Pleasure Payback. Zara Cox

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СКАЧАТЬ team, Miss Nolan.’

      Okay, not what I was expecting. ‘Thank you,’ I responded briskly.

      He stared a moment longer. The scrutiny was fleeting, but my skin reacted feverishly to the heat of his gaze on my face and chest before he swung his gaze around the room.

      ‘Gary, Preston, welcome,’ he addressed the other mentors. ‘The rest of you know the brief. This may be a TV show but it’s a profit-making venture, catering to the discerning. Our viewers are in the upper-middle-class demographic. They’re engaged by savvy, intelligent investments, not by us playing up to the cameras. I don’t need to tell you that if you make a crap investment, it’s not just your money on the line but your reputation. And more than that, it’s my reputation. So don’t fuck it up.’ His gaze travelled the room, met mine, lingered.

      Gary Withers leaned forward. The newspaper mogul had branched into venture capitalism a decade ago, and was known for his aggression. He was definitely one to watch. ‘Heads up, when I see something I like, I go after it, no holds barred. I didn’t come here to pussyfoot around.’

      Damian’s gaze left mine after lingering one more second. A second that felt like a whole hour and left me annoyingly breathless.

      ‘The show isn’t live. It can be stopped at any time. If you need reminding that you’re being an ass, Gary, it’ll happen.’

      Damian’s evenly delivered words drew chuckles around the room, but the steely undertone registered.

      It was clear who was running the show.

      The need to take him on, and win, burned brighter. ‘We’re sticking to the two offers, two mentors maximum per pitch, correct?’ I asked.

      He nodded. ‘Correct. It’s been a tacit rule since the show started.’

      ‘But not everyone’s averse to bending the rules, or screwing a fellow mentor over, are they?’

      The atmosphere grew strained, thick with the unspoken words I wanted to flaunt at him. Those laser eyes narrowed again. ‘If you’re seeking an ironclad promise, Miss Nolan, you’re not going to get one.’

      I smiled, letting my cynicism drape my lips. ‘Of course I’m not. Where’s the fun in that, right?’

      His gaze dropped to my mouth, blatant mockery in his stare. ‘Exactly. Don’t forget that this is business. But no reason why it can’t be pleasurable, as well.’

      The note in his voice caught me deep and heavy, snagged at the taut strings of lust I’d thought were long since slackened from disuse. Beneath the conference table, I squeezed my thighs together as his gaze lingered, the green in his eyes standing out the longer we traded stares.

      A throat cleared. ‘Since we’re talking...possible leeway, how about we lift the rule on pursuing prospects outside the show?’ Preston Roper, owner of Roper Casinos, asked.

      ‘Once the six-month non-compete deal with your fellow Raiders passes, sure,’ Damian replied.

      Preston groaned. ‘Seriously? Six months? You know how quickly the market can change in six months.’

      ‘Not my problem,’ Damian replied. ‘Anything else?’

      Other queries arose and were batted away by Damian. The man knew his stuff. I couldn’t deny it. But the devil was an expert in his line of work too.

      ‘Just so we’re clear, can you confirm that you haven’t seen the pitch list? That you haven’t cherry-picked projects for yourself?’

      He stiffened and a chilly breeze wafted through the room. ‘Are you calling my integrity into question, Miss Nolan?’

      Yes! ‘I’m the newbie. I’m making sure we’re all on the same page.’

      Long masculine fingers drummed on the table for a moment before he replied, ‘As it’s been since the beginning, only the senior producer knows what the candidates will pitch. They’re picked based on a module that matches our business needs with the candidates. Otherwise we’d all be wasting our time. If I wanted to attach my name to a fixed, mindless reality TV show, I wouldn’t be on this project.’

      I raised my eyebrow. ‘So that’s a definite no, then?’ I goaded.

      A tight smile flickered over his lips before he angled his chair away from me. ‘If there are no more questions, I’ll let the producers know we’re good to go.’

      Satisfied I’d made my point, I closed my folder and stood.

      ‘A word please, Miss Nolan?’

      Although framed like a question, one look at his taut face said it wasn’t. He couldn’t have stopped me from leaving, of course, but I was intrigued by what he had to say. More than I suspected was wise.

      The others trickled out, and immediately the atmosphere thickened. Or it could’ve just been my inability to take a full breath around this man. Irritation ramped up. ‘I have somewhere else to be, Mr Mortimer.’

      He nodded briskly. ‘I won’t keep you long. Please sit. And it’s Damian, as you well know.’

      I raised a surprised brow as I retook my seat. ‘Two pleases in one minute. That must be a record for you.’

      Several seconds ticked by as he eyed me. ‘Are we going to have a problem, Neve?’

      A hot little fizzle lit up my midriff when he said my name—soft, sexy, dangerous, much like the way he had that night. I actively ignored it.

      ‘You tell me. There’s nothing in the contract that stipulates one member of the panel isn’t allowed to fuck another. And despite all the professional vibes you’ve been attempting to throw out, I can tell you’re a little...affected. So maybe you should be asking yourself that question?’

      He cursed under his breath. ‘You go straight for the jugular, don’t you?’

      ‘I’m just stating facts.’

      Firm lips pursed as a muscle ticced in his temple. ‘Did you read the email my assistant sent?’

      The question threw me for a second. I rallied quickly. ‘What does it matter?’

      ‘If you had, you’d have seen that I was late because I was dealing with a personal matter. One that went on longer than I anticipated. I detest being late but it couldn’t be helped. You have my word it won’t happen again.’

      The unfettered admission threatened to dissolve my anger, much as I’d let the bleakness in his expression sway me two years ago. But the simple truth was Damian Mortimer believed himself above the rules that governed mere humans. So what if he admitted to a single flaw? He had more damning ones lodged in his soul. Ones he probably didn’t think he needed to answer for. ‘If that’s supposed to be an apology for your tardiness, I accept.’

      ‘Doesn’t answer my question though. This is my last appearance on this show. I want things to go smoothly. So again, are we going to have a problem?’

      ‘With my participation in this show? Not a one,’ I replied.

      ‘Why СКАЧАТЬ