With as much dignity as she could carry, Ari patted down her hair, then followed him, making a beeline for the women’s bathroom, where she could clean herself up. As she wiped away the evidence of their quick joining, her body shuddered.
It would be so easy to ease her ache, but he’d know and then he’d win. With a growl of frustration she washed her hands and walked back to her office. Not having her panties on intensified the throbbing. It was going to be a long afternoon.
As she sat at her desk, a smile appeared. Either she could sit there and pout, or she could plot revenge. He might think he held the power, but it was time she started turning things around. Yes, he was in possession of her panties, but that meant that he knew she was na**d beneath her skirt. She would see who cried uncle first.
With that thought, Ari got back to work, feeling a lot better about the way things would go over the next day — week — even month.
Chapter Nineteen
“Ari, report to my office immediately.”
Well, that was rude. Hesitating for a moment so she wouldn’t snap, Ari took a calming breath before hitting the reply button on her speaker.
“Do I need to bring anything?”
“Yes. Your laptop. My secretary became ill and had to leave for the day, and I have an important meeting in fifteen minutes. I need you to take notes.”
“I’ll be right there, Mr. Palazzo.” It seemed only fitting to use his last name when he was acting the way he was.
“Ari…” Her name came out on an exasperated breath. She chose not to reply.
Sitting for a few moments, Ari glared at her phone. First, he had the gall to take her in his office without offering her any satisfaction, then he took her panties with him, and now he was demanding she take notes for him. Take, take, take. Who did he think he was?
She thought briefly about ignoring his summons and staying right where she was. But after her initial impulse to defy him had simmered down, Ari smiled. He was giving her a great opportunity for retaliation.
They both knew she had nothing on beneath her skirt. Maybe it was time for her to remind him of that fact, which would be especially fun in a room full of people where he could do nothing about her taunts.
With a determined set to her shoulders, Ari stood, grabbing her laptop. She stopped by the bathroom, applying shiny red lipstick and unbuttoning her top button. With a gleam in her eyes, she made her way to Rafe’s office.
Since his door was open, she sauntered in, wondering what her next move should be. She’d never been a seductress before and didn’t know where to start.
“The meeting is in the formal conference room. Follow me.”
He didn’t even bother glancing up as he delivered another curt order. This must be something important — even better!
Ari trailed behind Rafe down the hallway and they entered a large room with a massive table surrounded by twenty chairs. She hadn’t been there before and had to admit that the décor impressed her.
Elegant snacks and beverages sat atop the table, and the chairs, though suitably businesslike, looked plush and comfortable This room was clearly designed to welcome superstar investors and clients.
A smidgen of fear slithered down her spine at the thought of playing games with him in such an environment. When she was just about to talk herself out of antagonizing him, she stiffened her shoulders and reminded herself that he always managed to get the upper hand. It was time he lost a bout.
“Sit in the chair on the end next to mine. Type up everything we speak about; there’s no need for you to contribute. I’ve been working with these men for two years now on a deal that is invaluable to the Palazzo Corporation.”
“I understand,” she said through gritted teeth.
Rafe took his seat, and Ari slowly moved toward her chair. Just before sitting down, she stumbled, making sure she fell against him. Rafe caught her with quick reflexes, leaving her face inches from his own.
Pressing her body in more tightly against his, and breathing against his neck, she remained there for a few seconds longer than necessary before trailing her hand along his thigh and whispering in his ear. “I’m so sorry about that, Rafe. What a klutz I’m being.”
His short intake of breath gave her a measure of satisfaction. Using his thigh to help herself back up, she made sure he had ample opportunity to see her cle**age, then she stood up and went to her chair.
She could have called him on being a Neanderthal and not holding her chair out for her, but they were working — this wasn’t a date.
“Try to be more careful,” he finally said, his normally tight control just the tiniest bit unraveled.
“Oh, I will,” she purred at him as she leaned forward with her elbow on the table, squeezing her arms together. When his eyes shot down to her chest, she fought back the smile wanting to burst forth as she leaned back while rubbing her painted fingernail against her thigh, raising her skirt, reminding him she was pantyless. His sharp intake of air was a well-earned reward.
“Mr. Palazzo, your visitors have arrived.”
The two of them looked up to see one of his employees standing in the doorway with a clipboard.
“Send them in. We’re ready,” Rafe responded, instantly back to businessman mode. Ari would just have to shake him right back out of that.
Rafe stood as several men walked into the room. Ari was unsure whether she should stand or not, so she did the safe thing and rose from her seat. When the final visitor walked in, her mouth dropped open for an instant.
The man had to be several inches over six feet tall, and his olive skin and sparkling near-black eyes fit his masculine features perfectly. The bold red sash over the front of his dark suit made the man stand out even more.
Ari had no doubt he was the one in charge. His eyes scanned the room and honed in on hers, his lips turning up in a smile as he moved forward.
“Prince Adrian, I hope your travels went well,” Rafe said as he offered his hand.
“Yes, I have had quite the pleasant journey. Thank you, Rafe. Now, who is this divine creature?”
Both men turned to stare at Ari, and she had to fight not to melt to the ground. With Rafe’s intense purple eyes gazing at her, and Prince Adrian’s dynamic black ones doing the same, she was rooted to the spot.
Holy hell, the two of them could start a war with a single word as long as they stood side by side. She felt as if she should pull out her camera and start snapping pictures for a magazine spread.
“My secretary became ill, so Arianna is filling in for her today,” Rafe finally answered. Ari barely managed to hide her irritation at his words. Yet that was exactly what she was doing. She didn’t expect him say, This is my mistress, whom I screwed in her office a few minutes ago. She thought maybe he might have been a bit warmer with the introduction, though — to let the men know she wasn’t available.