In the Italian's Bed: Bedded for Pleasure, Purchased for Pregnancy / The Italian's Ruthless Baby Bargain / The Italian Count's Defiant Bride. Carol Marinelli

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      ‘I can do the maths.’ Emma gave a tight smile.

      ‘Good—then you will know how important that two percent share is now, when D’Amilo Financials is worth billions. Once my father retires our directors want to rename it, and for my father’s stake in the company to be spread between all the directors rather than passed to me—naturally, I am opposed.’

      ‘What about your father?’ Emma blinked. ‘Surely it’s up to him…?’

      ‘He wants what is best for the future of the company, and on recent form he is not sure that is me. As he has said, whatever happens I am still a majority shareholder.’ He registered her frown. ‘My relationship with my father is not the same as the one you had with your parents. He is more a business partner to me than a parent.’

      ‘What does this have to do with me?’

      ‘My father wants to see me settled. He is unwell.’

      The clipped tone of his voice told Emma he wasn’t angling for sympathy, but no matter what she thought of the son, Emma cared about the father. ‘What’s wrong with him?’ She watched Zarios’s jaw stiffen, saw a flash of annoyance dart across his features at the invasive nature of her question. Finally he gave a brief, reluctant nod, before answering. ‘He requires major heart surgery. His colleagues do not know—I would prefer that it stays that way.’

      ‘Of course,’ Emma responded. ‘I’m very sorry to hear that.’

      He neither wanted nor acknowledged her comment. Instead he moved swiftly on. ‘This is why he is retiring so quickly. He was going to tell your parents about the surgery after your father’s birthday. Given the seriousness of the matter, he is busy getting his affairs in order. He made it clear that if I toned down my behaviour, if I gave him reason to believe that I had changed, he would go against the rest of the board and transfer his stake to me. Miranda and I breaking up has almost put paid to that. However—’ he gave a wan smile ‘—just when it seemed irretrievable a solution has appeared.’ He gave Emma a black smile. ‘He thinks the world of you.’

      ‘He warned you off me!’ Emma pointed out. ‘I only wish you’d listened at the time.’

      ‘He doesn’t want me to hurt you, Emma!’ His lips pouted and he blew her a mock kiss. ‘Which is why we’re getting engaged!’

      ‘Please!’

      ‘I’ve never made it official with a woman before…’ He smiled at the novelty of his own treachery. ‘It would go a long way to convincing him!’

      ‘He’d never believe it.’

      ‘You’re too modest!’ Zarios chided, his sardonic smile mocking her. ‘Why, you’re an excellent liar and a consummate actress, Emma! Personally, I’d never have taken you for a gold-digging whore!’

      ‘Bastard!’

      ‘Then we understand each other,’ he drawled. ‘You’ll have no problem convincing him.’

      ‘As if he’s going to accept that we’re suddenly together—’ Emma shook her head. His proposal was too preposterous for words.

      ‘Why wouldn’t he?’ Zarios interrupted. ‘We will tell him the truth. We met up again after many years at your father’s sixtieth birthday party and the attraction was immediate.’

      Which was the truth, Emma conceded. But only so far!

      ‘With all that has happened to you recently, it is no wonder things have moved so quickly. Of course it was hard, ending things with Miranda, but my feelings for you…’ his eyes were black with malice ‘…were just impossible to ignore.’

      ‘Why?’ Emma blinked. ‘Why does it matter to you so much? You’re going to be rich either way…’

      ‘Honour,’ Zarios said. ‘Look it up in the dictionary when you get home. You might learn something!’

      ‘Honour amongst thieves, you mean!’ Emma responded. ‘You’re asking me to lie to your own father, remember.’

      ‘My father is too easily swayed by others—he has the Italian curse of worrying too much what others think.’

      ‘It must have skipped a generation.’

      ‘I have no…’ he snapped his fingers as he searched for the word ‘…no doubt.’ He shook his head, clearly not happy with his choice. ‘No guilt…’ Still he frowned.

      ‘No qualms.’ Emma stared coolly at him. ‘The word you’re looking for is qualms.’

      ‘It was the D’Amilo name that made our current directors rich, it is my acumen that has lined their pockets, and it is my brain that keeps it that way. I have no qualms about fighting for what is rightfully mine.’

      ‘Modest, too.’ Emma’s mouth twisted. She was way past even pretending to be polite now. She didn’t have time for this. There was no way she was going to agree, and there was no way he was going to lend her the money. She should never have come back!

      ‘I don’t believe in false modesty,’ Zarios continued. ‘I am the best—it is as simple as that.’

      He sat down then, and stared at her as if commencing a business meeting.

      ‘I will transfer the funds you require into your account now; in return we will go to my father tonight and tell him of our plans.’

      ‘And what happens when your father realises it was just a charade?’ Emma asked scathingly.

      ‘Who said anything about a charade?’ Zarios frowned. ‘We will be engaged.’

      ‘But when it ends…’ Emma flailed.

      ‘It might not!’ Zarios just laughed at her confusion. ‘There is, after all, a high possibility we will get married!’

      ‘Married…’ She scooped up her bag. She had never heard anything more bizarre in her life. She loved Jake and would do anything to help him—well, almost anything—but a marriage of convenience with a snake like Zarios was way beyond the call of sisterly duty.

      ‘You’re hardly in a position to walk out,’ Zarios called to her departing back.

      ‘I’m in every position. You really think I’d marry you? After all you’ve done, the way you are, do you really think I’d want to be married to a man like you?’

      ‘I never said that you had to marry me.’

      ‘You just did.’ Her fingers were reaching for the door handle. She was in absolutely no mood to decipher one of Zarios’s cryptic messages—in no state to have her frayed emotions toyed with even for a little while longer.

      ‘If you would let me finish—you will see you do have an exit clause.’

      ‘An exit clause…’ She blinked in anger and frustration at his businesslike terms. His utter disregard for the sanctity of marriage had never been more evident.

      ‘Your СКАЧАТЬ