Love me if you dare by Sabel Simmons Read Free Book Online Page B

forward.  We have a partnership;
it’s not as if I can just say I resign!”
    “That
is not what I meant.”  His voice was dangerously quiet, but at least he stopped
pursuing her around her desk.
    “Then
what …”
    “I
warned you that you will be mine.”  He ignored her indignant gasp, and pushed
his hands in his pocket, a mocking grin around his mouth.
    “And
I came to make sure you did not forget.” He started to relax with the
realization that she had every intention of informing her partner she was going
back to South Africa.
    Of
course the same irritating partner chose that moment to walk into her office
after a brief knock on the door.  The two men glared at each other and Samantha
sighed.  Charles was an excellent business man, and could be hard and ruthless
when the need arose, but he was still no match for Nicolas.  She introduced
them quickly and asked Charles if he would join her for dinner that evening.
    “There
is something I have to tell you that I have procrastinated in since I came
back.”  He accepted, and with a brief nod in Nicolas’s direction left the
office.
    “I
am going with.”
    “No,
you are not!”  He pulled himself to his full height and towering over her, gave
her the full measure of his will. She shook her head before he could add words
to the stare.
    “No,
Nicolas.  I owe Charles a lot.  He believed in me and we have gone through a
lot to be where we are today.  I have to explain to him and try to find a
solution.  You have to understand!  This place … it’s partly mine, it’s wh…”
    “Global
Consulting is also partly yours!”
    “Agreed,
but this … I put blood, sweat and tears into it.  Nicolas, I can’t just walk
away from it!  I just can’t!”
    He
could not stand the tears that were drowning her eyes and pulled her into his
arms and just held her.  Tenderly stroking her hair and allowing her to calm
down.  He sighed heavily.
    “Just
don’t ever run away from me again, Samantha.  This time I will not let you get
away from me … I will always find you.”  His arms tightened around her when her
arms sneaked around his back to close around him, holding him tight.
    Samantha
met Charles at a cozy restaurant in downtown Manhattan, not too far from her
apartment.  He was already waiting when she arrived at the restaurant, clearly
very agitated.  Damn Nicolas for upsetting him before she could put his mind at
rest.  Since the reading of the testament she has been racking her brain for a
solution, and after their successful negotiation with Crayon, believed she
found one.
    Charles
briefly hugged her, his expression grim. 
    “Can
I get you something to drink?”
    “A
glass of dry white wine, please.”  When the waiter arrived with the order, they
placed their order for starters at the same time.  Both acknowledged their
hunger as they never had lunch.  Nicolas of course the reason for that!  She
was still surprised he gave in so easily and did not force the issue of joining
them for dinner.  He left to meet an old varsity friend of his that lived in
Long Island.
    “So,
are you going to make we wait until after we’ve eaten?”
    “I
am sorry, Charles. I never intended for you to find out about it like this.  I
wanted to talk to you as soon as I arrived, but with all the preparations and
negotiations with Crayon … it was more important.”
    He
sighed and rubbed his eyes tiredly.  “From what Forrester said, it sounded as
if you and he … are you getting married?”
    “No! 
He was just being his frustrating, obnoxious self!  It’s my dad’s testament. 
He gave me forty percent of the company shares, my mom five and the balance of
fifteen percent to Nicolas.  He already owns forty percent.  There was a
condition.  I ha …” She swallowed hard.
    Charles
took her hand resting on the table in his and squeezed it gently.  “Go on.”
    “I
have to be an operational Director in the company and accept the shares.  If