Powerful Persuasion

Celena let out an impatient sigh. ‘I don’t want to go out I’ve had a hell of a day, with no thanks to you; I planned on an early night.’

He shot a glance at his watch—an expensive gold affair. Cartier probably, she decided, seeing the Roman numerals on its face. Everything about this man spelt wealth, and he seemed to think that it could get him whatever he wanted. She had no doubt that he intended to offer her an even higher salary.

‘It’s early yet—only a little after eight,’ he said. ‘Perhaps we could talk here? I promise to take up no more than an hour of your time.’

She felt a fresh surge of apprehension. ‘I never allow strangers into my house.’

Thick brows lifted. ‘I don’t think we’re entirely strangers, and I promise you, Miss Coulsden, that my intentions are strictly honourable.’ He chuckled as he said it. ‘An old-fashioned turn of phrase. Let me put it another way. I have no designs on your body, beautiful though it is. You’ll be perfectly safe.’

And Celena surprised herself by believing him. She found him dangerous in many ways, but felt instinctively that she could accept his word on this occasion. ‘Very well.’ She stepped back reluctantly. ‘Though I promise you you’ll be wasting your time; I never change my mind once it is made up.’

His lips quirked. ‘And I never accept no for an answer. An impasse, no less. It will be interesting to see who wins.’

The character of the house changed as he stepped inside. It had always had a relaxed, comfortable feeling, but the instant this man entered the whole atmosphere became charged—as it had in his office! It was going to be a difficult meeting, Celena decided.

She led him down the hallway to her sitting room at the back, which overlooked a pleasant courtyard which she had filled with tubs and containers growing a profusion of colourful plants and climbing shrubs, making the small area look almost Mediterranean.

‘Please sit down.’ She indicated a dumpy armchair that she had recovered in rust linen, but sat on the opposite side of the room herself on a straight wooden chair with her back to the French windows. It put him at a disadvantage because the low evening sunlight slanted right into his eyes.

She had reckoned without his guessing her tactics. He got up and smiled—that wolfish smile which hinted that he was in complete control. ‘You take the comfortable chair.’

He held out a hand and she had no choice, but she ignored his offer of help, pulling the curtains slightly before she sat down. But not enough. The sun still caught the chair and made her squint as she looked at him.

‘The hot spot?’ he queried. ‘Good try, Miss Coulsden, but I prefer to be the one in control.’

She said nothing, hiding her embarrassment, looking at him with her lips clamped together, her grey eyes stormy. ‘OK, make your offer.’

Their eyes met and held for several long, suspenseful seconds—seconds during which Celena’s heart catapulted once again with violent emotion.

‘I think,’ he said, his tone low and meaningful, ‘that first of all we ought to analyse your motives for refusing.’

She lifted one eyebrow. ‘Analyse? There is nothing to analyse.’

‘No?’ he asked sceptically. ‘No one except the very rich wouldn’t like to earn more money.’

Her eyes flashed. ‘And you’re one of that élite band, thinking that your money can buy anything you’ve set your heart on. Let me tell you this, Mr Segurini—I refuse to be bought Didn’t I make myself clear?’

‘Did you check on the situation with your present employers?’

She inclined her head. ‘You were right,’ she admitted grudgingly.

‘And you have a mortgage on this house?’

‘I don’t see that that is any business of yours,’ she retorted. He probably knew anyway; it was very likely one of the pieces of information stored in his computer system. Her parents’ house hadn’t fetched all that much, and property here was so much dearer, so yes, she did have a mortgage.

‘And then, of course,’ he said with a slow, knowing smile as he delivered his pièce de résistance, ‘there are your sister’s school fees. It must be quite a struggle for you, Celena.’

Celena gasped, even though she knew she ought not to be surprised, and jumped to her feet, moving so that the sun was not glaring into her eyes. ‘Get out of here, you swine. You have no right prying into—’

‘You’re even more beautiful when you’re angry,’ he cut in softly. ‘It amazes me that some man hasn’t snapped you up before now. You need the job, Celena; why don’t you take it?’

He was right—she did need it; she could not afford to turn him down a second time. But there was still defiance in her eyes. ‘Only if you triple my present salary,’ she declared, chin jutting.

A wide smile softened the harsh contours of his face; white teeth gleamed. ‘Done.’ He stood too and held out his hand and Celena was compelled to take it ‘I knew you would come to your senses. Everyone has their price.’

His grip pulverised her hand, but more shocking than that were the waves of electricity that ran through her—the chemical reaction that she had felt in his office but which was much stronger here. Please God, don’t let our paths cross too often, she prayed silently.

CHAPTER TWO (#ulink_558c8735-4879-5903-8cc7-7b5cfeed959e)

ONE month later Celena began working for Luse and for the first week and a half, much to her relief, she saw nothing of Luciano, though his name was on everyone’s lips. Luciano this, Luciano that, Luciano wants, Luciano would like, et cetera, et cetera. And Luciano got!

She was also quizzed tirelessly as to how she had got her job. No one had left; there had been no real vacancy. It was apparently a made-up job, and one that puzzled everyone else as much as Celena. A second bouquet of white roses had arrived—this time the card had simply read ‘Thank you’.

And then came the summons to the big man’s office. To her annoyance Celena felt her heart pounding long before she reached the end of the corridor which took her to his room. She paused a moment outside to regain her equilibrium and was standing there breathing deeply when the door was suddenly yanked opened.

‘What are you doing, Miss Coulsden?’ Luciano Segurini asked with considerable amusement. ‘Plucking up courage to face the lion in his den?’

He was so very near the mark that to save herself embarrassment she said, ‘Naturally. You’re held in very high esteem, Mr Segurini A call to your sanctum is not to be treated lightly. What is it—am I getting the sack, or a raise?’

His lips quirked as he motioned her inside. ‘Very few of my employees would dare to speak to me like that’

‘Really?’ She allowed a faint frown. ‘Didn’t you tell me, just after I accepted this job, that you’re one big happy family here? No distinction between the classes, so to speak? If that is the case I see no reason why I can’t say what I like.’ As he had been ready to go to any lengths to employ her she had no fear of dismissal.

‘No matter.’ He motioned her to sit down, settling himself behind his huge desk as he had on that first occasion. And now, as then, Celena felt her skin tingle, felt the enormous pull of his magnetism, and puzzled anew at her unexpected and uncharacteristic response.

‘Have you any immediate plans, Celena?’

She frowned faintly, not altogether sure that she understood.

‘I mean personal ones. Holidays, that sort of thing.’ His tone was crisp and professional and it was a relief to hear him talking like this.

‘No.’ She resisted the temptation to say she was sure that he knew anyway, that he had everything on computer down to the birthmark on her left thigh. He probably even knew what her bank balance was.

‘Good, because I want you to accompany me to Sicily.’

‘Sicily?’ she repeated in amazement.

‘Yes, my home country.’

‘And for what reason am I to accompany you?’ Alarm bells sounded once again in her head—extra loud ones this time.

‘Purely business, of course. I handle quite a lot of advertising over there.’

‘And why do you need me?’

‘Isn’t that clear?’ he asked sharply, as though she was stupid for missing the point. ‘You’re doubly qualified. It will save both time and money if you can come up with ideas on the spot.’

She eyed him guardedly. ‘And this is what you had in mind right from the offset?’