turned to look at her brother. ‘What do you mean?’
He placed his hands on her shoulders, forcing her to look up at him, and then smiled. ‘It’s sorted. Stop stressing and concentrate on your job.’
‘But...’ Before she could say any more, Dario had left. The room was filling more rapidly now and she watched everyone. Then her world stopped turning. Her heart stopped beating and she wasn’t sure she could even breathe.
Liev.
She closed her eyes in resignation of all that was surely about to happen. Liev Dragunov wanted revenge and he was here to get exactly that. Her first instinct was to warn Dario, but he was busy with final preparations.
She had no choice. She had to confront Liev—now—before he publicly created a scene.
Trying to gather her shattered nerves, she strode over to him. Instantly the air became full of tension and the way he dominated everything around him unnerved her further. The dark suit he wore hugged his body and that image she’d stored away, of him standing in the sea, sunlight defining every muscle, filled her mind. What was the matter with her? The expression on his face was unreadable as she looked directly into his eyes.
‘We need to talk, but not here.’ Bianca walked away, hoping Liev would follow. She glanced back to see that he was, and that inscrutable expression didn’t give her any hope that he’d changed his mind about revenge.
She went through the side doors, into the quietness of the corridor, and headed to the office she and Dario were using. Anywhere was better than having this conversation in public. Once inside the room, she stood behind the desk and turned to face him as he came in and shut the door.
His icy grey eyes met hers. ‘I’ve seen Dario.’
Straight for the jugular, then. No niceties. But what had she expected—or more to the point, what had she hoped for?
‘And?’ She wasn’t going to be drawn into giving anything else away. Not again.
He crossed the room and came to stand in front of her, only the polished surface of her desk between them. She could see the slate grey of his eyes glittering with anger. The firm set of his lips was so severe she wondered how she could ever have been seduced by his kiss. Because you wanted him. Because you loved him. The answers rushed at her and she stood a little taller in defence against what he was going to say.
‘You were right.’ His accent was harsher than she’d ever heard it, as if admitting such a thing was too difficult. The relief which rushed through her was immense, but it was soon hotly followed by panic.
‘About what?’ She didn’t want to assume anything. Despite Liev’s threat, ICE’s share prices had risen steadily. Did this mean he still had his trump card to play? Was that why he was here?
He calmly sat down, as if they were having a friendly chat, but the darkening of his eyes urged caution. Her attention was snagged as he stretched out his strong legs, looking powerful and relaxed, like a panther luring its prey in for the kill—and she had no intention of being his prey.
‘Dario had tried to put those dubious dealings right. I saw the evidence for myself.’ He watched her intently as she sat down and a zip of something travelled down her spine. Fear? Yes, that was it. How had he managed to obtain such information? She only knew what Dario had told her in the past; she’d never seen any evidence.
‘He wouldn’t just show you something like that.’ Why hadn’t Dario told her about this? He knew how worried she was, how guilty she felt. ‘When did this happen?’
‘Monday.’ The word slid through the air at her and she looked at him, and for a moment she thought she saw a hint of a smile on his lips. Damn him. Did it amuse him to torment her like this?
Why hadn’t Dario said anything to her? It must have been some showdown, but with the share prices rising, it was one Liev had obviously lost. Distractedly she dragged her fingers through her hair and looked at the few papers on her desk, as if they could give her all the answers she sought. Anything not to look into that handsome face.
‘You obviously didn’t carry out your planned revenge, so what is it you want now, Liev?’ She returned her attention to his face and saw the lift of his brows and again that fleeting hint of a smile. What was he up to? Just as the first time she’d met him, she didn’t trust him one bit.
He stood up and walked around the desk, to stand next to it and look out of the tall window at the skyscrapers of New York. His bold audacity at helping himself to such a view jarred on her already jangling nerves. She stood up, too, not happy to sit whilst he all but loomed so close.
‘Liev,’ she snapped, hardly able to contain the apprehension inside her. ‘What do you want this time?’
‘This time?’ He turned to face her and to her horror took a step closer, then another, until she could breathe in the scent of his aftershave, which only made her more worried as somewhere deep inside her the flicker of hot passion they’d shared stirred once more. She couldn’t allow him to dominate her, to drag her back to the night she’d loved with her heart and her body.
‘Yes, this time.’ Her terse words rushed out. ‘The last time you wanted something, it was to blackmail me in order to destroy my brother’s company. Not that you told me that—no, you lied and cheated your way into my...’
She stopped, inwardly cursing herself. She’d almost given herself away, almost told him he’d cheated his way into her heart. Just as she’d almost told him she loved him whilst they’d been in Central Park last weekend. Thank goodness she’d stopped herself each time. He could never know he had that power over her.
‘Into your what, Bianca?’ He took another step closer and she drew in a breath, determined not to step back, not to be intimidated by him, but even more determined he should never know the truth.
‘My family, my social circle. You told me you wanted acceptance and I tried to give you that, even though it was just a cover for the destructive revenge you planned.’
‘I did want acceptance, but things changed.’ He remained so close she could hardly think straight.
So he still wanted revenge. ‘If you have all you want, I think you should go.’
She turned away from him, looking out over the city as it shimmered in the heat of the afternoon. She didn’t need this conversation now, not when the launch was about to happen.
‘I’m not leaving, Bianca, not yet. Not when I don’t have everything I want.’
Her fingers curled tightly into the palms of her hands, her nails digging in painfully, focusing her mind. She whirled round to face him, her chin lifted defiantly. She would put an end to this right now.
‘What do you want, Liev?’
‘You.’
* * *
Liev watched Bianca’s eyes widen in shock and outrage, but this was no longer a time for dancing around issues and giving mixed messages. He had to tell her exactly what he wanted, exactly why he was here. The rest was up to her. He was totally at her mercy.
‘How dare you?’ She flung the accusation at him,
