Chapter 2
Zander stared at his twin brother’s text as a blend of shock, nausea, and amusement clashed inside him.
Duke: Looks like I’m a finalist. If I make it past this round, I’ll be saying I do before the month’s through.
Was he kidding? Betzy and Sawyer weren’t even back from their honeymoon, and now suddenly there could be yet another wedding in the family?
As much as Zander wanted to reply—something that would irk Duke and his prized man bun to the core—he needed to shift gears. Apparently, he had an environmental chemist on his back over one of the companies he’d agreed to rescue on The Lion’s Den.
The top-rated reality TV show, run by Zander and his family, allowed them—and guest billionaires like themselves—to rescue jeopardized multi-million dollar companies while the cameras rolled.
Not all were rescued, however. Many a CEO had shuffled off the set with heads hung low, scrambling for an investor of another sort.
Anything to keep them from losing it all.
Zander rapped a fist against the desk as he guessed at which company it might be.
The NY restaurant chain he’d purchased came to mind.
Perhaps they used non-recyclable takeout boxes?
Or maybe the line of Detroit factories he’d snatched up a few months back.
Although he doubted a chemist would fly clear to the other side of the country over such a thing.
But then it hit him—Milton and Brewster, the printing press he’d rescued.
An episode that aired just last night. The press was an environmental leper, especially in a city like LA, but Zander had his reasons for saving it.
They were personal reasons, something the chemist wouldn’t want to hear, but Zander wasn’t about to let some geek in a lab coat tell him what to do with his money.
Perhaps he should have asked Linda for a few details about this chemist before they met. Gotten the guy’s name at least. In Zander’s experience, he was always more persuasive when he used a personable approach.
Too late for that, he realized as he saw Linda striding down the hall with his visitor in tow.
Wait. Who was this? A gorgeous blonde in a fitted skirt, silky blouse, and a pair of heels. Perhaps he hadn’t heard Linda correctly about his ten o’clock.
Through the glass walls surrounding his office, Zander watched the women approach the entrance. He stood to his feet as they stepped inside.
Linda led the way, stopping just shy of his desk before turning to his pretty visitor. “Ms. Morgan, this is Zander Benton. Mr. Benton, this is Kat Morgan, one of LA’s environmental chemists.”
Beautiful and smart—there wasn’t a better combination. “Hello, Ms. Morgan,” he said, offering his hand.
She stretched a slender arm toward him and offered a firm, confident handshake. A hint of something tropical wafted through the air.
“Mr. Benton.”
Linda made her way toward the doorway with a nod.
“Thank you, Linda,” he hollered before setting his gaze back on… “Kat, did she say?”
“Yes.”
“Please.” He waved to the leather chairs at the other side of his desk. “Have a seat.”
Only she didn’t. She simply glanced at the chairs before pinning her glare back on him.
“I’d rather not.” She shifted her weight from one foot to the next. “I want to know why you ignored my emails about Milton and Brewster.”
Crap. It was about the printing press. Zander tipped his head to one side. “Emails?”
The woman let out a humorless laugh. “Sir, I started sending you emails once I heard they planned to make an appearance on your family’s TV show.
I wrote you and your siblings and asked that you not rescue a company that pollutes our city and refuses to cooperate with sample collection on their premises. ”
He stifled a groan. Zander had known he’d likely have a mess on his hands with the ancient company; he just hadn’t had the chance to find out how messy the updating process would be.
“I assure you,” he started as an errant thought hit his mind. Brown eyes. It was odd for blondes to have brown eyes, wasn’t it? They were mesmerizing.
Focus, Zander. He cleared his throat. “Ms. Morgan, I can assure you that we have a qualified team sorting through emails about The Lion’s Den, but you have to realize that there’s a conflict of interest with several of the…
” he put up finger quotes, “warnings we get where jeopardized companies are concerned.
“See, we can’t be so sure that it’s not someone else stepping in with ulterior motives, hoping to get the business in their own hands at a discounted price.” He shrugged. “We’ve got to take those with a grain of salt.”
“Or dismiss them entirely, which is what you did with my advice about that outdated detriment to our city, thank you very much.”
The heat in her comment was evident in her cheeks, a warm shade of pink spreading over her face from ear to ear.
“I’m sorry that you feel—”
“I mean, did someone think that I hoped to swoop in with a bag of cash and snatch it up after you rejected it?”
“I didn’t say that. I simply gave you an example of why those emails tend to go unanswered.”
“Tend to go unanswered? That’s rich. So this is more common than I thought. You guys ignore everyone and just do what you want. I know your father was friends with Mr. Brewster.”
“You do?” Why was he crumbling under this woman’s scrutiny. He was Zander freaking Benton.
“And I don’t think it’s right to come in and rescue them from all the damage they’ve done to our environment just because he’s a friend of a friend.”
“A friend of my deceased father, you mean.” Sheesh, the woman could at least have a little respect. “And your visit, I regret to inform you, is premature. I won’t be able to see what we need to change until we finalize the deal. Legalities take time.”
Her brown eyes widened suddenly, causing her expression to shift. She looked…hopeful. “So you haven’t signed yet?”
Oh, crud. “Well…”
“So I’m not too late. Sir.”
“Mr. Benton,” he corrected.
“Mr. Benton, these guys have refused to cooperate with us for the last three years. They don’t deserve to be—”
But Zander put up a hand. “I’m sorry if I gave you the impression that you could stop the transaction, but the sale will be finalized whether you agree with it or not.
” He wouldn’t be bullied out of rescuing the company, and that was final.
But unlike Mr. Brewster and his partner, Zander had the funds to update their equipment and get them up to standards.
Kat’s face hardened. “I knew it.”
Zander bristled at the comment. “Listen, once the ink dries, I plan to—”
“It’s already too late,” she snapped. “I’ve been forced to take the proper course of action in getting the authorities involved.
And while we’re at it, I’m taking things a step further and ordering a complete evaluation of the press, the materials they’ve used, and the disposal of their waste over the last three years. ”
She rested one hand on her hip and leaned, her narrowed eyes set on him.
This woman was as infuriating as she was beautiful.
And as brazen as her approach might be, he couldn’t help but admire it.
It wasn’t often he worried over what people thought of him, but Zander didn’t want her to see him as a monster.
“If you’re so concerned about its effect on the environment, perhaps we could sit down together and discuss what needs to be done. ”
She pulled back and blinked a few times in surprise.
But then enlightenment seemed to flash in her eyes.
“And avoid that wrath they have coming to them? I don’t think so.
I plan to make a public example out of that company.
Let people know exactly what happens when you ignore warning after warning and plea after plea… ”
Zander gritted his teeth and blew out a paced breath. “Fine. Bring on the evaluation. We’ll be ready.”
“Oh, the evaluation is happening whether you’re ready or not,” she assured.
And for a reason he couldn’t explain, a hint of amusement crept in. “I just said we would be ready.”
She shrugged. “Good. Because it’s happening.”
He hid a grin. “Yes, you said that.”
Her lip quirked, and heaven help him, but Zander felt the response to that cute little quirk low in his belly. Stirrings of warmth and intrigue.
He held her gaze as a spark of sorts danced between them, the anger shifting into something…different. Did she feel it too? Probably not.
Get her out of here, Zander. This woman has trouble written all over her.
“Thanks for coming to visit, Mrs. Morgan.” Sure, he’d snuck the Mrs. in there, but only because he wanted to see if she’d correct him. Say that it was Miss instead.
She didn’t. In fact, her gaze only narrowed into a glare at his words. “So that’s it?”
Was she kidding? Now it was his turn to release a humorless laugh. He motioned toward her. “When one party refuses to hear out the other party,” he said, motioning to himself next, “there’s nothing to be done. Don’t you agree?”
“Oh.” Her expression softened. She took a step toward him, and Zander felt the heat of it low in his belly.
“You don’t feel like you were heard?” Her voice was sympathetic and soft. Her eyes widened, and her chin dropped in question.
Of course he hadn’t been heard. She’d interrupted him at every breath. But he didn’t have to tell her that. Instead, Zander shook his head subtly. “No, but if you’re willing to try again—”
“Well, now you know how I feel,” she snapped. Before he could form a reply, the woman spun on one heel, clenched her purse strap over her shoulder, and marched out of the room.
Zander forced out a slow breath through pursed lips as a fresh dose of fire flared hot in his chest. He was tempted to slam a hand on his desk and holler at her through the glass.
“What a crazy woman,” he mumbled with the shake of his head.
Yet as he watched her bolt down the hall in angry strides, her blonde locks bouncing with each and every step, a recollection came to mind.
The hand she’d been clenching the bag with—her left hand—showed no evidence of a wedding ring on her finger.
Zander knew he was nuts to pay attention to that detail in such a moment, but it wasn’t every day a woman like that came along. Someone with such…conviction. Misaimed as it was, he admired it.
He reached for his phone and dialed up Linda on speaker.
“What can I do for you, Mr. Benton?”
“Linda, when’s my appointment with Milton and Brewster?”
“Looks like it’s scheduled for the third of February,” she said through the line.
Huh. That was later than he thought. Perhaps if he could rush things along, he could meet up with Ms. Kat Morgan himself and give her an update. “See if you can move it up, will you? The sooner the better.”
“Goodbye, Ms. Morgan,” Linda said faintly. Zander leaned toward the phone, wondering if he’d hear the woman’s reply.
Nothing.
“I’ll reach out to them now and see what we can do,” Linda said.
Zander pictured the feisty chemist once more. The anger in her eyes, coupled with the heat of that moment when she held his gaze. “Thank you, Linda,” he said. “And then, if you can, send Ms. Morgan a dozen yellow roses.”
Linda was a professional, he learned that much over the years she’d worked for him. But even still, he felt the extended pause in her response. “What would you like the card to read?”
“Thank you for your visit. I think you’ll be pleased with the changes I plan to make with Milton and Brewster.
If you change your mind about discussing the issue face-to-face, I’d be happy to meet with you.
” He paused there, an unfamiliar hint of desperation creeping in.
He hadn’t been this intrigued by a woman in years.
“Attach my personal number,” he added, “and sign my name.”
Sure, he might regret doing so, but Zander couldn’t get himself to care. Even if it wasn’t under the greatest terms, he wanted to see Kat Morgan again.