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‘THE girl’s a genius.’ Alec threw another newspaper down on the table and looked at Zander with astonishment. ‘In less than two weeks she’s managed to have you featured on all the major TV channels and you’ve been in almost every newspaper that matters. And there hasn’t been one picture of you dating glamorous women. How have you managed it?’
‘I have had an exceedingly boring fortnight,’ Zander drawled, his handsome face blank of expression as he scanned the pile of newspapers that his secretary had left on his desk. He had no intention of revealing the truth to his lawyer. That the past two weeks had been anything but boring. Stimulating and sexually charged were words that came to mind. Certainly not boring.
He’d started out intending to punish Lauranne by making her work for him but he’d ended up punishing himself equally.
His entire body was throbbing with frustration.
Alec laughed. ‘Well, it worked. Suddenly you’re Mr Nice Guy.’ He squinted down at one particular article with interest. ‘I never knew you donated so much money to those children’s charities.’
Zander tensed. ‘Because I don’t donate money as a publicity stunt,’ he said shortly. ‘Revealing it wasn’t my choice but apparently she spoke to someone in Corporate Affairs and they gave her a list of my charitable donations.’
Alec shrugged. ‘Either way, she’s certainly achieved way in excess of our expectations. I’m amazed she agreed to help given the fact that you fired her. How did you talk her into it?’
‘I was—persuasive.’ Zander glanced at the last of the newspapers, his expression neutral and Alec gave a wry smile.
‘In other words you didn’t take no for an answer. So is that it?’
‘Apart from the première this evening.’
Alec looked at him in surprise. ‘You’re going to that?’
Zander gave a ghost of a smile. ‘Of course. And this time I intend to be photographed with a woman. The right woman.’
And he was looking forward to it enormously.
‘You’re taking Lauranne?’ Alec looked shocked. ‘Why? There haven’t been any photos of you in the papers for two weeks. Why do it now? And with her?’
‘I have my reasons.’ And he had absolutely no intention of divulging them to anyone, least of all his lawyer. ‘And now I want you to ring Kouropoulos and set up a meeting.’
Alec fiddled with the papers. ‘He might not agree of course, he could still—’
‘He’ll agree.’
Alec lifted his chin, his expression suddenly keen. ‘But we haven’t—’
‘He’ll agree.’
Alec opened his mouth and then closed it again, suddenly brisk and professional. ‘Right. I’ll speak to his lawyers now.’
‘Good.’ Zander stood up and snapped the file shut. ‘I’m flying to Blue Cove Island tonight after the première.’
Alec gave the wan smile of someone well aware that he was facing a challenge. ‘I’ll tell him that.’ He glanced at his boss, unusually hesitant. ‘You look stressed. You’ve been working punishing hours. Maybe—’
‘I always work punishing hours.’ Zander interrupted him impatiently and Alec gave a slight frown.
‘But I’ve never seen you stressed before.’
Zander lifted an eyebrow, his expression dangerous. ‘Are you my lawyer or my doctor?’
Alec coloured slightly. ‘I just thought maybe all the press attention—’ he risked a slight smile ‘—the strain of being a good boy for two whole weeks…’
Zander gave a reluctant smile, thinking that his lawyer was closer to the truth than he imagined.
Two weeks of being in close contact with Lauranne had left him pulsing with a sexual frustration so powerful that he was in a state of almost permanent discomfort. Whether they’d been in television studios, or meeting journalists for interviews, she’d been hovering in the background, immaculately dressed, her blonde hair fastened firmly on top of her head. He’d found it harder and harder to concentrate on the interviews, his eyes and brain totally preoccupied by the woman on the other side of the lights. Only the constant presence of other people in the room had prevented him from hauling her into his arms and stripping the elegant business suit from her perfect body.
Not accustomed to denying himself sexually, Zander was finding the enforced period of celibacy increasingly frustrating.
Realising that Alec was still looking at him oddly, he swore softly in Greek. ‘I’m fine. Just set up that meeting.’
