The Man to Be Reckoned With by Tara Pammi Read Free Book Online Page A

thirty. It galled her to admit it, but the man
was
a genius investor and apparently also one of the leading philanthropists of their generation.
    He donated millions to charity and causes the world over, but there hadn’t been a byte about his personal life. What was she to make of him?
    â€œI was looking for something of a personal nature.”
    He leveled a shocked look at her. “Why?”
    â€œJackie told Robert you were back and he asked me a thousand questions about you. I had nothing to tell him apart from the fact that you’re a gazillionaire and an arrogant, heartless SO...”
    He narrowed his eyes and Riya sighed. Antagonizing him was going to get her precisely nowhere.
    â€œSo, all this interest in my personal life is only for your precious Robert, right?”
    She would jump from the thirteenth story before she admitted to him how scarily right he was. Ignoring the charged air of the luxurious interior, she went through her email. “This whole trip is just an excuse for you to—”
    â€œExcuse for what?” he interrupted, a thread of anger in his voice. He leaned forward, his muscled forearms resting on his thighs. Gaze zeroed in on her with the focus of a laser beam. Lingered over every inch of her face until it was a caress. The decadent sides of the vehicle seemed to move inward until it was as if they were locked in a bubble.
    â€œYou’re welcome at any time to sign the papers and walk away. And I’ll do the same.”
    Shaking her head, Riya looked away, trying to break the spell he cast around them. She was nowhere near equipped to take him on. On any level.
    Soon they arrived at a private airfield. A sleek Learjet with RunAway International’s logo, a tangled-up R&A, was waiting. They boarded the aircraft and it was easy to keep her mouth shut, greeted by the sheer affluence and breadth of Nathaniel Ramirez’s standing in the world.
    The interior of the plane was all cream leather and sleek panels. Her brown trousers and ironed beige dress shirt had never looked quite so shabby as they did against the quiet elegance of her surroundings. While Nathan spoke to the pilot, she took a quick tour and came away with her head spinning.
    The master suite in the back was more opulent than her bedroom at the estate.
    Still reeling from the sheer breadth of Nathan’s wealth, she made a quick call to Jackie and Robert, informing them of her sudden trip.
    It took her a few minutes to settle down, to regain her balance that he tipped so easily. Soon they were leveling off at thousands of feet, with nothing but silence stretching in the main cabin.
    â€œRobert asked me to tell you that he can’t wait to see you,” she said.
    His mouth narrowed into an uncompromising line, his whole posture going from relaxed to tense in a matter of seconds. “Tell me what happened between you and Mr. Anderson.”
    â€œThat’s none of your...” Sighing, she tried to collect herself.
    The last thing she wanted was to talk about herself and with him of all people. But if he couldn’t even tolerate Robert’s name, what was he going to say when he saw him? What was the point of all this if he just sat there and glared at Robert with that frosty gaze?
    How hardhearted did he have to be not to wonder about Robert all these years?
    If the price was that she answer questions about herself, then she would.
    â€œThere’s nothing much. Drew and I shared a professional relationship. For the most part.” Time for attack again. “Where did you go when you left all those years ago?”
    Challenge simmered between them. If she went down this road, he was going to make her pay.
    â€œNew York City first and then I backpacked through Europe.” Promptly came the next shot. “So Mr. Anderson was just a hopeful candidate you were trying on?”
    â€œFor the last time, I was not trying him on. I never even went on a date with