Only You (A Sweet Torment Novel) (6 page)

“Um, my mother and I don’t talk much, and even if we did, she knows she’ll never be a grandmother so . . .”

Leo frowned. “No kids in your future?”

“God no,” I said, again wondering how this conversation had twisted into twelfth-date information. This topic needed to end and I was anxious to get to the tablet of knowledge and start my job. I wasn’t about to go into my reasons for not wanting kids . . . my main reason being I didn’t want to screw them up. And with a history that lacked support, there was no way I was going to disappoint a child by becoming a mother.

“You really are a temporary woman, aren’t you?” he said.

“Guess so.”

Leo stared at me for a long moment.

“What book?”

I frowned. Of all the questions, that was what he asked? I realized then how arbitrary, yet deep it was. Much like this entire conversation. The one short story I kept was
Wings
, about a woman who lived a secluded life and fell in love with a man of a higher station than her. But I wasn’t about to admit that.

I stared at the man before me, who had eyes that seemed to see straight through me. A development I wasn’t excited about. I pressed my lips then replied, “
Clear and Present Danger
.”

Chapter Six

I
walked into Leo’s office, the same one he’d hired me in over a week and a half ago, the one I was now calling the Main House, because while it was his home here in the states, it was also the hub of where all his business went down.

Bustling employees had offices around the mansion and access to one of the kitchens. Rumor was, Leo’s private quarters were sectioned off to the west wing. A wing no one ever went to.

Not one of my most prestigious gigs, but so far, I seemed to be doing well. Between being at Leo’s professional beck and call and all the late nights reading the massive amount of information his former assistant left, not to mention research on his company to familiarize myself with his business and the world he represented, I was running around, always busy and stressed.

I loved it.

It prevented my brain from thinking about anything outside my job. Which was what I had been doing for the past several years. It kept all those annoying emotions at bay. However, one emotion was creeping up more and more often.

I pushed open the large door to Leo’s office and walked in. And there, standing behind that massive desk, phone pressed to his ear, in a white T-shirt, dark jeans, and black leather belt was the reason I had been feeling that one stupid emotion: lust.

He motioned for me to come in, but kept talking on the phone.

“The carrier is en route and will be docking in New York tomorrow.” Leo frowned, then smiled. Whatever conversation he was having seemed to be going his way. Which didn’t surprise me. Leo was a hard man to say no to.

After another minute, he hung up the phone and looked at me.

“Good morning, Red.” He smiled, flashing those white teeth. I also couldn’t help noticing the slight dark stubble.

Leo tended to work in jeans and a T-shirt unless he had a meeting, and I also learned that the man oozed so much sex appeal and testosterone, he could wear a paper bag coated in mercury and women would still throw themselves at him.

“Good morning,” I said as I entered his office and set his coffee down on his desk.

Yeah, I brought him coffee. One of my regular duties. Not so glamorous but so far, I hadn’t had a misstep, and I’d managed to keep my mouth in check. Both verbally and physically.

Since that weird discussion in the doorway of my little house, we hadn’t talked much other than business and acquainting me with my new job. Leo also hadn’t looked at me with that hint of softness. A softness I hadn’t realized I was used to . . . or enjoyed.

It was like he discovered something about me in that conversation and it altered his opinion of me. That thought made me a little queasy. Not just because of this job and wanting his recommendation at the end of it, but because Leo thinking of me in any kind of negative way didn’t sit well.

I opened my mouth, wanting to say something. Something that could get a hint of that look back. A look of interest. Which was stupid because I wasn’t here to interest my boss. I was here to work, prove I could do a good job, and leave, hopefully with his endorsement.

I shook my head, dislodging the notion, and swiped my finger over the tablet to go over the schedule for today.

“Hold on,” Leo said just as the phone rang. I stopped mid-sentence about his two o’clock with a man named Colin Davis, the CEO of Davis Shipping and Leo’s direct competition.

Leo took a seat and spoke into the phone in what, after day one on the job, I’d realized was Greek.

Leo motioned for me to sit while he finished his call. His inflection and the way his accent rolled over every syllable of his native Greek language was hypnotic. He kept glancing at me and it wasn’t until the third pass of his gaze over mine that I realized I was staring at his mouth.

I looked away quickly, hoping my sudden interest in his office décor wasn’t too obvious a ploy. But I had to distract myself to keep from looking at him. A ploy that wasn’t working out so well.

When he put his left forearm on his desk, causing his bicep to bulge farther from its already impressive chiseledness, which did awesome things to the ink running along it, I couldn’t help biting the inside of my cheek to keep from moaning a little.

Man, what was wrong with me? I’d never been this aware, let alone aroused, by the mere presence of a man. Not since I was younger at least. Leo had this pull about him. An aura that sucked me in. There was that sense of danger and hope, the same kind all the other guys I’d run off with in the past had. They offered just enough to make the sour facts of my real life less shitty.

I heard my name dart from his lips and my stare was back on his face, ready and attentive. Maybe I’d misheard, but when he said it again and smiled, my pulse picked up. He said a few more things before hanging up the phone.

“I’m going to need you to do a few things,” Leo said.

“Of course.” I tried not to sound overly anxious, but something beyond gopher girl would be nice. Leo had also mentioned a big project during my interview, and I was hoping this had something to do with it.

“First, crunch some numbers and coordinate with Henry. He’s head of accounting. I need ten million moved from the general operating fund into a separate account.”

I looked up from my tablet where I had been typing. “You want ten million just sitting in a separate account?”

Leo nodded.

“I need this money in an account that can be accessible at a moment’s notice.”

He was still holding my stare and in that moment, I decided to probe a little. After working with Bill and now facing down a political nightmare, asking questions, especially when it came to money, was wise. Plus, the idea of Leo sharing details with me made my lips twitch to a smile. This was an opportunity to earn some trust. “May I ask why?”

Leo clicked his mouse and looked at his screen. “I prefer this matter to be kept in-house.” He obviously didn’t have to tell me anything, and it was stupid to hope he’d trust me. “How good are you with secrets, Red?”

My head snapped up and I swallowed hard trying to keep the instant joy tamped down.

“I’d never break your professional confidence.”

He smiled. “Professional confidence? I like that.” He stood and walked around, then leaned against his desk, much like he did when he hired me.

“I have word that a slip is going up for sale by the owner at a very fair asking price of ten million.”

I wanted to whistle low because ten million was fair? For a glorified parking spot for a boat? I kept my face still and nodded. He was trusting me with details and it was time to shine in the only way I knew how: planning and execution.

“When does the slip go on the market?”

Leo seemed impressed with my question. “In the next four to eight weeks. This isn’t like a house, it won’t get listed. But the man who owns the slip wants to sell fast.”

“Is this slip a prime spot?”

“It is.”

“Then why wouldn’t he make his sale known to the market and go for a bidding war to make more money?”

Leo raised a brow. “You’re kind of cutthroat, Red.”

“Just asking questions. In terms of business, the bottom line is usually number one.”

“Not for this man. He is Jes Frolos. He did business with my father. Our families go way back.”

“And you’re expecting him to just take the ten million from Savas Shipping because he likes you and your family?”

Leo’s blue eyes turned a little icy and I couldn’t figure out why he looked suddenly angry with me. “Some people do things for other reasons than the bottom line.”

I swallowed hard, realizing Leo’s issues. I was “cutthroat” and “temporary.” How could I possibly understand this grand gesture? Well, forget that. I wasn’t naïve, and in this world, nothing was free or too good to be true.

“I’m simply trying to point out that there is a flaw in this grand scheme. You are relying on a man’s word.”

“Yes, I am,” Leo said. And something made me respect him more for it. It also made me want to be the kind of woman he could believe in. Taking a deep breath and forcing my head out of the clouds, I returned to my game face.

“Look,” Leo said, his chest rising on a deep breath. “Frolos benefits a great deal from Savas Shipping. Even though ten million on the slip up front is a good price, what he’d gain with the percentage of traffic I can pull into that slip would make up for it in the long run. He’s giving me this deal and, in return, will stand to profit long term. Just like Savas Shipping will. Gaining this slip will take Savas Shipping to a whole new level.”

I nodded and couldn’t hold back a slight grin. “So . . . there is a bottom line after all . . .”

He pursed his lips and my grin widened. I was right and Leo knew it.

“Yes, there is.” He shook his head and chuckled a little. “Jesus, Red. You’re . . .” He looked at me with a light in his eyes I wanted to capture and hold on to. Finally he said, “Impressive.”

The compliment rocked me. Not only was he going over a major deal he had in the works, but I spoke my mind, dug a little deeper, and he called me impressive.

Wow.

Something like light, fluffy warmth spread through my chest. So much that I had to run my fingertips along the base of my neck to see if I could feel it. Nope. Nothing. Which was exactly what I should be feeling for Leo.

“So, if I may ask another question?”

Leo held up his hand and smiled. “Never stopped you before.”

“Why is Frolos going to you and keeping this deal under wraps?”

“There are some issues in his own camp. He is retiring, and his son is set to run the majority of the business. I guess they don’t see eye to eye on things and Jes wants to wrap this deal up.”

“Do you think the son would sink this deal for you?”

Leo shrugged. “I’ve met Zander Frolos a few times and he’s quite ambitious. But he lacks patience. He’d likely go for more money up front and I think Jes wants to get this deal done before too much internal arguing or issues arise.”

I nodded. Father-son issues could be a problem. Especially when money, egos, and power were involved. Best to keep this as quiet as possible.

“Besides,” Leo said, “if this information got out, you’re right about what would happen.”

“A bidding war,” I repeated.

“Exactly.”

“Savas Shipping could still take it. You have the backing, money, and reach.”

Leo smiled. It was so amazing it made me want to sigh. “Yes, but this is a new endeavor. This slip could provide a new route and expansion of the company as a whole, but I don’t want to sink a ton of money into something that isn’t foolproof.”

It was then I saw something on Leo’s face, something like caution. Was the bad boy not interested in risk unless it was calculated?

“Sometimes a big gamble can pay off, so long as you have the odds stacked in your favor,” I said.

Leo shook his head and something very dark, very serious crossed his face. “I’ve never been that lucky.”

I stuttered for a quick subject misdirection. Whatever Leo dealt with, felt, or lost was deep, and judging by the look on his face, I was stepping too close to a matter he didn’t want to discuss.

“Where is the slip located?”

“London.”

I nodded and pulled up a few screens on my tablet, ready to get back to business and ignore the tug in my chest that was urging me to touch Leo. To dig deeper into his life. To know him . . .

I shook my head. Business. Keep it surface.

“Your main ships are docked in Greece with regular trips to the port of New York.” I zoomed out on a map and looked at the distance of ocean from Greece to London to the US. “You said a new route would be involved. Do you have plans for that drawn up?”

He grinned and thank God he was back to a breezy attitude. “That’s where you come in. I have my team working on the logistics, including route proposals, input and output of goods, cost, and strategy. I want you to oversee this project, to make sure everything runs smoothly, and touch base with me regularly. I’ve already told several staff members that you are the woman to report to.”

My eyes widened. This was huge. He was basically making me a project manager, and the level of responsibility, as well as trust involved, was staggering. So much that it made the empty ache in my stomach feel less achy. Never mind that this was the kind of project that advanced employees to the next level. Or looked really good under the job-skills-and-experience part of a resume. But aside from everything running through my brain, only one thing came to mind to say. What I truly felt. Grateful.

“Thank you, Leo.” The words, especially his name, came out softer than I had intended. His face relaxed.

“For what, Red?”

For trusting me. Giving me a chance to prove myself. Allowing me to go beyond a gopher girl and actually be a part of something . . . a part of your world.

Instead I went with, “For the opportunity.”

He nodded once. “You’re welcome. You’ll be meeting with several people on a regular basis and the staff knows to keep you up to date on everything. But again, this is strictly in-house business. Only you and several select people know about this deal.”

“I understand.”

“Then why do you look worried?”