Page 15 of His to Possess
A smirk played on my lips. "No, Mr. Donovan, that's not how this works. You agreed to the terms. I expect full compliance by close of business today, or I'll be forced to exercise my options." I paused, savoring the panicked silence on the other end. "Excellent. I'm glad we understand each other."
I hung up, satisfaction coursing through me. Another weakling bent to my will. This was what I did best—turning struggling companies into gold, squeezing every drop of profit from their withering corpses. It was a talent, really. One that made me obscenely wealthy and feared in equal measure.
A knock at the door interrupted my self-congratulatory musings. "Enter," I commanded.
Shoji, my ever-efficient assistant, glided in with a folder tucked under his arm. "Your afternoon schedule, Mr. Compton," he said, placing it on my desk.
I was about to dismiss him when his phone chirped. He answered, his face betraying a flicker of surprise. "Sir," he said,lowering the device, "there's a Laurel Bowers in the lobby. She's asking to see you."
My pulse quickened, but I kept my expression neutral. I hadn't expected her to come to me so soon. The bait I'd dangled—the potential Turner and the job offer—had worked even better than I'd hoped. For a moment, I worried she would actually reject me, but I supposed I should've known better than to worry about such matters. The opportunity was too good for her to pass up. I knew that as much as she did. After all, I did enjoy a little bit of chase.
"Bring her up," I said, unable to keep the smugness from my voice. A small smile I couldn't control made its way to my lips.
Shoji nodded and retreated, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I stood, moving to the floor-to-ceiling windows that showcased my dominion over Chicago. I slipped my hands into my pockets, every muscle in my body relaxed. Laurel Bowers. So bold, so eager to fall into my hands.
I allowed myself a moment of pure, unfiltered triumph. Once again, I'd read the board perfectly and anticipated every move. It was only a matter of time before it all paid off. Like always.
I turned back to my desk, straightening my already impeccable suit. Time to greet my newest acquisition. I sat behind my desk, savoring the moment before Laurel's arrival. The contract I used to ensnare my acquisitions lay before me. As Shoji ushered her in, I allowed myself another small, triumphant smile.
"Ms. Bowers," I said, rising to greet her. "It's good to see you. Please, have a seat."
But she remained standing, her posture rigid. "Thank you for seeing me on such short notice." I gestured to the chair again, but she shook her head. A flicker of unease rippled through me.
"I came to thank you for your generous offer," she continued, her voice steady. "But I must respectfully decline. As youextended the proposal in person, I felt you deserved an answer the same way."
The words hit me like a physical blow. Decline? No one declined me. Ever. I felt a surge of rage, an overwhelming urge to lash out, to grab her and shake some sense into her. But I'd spent a lifetime mastering my emotions. I forced my face into a mask of detached curiosity, even as my hands itched to punch through the nearest wall. This was an unexpected turn of events. I anticipated many different outcomes, but this wasn't one of them. Not now, not ever.
"I see," I said, my voice betraying nothing of the storm raging within me. "May I ask why?"
I leaned back in my chair, affecting an air of casual interest. But inside, I was seething. This wasn't over. Not by a long shot. Laurel Bowers may think she could walk away from me, but she was about to learn how persistent I could be when I wanted something.
And I wanted her. More than ever.
Today, she wore a fitted grey dress that hugged her figure, and her auburn hair was pulled back into a simple ponytail, neatly kept out of her face. I liked her in bolder colors—like the one she wore at the auction—that brought out the full force of her beauty. Her makeup was subtle, done just enough to keep things polished and professional. In one hand, she held a black leather bag tightly, like she was searching for the right words but hadn't quite found them yet. Despite all that, her gaze was steady, challenging. It was intriguing.
"Why me?" she asked, catching me off guard. "You could have any expert begging to work for you. And I'm sure you know about my situation in Paris. You have the resources to find out anything there is about any person you may decide to hire. So, what's your real angle here?"
I leaned back, a smirk playing on my lips. She was sharper than I anticipated. It was refreshing, if inconvenient.
"You're right. I did my homework. But that's precisely why I want you. Your expertise is unparalleled, scandal or not," I explained. "Besides, I think it's admirable. How, even after all of that, you're still searching for a way to make a name for yourself. And you appear to be doing a rather good job with it."
She arched an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "Mr. Compton, let's not play games. Nothing about your offer makes sense. Unless…" I tensed, waiting for her next words. "Unless your goal is to sleep with me," she stated bluntly. "And if that's the case, I'm not interested. I won't mix business with pleasure, especially not when my career is on the line."
Her directness caught me off guard. Most women danced around such topics, leaving room for plausible deniability. But not Laurel. She'd laid it all out, daring me to contradict her.
I stood, moving around my desk to face her directly. "Your work speaks for itself, regardless of recent complications. I'm offering you a chance to rebuild your reputation with a collection that would make any expert salivate."
She didn't back down, her green eyes locked on mine. "And the watercolor? Was that just a coincidence?"
It was far from it. It was my way of capturing her interest, and from the moment our eyes locked for the first time, I knew it was the right move. I leaned forward, my gaze never leaving Laurel's. A slow smile spread across my face, one that didn't quite reach my eyes. "I've spent a lifetime deciphering people. I know what they mean before they even start to speak."
I stood, circling around my desk to approach her. She tensed slightly, but held her ground. Good. I appreciated a challenge.
"While everyone else was enjoying their champagne, dismissing that painting, I saw you." I paused, letting thewords sink in. "You were keenly aware of how the auction was progressing."
Laurel's eyes widened slightly, but she quickly masked her surprise. I continued, relishing the moment.
"You were relieved at first when nobody bid, weren't you? But then you felt disappointed. Yet still interested when I made my move. Your reaction told me everything I needed to know."
