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That wish intensified when seconds later they were enclosed in the elevator as it descended. The shiny interior reflected their images as they stood side by side. She tried not to look and to calm her breathing, but the harshness of his reflected expression did little to help. If he was going to scowl like that, how would anyone really believe they were engaged? As their eyes met in the reflection, she realised she had to do more than dress the part of a woman in love—she had to act it too.
‘My car is waiting. When we arrive I hope that you will appear more enamoured with me, instead of visibly flinching from my touch.’ His words mirrored her worries and were sharp, his accent more pronounced. She had to stifle a smile at the knowledge that she was irritating him and resist the urge to continue to do so. Rebellion wouldn’t help her at all.
‘If I can take that constant frown from your face, then there will be no doubt in anyone’s mind that we are in love.’ Her tart words hit their target and he turned to look at her, his eyes narrowing in suspicion.
‘Already we make a well-matched couple. Let’s ensure that others see something softer, something more akin to a fairy-tale romance.’ His acerbic tone almost stole her breath as she glared back at him, frustration bubbling inside her.
So he wanted fairy tale, did he? ‘Very well, then that is what you shall have.’
The elevator doors opened and she looked up at him, slid her arm into his and pulled her body against him. The heat that seared her skin made her draw in a sharp breath—as did the racing of her pulse. What was the matter with her? Since when did any man do that to her? Certainly not since the night of her high school prom.
‘I am pleased we are... How do you say...? On the same page.’ His commanding voice had suddenly taken on a deep sexy tone as he seemed to scrabble for the right English expression. But it was a tone she would do well to ignore if the skittering of her heart was anything to go by.
‘We both have something the other wants. That is as far as our connection goes.’ She glanced up at his profile to see the corner of his mouth twitch with the beginnings of a smile.
With her head held high and her arm in Liev’s, she walked through the lobby, giving the doorman a smile, and out into the warmth of the evening. Before she had time to think, a chauffeur had opened the back door of a limousine and Liev was helping her in. She slid across the seat with as much composure as her tight-fitting dress would allow, only to be joined seconds later by Liev. The close proximity of the car was far more daunting than the elevator.
‘When we arrive, it is my hope that we will be photographed together and that this...’ He lifted her left hand, the large diamond sparkling mischievously. ‘I hope this will not go unnoticed.’
‘I don’t think there is any question it will not be noticed.’ Her pulse leapt again as he held her hand by her fingertips, his sharp gaze holding hers captive. Boldly she looked into the cold grey of his eyes, noticing again those flecks of blue.
‘I am counting on it, Bianca. I need to enter your social circle as much as you need that bracelet.’ The drawl of his voice sent a chill down her spine as cold as the heat which sizzled up her arm from just the touch of his hand on hers.
Before she could say anything else, the limousine pulled up at the doors of one of New York’s most prestigious hotels. Through the darkened windows she could see crowds had assembled along with hordes of paparazzi. Liev would get his wish.
More exposed and vulnerable than she’d ever felt, she stepped out of the car, followed by Liev. The flashlights burst into action as he put his arm around her waist, drawing her so close to him. Much closer than she’d dared to be moments before in the elevator.
* * *
Liev held Bianca close, enjoying the sensation of her body against his once more. When she’d moved against him as they had left the elevator, he’d been shocked. It was the last thing he expected of the cool and level-headed businesswoman. To find she had a playful, even flirtatious streak was unexpected and not totally unwelcome. Maybe his new engagement would prove more entertaining than he’d planned.
‘Bianca. Whose ring is that?’ Once one of the paparazzi had spotted the ring, the cameras exploded.
‘Thank you,’ he said firmly, stepping in front of her, gallantly shielding her from more opportune shots. ‘All will be revealed
in good time.’
With that he guided her towards the door of the hotel and into the relative calm beyond its doors. His plan was well and truly under way. He looked across at Bianca as she stopped and was shocked to see vulnerability on her face, but as she sensed him watching her, that slipped away to be replaced by the toughness he would have expected from the woman he’d come to know and even admire.
‘Well, that is one hurdle over.’ She feigned an interest in smoothing the silk of her dress down against her body. He gritted his teeth together as he watched her, unable to drag his gaze away from her. Did she have any idea how flirtatious that action was? ‘Our engagement will no longer be a secret. It would, however, have been nice to have had time to prepare my family.’
‘Why? Would you have had time to think of them if we had been swept away by the madness of love?’
‘I don’t think the madness of love sweeping me away is something any of them will believe, especially my brother Dario, whose launch I am at this moment supposed to be concentrating on.’ Her eyes sparked with angry fury as she turned to look at him, her voice low and hushed as she spoke, but he didn’t miss the resentment in it.
‘I’m sure they will forgive you.’ He wanted to ask about her brother. She’d given him the perfect opportunity to find out more of Dario Di Sione’s dealings, but as ever, he would have to bide his time and wait. Now was not the time and place, and neither was her mood conducive to sharing such information. It was far better she was lulled into a false sense of security.
As they entered the room, she became the Bianca he’d first met, the confident woman who knew what she wanted and how to get it. It reminded him that right now she wanted the bracelet and the only way to get it was to introduce him into her world and that if she had a choice she would not be spending the evening with him.
‘Bianca.’ He watched as a woman, several years younger than Bianca, kissed her on each cheek and smiled at her. ‘How are those twin brothers of yours? Doing well by all accounts.’
Liev’s interest was piqued. One of those twin brothers was the reason he was here. Dario was now the owner of ICE, one of the most well-known computer companies which had become rich and successful by buying out other companies, then closing out the founders, destroying them until they had nothing. Just as they had done to his father.
Whilst Liev accepted that Dario hadn’t been responsible for the buyout which destroyed his father, he’d certainly turned a blind eye to the company’s past. Now, through Dario, Liev intended to expose all those underhand deals and the man who’d been behind them all.
‘Yes, they are. In fact, Dario is soon launching a new product.’ Bianca’s reply drew him back from the black hole of his childhood, her sweet voice full of pride. But how could she be proud of a man who advocated such practices? ‘This is Liev Dragunov, my...’
Bianca’s voice faltered very briefly, but he wasn’t going to give her the opportunity to create the wrong kind of speculation. ‘Her fiancé.’
