The Devil to Pay Read Free

to get a grip. “Your finance director tells me you can make a presentation to the board to convince them the quarry’s still viable. I must warn you, however, they currently have every intention of selling to the highest bidder.” Daniel dropped the paperwork on the desk and then swallowed with irritation as a single sheet slid off the edge on to the floor.
    Rianna bent to pick the paper up and he scanned her skin, her hair and her small hands. He then snatched his gaze away before she could notice. “So I trust you can quickly make arrangements to deal with any… domestic issues before we fly out this afternoon?”
    Rianna slid the errant piece of paper onto the desk. “I have a current passport, if that’s what you mean,” she replied firmly. “ And a suitcase.”
    Daniel felt the corners of his mouth begin to turn up with amusement at her barbed response, but managed to suppress a smile. This was a refreshing change. He wasn’t accustomed to this level of feistiness from a female of the species. A sizzle of excitement flashed through his body at this unexpected lack of fear, swiftly followed by a dull wave of revulsion. The creature had quite a mouth on her as well it seemed and he pictured her yelling obscenities out of a bedroom window as her latest conquest shuffled off into the night. “ Bene ,” he replied smoothly. “Gianpiero, my driver, will collect you at four this afternoon. Please be ready to leave on time as we have a very tight schedule. Now,”—his gaze flickered over her like a searchlight, sweeping her appearance from head to toe and then returned to the paperwork—“I suggest you scoot off home and pack.”
    ****
    It was now patently clear that there was a lot more to Dan than she could have possibly imagined. Dressed in an immaculate navy blue suit, crisp white shirt and a silver striped tie, he exuded total power and authority. The jet-black waves of hair Rianna had dreamt of running her fingers through had been freshly tamed into sleek corporate respectability, and the dark shadow of stubble on his jaw from yesterday was completely gone. His stern expression was intimidating.
    Rianna could feel her cheeks smarting at his last dismissive remark, but she managed to crush her exasperation and be professional. Mike had obviously said something about her home situation. It was clear from Bracchi’s intonation when he had used the word “domestic”, but she couldn’t let her circumstances jeopardise the future of the quarry. Her boss had been right. She could do this. She had to do this, not only for herself but for her dependants and for the other hundred households relying on the business.
    She knew it wouldn’t be easy for her gran to take total charge of the two children, but she was sure her relative would understand its importance. In truth, neither of them had any choice in the matter, if Rianna lost this job, the extra wages she picked up from KostKrunch at the weekend wouldn’t even keep them in pull-up diapers.
    “Your driver will need my address—”
    “He has it already. That’s what a Personnel Department is for.” His eyes glittered and his mouth twisted as he handed her a business card. “Just in case you need to contact me in the interim.”
    Rianna turned the black and gold card over in her fingers, feeling its heavily embossed quality and absorbing the shock of what was happening. The words leapt out with stunning clarity.
    Daniel Bracchi, Chief Executive Officer, Bracchi International...
    Rianna focused silently on the card in her hand. Oh yes, Signor Bracchi Jr. had slipped into the role of CEO quite effortlessly and it suited him, but this dark prince was most definitely out of her league. She would just have to forget she would be spending a few days away with the very man she had been fantasising over for hours like a lovesick teenager, the man who considered her to be little more than a scruffy oaf.
    Rianna looked up to see him watching her intently. He had