Page 5 of Love, Rekindled

“What is my one request?”

“That you are not interrupted during your teatime.”

She arched a brow. “And yet, here you are.”

He grimaced, knowing her too well to mistake her calm tone for anything but a sharp reprimand.

“I would never bother you if it wasn’t urgent.”

“Is the hotel on fire?”

“No.”

“Is one of the customers dead?”

“No, but…”

“Go away.” She waved her hand toward the door.

“It’s Emile,” he said in a rush. “From the Paradise.”

Jayla carefully replaced her teacup on the tray and rose to her feet. Emile was her nemesis. It sounded melodramatic. Maybe childish. But there it was.

The female vampire had been the owner of an established resort when Chiron had decided to expand his business to Hong Kong. Not surprisingly, she’d done her best to keep Dreamscape from opening, including issuing a direct threat against Jayla. It’d been the local clan chief who halted any battles, announcing there was plenty of customers for both resorts to thrive. He’d also warned that any challenges or dirty tricks, and he would run the offender out of town.

“She’s here?” Jayla demanded in disbelief, the walls frosting over as she struggled to contain her temper. The two vampires had gone to great lengths to avoid crossing paths. The thought that the bitch would enter Jayla’s territory was infuriating.

“No. She sent an emissary.”

That explained why Jayla hadn’t sensed Emile’s presence. She might hate the female, but that didn’t mean she didn’t admire her outrageous power.

“What does the emissary want?”

“He said that Emile demands a meeting with you.”

“Demands?”

Gideon lifted a slender hand, flinching at the bone-chilling cold in the air. “Her words, not mine.”

“Why would I meet with my competitor?”

The vampire shifted from foot to foot, clearly reluctant to reveal what the emissary had told him. Jayla didn’t blame him. Jayla had never killed the messenger because she didn’t like the message, but there was always a first time for everything.

“Emile claims that she has proof that Dreamscape has been sabotaging her business.”

“Sabotage.” Jayla repeated the word, trying to make herself accept that she hadn’t misheard. Gideon nodded. “What the hell is she talking about?”

Gideon grimaced. “The emissary mentioned busted pipes and food poisoning and a fire in the cloakroom.”

“Why would Emile assume I am responsible?”

The male shrugged in confusion, obviously as baffled as she was by the accusations. Jayla was a ruthless assassin, a cunning businesswoman, and a demanding lover. But she possessed one unbreakable moral code rule. She didn’t cheat. Ever.

“I don’t know, but she is threatening to take her evidence to the clan chief if you refuse to meet with her face-to-face,” Gideon warned.

Shit. Jayla pressed her lips together. She was in the process of expanding the resort to include a casino across the river in Macau. This was the last thing she needed.

“Set up an appointment,” she snapped.

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