Page 2 (1/2)

Chapter 2

One year later

"GOD, THE RUSH," Lei said, her feet tapping beneath the dining table "It never gets old"

I grinned, having caught the bug froether We’d experienced a lot of highs, but today--a cloudless late-Septe and wooing, ere going to close a deal that would snag two of Ian Pe ago and a major coup for us

Lei had dressed for the occasion and so had I Her Diane von F&uunature red Paired with black boots, she looked fierce and sexy I debuted a dark gold shell snagged froarette pants the designer had paired with them The ensemble was chic and reflected a new me, a Gianna who’d evolved a lot over the previous year

I, I looked toward the entrance of the hotel bar and felt a surge of adrenaline when the Williams twins appeared as if on cue Brother and sister reen eyes They were a great teaupdated with goure they presented sold deluxe books and cute little tins of seasonings, but the truth wasn’t so pretty Behind the scenes, they hated each other

And that had been Pembry’s fatal mistake with his dynamic duo He told thesuccess story Lei had offered them what they really wanted--the chance to split up and shine on their ohile still capitalizing on their supposedly playful rivalry Her plan was to build a chain of restaurants with dueling kitchens in the world-fao casinos and resorts

"Chad Stacy," Lei greeted, rising to her feet along withfabulous"

Chad came over and pressed a kiss towith otiations with him

I’ll admit I’d been tehts of his sister retaliating helda fierce ambitious streak But Stacy was a real piece of work and she hated me more than her brother Despite all my friendly overtures, she’d taken an instant dislike to me and that had seriously hindered the whole process

Personally, I suspected she was sleeping with Ian Pe a torch for hiht that hy she didn’t like Lei, either, but maybe she was just one of those females who hated other women

"I hope your roo damn well they were The Four Seasons didn’t have its five-star reputation for nothing

Stacy shrugged, her glossy hair sliding over her shoulder She had an angelic face, pale with a s how so, with a syrupy Southern accent, could be such a raging bitch "They’re all right"

Chad rolled his eyes and held out reat I slept like a rock"

"I didn’t," his sister griped, sliding gracefully into her chair "Ian kept calling He knows solance at Lei, as if gauging the ireed easily "He’s a smart man Which is why I’m surprised he didn’t do more to keep you both happy He knows better"

Stacy pouted Chad winked atcute, but it worked for hiood-ole-boy char about hiht spank you with a spatula as expertly as he cooked with one

"Ian did a lot for us," Stacy contended "I feel disloyal"

"You shouldn’t You haven’t signed anything yet," I said, having learned reverse psychology worked best with her oppositional nature "If you feel that your identity as the Willia Stacy Williaot you this far, after all"

Out of the corner of my eye, I watched Lei’s lips twitch with a repressed save ht os where anted theo

"Don’t be an ass, Stace," Chad muttered "You know this casino deal is a prime opportunity for us"

"Yes, but it ued "Ian says we need to give him a chance to deliver"

"You told hi "For fuck’s sake, the decision isn’t just yours to oddalance at Lei, but she just gave a nearly imperceptible shake of her head I couldn’t believe how cool and unruffled she looked, considering this deal would be the one to finally even the score between her and her mentor-turned-nemesis

The Hollywood eateries Ian had pulled out froot over the novelty of it and went looking for other tax shelters that didn’t involve personal appearances And two of his heavy-hitter chefs had gone back to their ho shoulders of the Williao deal is exclusive to Savor, of course," Lei said "What’s Ian offering you?"

What the hell had gone wrong? I glanced between the two siblings, and then at my boss I had the contracts in my lucky satchel under the table We were in the ho away

Later on, I’d recognize the ripple of awareness that shiht it was foreboding,before we’d sat down at the table

Then, I saw hi in me stilled, as if the predator couldn’t see me if I didn’t move He came into the bar with a sultry stride that made my hands curl into fists beneath the tablecloth That walk of his was easy and snaled to the fe legs and kne to use it

God, did he

Dressed in a gray V-neck sweater and dress slacks of a darker hue, he looked like a successful e never took a day off He worked hard, played hard, fucked hard

I reached for nize irl who’d once fallen hopelessly in love with him I didn’t look the same I wasn’t the same

Jax was different, too Leaner Harder His face les of his jawline and cheekbones I took a deep, quivering breath at the sight of hi to his presence as if I’d been physically struck