The Dare Collection November 2018. Christy McKellen

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СКАЧАТЬ shallow sex and mindless pleasure-seeking.

      Sure, it had potential emotional landmine—the kind I avoided like the bloody plague—written all over it. But had I really left the landmine behind after Damian’s betrayal or had I simply been too numb to feel the detonations? I rose, prowled to the window and stared unseeing outside the porthole.

      What the hell was she doing to me?

      I should be concentrating on finding a way for Vadim to fall in line. Instead I returned to my desk, pulled up the programme that listed all The Mortimer Group’s work in progress around the world, specifically the Far East file.

      After a quick perusal, I fired off a text.

      I received a response within minutes.

      WTF? I don’t hear from you in over a year and you get in touch to criticise my work?

      I grinned at Bryce’s belligerent tone.

      The Diamond Bay’s rooftop pool should’ve been twenty metres longer. At least.

      It still won the award for the largest suspended pool in the world. And shouldn’t you be concentrating on a certain Russian who I hear is drinking our coffers dry?

      I wasn’t surprised Bryce was up to date with my stalled deal.

      It’ll be in the bag before the week’s out.

      Big talk. Want to back it up with a bet?

      A case of Macallan 1926 when I bag the deal?

      Make it more interesting. A bottle of Macallan M hand delivered by the loser.

      My fingers paused above the keyboard, a curious sensation I recognised as elation expanding in my chest. I placed the blame squarely at Leonora’s feet.

      You’re on.

      I look forward to enjoying it with the view from my rooftop pool.

      I was chuckling when the next message arrived.

      It’s good to hear from you, Gideon.

      Part of me wanted to stay pissed that Bryce had consulted with Damian on a few projects against my express wishes after Damian had relocated to New York. But then I’d never told him why I suddenly detested Damian. Bryce hadn’t taken that well.

      I sighed and typed. It’s good to be heard.

      I sat back in my chair, feeling lighter than I’d felt in a very long time.

      And when the urge struck me to find Leonora and tell her about my exchange with Bryce, I killed it dead.

      I couldn’t deny that whatever it was that pulled me towards Leonora, she had me hooked. Nor could I deny that I was looking forward to riding the storm. But that was all.

      And right now, I had a bet to win.

      I tackled my paperwork for the next two hours, then fired up my laptop. My assistant had done a good job of streamlining my inbox, which meant that email was at the top of the queue, highlighted and screaming for attention.

      The lightness faded. Everything blurred away until only a single image remained, one I’d been trying to forget for the better part of three years.

      Damian and Penny.

      Their double betrayal had derailed me for a long time. Enough for me to keep tabs on Damian for almost a year, the need for vengeance burning harsh and bright.

      He’d more than succeeded with his business ventures in the States. Hell, he’d thrived, the addition of his name to a popular venture capitalist TV show elevating not just him, but The Mortimer Group by association.

      For the better part of the year, the desire to destroy him the way he’d destroyed me had occupied vast amounts of my waking moments. That need for vengeance no longer burned bright.

      Granted, I’d redirected it when the true depth of betrayal had been revealed much later. The final blow Penny had struck by getting rid of my child was not only unforgivable. It’d been unforgettable.

      Unlike with Damian, I hadn’t throttled back my vengeance when it came to her. Especially when I found out she was using my name to bolster the event-planning career that was so precious to her.

      I’d derived immense satisfaction from watching her twist in the wind after losing one client after the other.

      That satisfaction eased my fury now.

      If Damian was intent on bringing himself back into my orbit, then I’d deal with him when the time came.

      Till then, I had an empire to run.

      Leonie

      I watched the speedboat depart with the last of Vadim’s guests for the bright light of Budva, a quarter of a mile away.

      At just past eight p.m. I was officially off the clock, but my inner boss lady hadn’t relaxed until the guests were off the boat.

      I was dressed to go out, too. Montenegro in general and Budva in particular were two of my favourite places. While researching places to bring my clients, I’d fallen in love with the place. From my balcony, I spotted the smaller water taxi I’d organised for myself approach. Purse in hand, I left my cabin and headed for the first-floor deck.

      I hadn’t seen Gideon with Vadim, and, finding myself watching out for him, I’d grimaced with self-disgust. The hours I’d spent convincing myself I was better off staying clear of him frittered away to nothing as I caught a glimpse of his tall, breathtaking body, leaning against the railing.

      I still couldn’t believe what had happened at the lunch table, and not just that mind-blowing orgasm he’d given me. There was something about hearing the man admit his flaws while clinging to his vows that had kicked something into life inside me. I’d walked away from the deck craving him even more.

      But as he’d pointed out himself, I’d be a fool to let any newly discovered attributes sway me from the fact that the man could reduce me to a blithering mass of sexual emotion while barely exerting himself.

      Our business together was transient at best. And now I knew the true nature of what was going on with him, I didn’t intend to become the toy he amused himself with while he waited for his self-imposed sentence to be over.

      Gideon spotted me and approached as I reached the exit ramp. ‘Going somewhere?’

      ‘Yes, I’m heading into town. I’m officially off the clock. If you need a ride off the yacht, I can make a call for you.’

      One corner of his mouth quirked in that sexy way of his and I struggled not to let his heated gaze affect me as it moved from the top of my head to my feet.

      ‘Or I can catch a lift with you.’ His eyes performed a return journey up my body.

      My olive-green dress wasn’t as sexy as the black number I’d worn to the casino, but it showed enough bare legs, arms and shoulders to make a statement.

      The СКАЧАТЬ