The Rose He Killed novel Chapter 286

Chante A

Chapter 251: Paris-2

“A minor detail,” Nadina murmured, her voice a low purr. She didn’t look at the lawyer. She looked straight at me, tilting her head so her dark hair fell over her bare shoulder. “Don’t you think so, Caleb? A man with your vision shouldn’t be worried about a few old stones.”

“The stones cost forty thousand Euros a week to maintain under French preservation laws, Nadina,” I said, keeping my voice flat and businesslike. “It affects our first-quarter valuation. It is not minor.”

“Oh, you are always so terribly serious,” she laughed softly, a tiny, practiced sound. She leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table, which made the red dress dip even lower. “Three years ago, when we did the preliminary tour in Bordeaux, you weren’t consumed by spreadsheets. You used to enjoy the view.”

The rest of the table went quiet, the senior acquisitions directors suddenly looking very interested in their dessert plates.

“Three years ago, we were assessing empty land,” I said, my eyes narrowing. “Tonight, we are buying a subsidiary. Let’s stay on the agenda.”

“Of course,” she said, her smile turning tight.

By ten o’clock, the lawyers stood up to check the final printouts in the business center, leaving the two of us alone in the private room. The moment the door clicked shut, Nadina stood up. She walked slowly around the table, her red heels clicking loudly on the marble floor. She stopped right behind my chair, leaning down so close I could feel the heat of her skin.

“Your men tell me your wife is in the hospital,” she whispered, her hand moving toward my arm. “How stressful for you. To be all alone in Paris while she is tucked away in some cold clinic.”

I caught her wrist before her fingers could touch my suit jacket. My grip was hard, tight enough to freeze her completely. I stood up, pushing her hand down, and stepped back until I was looking down at her.

“Stop it, Nadina,” I said, my voice dangerously low.

She laughed nervously, trying to play it off, waving her free hand. “Caleb, really, it is just a little conversation.”

“I said stop,” I interrupted, cutting her off completely. “Do not be stupid and desperate. ‘have ignored your little comments and your games for the last fourteen months because you are good at running the European operations. But you are pushing it too far tonight.”

Nadina’s face turned pale under the bright chandeliers. The playful, seductive look vanished instantly. “I am merely trying to ensure we have a close relationship for the transition.”

“We have a contract,” I said, stepping closer until she had to press her back against the mahogany table. “That dress, the touching, the comments about three years ago-it stops right now. I am a married man. My wife is in a hospital bed right now carrying my child. If you think for one second that I will tolerate you disrespecting my family for your own vanity, you are completely wrong.”

“Caleb, I didn’t mean any harm”

“I don’t care what you meant,” I barked. “I have tolerated your foolishness because the deal was delicate.

1/2

Chapter 23

But if you step over this line again, I will pull the funding for the Loire properties before the ink is dry on This contract. I will ruin your operational standing in Europe, and I won’t think twice about it.”

She swallowed hard, her chest heaving under the red silk. The seductive warmth was entirely gone, leaving her looking small and terrified. “I understand, Mr. Black.”

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify