bankruptcy. That hasn’t changed.”
“But you hadn’t counted on the success of the showing.”
“No.”
“Or that they might acquire Juliet Bloom as their spokeswoman. Or that she would use their collection in her next film.”
“Correction. Your collection. And Juliet Bloom has postponed her decision.” He paused a beat. “Indefinitely.”
Undisguised fury ripped through Francesca. “Because you told her that you had a collection as good as TH’s. That you had the perfect designer for her. Me.” He didn’t deny it and desolation battled with anger. “You thought you could hire me away from the Fontaines and steal the Bloom account so they’d be forced to sell to you.”
“Yes.”
The simple confirmation cut deep. “You’re not even going to deny it?” Please deny it!
“Why should I? It’s true. If you’d accepted my job offer that’s exactly how it would have gone down.” For the first time, she saw a businessman instead of her lover. “That’s how it’s still going down.”
She shook her head. “Not a chance in hell. Do you think I’d ever agree to work for you after this? That I’ll ever sleep with you again?”
“One has nothing to do with the other. One is business, the other personal.” He shrugged. “The two are mutually exclusive.”
Her chin wobbled precariously. Didn’t he get it? “One has everything to do with the other. I’ve lived a lifetime of betrayal in one form or another. I can’t…” She ground to a halt, correcting herself. “I won’t be with a man I can’t trust.”
“Francesca, I didn’t seduce you in order to tempt you away from Timeless.”
“You actually expect me to believe that?”
“It’s the truth. I made you a legitimate job offer for two reasons. First, you’d be an incredible asset to Dantes. You’re the best designer I’ve ever seen, and that’s saying a lot.”
“And second?” Not that she needed him to spell it out. She already knew.
“Second, having you leave TH makes them more vulnerable to a Dantes’ takeover.”
Did he really think she’d find his reasoning appropriate? That A plus B equaled acceptable in her book? He had a lot to learn. “Maybe if you only wanted me because of my talent, I could somehow justify it. Somehow. But that’s not the case. You want to take down Timeless Heirlooms and you want to use me to do it. I can’t allow that. I can’t allow you to do anything that threatens Tina and Kurt.”
“Because Kurt’s your father.”
The breath escaped her lungs in a heady rush and her vision blurred. One minute she stood staring at Sev in utter betrayal and the next he pressed her into one of the nearby chairs. He disappeared from her line of sight for a moment, then returned with glass in hand.
“It’s just water, though I have something stronger if you prefer.”
She shook her head without speaking and downed the water in a desperate gulp. “How…?”
“Nicolò hired a private investigator.” Sev cupped the curve of her cheek and for a brief, insane moment she relaxed into his touch. The instant she realized what she’d done, she jerked back and his hand fell away. “Before we met at Le Premier I arranged to have each designer investigated. Marco and I attended the showing in order to collect names. By the time Nic called the next morning, the P.I. had matters well underway.”
“You’re going to blackmail me now, aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
She closed her eyes. Oh, God. He made it seem so simple. So obvious and acceptable. “You’re a total bastard, you know that?”
“When it comes to taking care of my family, you’re right.” She could literally feel the change come over him as he shifted from lover to adversary. “I’d rather you come to us of your own free will. But I’ll do whatever necessary to restore Dantes.”
She looked at him, searching his face for some sign of the man she’d taken to her bed. If he still existed—if he ever existed—he was lost to her
“But you hadn’t counted on the success of the showing.”
“No.”
“Or that they might acquire Juliet Bloom as their spokeswoman. Or that she would use their collection in her next film.”
“Correction. Your collection. And Juliet Bloom has postponed her decision.” He paused a beat. “Indefinitely.”
Undisguised fury ripped through Francesca. “Because you told her that you had a collection as good as TH’s. That you had the perfect designer for her. Me.” He didn’t deny it and desolation battled with anger. “You thought you could hire me away from the Fontaines and steal the Bloom account so they’d be forced to sell to you.”
“Yes.”
The simple confirmation cut deep. “You’re not even going to deny it?” Please deny it!
“Why should I? It’s true. If you’d accepted my job offer that’s exactly how it would have gone down.” For the first time, she saw a businessman instead of her lover. “That’s how it’s still going down.”
She shook her head. “Not a chance in hell. Do you think I’d ever agree to work for you after this? That I’ll ever sleep with you again?”
“One has nothing to do with the other. One is business, the other personal.” He shrugged. “The two are mutually exclusive.”
Her chin wobbled precariously. Didn’t he get it? “One has everything to do with the other. I’ve lived a lifetime of betrayal in one form or another. I can’t…” She ground to a halt, correcting herself. “I won’t be with a man I can’t trust.”
“Francesca, I didn’t seduce you in order to tempt you away from Timeless.”
“You actually expect me to believe that?”
“It’s the truth. I made you a legitimate job offer for two reasons. First, you’d be an incredible asset to Dantes. You’re the best designer I’ve ever seen, and that’s saying a lot.”
“And second?” Not that she needed him to spell it out. She already knew.
“Second, having you leave TH makes them more vulnerable to a Dantes’ takeover.”
Did he really think she’d find his reasoning appropriate? That A plus B equaled acceptable in her book? He had a lot to learn. “Maybe if you only wanted me because of my talent, I could somehow justify it. Somehow. But that’s not the case. You want to take down Timeless Heirlooms and you want to use me to do it. I can’t allow that. I can’t allow you to do anything that threatens Tina and Kurt.”
“Because Kurt’s your father.”
The breath escaped her lungs in a heady rush and her vision blurred. One minute she stood staring at Sev in utter betrayal and the next he pressed her into one of the nearby chairs. He disappeared from her line of sight for a moment, then returned with glass in hand.
“It’s just water, though I have something stronger if you prefer.”
She shook her head without speaking and downed the water in a desperate gulp. “How…?”
“Nicolò hired a private investigator.” Sev cupped the curve of her cheek and for a brief, insane moment she relaxed into his touch. The instant she realized what she’d done, she jerked back and his hand fell away. “Before we met at Le Premier I arranged to have each designer investigated. Marco and I attended the showing in order to collect names. By the time Nic called the next morning, the P.I. had matters well underway.”
“You’re going to blackmail me now, aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
She closed her eyes. Oh, God. He made it seem so simple. So obvious and acceptable. “You’re a total bastard, you know that?”
“When it comes to taking care of my family, you’re right.” She could literally feel the change come over him as he shifted from lover to adversary. “I’d rather you come to us of your own free will. But I’ll do whatever necessary to restore Dantes.”
She looked at him, searching his face for some sign of the man she’d taken to her bed. If he still existed—if he ever existed—he was lost to her
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