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The three had been on the cover of Fortune Magazine not once but twice. Where the hell had I been?
Not paying any attention.
That had been my issue working with my father before, maybe because he’d kept me busy with grunt work. No longer.
The knock on the door startled me more than I cared to admit and a part of me wanted to ignore both the sound and the man. I knew Valerio was standing on the other side of the door.
I could smell his venom while sitting in the kitchen.
Did he really think he was going to convince me to go away with him?
Fat chance in hell.
Maybe having another chance to make that perfectly clear would suit my mood. I wasn’t some poodle who would follow the man blindly.
I took long strides to the door, throwing it open.
He was turned around to face the opposite direction, still in the same dress clothes he’d been wearing at the restaurant.
“What do you want?” I demanded, taken aback by his sinful and powerful cologne.
As he slowly turned around, I tried not to react, but it was tough.
Especially since he had a rose in his mouth. One beautiful and probably perfect rose. Very slowly he removed it, twirling the stem as he crowded my space.
“Don’t push me or I’ll call the police,” I snapped, slapping my hand against his chest. Why did he have to look so damn good?
“Please do. I’d love to hear what you plan on telling them.”
The man was positively infuriating. I tried to keep my resolve but if I didn’t step away from him, I’d become drunk on the scent alone.
The moment I took a step backwards, he took advantage, coming inside and slamming the door. He glanced quickly at the box of goodies, grinning as if he had won a point or five in some vicious game we were playing. When he held the rose in front of me, it was all I could do not to use it to slap him across the face.
If only it had thorns.
I took it, involuntarily taking a deep whiff. The gesture I would have considered lovely just a day ago. Not now. If it did have thorns, I had a feeling he’d poison the tips.
He glanced around my apartment with obvious distaste. “I think we need to start over.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“You’re hardheaded.”
“You’re a liar.”
“I am no such thing and if you stop being angry with me for long enough, you’ll figure it out. Are we destined to be friends given who our fathers are? That’s up to you, Selena.”
“Well, we’re certainly not going to be anything else.”
“I have no intention of being your enemy. We work in the same industry. That doesn’t mean we can’t work together.”
“Are you crazy?” I folded my arms across my chest, giving him a haughty look. “Your father is out to destroy mine. I’ve seen the accounts. I know he’s trying to steal several contacts my father worked hard to obtain. I am not. Going. To. Allow. That.” To add emphasis, I pressed my index finger against his chest.
He slowly lowered his head, that sexy grin highlighting his dimples I’d adored before and hated now.
“Likely, cupcake. I see you received my gift. I’m glad. Every color will look marvelous on you.”
“Take them back.”
