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‘No? Well, let me speak for myself, then. It’s been eye-opening to see the woman beneath the cool exterior. To feel the passion beneath all that rigid efficiency.’
Her face flamed. That extremely masculine smile widened. ‘It’s too late to put the genie back in the bottle, Saffie. Whatever the outcome, I won
’t allow you to scurry back to prim placidity.’
She opened her mouth, but an usher was heading towards them, the front seats reserved for them ready and waiting.
Saffie was forced to swallow her response as the room hushed and they rejoined Lavinia.
Joao stayed firmly beside her as the auctioneer stepped up to the podium. ‘As we all know, this isn’t a run-of-the-mill auction. Occasions like these only come around once in a blue moon. Tonight, we’re extremely honoured to have such an esteemed gathering here to witness the unveiling of the Shanzi orchid. This eight-year-old wonder is set to bloom in the next fourteen days for a precious six hours only...’
‘Oh, my goodness!’ Lavinia literally clutched her pearls, her eyes glittering with girlish excitement as she turned to Joao. ‘Joao, you wicked man. You’re aware that I must have it, aren’t you?’ she whispered as a trio of ushers wheeled out a glass pedestal within which a bronze, hand-painted plant pot held a single dark green stem with three, thick purple bulbs branching out at the end. Along the slender stem, several nodes circled the plant, all ready to burst forth with their sacred seed.
Momentarily, Saffie forget her angst as she stared at the rare, exquisite plant. Her research had revealed that the last Shanzi orchid bloomed fifteen years ago. She was in the presence of one of the true wonders of nature.
‘What you wish for will be yours. You have my word.’
The words were directed at Lavinia, but when Saffie’s gaze lifted, she found Joao staring straight at her.
For a tense few seconds, they traded gazes, and, even though his remained enigmatic, another shiver went through her.
The spell was broken when they were directed to take their seats.
Bidding started at an eye-watering quarter of a million dollars. Joao immediately countered with double the price, and from then encouraged Lavinia to go to town with her bidder’s paddle. One by one, the stragglers fell away and he won the bid at three point seven million dollars.
Lavinia clapped with glee as she approached the pedestal to inspect her prize. ‘It’s simply marvellous.’ She turned to Joao and Saffron. ‘I’m cancelling all my plans and remaining in Shanghai until this spectacular thing blooms. You two must be there for the event. I insist.’
It was a neat segue for Joao. ‘We’ll be honoured to join you. And I too must insist you let me treat you to a special dinner to mark the occasion.’
For a hardened businesswoman, Lavinia proved no woman was above Joao Oliviera’s charms when she blushed. ‘I’d like that.’
‘Sim. We will leave you to enjoy your gift.’
He caught Saffron’s arm and they headed outside to the waiting limo.
Beside her, he lounged but she wasn’t deceived by his casual stance. Restlessness prowled his frame, and, in direct effect, escalated her own nerves.
To counteract that, she slid open her tablet. ‘I’ll organise entertainment for Lavinia while she’s in Shanghai and I’ll get started on something to mark the blooming—’
‘I don’t wish to talk about Lavinia. There is such a thing as over-preparation. There comes a time when you need to leave things to play out naturally. Don’t you think?’
Saffie frowned. She’d never known Joao not to fine-tune a deal or meeting despite knowing his stuff inside out. But her emotions were still dangerously close to the surface. She risked letting herself down if she didn’t borrow a leaf from his book and go with the flow.
She cleared her throat. ‘Okay, what would you like to discuss?’
He angled his body towards her, dousing her with that unique scent that made her head spin. When his gaze lingered on the bold red lipstick the stylist had insisted was the only colour to wear with the dress, her blood rushed faster through her veins.
‘Your mid-year review is coming up.’
She opened her mouth but he stopped her with a slash of his hand.
‘Regardless of whether you intend to leave in three months or not, a review is necessary.’
Apprehension skittered over her. Everything suddenly felt wrong. ‘You want to do that now? In the fifteen minutes before we return to the hotel?’
He raised an eyebrow at her. ‘You doubt my ability to be efficient?’
‘I question your need to do it now, without a member of HR present, as per the company’s guidelines.’
