The Price of Success by Maya Blake Read Free Book Online Page B

feisty.’
    What else had Rafael told him? Decidedly uncomfortable at the thought of being the subject of discussion, she shrugged.‘I haven’t reached where I am today without a fight or three. I won’t go quietly,’ she stressed again.
    Several minutes of silence stretched. Her nerves stretched along with them. Just when she thought she’d break, that she’d have to resort to plain, old-fashioned, humiliating begging, he hitched one taut-muscled thigh over the side of the desk and indicated the chair in front of it.
    ‘Sit down. I think a discussion is in order.’
    Marco watched relief wash over her face and hid a triumphant smile.
    He’d never had any intention of firing Sasha Fleming. Not immediately, anyway. He’d wanted her rattled, on a knife-edge at the possibility of losing what was evidently so precious to her.
    The bloodthirsty, vengeance-seeking beast inside him felt a little appeased at seeing her shaken. He also wanted to test her, to see how far she would go to fight for what she wanted. After all, the higher the value she placed on her career, the sweeter it would be to snatch it away from her. Just as he’d had everything wrenched from
him
ten years ago.
    He ruthlessly brushed aside the reminder of Angelique’s betrayal and focused on Sasha as she walked towards him.
    Again his senses reacted to her in ways that made his jaw clench. The attraction—and, yes, he was man enough to admit to it—was unwelcome as much as it was abhorrent. Rafael was in a coma, fighting for his life. The last thing Marco wanted to acknowledge was a chemical reaction to the woman in the middle of all this chaos. To acknowledge how the flare of her hips made his palms itch to shape them. How the soft lushness of her lower lip made him want to caress his finger over it.
    ‘Regardless of the state of the team, I have a responsibility towards the sponsors.’
    His office had already received several calls, ostensibly expressing concern for his brother’s welfare. In truth the sponsors were sniffing around, desperate to find out what Marco’s next move would be—specifically, who he would put in Rafael’s place and how it would affect their bottom line.
    She nodded. ‘Rafael was scheduled to appear at several sponsored engagements during the August hiatus. They’ll want to know what’s happening.’
    Once again Marco was struck by the calm calculation in her voice. This wasn’t the tone of a concerned lover or a distraught team mate. Her mind was firmly focused on Team Espiritu. In other circumstances, her single-mindedness would have been admirable. But he knew first-hand the devastation ambition like hers could wreak.
    Before he could answer a knock sounded on his door. One of his two butlers materialised from wherever he’d been stationed and opened the door.
    Russell Latchford, his second-in-command, and Luke Green, the team’s chief engineer, entered.
    Russell approached. ‘I’ve just been to see Rafael—’ He stopped when he saw Sasha. ‘Sasha. I didn’t know you were here.’ His tone echoed the question in his eyes.
    Sasha returned his gaze calmly. Nothing ruffled her. Nothing except the threatened loss of her job. The urge to see her lose that cool once again attacked Marco’s senses.
    ‘Miss Fleming’s here to discuss future possibilities in light of Rafael’s accident.’
    As team principal, it was Russell’s job to source the best drivers for the team, with Marco giving final approval. Marco saw his disgruntlement, but to his credit Russell said nothing.
    ‘Have you brought the shortlist I asked for?’ Marco asked Russell.
    Sasha inhaled sharply, and he saw her hands clench in her lap as Russell handed over a piece of paper.
    ‘I’ve already been discreetly approached by the top five, but every driver in the sport wants to drive for us. It’ll cost you to buy out their contracts, of course. If you go for someone from the lower ranking teams it’ll still cost you, but the fallout