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her purse out of her office.
She's glad that the negotiations with Rosscom were over.
Everybody's still has a job, and of course, she would receive a
handsome profit. Lariat Games has been her baby for the last five
years, but she's getting married. Clarissa doesn't want to spend
60-80 hours working in an office anymore. It’s time for her to
settle down, enjoy life, and raise a family.
    With the profits from selling Lariat and her
condominium, Clarissa and Lawrence would have plenty money to build
their own home in Atlanta and have a little nest egg in the bank.
Everything is going swell; Clarissa's new job with World
InfoSecurity starts several weeks after they return from their
honeymoon. Ozark Pharmaceuticals promise to move Lawrence to the
Atlanta office where he'll be the executive director in charge of
risk management. Just think, in a few more weeks, she would be Mrs.
Lawrence Tate.
    When she returns to the executive conference
room, Julian Ross is on the phone. He nods to her as she approaches
and quickly cuts his call short. His eyes did a slow perusal from
her legs to her eyes. She could sense his interest in her. It's as
if he were psyching out an opponent rather than a man's interest in
a woman. Julian makes her feel as if he's sizing her up for
purchase. "Well Julian I'm ready if you are."
    "I'm more than ready Clarissa. The real
question being, are you ready for me?" Julian follows her out the
conference room into the waiting elevator.
    Julian's hand rests on her back as he walks
with her to his car. His driver opens the door for them. Max's
advice makes her think that she's playing way over her head. Julian
didn't come to Orlando to seal the deal; he's here to recommend a
whole new deal. She would be gentle when she turns him down because
nothing and no other man can come between her and her fiancé.
    ***

Chapter 2
    Julian's driver takes them to Gargi's
Lakeside, a popular Italian restaurant near downtown Orlando. The
hostess stands there drooling and uses her power to attract his
attention. Julian seems to take it all in stride as if it were his
due. He's use to beautiful women making fools of themselves for his
attention. Clarissa can't understand women who behave in this
manner. She remembers her father telling her that if a woman
behaves like a cheap trick a man would use her like one.
    Julian keeps his hand on her back as if he
were escorting his girlfriend to the lunch table. Clarissa tries
not to respond to his obvious sign of possession. Men like Julian
don't fall in love; the women in his life are just a receptacle for
his lust. The hostess tries to lead them to the patio seating, but
Julian has other plans. Clarissa knows without a doubt that Julian
isn't a patio kind of guy. He selects a location in a corner near
the back of the room offering plenty of privacy.
    After several more tries for Julian's
attention, the hostess finally got the message that he has no
interest. Their waiter comes over and quickly regales them with
today's lunch special. Clarissa decides on the black bean soup,
shrimp scampi, and a soft drink. Julian orders crab cakes, Italian
sausage and peppers, and wine. The waiter immediately takes the
menus and leaves them alone.
    Julian keeps staring at her chest as if he
could see her bare breasts under her clothing. She's come across
men like Julian before. He has women constantly seeking his
attention, secretly hoping he'd choose them as his next lover.
Clarissa's plans to guide the conversation to safe subjects; she
refuses to be his distraction while he's in Orlando.
    "Well Julian why did you come to Orlando for
the negotiations? I have to tell you that I'm surprised me to see
the CEO of Rosscom come all the way from Chicago for what is common
acquisition."
    Julian could see that his examination of her
body makes Clarissa uncomfortable. He would be lying if he said
that isn't his intention. He'd bet that Clarissa's fiancé hasn't
touched the tigress that dwells deep inside her.