She thought she was over that humiliation. It had scarred her emotionally, making her determined to keep men locked out of her heart. She’d walked away from that experience a virgin, her reputation intact and with a vow never to be so naive again, and had been unable to trust a man since. And she certainly didn’t trust Liev Dragunov one bit. Not when he had the one thing she had to have, giving her little choice but to agree to his terms.
‘In fact,’ she began again before he could say anything, ‘if you achieve your objectives before that time, our engagement will end and you will give me the bracelet.’
‘You sound sure you can do this.’ His voice held a note of suspicion as she looked up at him, resisting the urge to just walk away and forget it all. But she couldn’t. She had to do this—and she would.
‘The only problem I have will be convincing everyone I have fallen for such a...’ She floundered over her words, hating herself for it.
‘Such a what?’
She looked at him. Everything about him shouted wealth and power, but it couldn’t hide the untamed man within. It was something that would attract women, but she was not one of those women. Never had been and never would be.
‘A ruthless rebel.’ He actually laughed, as if he was proud of it.
‘Do I have your word? Three months at the most.’
‘You have my word—you will have the bracelet before three months, providing sufficient acceptance of my name and standing in society have been achieved.’
‘And if that doesn’t happen?’ She knew the answer already.
‘You will not see the bracelet again, but I am sure with your excellent PR skills you can smooth the way for me.’
She hated him more than she’d hated any man before. But unlike the last time she’d been set up ten years ago, there wasn’t a way out. At least, not an obvious one. She was dealing with a much more determined character this time. A force of nature let loose on her Achilles heel. Her grandfather.
‘Three months. Not a day more,’ she reiterated firmly.
‘Yes.’ His Russian accent, which had softened as he’d whispered his terms in her ear, was suddenly very distinctive again.
‘And when do you propose this fake engagement to start?’ That choice of word wasn’t lost on her as she wondered how her brothers and sisters would take the news of her engagement. Especially Allegra, who knew all the sordid details of the prom and why she’d sworn never to get involved with men. How could she tell her it was all for show, that in order to get the bracelet Grandfather so desperately wanted, she was bargaining with her reputation?
She thought again of how tired and worn out Allegra had looked in Geneva and knew that, whatever happened, she couldn’t confide in her. Not now. This was something she would have to face alone.
She looked directly into Liev’s cold grey eyes, determined not to let her unease show.
‘It will start right now.’
LIEV WAS CONVINCED the fiery woman who had just challenged him so passionately hadn’t really agreed to his terms. Not completely. Her dark eyes met and held his defiantly, and he knew she was still trying to figure an alternative way out. Playing for time.
All he needed was to discover why the bracelet was so important, why she would even agree to such a drastic deal for a piece of jewellery. But that wasn’t so urgent now. He needed to set the stage for their engagement and it would have to be convincing.
‘Right now we could certainly pass for lovers who have had a tiff, but you are going to have to do better if we are to convince everyone that we are madly in love and have just got engaged.’
‘Madly in love?’ The surprise in her voice echoed that in her expression.
‘Yes, Bianca, madly in love. That way my acceptance into society is more guaranteed. Do you think you can portray a woman in love?’ He lowered his voice and taunted her mercilessly, enjoying all but whispering in her ear. Her scent filled him, knocking his heightened senses off balance.
‘Don’t worry about that, Mr Dragunov. I’ve spent my life in the limelight. I can act my part.’ Bianca’s words, once again, cut short his runaway thoughts.
He nodded his approval. ‘In that case, you will have no objection to me putting my arm around your shoulders as we leave and, naturally, as we are in love, you will welcome it. You will look happy. Ecstatic. I have, after all, just bought you an expensive gift—and, most importantly, you will call me Liev.’
‘Where are we going?’ For a moment she looked startled and again his conscience snagged on something, but he quickly reminded himself this icy beauty was agreeing to his proposition for a frivolous trinket. Diamonds and emeralds it may be, but it was frivolous nonetheless. She was exactly the kind of woman he despised and there was only one reason for being here with her—the revenge he had to exact on the company her brother now headed. The one that was responsible for his family’s ruin.
He smiled and moved closer in the way a lover would do, pushing back the hurt from the past in order to play his part. He caught the scent of her perfume again and this time inhaled, closing his eyes momentarily, enjoying the scent of summer roses. There were going to be parts to this revenge he would enjoy immensely.
‘First of all, as we leave we will have to pass the press that will most probably have gathered to find out who it was that made such an outrageously high bid on the bracelet. Then we will find a quiet bar to finalise the finer points of our deal.’
‘Don’t worry, Mr Dragunov. I can handle the press.’ Her flippant tone made him smile, admiring the fight that still raged in her.
‘I have every reason to believe you can.’ The slight widening of her eyes, which turned into a deep blue, reminding him of the dark waters of the ocean, suggested she hadn’t thought about the possibility that the press would be outside, despite her bravado. But he had. And he intended this to be the first time they were noticed together as a couple. ‘It will set things up nicely for an engagement announcement.’
‘You’re actually serious about the engagement?’ Incredulity filled her voice.
‘I am nothing if not serious, Bianca.’
The use of her name sent a rush of awareness through him, probably because of the way she drew in a sharp breath, her luscious lips looking ever more kissable. The inconvenient pull of attraction to the woman who was the key to successfully avenging his parents was not something he’d considered. Nor would he do so again. Complete focus was all he needed to maintain. Any other emotion was surplus to requirements—just as it had always been.
‘There is a bar on the next block that will be quiet enough for us to discuss the finer details of our arrangement.’ He took her hand and felt her hesitation as she allowed him to wrap his fingers tightly around it.
‘What about the bracelet?’ So she didn’t trust him.
‘It is quite safe and will remain that way until our arrangement is complete.’ Without further comment,
