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He certainly didn’t want to do so, now that he knew who she was, Jay acknowledged. But there was the delicate matter of losing face—both for Sayeed and in a roundabout way for Jay himself.
Sayeed might be a very junior partner in their current venture, but he would be within his rights to question why Jay had rejected Keira, after allowing the negotiations to get this far. Sayeed would be personally insulted, and whilst Jay was too rich and too powerful to worry about that, his own moral scruples were such that bringing his own personal feelings into the business arena was something he just would not do without explaining. That would cause him to lose face.
The situation was non-negotiable—both practically and morally. He had no alternative but to go ahead and formalise the offer of a contract, as Sayeed would be expecting him to do.
‘Not personally, no,’ he agreed silkily. ‘So if last night’s little game of tease was meant to whet my appetite I’m afraid it failed. However, when it comes to the contract for the interior design work at my new development, I am prepared to accept Sayeed’s recommendation that you are the right designer for the job. Of course if he is wrong…’
Keira was struggling to take in the triple whammy effect of his speech—first the direct attack on her personally, then the surprise offer of the contract, and finally the killer blow, warning her that Sayeed would be the one who would end up losing out if she failed to live up to his recommendation. She was trapped, and they both knew it. Whilst she might have been willing to risk turning her back on the commission and fees for the sake of her own pride, she was not prepared to risk injuring Sayeed’s business reputation by doing so. And she suspected that the man in front of her watching her, so cynically, knew that.
‘Very well,’ she told him, drawing herself up to her full height of five feet nine—which, whilst tall, was well below his far more impressive six foot plus, leaving her in the ignominious position of having to tilt her head back to look up at him. ‘But I want it understood that the relationship between us will be purely and only that of developer and interior designer. Absolutely nothing more.’
She was daring to warn him off?
Jay couldn’t believe her gall. Well, two could play at that game.
‘Are you sure that is all you want?’ he mocked her.
Keira could feel her face burn.
‘Yes,’ she confirmed, tight-lipped.
‘Liar,’ Jay taunted. ‘But it’s all right, because I assure you that I have no intention of our relationship being anything other than strictly business. The truth is that if you want me you’re going to have to come crawling on your knees and beg me. And even then…’ His gaze flicked over her disparagingly. ‘Well, let’s just say I’m not a fan of used goods.’
If she could have walked out, Keira knew that she would have done so. But she couldn’t. Not now. He had trapped her with his implied threat about his business relationship with Sayeed.
The door to the room suddenly opened inwards to admit Sayeed himself, who told them both cheerfully, ‘My appointment was cancelled, so I came back. How’s it going?’
It was Jay who answered, telling him smoothly, ‘Since Miss Myers comes with your recommendation, Sayeed, I am prepared to offer her a contract. Whether or not she chooses to accept it is, of course, up to her.’
Keira gave him a burning look. He knew perfectly well that her choices were non-existent. He had arranged matters so that they would be.
‘Of course she’ll accept it.’ Sayeed was beaming enthusiastically.
‘So that’s agreed, then. Keira is coming on board as our designer,’ Jay said briskly. ‘I’ll get my PA to sort out the contracts, and the three of us can have dinner tonight to celebrate and discuss everything in more detail. You’re staying at the Palace Lodge Hotel, Keira? I’ll have a car sent to pick you up at eight o’clock.’
It was a fiasco. No—worse than that; it was a total nightmare, Keira decided grimly later in the day as she walked through the city, trying not to let despair over her situation prevent her from enjoying exploring the city’s unique cultural history.
