Page 43 of Modern Romance September 2025 1-4
I thought he’d feel some shame about how I rejected him, or perhaps even some embarrassment, because I did refuse him six times. Yet when I turned to find him standing there, looking at me as if everyone else in the room didn’t exist, it was clear that neither shame nor embarrassment were on his radar. I’d be surprised if he even knows what either of them feels like.
It’s intoxicating to be looked at like that by a dangerous, compelling man; I can’t lie. Especially when my own husband never looked at me that way. And I do try not to lie, even to myself. But Ulysses Zakynthos has so many red flags around him that any woman would be a fool to get close to him.
And I’m not a fool.
Mr Tanaka opens the door to his office and we file in. Mr Zakynthos sits at the head of the meeting-room table as if this is his office and we’re all lackeys waiting for his orders.
I sit at the opposite end, as far away from him as I can get, trying not to think about John still out by the Christmas tree, waiting for me to tell him that I want him back. Expecting me to say that I want him back…
No, I can’t think about him now, because Mr Zakynthos is down the other end of the table and he’s staring at me with his wolf-gold eyes as if he wants me for breakfast, lunchanddinner.
It makes me hot, makes my pulse speed up, makes it difficult to breathe. It’s as if he’s leaching all the oxygen out of the air, and I don’t like how part of me is enjoying the all-consuming way he’s looking at me. As if I’m the only thing that exists for him in this moment.
His desire for me is obvious, and part of me appreciates his honesty. He’s not a man who plays games, I don’t think. Even his persistence is honest and I’m reluctantly admiring of that.
Certainly, John was never honest. He was never straightforward. When we married he told me that he’d never lie to me, but he did. He lied when he said he wanted children, and he lied when he said I was the only one for him. He lied when he said that he’d take care of me and that I’d always be safe with him. He lied to me the way my mother lied to me.
So now only honesty will do. It’s why I like numbers—because numbers never lie. Numbers are the cold, bright truth of the universe, and numbers I can trust.
Not like the curious part of me that wants to know what makes a man like Ulysses Zakynthos tick. He’s a brilliant businessman, that much I do know, because it was his brilliance that catapulted Vulcan Energy from its humble beginnings in Greece to the world stage, where it’s now the biggest provider of renewable energy in the world. His drive is undeniably formidable, and so is his intellect, and there’s part of me that finds that…intriguing.
I want to know why he’s interested in a woman like me, for example, since I’m not what you’d call typical. Men usually approach me in an attempt to headhunt me, and that’s what I thought Ulysses Zakynthos wanted too.
Apparently not.
He doesn’t want me for Vulcan Energy, he wants me for…me. And I don’t understand why. I have a head for numbers, yes, but I’m not beautiful. I’m not interesting, unless you like mathematics and finance, and I’m terrible at small talk. In fact, many people find me aloof, cold and far too blunt, so I can’t think how or why I caught his eye.
‘So,’ he says suddenly, making everyone in the room jump. ‘Let’s not waste time. Mr Tanaka, you know my interest in Tanaka Solar, and I’ve made you a very good offer for your company, which you refused, as is your right.’
‘Yes,’ Mr Tanaka says, frowning. ‘Are you here to make another offer? Because, if so, you’ve come in vain. I’m going to refuse all other offers you might make, because this is my company and mine it will remain.’
‘I can respect that.’ Ulysses’s deep voice, with its faint hint of an accent, rasps over my nerves and makes something vibrate inside me. ‘I too keep what’s mine. Which is why I’m here. It largely concerns Ms Sigurdsdottir, but also you by association.’
I’m impatient for him to get to the point, but I hide it the way I hide all my emotions. They’re intense, my emotions, and hard to manage, so I lock them away where they can’t hurt or anger other people.
‘Yes, so you keep saying,’ I state coolly. ‘Please do enlighten us as to how it concerns me.’
Ulysses gives me that slow smile again, and there’s nothing in it but threat, yet it brings warmth to his hard features all the same, like sunlight touches the granite face of a mountain. ‘I have decided I don’t want your company, Mr Tanaka,’ he says, all the while looking at me, as if there’s nothing he’d rather look at. ‘I have decided I want your CFO instead.’
Mr Tanaka’s frown deepens. ‘I’m sorry, but Ms Sigurdsdottir is—’
‘Very happy in her present position?’ Ulysses finishes for him. ‘Yes, she probably is. But I’m not here to headhunt her for a position in my company. I’m here to headhunt her for a position in my bed.’
The words fall into the shocked silence like stones in a glassy pond, causing ripples to flow out from where they hit the water.
There’s a traitorous heat in my cheeks, shock and anger winding its way through me. How dare he say something like that, out loud and in front of my boss? It’s offensive, and I want to tell him so, but I know that will only give him the reaction he’s no doubt looking for, so I say nothing and give him my best icy stare instead.
Mr Tanaka looks as mortified as I feel. ‘I’m sorry,’ he says slowly. ‘But…what you…what Miss…’
‘That shouldn’t concern you, Mr Tanaka.’ Ulysses is supremely unembarrassed and gazing steadily at me as if he’s navigating across stormy seas and I’m his North Star. ‘And ordinarily it wouldn’t. But you see, I’m a man who always gets what he wants, and I generally don’t like being denied.’
‘I still don’t understand—’
‘I will leave your company completely alone, in other words,’ Ulysses interrupts gently. ‘On the condition that Miss Sigurdsdottir gives some of her precious time to me.’
More shock echoes through me. He can’t be serious. He’d really use Mr Tanaka’s company as…what…a bargaining chip? Simply so he can get me into bed?
I don’t understand why he’s so insistent, but what I do know is that I’ve just about had it with men. First John and all his lies, and now Ulysses Zakynthos using Mr Tanaka’s company against me. Presumably because he thinks I’m a loyal worker and won’t toss Mr Tanaka and his company to the wolves. Or, rather, to this particular wolf.
