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“Yes, I do very much.” I took another sip, nodding as my mind attempted to play tricks on me. Had I seen Phoenix before? Did I know him from a past experience, a possible business arrangement? I met dozens of people a week, so it was entirely possible. If he was telling me the truth, and he was a very wealthy man, then he could be on my client list. No, I certainly would have remembered him. “I am curious. What kind of business are you in?”
He smirked as he leaned forward. “Is that what you really want to know?”
“It’s not too personal but will tell me a wealth of knowledge about you as a person.”
He lifted his eyebrow, enjoying my torment. “Will it now?”
“You must give me a hint about what type of profession would bring about multiple enemies.”
“That’s not our agreement.”
I gave him a sly smile. “Agreements can change, codicils added.” I enjoyed the bubbly as he kept his heated gaze centered directly on my face, his debate as to whether to tell me almost amusing.What are you hiding?
“Well, that is true.” He threw back half the champagne.
“Will you tell me if I guess?”
He swirled his crystal flute on the table, thinking about my question for a few seconds before giving a single nod.
“Let me see,” I said as I purposely dissected him with my eyes. “Stockbroker. You have that ruthless look about you, nerves of steel.”
“While I’ll take that as a compliment, I don’t excel in the numbers game.”
“Everything is a game to you. Isn’t it?”
“Not everything,omorfiá. Some things I take very seriously. Try again.”
“Hmmm… You own a company, one that’s extremely profitable. That allows you the flexibility of time.”
His eyes lit up. “Very well done. You’re on a roll. I’m curious what else you’ll come up with.”
I purposely drained my champagne glass then allowed my eyes to drift to the bottle. “You own a winery.”
He laughed. “As a matter of fact, the family does own a winery, but my sister handles the full operations, refusing to allow me to have anything to do with it.”
“A hardhead like you.”
Everything I said seemed to amuse him. “More so. She’s Greek through and through.”
“You dropped another hint. Mmm… A Greek family corporation with multiple businesses underneath the umbrella. You’re powerful. You’re savvy and you take control of every situation you’re in. Then that would make you head of a crime syndicate.”
As had occurred during our dinner, our banter had become another aspect of our wicked game. He burst into laughter. “Is that what you think?”
“It makes sense. You have a glamorous job with unlimited vacation, several estates, and yachts. Yes, at least three yachts.”
He grabbed the bottle of champagne, expertly refilling our glasses. “Unfortunately, my life isn’t all that glamorous. But you were correct in that the family owns a corporation with several different types of businesses run by different family members. I’m the CEO of a commercial construction company.”
“Ah. No wonder you have so many enemies. The real estate business is dog eat dog.”
“Please don’t tell me the lovely lady is into real estate.”
“Development. And yes, I would consider myself fraught with many enemies as well. It must make your life stressful.”
Phoenix laughed. “You have no idea. Now, I deserve to learn something very personal about you.”
As he leaned over, a wildfire spread through every blood cell. “I’ll consider it since you’ve been a good boy.”
The quirky way his lips turned up was a beacon of sin. “I think that is highly debatable. Your first name.”
