all on your own!’
Gregorio’s mouth tightened at the jibe. ‘Silvio and Raphael are waiting outside in the car.’
‘Of course they are,’ she scorned. ‘Do you carry a panic button you can press, if necessary, and they’ll come running?’
‘You are being childish, Miss Fairbanks.’
‘No, what I’m being is someone attempting to get rid of an unwanted visitor.’ Her eyes flashed. ‘Now, take your damned foot out of my doorway!’
His jaw tightened. ‘We need to talk, Amelia.’
‘No, we really don’t. And Amelia was my grandmother,’ she dismissed. ‘My name is Lia. Not that I’m giving you permission to use it. Only my friends are allowed that privilege,’ she added with a sneer.
Gregorio knew he was most certainly not one of those. And nor did ‘Lia’ intend for him ever to become one.
It was unfortunate for her that Gregorio felt differently on the subject. He didn’t only want to be Lia’s friend, he had every intention of becoming her lover.
When his parents had died twelve years ago they had left their sons only a rundown vineyard in Spain. As the eldest of the three brothers, Gregorio had made it his priority to rebuild and expand, and now he and his brothers owned a vineyard to be proud of, as well as other businesses worldwide. He had done those things by single-mindedly knowing what he wanted and ensuring that he acquired it.
He had wanted Lia from the moment he’d first set eyes on her. He would not give up until he had her.
He almost smiled—but only almost—at the thought of her reaction if he were to state here and now that that was his intention. No, he knew to keep that to himself. For now.
‘Nevertheless, the two of us need to talk. If you would care to open the door and put some clothes on...?’
‘There are two things wrong with that demand.’
‘It was a request—not a demand.’
She raised auburn brows. ‘Coming from you, it was a demand. I don’t care to open the door, or go and put some clothes on. And nor,’ she continued when he would have spoken, ‘as I’ve already said, do you have anything to say that I want to hear. Because of you my father is dead.’ Tears glistened in those smoky grey eyes. ‘Just leave, Mr de la Cruz, and take your guilty conscience with you.’
Gregorio’s jaw clenched. ‘I do not have a guilty conscience.’
‘Silly me—of course you don’t.’ She eyed him scornfully. ‘Men like you ruin people’s lives every day, so what does it matter if a man had a heart attack and died because of you?’
‘You are being melodramatic.’
‘I’m stating the facts.’
‘Men like me?’ he queried softly.
‘Rich and ruthless tyrants who trample over everyone and everything that gets in your way.’
‘I was not always rich.’
‘But you were always ruthless—still are!’
For the sake of his brothers and his own future, yes, he had become so. Had needed to be in a business world that would have eaten him up and spat him out again if not for that ruthlessness. But ruthless was the last thing he wanted to be where Lia was concerned.
He shook his head. ‘You are not only being overly dramatic, but you are also totally incorrect in your accusations. In regard to your father or anyone else. As you would know if you would allow me to come in and talk to you.’
‘Not going to happen.’ She gave a firm shake of her head.
‘I disagree.’
‘Then be prepared to take the consequences.’
‘Meaning?’ Gregorio’s lids narrowed.
‘Meaning I’m being extremely restrained right now, but if you persist in this harassment I promise you I will take the appropriate legal steps to ensure you are made to stay away from me.’
He raised his brows. ‘What legal steps?’
‘A restraining order.’
Gregorio had never experienced this much frustrated anger with another person’s stubbornness before. He was Gregorio de la Cruz, and for the past twelve years no one had dared to oppose him. Lia not only did so, but seemed to take delight in it.
He had never felt so much like strangling a woman and kissing her at the same time, either. ‘Would you not have to engage the services of another lawyer in order to be able to do that?’ he retaliated.
Colour blazed in her cheeks at his obvious reference to the fact that David Richardson was no longer her family lawyer or her fiancé.
‘Bastard!’
Gregorio had regretted the taunt as soon as it had left his lips. At the same time as he couldn’t take it back when he only spoke the truth. David Richardson had left this woman’s life so fast after her father’s death and Fairbanks Industries being put under investigation, Gregorio wouldn’t be surprised if the other man hadn’t suffered whiplash.
He took his wallet from the breast pocket of his jacket before removing a card from inside. ‘This has my private cell phone number on it.’ He held out the white gold-embossed business card to her. ‘Call me when you are ready to hear what I have to say.’
Lia stared at the card as if it were a viper about to strike her. ‘That would be never.’
‘Take the card, Lia.’
‘No.’
The Spaniard’s jaw clenched as evidence of his frustration with her lack of co-operation. She doubted many people stood up to this arrogant man. He was far too accustomed to telling people what to do rather than asking.
Lia had acted as her father’s hostess for years, so she had met high-powered, driven men like him before. Well...perhaps not quite like Gregorio de la Cruz, because he took arrogance to a whole new level. But she had met other men who believed no one should ever say no to them. Probably because no one ever had.
She had no problem whatsoever in saying no to Gregorio.
Lia didn’t remember her mother, because she had died in a car crash when Lia had still been a baby. But for all Lia’s life her father had been a constant—always there, always willing to listen and spend time with her. Their bond had been strong because of it. When her father had died Lia hadn’t just lost her only parent but her best friend and confidante.
‘I’m asking you to leave one last time, Mr de la Cruz.’ She spoke flatly, sudden grief rolling over her, as heavy as it was exhausting.
Gregorio frowned at the way Lia’s face had suddenly paled. ‘Do you have anyone to take care of you?’
She blinked in an effort to ward off her
