Page 16 of Serving the Mogul

But it was almost eight, and I hadn’t heard from Gianni other than a quick text, and I hadn’t heard a damn thing from Tina Siegler.

I’d thought for sure that fancy bowl would get her to call.

But she hadn’t called. Not even to say thanks.

Not that I give a fuck about that simple courtesy. Social niceties didn’t concern me. It was the fact that Tina couldn’t bother to pick up a phone that lit every cell in my body on fire.

It made me want her that much more.

Disgusted, I went into the living room attached to my office. I had a home on the outskirts of Houston, but I knew myself and my habits too well. The first few months of opening any business could be a time-consuming venture. I didn’t see the point of wasting time commuting when I could simply sleep here on busy days.

Stripping out of my suit and pulling on some workout gear, I grabbed my phone and earbuds before filling a reusable bottle with water.

Since I wasn’t interested in finding another woman to fuck until I’d satisfied my curiosity about Tina, I was going to hit the gym.

* * *

“Good morning!”

I gave my sister a dark stare over a cup of coffee, and she shot me a cheery smile in return before taking the seat across from mine. It had been after eleven last night when she’d finally contacted me to let me know she’d have a decent report for me in the morning, promising to give it to me at breakfast.

In Gianni’s mind, that translated to, “I’ll give it to you after you feed me, and we talk and not a moment sooner.”

Tired and worn out from my two-hour stint in the hotel’s gym, I’d agreed. Now, after another night of hot dreams where I’d peeled the clothes away from Tina’s powerhouse curves, I was less interested in food and more focused on the report Gianni placed on the table in front of her.

The server came by and filled Gianni’s cup with steaming coffee and took our orders before I could ask for the report. But once we were alone, I held out my hand.

Gianni put hers flat down on the file. “You have to stay and eat with me.”

“Holding it ransom?”

“Yep. For the low, low price of a meal and some conversation.”

Blowing out a long breath, I waved a dismissive hand. “Fine. Now, the report.”

“You’ll spend the whole damn meal reading it,” she said with a roll of her eyes, but she turned it over.

“You know me too well.” I flipped it open and skimmed through the first couple of pages, which was just an extensive version of the details Gianni had given me over the phone.

“What are you planning to do with that information?” she asked. “It’s not like she’s a corporation you can just take over or something.”

“No.” Flipping another page, I studied it for a long moment before closing the file and putting it down. “I can’t seem to figure out the right way to get to her.”

“Get to her?” Gianni leaned back in her chair, both hands cradling the mug of coffee as she eyed me. “She’s not a corporate spy or some investor to be wooed. She’s a woman, James.”

“Really.” Clicking my tongue, I picked up my water and took a long drink. “Thanks for that insight. Now, I see where I went wrong.”

She chuckled. “Honey, this is not like a hostile takeover. Figure out what makes her tick, understand her interests, that sort of thing.”

“I’d thought I’d made a move in the right direction with that damned glass bowl.” I reclined in defeat.

“You know what I gathered from the information in that folder?” she asked, nodding toward it. “You can’t win her with flowers or wine...that sort of shit. She might appreciate the gesture, but that’s not what speaks to her.”

“Okay, genius. What would speak to her?”

“Well…something that fits her personality.” She pursed her lips, her head cocked as she considered it. A slow smile that grew in brilliance spread across her face, and she leaned in closer. “You know what? I just had a brilliant idea.”

Eight

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