Seducing the Secret Heiress (18 page)

‘People believe what's plastered on the front page,' he said, taking the paper from her and placing it on the desk. ‘When we announce our engagement, it'll be front-page news. They'll accept it.'

‘And why should I do this?' She shivered. Blinked. Was she actually considering this mad idea?

‘I'll give you a year's reprieve on your repayments.'

Sienna struggled to keep her face impassive as her heart leapt in her chest. This would save her thousands. She glanced out the window. The maintenance man still struggled with the autumn leaves. With money like that she could keep him on. She couldn't bear the thought of letting him go, especially with his third baby due any day.

‘Interest-free for a year?' she asked, buying herself time to think.

‘Yes.'

That might give her time to get things back on track. She looked at Antonio's face. He gave nothing away. They were discussing marriage, for heaven's sake.

She slowly drew in a long breath.

‘I want three years interest-free and all the accumulated debt in arrears wiped,' she said as forcefully as possible.

‘Not acceptable.' His face still betrayed nothing.

Time to call his bluff. ‘Then I'm sorry, you'll have to take your marriage proposal elsewhere.'

She walked behind her desk and hoped he didn't notice her legs shaking. She sat. Taking up a pen, she pretended to work. The pen wobbled in her hand. She dropped it and flicked through some files.

The silence stretched. She stared blankly at the pages in front of her. He didn't move. She turned the page. Still nothing. Every cell in her body screamed at her to look up.

What's he doing?

More silence. She crossed her legs and flicked over another page. Now she just felt stupid. She couldn't sit there all day with Antonio Moretti staring at her.

She slammed the file shut and shot him her best
What are you still doing here?
look.

He leant so casually against the door she had an overwhelming desire to slap the arrogance from his face.

She jumped from her chair. ‘What?'

‘I don't often have people pretend to ignore me,' he said, his eyebrows slightly raised. ‘I'll give you two years interest-free and half the money in arrears.'

‘Two years and all the money.'

‘Done.'

He strode forward and offered his hand across the desk. She shook it. Although she'd negotiated, all the power emanated from his side of the table. Her hand felt tiny in his firm grasp. Any power she possessed vanished. Alarm grabbed her heart. When he released her, it felt as if she'd lost something of herself.

A moment later, reality slammed home – she'd agreed to marry Antonio Moretti.