The Art of Retaliation Read Free Page B

caress she was powerless to
resist.   She kept her attention on
the picture but could feel the heavy weight of Stephane Garreau’s haunting hypnotic blue eyes watching her
intently.   He gave a small laugh.

 
    “She never married, quite a fiery lady that couldn’t be tamed by all
accounts.”

 
    He was looking at her again and something told Mara he wasn’t just
talking about the Countess.

 
    “Never took any nonsense from her men,” he informed with a grin
looking directly at Mara.

 
    She smiled with approval and turned to walk across the cream carpet
towards the bed on the other side of the room suddenly aware of how tired she
felt.   The sheets were made of
sumptuous white silk on top of which sat a silk white and light taupe patterned
duvet.   Everything about the room
was elegant and luxuriant in its modern design.   Behind the bed sat a large velvet square
taupe headboard surrounded by an ornate silver frame and, as were the curtains
hanging around it.   It was beckoning
her, enticing her to sleep and she couldn’t wait for him to leave so she could
rest, regroup and commence the battle again tomorrow.

 
    He appeared to have read her thoughts.

 
    “I will leave you now.   You need to get some rest.   I
will call my doctor in the morning and get him to examine you.   You seemed to be dizzy before you
fainted and don’t appear well.   I
didn’t like how pale you were when you slept in the car.   Are you ill?”

 
    “No,” she snapped. “No, it’s nothing really.   My doctor keeps insisting that I am
overworked.   The dizziness is just a
symptom.   I need some sleep.”

 
    “Well, we will see you get that rest.   After all you will have plenty of time
on your hands,” Stephane replied curtly watching the
butler bring in Mara’s suitcase and briefcase.

 
    “Why all the concern?” she sneered.   “What do you care if I am ill or not as
long as you get what you want from Ryan. ”

 
    Stephane walked to
the side of the room and shut an open window that was casting a chilly breeze
around the room.   He closed the
heavy damask curtains and then returned to answer the question.   To be ignored with such arrogance only
served to fuel Mara’s anger and he damn well knew it.

 
    “Because I am not a criminal and have no wish to see you hurt.   I have no desire to keep you prisoner
but Ryan has forced my hand.   While
you are under this roof both Maxine and yourself will be given the necessary
courtesy and care.   If you need
anything just pick up the phone and dial zero, and no it doesn’t have an
outside line.   I will have some food
sent up. Goodnight.”

 
    “No you don’t.   I want to
know more about what is going on,” thoughts of sleep suddenly erased from her
mind.

 
    She was holding of his arm, tugging him back.   He made to remove her hand, but allowed
her delicate fingers to linger in his own hand stroking a thumb over them.   Her skin felt silky against his smooth
male hand.   She stared watching him
caress her mesmerized and lulled in to compliant softness before her anger
returned making her snatch her hand back.

 
    So this is your line of
attack, seduction .

 
    Mara’s eyes narrowed.   The French billionaire had picked the wrong woman to mess with.   He moved closer and involuntarily she
found herself taking a step back a suddenly a little fearful of his male
presence and the power he was exerting over her senses.   He stopped frowning at her fear of
him.   He put his hands in his
trouser pockets and looked at her with confusion.   Then he said,

 
    “Get some rest.   We will
discuss it further in the morning.   Go to bed,’ he commanded then he was gone and to her horror he locked
the door behind him.

 
 
 
    Mara woke the next morning to bright sunlight attempting to
penetrate the heavy curtains.   A
chorus of birds chattered noisily in the grounds somewhere, mixing with the
melodic cooing of a distant