Sleeping with the Enemy. (Business and Pleasures) by Valentina Lovecraft Page A

was no question about that.
    This was getting awkward. Against her flight or fight response, she decided to engage the enemy.
    “Umm...”
    Great. That was eloquent. I should have turned and strutted off with my chin in the air she thought.
    He grinned at her; he had a killer smile, making her notice his square stubbly jaw.
    “ So, would you like another drink?” he said pointing to the empty glass she was still clutching.
    He speaks!
    “Uh, thanks.”
    Curses .
    This was not how she had envisioned her first conversation with him to go.
    She followed him to the bar inwardly kicking herself for going along with what he wanted to do and not cutting him down where he stood with some sharp words- bringing him to justice for the embarrassment, he had caused her. Of course, this was an embarrassment that he was oblivious to, which only served to rile her more.
    “ What's your poison?”
    His question cut through her inner anger tangent.
    “Excuse me?” she exclaimed, and in the same beat realised he was asking her preference in drink.
    “ Oh, white wine please,” she mumbled.
    “ I'm sure you have had the gentlemen lining up to buy you a drink this afternoon?” he said as he turned from the bar to face her and give her an obvious once over.
    “ Let me introduce myself; I'm Michael's son Jensen.”
    Rin could barely hide the grimace his attitude gave her.
    He continued withou t waiting for her introduction.
    “ Are you an employee of the company? I'll be taking the reins now that dad has gone.”
    A shot of rage rippled up her spine. In all her years at the company, not once had she seen Jensen in the office, or known of his involvement in any way in his family-run business, and now he planned to waltz on in and be the king of the castle?
    Hell no.
    She slammed her hand on the bar and took a step towards him; they were inches from each other.
    “ You have some nerve!”
    Ye ah this was more like it, sock it to him!
    “ You swan off spending daddy's money and being the playboy all over the continent.”
    Yes. It was going well; the look of shock on his face was delicious!
    “ All the while your family works tirelessly through the recessions to keep the business afloat. Of course, you don't want the free ride to end there, oh no! Why not capitalise on this opportunity! Just come on home and take over a company that I doubt you have the first idea how to operate.” She seethed.
    The immediate c rowd around them shuffled away. There was a tangible silence.
    “ All right Darlin.” He smirked.
    Rin twisted to face the bar and caught sight of he rself in the mirrored back bar. Her deep auburn-highlighted red hair stood out like fire against the sea of mournful black. The expression on her face right now made her a stranger to herself.
    She exhaled.
    “Do not call me Darlin.” She spat back at him, snatching up the freshened glass that she hadn't previously noticed and strutting off as she had originally intended to do.
     

 
    Chapter 2
     
     
    J ensen admired her tight little butt and perfect figure as she marched off.
    “ Laters then Red.” He chortled.
    Mmmm she was hot. I haven't enjoyed that kind of spice in way too long, he thought to himself.
    Jensen was a self-confessed womanizer but after years of living a carefree life, he had begun to get bored at getting everything so easily. Where was the challenge? Although you could not tell from his attitude, he was distraught about his father’s sudden death, but his mother and sister were relying on him to hold it together while the dust settled.
    Jensen had been on his way home from a summer in Paris when he had received the call, a barely audible crying followed by his mother’s shaky voice asking him where he was- at the time, in a taxi en route to the airport.
    He had loved his father more than he had loved any man alive, but he had never taken direction well. When he had been expected to follow in his father’s footsteps and join the company, he went to