk right in,’ Marc Adamson had instructed.

Okay, no problem.

She had a signed contract as proof the position was hers. All she had to do was smile, be professional and relax.

What could possibly go wrong?

Natalya curled fingers into her palm, rapped a firm double knock against the open heavily panelled door and entered a spacious office containing high quality furniture, floor-to-ceiling bookcases along one wall.

A quick glance revealed a wide custom-made desk bearing a laptop, various electronic devices, in front of which there were four single studded leather chairs spread out in a spacious semi-circle.

Within scant seconds it made a statement—wealth, excellent taste and power.

It was then she registered the tall broad-shouldered male frame silhouetted against a wall of reinforced plate-glass, affording an angled glimpse of strong features, a firm jawline, dark groomed hair.

A corporate wolf in his mid to late thirties clothed in black designer jeans, open-necked white shirt and a black soft leather jacket was vastly different from her preconceived image of the new company CEO.

A swift unbidden curl of sensation deep within surprised her, and was immediately discounted as a ridiculous flight of imagination.

Alexei held the advantage, one he used without compunction as he slowly turned to face the young woman who’d once shared a part of his life.

Dark almost black eyes regarded her steadily...waiting for the moment recognition hit.

As it did within a few fleeting seconds, and Alexei took pleasure in witnessing the faint widening of her eyes, the way her mouth parted, the quick swallow as if a sudden lump had risen in her throat as she visibly fought to school her expression into a polite mask.

Alexei? Here?

Coherent words momentarily failed her big-time, as she struggled to control the feeling she’d been hit by a forceful, if metaphorical, punch in the solar plexus.

Breathe, she bade herself silently as emotions rose to the surface, a gamut almost defying description, for how often had she attempted to cast aside images from their shared past?

Too many times to count.

Nights, on the edge of sleep, were the worst.

For it was then the memories returned to haunt her...the way his smile affected each and every pulse in her body; the gentle trail of his fingers down her cheek to trace her soft trembling lips. His mouth savouring her own, teasing, tasting, as he drove her wild with wanting more. The heat in his dark gleaming eyes a prelude to mind-blowing intimacy.

Five years on there was no warmth apparent in his demeanour, just an inflexibility that sent a chill scudding down her spine.

What did you expect...a romantic reunion?

Seriously?

After five years... Are you insane?

From a time when she’d been able to accurately define his every expression, now she felt as if she’d been flung into a maelstrom of wild conjecture where nothing made any sense as he allowed the ensuing seconds to weigh heavily in the electrified air permeating the room.

Her mind reeled with unvoiced questions. Initially, his motive to buy out the firm formerly owned by her father?

Rapidly followed by...how could Alexei Delandros have accumulated so much wealth in the space of five years?

Groomed designer stubble shadowed his jaw, adding an edgy quality, and there was a hardness apparent which didn’t equate with the man she’d once known...and loved.

Natalya kept her eyes fixed on his in a determined effort not to escape his steady gaze. An act of defiance...or a mix of self-preservation and stubborn pride?

Both, she conceded.

Alexei took a degree of dispassionate interest as he examined Natalya’s slender curves, narrow waist, slim hips, showcased in a black tailored business suit, with killer heels emphasising toned legs encased in sheer hose.

Subtle use of cosmetics enhanced her delicately boned face, emphasising expressive dark eyes and generously curved mouth.

The length of brunette hair styled into a sleek chignon made his fingers itch to free the pins to allow the thick waves to frame her face.

Professional cool...successfully achieved, Alexei admitted.

Absent was the vibrant, fun-loving girl who’d once embraced the world and all it had to offer. The sweet curve of her mouth parting in a laughing smile...eyes sparkling with teasing humour. The touch of her mouth on his own, magical, incredibly sensual as passion transcended to intimacy.

Alexei lifted one dark eyebrow in a gesture of musing cynicism. ‘Nothing to say, Natalya?’

Where would you like me to begin? presented a tempting start.

Instead, she cut straight to the point. ‘If this is some kind of sick game,’ she offered with controlled calm, ‘I refuse to be a part of it.’

He’d expected no less of her, given his deliberate act to conceal the new owner’s identity from the media.

He inclined his head in silent mockery, enlightening, ‘I prefer...a calculated strategy.’

Any sense of calm was discarded as anger rose to the surface, almost robbing her of speech as she fought the desire to slap his face hard.

‘What else from a man such as you?’

Dark eyes speared her own. ‘You have no knowledge of the man I’ve become.’

So very different from the Alexei she’d once known as memories flashed through her mind...hauntingly real for a few heart-stopping seconds as she recalled her body beneath his...supple, avid, in a manner that drove her wild.

For him, only him.

Dear God in heaven...stop.

Reflection in any form was a madness she could ill afford.

Almost as if he knew the passage of her thoughts he indicated the nest of chairs framing the front of his desk. ‘Take a seat.’

Natalya spared him a dark glare, which had no effect whatsoever. ‘I prefer to stand.’

He merely inclined his head...and waited.

An action which ramped her animosity up a notch, and her eyes speared his as she sought a measure of calm. ‘The employment contract your henchman presented for my signature bears no mention of your name.’

‘Henchman, Natalya?’ The query held a vague musing quality. ‘Marc Adamson is ADE’s legal consultant.’ He eased his lengthy frame against the edge of his desk as he spelled it out. ‘Alexei Delandros Electronics.’

‘Very cleverly disguised in the contract I signed,’ she accused as she reached into her satchel, removed the folded document, ripped it in half, then tossed the pages onto his desk, quietly pleased when a few of the torn pieces fluttered onto the carpet.

She wanted to hurt him, as she had been hurt by his abrupt disappearance from her life. Days when she could barely function. Nights where sleep eluded her until the early dawn hours.

Weeks, dammit, spent examining every possible reason he could have left without a word.

An inexplicable action which compounded when she woke one morning feeling queasy and had to make a mad dash into the en suite bathroom. Something she ate became less likely when a second early morning bathroom dash occurred the following day, and the next. A positive pregnancy test had tipped her into a state of shock...they’d always used protection, so how?...until she recalled a night when need had obliterated common sense.

A rapid calculation of pertinent dates had merely confirmed a distinct possibility, followed by a host of scattered emotions that briefly pitched her between delight and despair, and the inevitable...this can’t be happening. Except a further three pregnancy tests over several days had eliminated any vestige of doubt.

Vivid images swirled unbidden through her mind of times shared, long nights together, the joy of love and quietly spoken plans for their future...then nothing, no word as to why Alexei had seemed to disappear like smoke in the wind.

The energy she expended attempting to track him down without success. Details of staff employed by Montgomery Electronics revealed Alexei’s file had been deleted—but she had no idea who by or why.

It appeared he’d intentionally slipped off the radar...but for what possible reason?

She’d lain awake for nights searching for an answer...any answer. Only to come up with a few scenarios, none of which seemed to fit the man she thought she’d known so well.

Was she that desperate to locate the father of her unborn child, when he’d presumably taken steps to disappear? And what if she did manage to make contact? Would he be someone with whom she’d want to do battle over shared custody?

Seeking medical confirmation was a given, providing the reality of early pregnancy, closely followed by her determination to carry the child to full term. The only person in whom she’d confide was her mother...except she needed the right words, the chosen moment.

Only to have the decision taken out of her hands when she’d suffered a miscarriage just six weeks into the pregnancy.

A tiny foetus not meant to develop and take life’s first breath.

There was little solace in medical opinion a second pregnancy would need to be carefully monitored with ongoing blood tests during the initial three months of pregnancy. Facts which didn’t begin to equate with Natalya’s emotional distress, until Ivana took action by booking flights and accommodation for a ten-day vacation on Queensland’s Hamilton Island.

On reflection, they’d shared a lovely apartment with views over tropical waters, restaurants, time to relax and enjoy what the resort had to offer, indulging in facials, body massage, treatments at the Island’s Resort Spa.

Sunshine, soft warm breezes, an idyllic beach. A healing period which strengthened their mother-daughter bond.

‘Love you, darling,’ Ivana had offered quietly as they exchanged hugs while the cab driver transferred Natalya’s travel bag from the vehicle’s boot. ‘Are you sure you don’t want me to come in with you?’

‘I’m fine. Really,’ Natalya assured her, aware once she settled into her apartment and resumed work as her father’s PA life would assume its normal pattern...or as close to a facsimile of it.

And it had, over time.

All of which now flashed painfully through Natalya’s mind, and served to heighten her anger as she rose to her feet, choosing to icily indicate the destroyed paperwork lying on the carpeted floor of Alexei’s office.

‘Not even a million-dollar salary would convince me to work for you.’

There was nothing she could gain from his expression, or his demeanour, then one eyebrow lifted to form a slight arch as he queried silkily,

‘Are you done?’

Courage...she owned it in spades, Alexei acknowledged. Together with a flash of temper, which showed for a brief instant before she visibly gathered it in.

‘Yes.’ Succinct, and final.

Natalya turned to leave, and he waited until she reached the door before relaying with drawled intent, ‘I strongly suggest you change your mind.’

He watched her shoulders stiffen, their slight lift as she took a calming breath before she swung back to face him.

With determined effort she took in his sculptured facial features accented by scrupulously groomed designer stubble...impossibly sexy, highlighting a raw edgy quality she found disturbing.

Dark eyes...not warm as she remembered, but cool, analytical. The faint groove bracketing each cheek seemed a little deeper, and the mouth which had caressed her own, devoured and taken, was now set in firm lines.

His shoulders...had they been so broad? His hair, so silky she’d exulted in ruffling it into disorder. Matching the dark promise in his eyes, a soft throaty chuckle an instant before he claimed her mouth, her heart...her soul.

Then.

Not now...and it rankled more than she would ever admit to how much the admission had the power to hurt.

She was over him. Way over.

Alexei Delandros belonged in a previous chapter of her life. One she had absolutely no intention of revisiting. Only a degree of stubborn pride ensured she remained facing him...when every cell in her body urged she should simply turn and leave. So why didn’t she?

Because it was the easy way out. And she didn’t do easy.

Like she’d even consider working for the man who had ruthlessly set out to destroy her father’s business empire?

Natalya lifted her chin and threw him a fulminating glare. ‘As far as I’m concerned, you can take your employment contract and shove it.’

She was either a very good actress, Alexei conceded, or she genuinely had no inkling of the verbal bombshell he was about to deliver.

‘You might consider leaving your options open.’

Her eyes never left his own. Dignity and sarcasm didn’t mesh, but she really didn’t care. ‘Please don’t hesitate to enlighten me as to why?’

Family values had been her strong point. One he’d admired...until he’d dug deep into her father’s business and private affairs and uncovered a number of discrepancies revealing the antithesis of the man Roman Montgomery managed to portray.

Had Natalya been aware of her father’s transgressions? Possibly not, given Roman’s penchant for subterfuge.

There was no point in sugar-coating the facts, nor did he feel inclined to soften his words.

‘My accounting team have uncovered an elaborate scheme involving several bogus offshore accounts created by your father for the illegal transfer of Montgomery company funds.’

Alexei watched her eyes sharpen with disbelief. ‘There’s no way my father would commit fraud.’

It was a gut reaction and, on the surface, genuine, he perceived. Although she’d managed to fool him in the past.

‘You’re so sure of that?’

‘I’d stake my life on it,’ Natalya voiced emphatically, ignoring the folder Alexei extended towards her.

‘I suggest you examine the paperwork.’

‘And if I choose not to?’

He studied her features as she ran a pale lacquered nail over the folder’s seam, noted the soft pink colouring of her cheeks, the defensive spark in the depths of her eyes, and for a brief moment he almost felt sorry for her.

Almost.

‘The report details dates, account numbers, the series of complicated layers deliberately created to prevent detection.’

Natalya cast him a withering look, only to witness it had no effect whatsoever, and she tossed the report, unread, onto his desk.

‘You can’t be serious.’

The silence became an almost palpable entity as she refused to shift her gaze. Difficult, when a host of conflicting thoughts swirled through her mind.

If...and in her opinion it was a vastly improbable if...the report held a grain of accuracy, the question had to be what Alexei intended to do with it.

At best the details would reveal any fraud had occurred without her father’s knowledge.

At worst...she wasn’t prepared to give that thought any credibility.

‘Read the report.’