Tempting Aquisitions by Addison Fox Read Free Book Online

you’ve done some amazing things with the company. I have no intention of changing that.”
    “I’m the group publisher. I run the organization. Surely in your vision of world domination, you don’t see my continuing in that role as a viable option.”
    “Why not? I’m sure there are changes I’d like to make. Your decision, for example, to continue publishing Home and Family makes no sense.”
    “It’s our flagship. And it’s far more profitable than the business and advertising presses would like to believe.”
    He shrugged, unwilling to believe his intel on the company was flawed. “Then it’s a recent change.”
    Her eyes went wide with mock innocence as she stared at him over the rim of her coffee cup. “Or maybe you need to admit you don’t know as much about the media business as you think you do.”
    “Are you willing to bet your company on that, princess?”
    “I’m not interested in betting anything. As I’ve tried to explain to you, McBride Media is not for sale.”
    “You should have thought about that before you made the company public.”
    “My father did that.”
    Nathan immediately keyed in on the slight hitch in her voice as another few pieces of the puzzle fell into place. “And you’ve spent your life cleaning up Daddy’s mistakes, haven’t you?”
    If he expected his words to crush her, he was in for some serious disappointment. Instead, her spine stiffened even further while her voice took on a harder edge as she skated dangerously close to the edge of well-mannered propriety.
    “Innuendo and suspicion, Nathan? I’d have thought you had a far better arsenal of weapons than that. Especially since you’ve prickled up on the few occasions your father’s been mentioned.”
    She was cool; he’d give her that. Of course, she’d have to be to survive—and thrive—in business as she had.
    “You can’t run from the truth. His actions put the company in a vulnerable position by making it public.”
    “And you somehow feel that vulnerability means it’s your God-given right to come in and steal it.”
    “I’m not stealing anything, Keira.”
    “That’s a matter of opinion.”
    Before he could say anything, a discreet knock echoed from the doorway and her assistant came back in. “I’m so sorry to disturb you, but you said you wanted me to let you know when your car arrived.”
    “Thanks, Stacy.”
    As soon as the woman left, Keira stood, her actions effectively dismissing their conversation and him.
    “I have a lunch appointment I need to keep. Which is probably for the best, as it’s clear you and I aren’t going to see eye to eye.”
    “I’ll come with you.”
    Nathan wasn’t sure where the response came from—had really only said it as a reaction to the heat of the moment—but now that the words were out the idea took on considerable merit.
    And couldn’t deny his interest in seeing how she handled herself in a business transaction, one that was, presumably, not as tense and argumentative as what was evolving between them.
    “I’m not bringing you on a business lunch.”
    Warming up to the idea, he couldn’t stop the smile. His own meetings could wait. This was far more important. “Sure you are. It’ll give me a chance to see you in action.”
    “So you can steal my secrets?”
    “So I can see how it’s done right.”
    He saw her momentarily stumble before she stopped stuffing a few items into a pricey designer tote to stare at him, her expression softening a few degrees. The shift in tactic was not nearly as subtle as he suspected she’d intended, but he was intrigued all the same. Keira struck him as a professional who did nothing without very deliberate intention.
    “Nathan. I’ve worked to get this appointment for six months. It’s with the head of Rejuvenate Cosmetics. As someone who wants to take over my company, surely you can understand the importance of growing the business of a client like this.”
    “All the more reason for me to come.