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‘Nothing will repair what I’ve endured. Right now, I just want move on. Forget it, and you, ever happened.’
His eyes roved lazily over her face, clocking her agitated breathing before he leaned forward. ‘It was never going to be as simple as stating your case, wrapping this up, and walking away, Mia. Surely you knew that?’
‘You keep implying that I owe you something. Let’s get things straight between us. I owe you nothing.’
He eased back in his chair, but Mia wasn’t fooled for a moment. Tension coiled within him, the barely bridled domination emanating from him all but screaming at her that he intended to win this argument. Whatever it might be.
‘What about Gianni, Mia? You told me three years ago that you didn’t intend to have children. So you’ll excuse me if I find all of this new, devoted-to-motherhood part of you a little bit surprising?’
She gasped, felt the blood drain from her head as she stared at him. ‘You think I’m faking it?’
‘Are you?’
‘How dare you!’ She whirled around, heading blindly for the door with one intention in mind—to claim her child and leave this place.
‘What do you think you’re doing?’
‘Whatever the hell I want. And right now the thing I want the most in this world is to never see your face again. I’m going to get my son and we’re leaving.’
‘Calm yourself, Mia. You really want Gianni to see you in this state?’
She reversed direction, her emotions boiling as she faced him. ‘You’re unbelievable, do you know that? Now you’re accusing me of upsetting my son?’
He spread his arms again, his eyes narrowing as he approached. ‘Don’t put words in my mouth, cara. From what I’ve seen so far, you’re devoted to our child.’
Again, his unexpected words weakened the hard knot in her chest. But she knew better than to trust it. ‘Thank you, but I sense a but in there.’
‘But this display of...emotion serves no purpose. Like I said before, you have cared for Gianni alone but it doesn’t need to be the case going forward. You can deal with me now or you can deal with my lawyers before you reach the home you are so determined to run back to. Which is it to be?’
She inhaled sharply, surprised at herself for momentarily forgetting the depths Rocco could sink to to achieve what he wanted. ‘You haven’t changed even a little bit, have you?’
His resolve was a hard, unshakeable mask. ‘I discover a son I never knew existed and you expect me to do what exactly, Mia? Go back to Palermo and forget all about him? Or were you hoping I’d sit back and let you dictate terms? When have you known me to be that...unaffected when it comes to something I truly want?’ he asked, his voice deceptive lazily.
Since the question was rhetorical, and since the throb of something in his tone tossed her back to another time frame, when that something he’d wanted was her, she kept her answer locked in her throat.
While the net tightened around her, dragging her towards a precarious destination she didn’t want to go. Still, she managed to raise her chin, look him square in the eyes. ‘I’ll give you ten minutes to hear you out. But I won’t be railroaded into anything, just so we’re clear,’ she stated, pleased when her voice came out even, without hinting at the hysteria bubbling beneath her skin. ‘What do you want? Specifically?’
He didn’t answer immediately. He stared at her, gauging the emotions she was grappling with before his gaze sauntered down her body to her toes. The return was slow and hot, setting off fireworks she didn’t want to acknowledge. ‘A few things come to mind. But for now, specifically, my presence in my son’s life. And I suspect the way to achieve that is to give you what you most want.’
What she most wanted was to remove herself from his orbit. To stop the fizzle of giddy static from lighting her veins every time her eyes met his. Every time she breathed him in. ‘And what do you think that is?’
‘Why, a return to the career status you enjoyed before our parting, of course. Am I wrong?’ he enquired, a knowing gleam in his eyes she wanted to erase but knew she couldn’t. Because she did want back what she’d lost.
‘I’ll get it back. But it’ll be on my own, with no handout from you, thank you very much. If you think that’s some sort of carrot to dangle to get what you want, then the answer is no. My son isn’t some bartering chip for you to trade,’ she stated.
‘So much righteous pride,’ he drawled. ‘Are you sure you’re wise to dismiss my help?’
‘Help? When it comes with an endless amount of strings? No, thanks,’ she reiterated. The voice that urged her to stop talking grew louder. Even if she intended to reclaim her life by herself, did she want to brazenly antagonise him? She’d been out of the workforce for the better part of three years. Did she really want to start at the bottom of the pile again when a few words from Rocco could pave the way for a decent enough re-entry, enabling her to look after herself and Gianni? Wasn’t it the least he owed her?
As if he knew the direction of her thoughts, he stepped closer, bringing the full force of his aura and the temptation of his body within mouth-watering reach. ‘Is that your definitive answer, then, cara? Your decision-making used to be so prudent and pragmatic. It was one of the things I admired about you. Have you grown rusty or are you simply disregarding what your brain is telling you simply to continue tussling with me?’
She wanted to protest, toss out some clever answer that would put him in his place once and for all, but the voice urging caution held her tongue for the moment.
He continued, his voice turning lower and deeper, almost seductive as he laid his plans before her. ‘Let me tell you what my intentions are while you think about the wisdom of contemptuously dismissing me out of hand. I’m not sure whether you’ve kept up with Vitelli Construction’s progress in the last few years?’ One eyebrow tilted, as he waited a beat for her to answer. When she didn’t give him the satisfaction of confessing the secret compulsion she’d had of tracking his company’s stellar progress over the years, he carried on.
‘Our Middle East expansion has now reached eight countries. The workforce is five times the size of what it was when you were last with me. Before his passing, Alessandro also expanded the Latin American arm. Eventually, should you wish it, you can take a pick of where you wish to base yourself.’
Her heart jumped, a treacherous little action she condemned. Because she didn’t want to be seduced by what he was offering. Didn’t want to be tempted by memories of working alongside him, basking in the glow of his intelligent mind and the thrill of knowing she was working for the best of the best, her career poised to soar as a result of her hard work.
