Dante's Blackmailed Bride by Day Leclaire Read Free Book Online Page B

choice. She couldn’t lie. She had to admit the truth and take whatever punishment they chose to dole out, even if it meant the end of her career at TH. “Not exactly. I—”
    From behind Tina’s back, Kurt gave a warning shake of his head. “But you were suffering from a severe case of nerves, I assume?” Before Francesca could reply, he continued, “It’s the one excuse Tina can sympathize with, can’t you, darling? It happened to her on the night of her first show, too.”
    Tina gave an irritable shrug. “Yes, fine. It happened to me when we opened our first jewelry store in Mendocino. Too many nerves, too much champagne and too little intestinal fortitude.” She shot Francesca an annoyed look. “Is that what happened?”
    Francesca hesitated, before nodding despite nearly overwhelming guilt. “I’m so sorry. The crowd got to me and I decided to leave early.” She kept her gaze fixed on Tina, but caught Kurt’s small look of approval. “I promise it won’t happen again.”
    “I suggest it doesn’t. Next time I’ll fire you.” Tina continued to stare with uncomfortable intensity. “How in the world did you evade security? I need to know so in the future our designers and models can’t pull a similar stunt.”
    Francesca kept her gaze fixed on her drawing table. “There’s an exit off the balcony,” she whispered. “One of the guests escorted me.”
    “Go on.”
    Francesca swallowed. “As for the jewelry…I can’t tell you how sorry I am that I worried you. I swear I kept it safe.” Or rather Sev had. She’d been too far gone by that time to give a single thought to what damage their lovemaking might do to the delicate pieces.
    “That’s the only thing that saved your job,” Tina said sternly. “If anything had happened to the jewelry, you’d be cooling your heels in jail.”
    Tina’s assistant appeared before she could say anything further and leaned into the room around Kurt. “Call for you,” she informed her boss. “It’s Juliet Bloom’s rep.”
    Tina came off the chair as though catapulted and flew toward the door. She paused at the last instant. “Fair warning, Francesca.” She threw the admonition over her shoulder. “The rep wasn’t happy when I couldn’t produce you last night. If she’s calling to blow off our deal because you were incapable of doing your job, you’re gone.”
    Francesca fought to draw breath, seeing her career vanish before her eyes thanks to one night of utter foolishness. “I understand.”
    “And there’s a call for you on line three, Francesca,” the assistant added, with a hint of sympathy.
    “Excuse me for a minute,” she murmured to Kurt. She picked up the phone, not in the least surprised to hear Severo Dante’s voice respond to her greeting. “How may I help you?” she asked in as businesslike a tone as she could manage.
    “Huh.” He paused as though giving it serious thought. “I’m not quite sure how to answer that. Most of the possibilities that come to mind would be interesting variations on last night’s theme.”
    She didn’t dare respond to the comment. She’d risked quite enough already, thanks to Sev. “I’m really busy right now. Could I get back to you in regard to that?”
    “In regard to that, you can get back to me anytime you want. But I’m calling for a different reason, altogether. I want you to meet me for lunch at Fruits de Mer at one.”
    She spared Kurt a brief, uncomfortable glance. “That’s not remotely possible.”
    “In hot water, are you?”
    “Yes.”
    “Then let’s make it tomorrow.”
    “I’m sorry, that’s quite impossible.”
    “Make it possible or I’ll come by the office and let you explain my presence to the Fontaines. Or better yet, I’ll explain everything to them. Personally.”
    Oh, God. If he did that, she’d be fired for sure. Painfully aware of her father listening in, she chose her words with care. “You are such a…gentleman.”
    He chuckled. “You’re not