The Tycoon's Misunderstood Bride (18 page)

“Because if you do anything to harm this company, your son will inherit nothing.  You’ll be broke and out on the street with the rest of us.  Your father’s assets are all tied up in this company so anything you do will result in complete annialation of that little nest egg you’re sitting on.”

“I’ve already tried to turn down the money.”

He rolled his eyes.  “Try to live without money Emma.  It’s not fun, believe me.”  He moved closer and his hand reached up to caress her cheek, but she moved away.  “And someone as soft and fragile as you won’t make it a day out in the harsh world without money, so don’t ever come back into this office and threaten me with anything.  Do we understand each other?” he asked, his voice a whisper by the end.

“Get away from my wife, Miller,” Jason’s hard, uncompromising voice said from the doorway.

Emma’s eyes flashed in his direction and she smiled gratefully at him.  Jason barely took his eyes off of Gerard.  “Emma.  We’re leaving.  Let’s go.”

Emma didn’t hesitate.  She moved quickly to Jason’s side, feeling wonderful when he wrapped his arm around her waist. 

“Wait a minute,” Gerard called out.  “Aren’t you Jason Montenegro?”

Jason was about to turn around but he stopped.  “I am.  And you just insulted my wife,” he said with deadly menace.

The man’s face blanched and his mouth dropped open. 
“I apologize…sir…”

Emma was stunned!  The arrogant man of moments before was gone, replaced by a sniveling, pale faced
guy
who was cowed by Jason’s reputation. 

“Don’t let it happen again,” Jason replied with a low, threatening voice. 

“No.  As I said, I’m really sorry.”

Jason was about to turn around with Emma when Gerard stepped forward again.  “Now that that silly miscommunication is out of the way, maybe we could get together for drinks and maybe do some business together.  I have some great ideas I’d love to swing by you, if you have the time.”

Jason looked Gerard up and down, then shrugged.  “Call my office.  We’ll be in touch.”  With that, he turned around, keeping a strong arm on Emma’s waist as he walked out of the office, not bothering to even glance at Ms. Bimbo even though she was doing her damdest to tempt him, going so far as t bend over in her tight dress to file something on the bottom drawer.

Emma saw the ploy and just tsked at the woman before moving down the hallway towards the elevators.

Once they were descending to the lobby, she turned to Jason.  Looking up into his angry features, she asked, “You aren’t really going to do business with that man, are you?”

Jason shook his head, indicating she shouldn’t talk yet. 

She grasped the message and turned to face the doors, both of them walking swiftly out of the building with Jason
holding
her hand. 

Once in his car with Emma safely tucked away, he started the engine and merged into traffic.  “To answer your question, no.  I’m not doing business with Gerard Miller.”

“Why did you indicate that you might be willing to listen to his ideas?”

“Because I didn’t want to give him a head’s up on what we’re doing.”

Jason pressed a button on the steering wheel and his assistant instantly answered his call.  “Betty, where’s the team?”

“They are already at Ms. Mason’s home.  Originally, Josh only sent five people but as soon as they started going through the documents you mentioned, he sent over an additional ten people to assist.  They’ll have everything organized and ready to brief you by tomorrow morning.”

“Excellent.  Thank you Betty.  And what’s happening on the Pinot deal?”

“They signed the agreement.  Did you have any doubts?”

“Not really,” he replied, then disconnected. 

Emma couldn’t contain her curiosity.  She really wanted to know everything there was about this fascinating man.  “What’s the Pinot de
al, if you don’t mind me asking?
”

“I’m buying some factories in Thailand.  They’re going to be cheaper and more efficient than the factories that we’re currently using in Indonesia.”

She stilled, her heart constricting. 
“You don’t use cheap labor in factories that force people to work fourteen hour days, do you?”

Jason smiled and shook his head.  “Not on your life.  These factories in Thailand are automated and people only work eight hour shifts.  I also pay them a living wage.  My profits aren’t as good as some companies, but we do okay,” he commented, glancing at her briefly before turning his attention back to the traffic.

She sighed her relief.  “Good!  I
didn’t
think you were that kind
of businessman
, and I’m sorry that I questioned you.”

Jason took her hand and squeezed it gently.  “Emma, we’re just getting to know each other.  Keep asking me anything you’d like and I’ll answer all your questions.”

She was so relieved that he was
willing
to do that, it was almost stupefying.  The freedom to question, to learn from someone who had loads of experience was liberating. 

“Thank you,” she whispered and squeezed his hand back, glowing with happiness. 

He squeezed again before turning off at the exit to his house.  “We’re going to do something new,” he explained at her questioning glance. 

Once they’d parked the car in the front, he took her hand and led her inside.  “Did the packages arrive for Ms. Mason?” he asked his housekeeper. 

“They are in your bedroom as you requested,” she said efficiently. 

Jason turned to Emma and took both of her hands.  “While the auditors are looking into the files from your father’s house and his storage facilitie
s, how about if we take a break?
  We can have some lunch and then you can have your first riding lesson.”

Emma was delighted and impulsively threw her arms around him, kissing the bottom of his jaw as her arms tightened around his waist. 

When she felt his arms tighten, she smiled.  He didn’t release her but bent to kiss her gently.  “Go change,” he said and stepped back. 

Emma was disappointed when he didn’t suggest something more interesting, but she supposed that he might not have that kind of stamina.  She’d read that most men only have sex once or twice a week.  She’d been with Jason twice this week already and last night, he’d made love to her so many times she’d lost count. 

“Emma?” Jason called out when she was at the base of the staircase.

She turned and looked at him, waiting for his question.  As he walked over to her, he stopped when he was only about an inch away from her. “Did you have something else in mind that you’d like to do?”

Emma blushed and looked down at her hand.  “Riding would be wonderful.”

“I don’t think that’s what you were hoping we might be doing here, is it?” he laughed and his head bent to kiss her ear.  “Perhaps you might have other suggestions?”

Emma
smiled and put her hands on his
shoulders.  “Well, I don’t want to impose.  I’ve read that most men can’t….you know….”

Jason froze, his lips hovering over her shoulder until he lifted his head and stared at her.  Emma’s heart froze because he looked so serious, almost offended.  “Ms. Mason, are you inferring that I am not up to the challenge of satisfying you?”

Emma stepped back, shaking her head frantically.  She was seriously concerned that she’d hurt his feelings. “No!  I’m sorry Jason.  I just…well…thought that maybe….after last night…”

Jason shook his head
, his eyes stern and hard
. “No, I believe you are questioning my abilities,” he replied and looked at her.

She had only a split second to notice the teasing glint in his eyes before he bent down and simply tossed her over his shoulder. 

She squealed with laughter as he took the stairs two at a time.  “What are you doing?” she demanded, pushing against his back so she could try and see where he was going, even though she had a pretty good idea of his destination. 

“You’ve maligned my masculinity, Ms. Mason.  I can’t have you doubting my abilities so I must prove that I’m worthy of your interest.” 

He kicked the door to his bedroom closed, then tossed her onto the bed.  As he looked down at her, his fingers were rapidly pulling off his clothes. 

Emma couldn’t help laughing at his stern expression that was countered by the slightly upturned ends of his mouth.  “You don’t need to prove anything to me, Mr. Montenegro.  I am fully aware of your abilities and I apologize for any doubt that might have been conveyed with my previous hesitation.”  She had trouble getting out the words because she was laughing so hard.  She kept trying to move away, but he would just grab her ankle and pull her right back to him which only made her laugh even harder. 

“You’re going to lose this battle,” Jason said with grim determination, and with a flick of his fingers against the waist band of her slacks to release the button, he slid her slacks off, down her slender legs and he stood staring down at her. 

“You really are extraordinarily beautiful,” he said,
turning
serious.

Emma’s laughter died down and an entirely different feeling took over.  Her stomach muscles clenched, her legs felt different and she knew that her breasts were peaking, hardening against the silk of her blouse.  When Jason’s eyes glanced downward and his lips curled up, Emma knew that he also noticed her body’s reaction. 

“I can see we are finally on the same page, aren’t we?”

Emma wanted to laugh, but the heat spreading across her body, flowing outward and spiraling into her limbs wouldn’t really allow any amusement.  When he moved towards her, she lifted her arms to embrace him eagerly.  “I think we finally are,” she said and kissed him with all the feelings that were coursing through her. 

One week later,
Jason flipped through the draft report that his audit team had present him with earlier.  “And you’re sure of all these names?” he asked, gesturing to the list of people covering several sheets of paper. 

The lead auditor nodded her head.  “Those are just the initial names.  I’m sure once we dig deeper, we will be able to provide you with a more comprehensive list.”

Jason turned to Emma.  “We need to talk,” he said.

Emma stood up and came around the desk.  He took her hand and brought her into the living room where he pulled her down next to her. 

“He’s actually more evil than I realized, Jason.  You can’t believe some of the letters I’ve been reading.  He’s hurt so many people!”

“I know.  That’s what I wanted to talk to you about.”

“I need to figure out how to help them,” she said, barely responding to him.  She was sick with how vile her father was and it seemed like he’d hurt some people si
mply out of entertainment.  He’s
ruined people’s lives simply because he could.
  She was pacing back and forth in the living room, worried that she might not be able to stop her father’s company from continuing.  Or even turn back the clock and fix some of the wrongs he’d done in the past. 

“I’m glad you think that.  I’d like to
the
team of auditors
to continue their research so that we can have a larger picture of the damage he’s done
.”

“Make a list of the people he’s hur
t and pay them back?” she asked
hopefully.

Jason nodded slowly, his eyes serious and concerned.  “That might mean that your father’s estate will be sued.”