Modern Romance Collection: January 2018 Books 1 -4

Cut-throat didn’t come close. Although Natalya had to concede the methodology worked. A break for lunch involved food eaten in one of the hotel’s private rooms...and a review of key points from the morning’s meeting.

High-powered, with Alexei’s unyielding stance, and his superb negotiation skills.

Natalya could only quietly admire his ability to figuratively pin his business competitor to the wall...while her personal jury remained out regarding the inherent ruthlessness he managed to employ.

The pace increased during the afternoon, with Alexei adamant his terms were final, which led to a hastily arranged meeting the following morning.

‘Reschedule our flight to mid-afternoon tomorrow,’ Alexei instructed as their limousine took the route to their hotel.

Natalya sent him a killing look as they entered their hotel suite. ‘In this technological age legal documents can be digitally signed and emailed.’

‘True.’ He removed his suit jacket, loosened his tie and tossed both onto a nearby chair as he sent her a piercing look. ‘You’re questioning my decision?’

‘Merely expressing an opinion.’

‘Which you feel entitled to do?’

Why did she suddenly feel as if she’d ventured onto shaky ground? ‘It wasn’t specifically mentioned in my employment contract.’

Was that a faint gleam of humour in his dark gaze?

‘Consult the menu and order a meal to be delivered to our suite at seven.’ Alexei waited a beat. ‘I’ll have the seafood pilaf.’ He reached forward and collected his jacket and tie, then turned towards his room. ‘I’ll change and go down to the gym for an hour.’

All this togetherness didn’t augur well, especially from her perspective. She could manage days, business lunches and dinners. It was the overnight thing that bothered her. Especially the sharing of a suite, despite it being a sensible business arrangement.

Hadn’t she accompanied Roman to interstate meetings? Shared similar suites in several different hotels?

So why, now, did she feel wary? Defensive, on edge?

Yet she did, and it angered her that she should.

Worse, a full-blown suspicion Alexei took pleasure in figuratively ruffling her feathers.

Civil during business discussions in the presence of others, yet when alone with him she detected a watchful element, almost as if he was deliberately intent on...what?

There had been a time when she could read him well. Yet the passing of time had wrought changes. Few of which she could condone. For even now, her heart ached for the loss of the love they’d once shared. The pain of him leaving her so suddenly without a word and no further contact, despite all her efforts, still existed...like a wound that had never completely healed.

So go do something constructive, an inner voice urged. Check out the hotel boutiques. Or better yet, go swim laps in the hotel pool and work off some pent-up angst.

The pool won out, and she quickly rang Room Service, placed an order, then retrieved a one-piece from her bag, changed, caught up a towelling robe, popped the suite swipe card into one of two capacious pockets, and took the elevator.

Most of the guests were readying themselves for drinks at the bar or in the lounge, and Natalya felt a sense of relief on discovering she had the pool to herself.

The water was enticing, crystal clear and sparkling. Without hesitation, she shrugged off the robe and dived in.

It felt so good as she rose to the water’s surface and began stroking laps, one after the other, steady at first before picking up speed. After a while she lost count, content simply to power up and down the pool’s length, varying strokes as the whim took her, until she simply rolled over and lazily backstroked to the pool’s edge.

How long had she been in the water? Half an hour?

A quick glance at the wall clock revealed longer, and she hastily emerged, dried off, then pulled on the towelling robe. Ten minutes should be sufficient to return to the suite, shower and dress before room service delivered their evening meal.

Alexei was already seated in one of the lounge chairs as she entered the room, and she met his gaze, rolled her eyes, lifted a hand in a silent gesture and hurried towards her bedroom.

Oh, hell, emerged as a silent condemnation as she caught a glance at her mirrored reflection. Bright lights enhanced her damp hair...rats’ tails was an apt description...bare face...great!

So what? He’s seen you in less...a lot less. But that was years ago when things between them had been different.

Way different.

Suck it up, girl. Take the fastest shower ever, dress and wind wet hair into a knot on top of your head, add lip gloss and go.

Food, perhaps a shared wine, followed by coffee and a recap of the day’s business at hand. An hour, maybe two. Then she could escape to her room, duty successfully executed for the evening.

Three hours, slightly more to be exact, Natalya perceived, as she checked her laptop, read and discussed pertinent points, gave her opinion when asked, and provided a requested overview from her perspective.

‘Honesty? Or circumspection?’

Alexei leaned back in his chair. ‘Both.’

‘They want the deal on their terms.’

She was good, he conceded, aware just how well she’d covered for her father during the past few years. Without her, Roman’s business would have crashed and burned way before it had become vulnerable to a takeover.

Family loyalty...or desperation? Maybe both.

‘Not going to happen.’ A statement, no wiggle room.

Of course not. Alexei held the power, and was unafraid to use it.

‘You’ve decided on a predetermined figure,’ Natalya ventured. ‘I imagine they will offer ten percent lower, then prepare for you to negotiate.’

‘Astute.’

She inclined her head. ‘Thank you.’

‘Did your father request your opinion on any of his business dealings?’

Now there was a question. ‘Occasionally.’ In a befuddled alcohol-infused state, only to resort to something totally different in the light of day.

‘Yet he rarely implemented them.’

The truth hurt, in more ways than one. At peak, Montgomery Electronics could have sold at almost double what ADE had paid for it. ‘No.’

‘Did you resent that?’

This was becoming upfront and personal. She was a daughter, not the son Roman envisaged Ivana would dutifully bear him.

‘Is there a point to this?’

His eyes took on a watchful quality. ‘It fills in a few blanks.’

She drained the coffee in her cup, closed her iPad and stood to her feet. ‘I think we’re done for the evening.’

Alexei silently commended her efficiency, enjoyed the challenge she presented...and wondered what it would take to crack the shell she’d erected to protect herself.

From him? Or men in general?

It shouldn’t bother him.

Yet it did.

She offered a polite goodnight and crossed the room to her bedroom suite.

‘Sleep well.’ His faintly mocking voice curled around her nerve-ends as she reached for the door handle.

What she wouldn’t give to best him at something...anything, just for the satisfaction of doing so.

A feeling which continued as she undressed and made ready for bed, rearranged pillows and settled comfortably with a current paperback.

Two chapters, then she’d close the bed lamp and sleep.

Except an escape into blissful oblivion didn’t appear to be happening anytime soon, as Alexei’s compelling image filled her mind and refused to disappear, no matter how hard she fought to dispel it. Nor her ability to evade dreams of their shared past. The intimacies...erotic, all-encompassing, as she became alive beneath his touch in a mutual gift of passion in all its guises. Lost, so completely lost she had no recollection of anything other than Alexei.

Magical. Transcending to a place where heart, body and soul became one...until the dream began to fade into a reality where she slowly woke to discover her body damp with sensual heat. Bereft, wanting...with silent tears slowly drifting down her cheeks.

Her breath hitched for a second before she caught hold of the now, and the need to shower, dress and face the day ahead. As well as the man who managed to slip through her subconscious and invade her heart.

* * *

Their shared morning breakfast was interrupted by the ring tone of Alexei’s smartphone, and Natalya lifted her head to witness his eyes darken.

Trouble?

Undoubtedly, as Alexei’s voice hardened during a conversation with, she assumed, a spokesman representing the group with whom they’d shared dinner the previous evening.

It didn’t sound promising, as Alexei firmly refused to consider any further negotiation.

He ended the call, calmly drained the rest of his coffee and refilled his cup. ‘They’ve requested a two-hour extension. A delay with their bank.’

‘In a bid to gain more time.’ She made it a statement, not a question.

And you have no intention of playing into it, Natalya conceded. Nor would I, in your position. ‘So we wait.’

We...a slip of the tongue, and a throwback to the days when she prompted her father, whenever he required it...more frequently than it should have been.

‘They have my number, flight departure time,’ Alexei stated. ‘The ball is in their court.’ He checked his watch. ‘I’m catching up with a friend for an hour or two. During which time I need you to complete a few shopping items on my behalf.’

Natalya’s eyes widened. ‘Shopping?’

‘Is that a problem?’ There was a hint of wry amusement in his voice, and she met his gaze, held it.

‘I gather you intend to supply a list?’

‘Note it will be business combined with family while we’re in New York,’ he enlightened, as she retrieved her iPad.’

Natalya attempted to ignore the slight blip in her heartbeat, and stilled the temptation to tell him to choose his own gifts.

Yet if she displayed the slightest hesitation...

‘I guess I can add it to my job description.’ Just don’t make a habit of it, she added silently. Helping the boss choose family gifts came under personal...and personal wasn’t ever going to be in the picture.

‘Your mother?’

‘Books.’

‘That’s really not helpful,’ Natalya offered. ‘Fiction? Fact? Romance...modern, historical, suspense, crime? Shall I elaborate further?’

‘Romantic suspense.’

This could go on for a while. ‘Favourite authors? Or don’t you know?’ She named a few, which presumably didn’t strike a chord.

‘Scarves,’ he added. ‘To add to my mother and sister-in-law’s existing collection.’

‘Any particular designer?’

He named a few, then handed over a credit card.

Safe choices, Natalya mused, and two hours later she had acquired numerous gifts beautifully wrapped and placed in a clutch of glossy carrier bags.

Ignoring the occasional brief...very brief moment, she recalled other occasions of shared shopping excursions. A time when Alexei would place an arm across her shoulders and catch her body close to his own. The dark emotion evident in his eyes, and the silent promise of how the day would end.

The memories shouldn’t affect her...except they did, and she mentally struggled to put them back into a figurative box, and throw away the key.

She re-entered the hotel foyer to find Alexei standing to one side, newspaper in hand as he appeared seemingly engaged in reading an article.

Alexei’s smartphone beeped as she drew close, and he moved aside to take the call, kept it brief while Natalya checked her watch, noted they had an hour and a half to pack, check out, and reach the airport to make their flight.

‘The deal has been accepted,’ Alexei relayed as he returned to her side.

Of course, she acknowledged silently. Had there been any doubt?