Chapter 5
Christian
I had no idea what had possessed me to toy with the wildcat. That’s what I’d decided to call her. Vanessa Blair was unpredictable, resilient, defiant, and more than a handful. She also refused to back down to anyone. However, it was the unpredictable part that had earned her the nickname.
Her capricious actions were also the reason I’d become extremely intrigued.
Winning her over wasn’t only a necessity, it had become a very pleasurable adventure.
Perhaps a game. One of wit and charm. I planned on winning it hands down.
What I’d yet to determine was when I did, what would be the acceptable prize.
I did have ideas, filthy ones at that.
Had I crossed the line the night before with my impromptu desire to kiss her? Yes, but I wasn’t the kind of man who was used to following anyone’s rules but my own.
The three I’d crafted for myself years before?
Never allow the competition to win.
Never underestimate the power of a woman.
Never marry.
At this point, one was all but smashed to hell even in the short term, but I refused to allow the feisty but insubordinate wildcat to get the better of me.
So I’d play dirty pool.
As I pulled into the parking lot of her office building, I continued to chuckle about the night before. Her lips were soft and quite tasty, but I did have a goal in mind and as sexy as Vanessa Blair was, she wasn’t wife material.
I’d considered sending a driver to bring her to the office, but had decided what fun would that be?
As I pulled to the curb of her office building, I didn’t think I’d find her standing, waiting patiently.
She was wearing sunglasses and a pencil skirt, and the soft cotton top left little to be desired.
Given the light breeze, the blonde locks in her long copper hair shimmered in the sun as it blew back and forth across her shoulders.
It was apparent she had no intention of allowing me back into her office.
As I approached, she lifted her head and her sunglasses at the same time. The disgust was evident by her sour expression. She waited on the curb as I kept the engine idling, the deep rumble catching the attention of everyone coming and going.
Finally, she leaned down and when she did, I lowered the passenger window.
“I thought you were sending a driver. Aren’t you far too busy to be playing chauffeur?”
“For you, playing hooky is worth it.”
“Oh, I’m so flattered.” She opened the door and with the low-riding suspension, I was given ample view of her long, tanned, and luscious legs as she climbed in.
The fact my cock immediately twitched didn’t bode well for the rest of the day. If this continued, I’d need some sense of gratification.
“A Ferrari?” she asked in her saucy way.
“Why not? I like fast cars.”
She snorted, which was the cutest thing. “In red, no less. Who do you think you are, Magnum P.I.?”
“I’ll take that as a compliment, although you are showing your age.” Yes, I’d tossed out the insult. For God’s sake, I was at least ten or twelve years older than she was, but she brought out the worst in me.
“Age trumps arrogance.”
I laughed and immediately pulled away from the curb. “Beauty trumps all, and you have that in spades.”
“Compliments will not win you any favors.”
“Who said I need any?” I casually threw her a look, drawn by the way her skirt had bunched up around her thighs. I shifted in my seat given how uncomfortable I suddenly was.
“Evidently you do. My guess is my firm is your last hope of securing a wife in the timeframe you need. Such a shame a man of your stature is being forced into marriage simply to keep your business afloat.”
How could she possibly know that? “Let’s just say it’s much better for my reputation to be settled down.”
“Nothing could help your reputation, Mr. Elliot. A woman won’t soften you. All she’ll do is bring your insecurities to light. I’m surprised you’re not in one of your signature suits.”
“I didn’t know I had any.”
“Oh, come on. You’re never photographed outside of a finely tailored suit. This is a workday.”
“Maybe I consider this pleasure.”
“Maybe I don’t.”
I squeezed the steering wheel. Today could be a very difficult day. “I do have a private life.”
“Yes, going to lavish parties. If I agree to… working with you, I’ll add to the checklist that your wife will need to be comfortable in posh surroundings.”
She was more of a ballbuster than I’d originally thought. “I’m curious. What are my insecurities?”
“You fear a powerful woman, number one. You worry your masculinity won’t be enough. I assure you the world can see through your masculine bravado.”
Sighing, I rubbed my finger across my lips. Out of the corner of my eye, I could tell she was paying close attention. “Perhaps we can call a truce for today. I honestly believe you’ve developed the wrong impression of me. I hope to change that.”
“My first impressions are always correct, Mr. Elliot.”
Ouch. She wasn’t budging. “All that from two meetings.”
“Three.”
“Three,” I repeated. “I don’t remember a third.”
“You wouldn’t. What a shame. It was quite memorable.”
Now she had me both intrigued and confused. Where the hell had we met before and why in God’s name couldn’t I remember? I made a point never to forget a pretty face and hers was… Spectacular. “Why don’t we at least continue on a first name basis. Agreed?”
Her exhale was as sexy as everything else about her. “Agreed. Where are you taking me? And so you’re aware, I didn’t agree to dinner.”
“You will.”
“So sure of yourself.”
“That’s what is necessary in my world, Vanessa. If weakness is shown on any level, vultures swoop in.” What I was telling her was the truth, which was likely one reason behind my father’s demand.
“Everyone has at least one weakness. I take it women are yours?”
“Not necessarily. They are a… pleasure. Call them a stress reliever.”
She burst into laughter. “Let me get this straight. You need a stress reliever after you dismantle a company, fire employees, destroy families, burn bridges, and fill your bank account? You expect me to believe that?”
She was right that up until now that’s exactly what Elliot Enterprises had been about. “Do you need a stress reliever after spending a day finding the perfect model or actress for whatever gig you’ve been hired for? My guess is the answer is yes. We all do from time to time. You don’t like me.”
“You’re right. I don’t.”
“Why don’t you reserve your full judgment until you’ve spent some time with me. I promise you that I won’t bite. That is, unless you want me to.”
When I glanced in her direction, she was visibly tense.
Even her hands were fisted. She finally laughed, albeit a bit more nervously.
“I’ll do the biting like I’d be handling the whip.
” She shot me another look. There was such total confidence in her, but something about the look in her eyes allowed me to see there was not only a softer side to her, but one eager to be tamed.
I’d keep that in the back of my mind.
“Where to first?” she asked.
“I’ll give you a whirlwind tour of our properties.”
“Oh, goodie. I’m glad I wore my decent shoes.”
Smirking, I glanced down at her feet. “Flat shoes would have been more appropriate.”
The comment made her highly uncomfortable. As she squirmed in her seat, my mouth suddenly watered. I should consider myself a very bad man.
Two hours later my predictions had come true. Her entire face was pinched and while she’d taken a few notes, she’d barely said two words to me. Other than muttering under her breath several times her favorite words describing me.
Arrogant asshole.
I was beginning to think she believed that was my name.
A dark chuckle almost gave away what I was thinking.
“Are we finished yet? I do have other business to handle today and I have everything I need to make my decision.” Her words were made as a demand.
They were also biting, which meant she’d rather do business with Attila the Hun than with me.
But I wasn’t a quitter. I thought about what Michael had suggested.
The project was intended to remain anonymous and yes, it was very personal.
I don’t know why it was even important to me for Vanessa to believe I wasn’t such a bad guy, but here we were.
Although, the project in question was perhaps the only decent thing I’d ever done in my life. What the hell. At least by showing her, I could say I’d provided my best effort.
“One more place of business,” I told her.
“Fine. Let’s get it over with.”
She remained silent as I headed to one of the developments that was almost completed.
The beautiful tower had been a pet project, one of few I’d had in my career.
Since we were in the heart of Miami, close to South Beach, the buildings and residences were considered pricy.
I could tell by the smug look on her face she thought the project was just another money-grubbing scheme.
“What commercial site are we going to?”
“Not commercial,” I told her. “Since you’ve done your homework on my company, I’m certain you read we’ve branched into land development.”
“For the rich and famous. How appropriate.”
The construction fence was still in place although other than finishing touches, the building with its amenities was ready to be opened.
When I headed through the gate, waving to the general contractor who happened to be talking with the architect, she was at least interested enough to lean forward in her seat.
“Let me guess. The units go for around five million. The larger units ten. Right?”
I nodded. “That would be yes.”
She eyed me curiously while I parked the car.
Yes, I’d been overtly ostentatious in bringing the Ferrari, but I’d been unable to help myself.
“Why are you showing me this? So that I better understand the quality of a wife you need? Someone who won’t make a fool of herself in front of your rich friends? ”