The Summer Deal (2 page)

“Fantastic. The packet the personnel director gave you during the first interview outlines the position’s requirements. Please review it, and feel free to ask me any questions before you begin.” He handed her his card. “Both the office and my personal phone numbers are there. You can reach me at any time on the second number.”

She smiled and placed the card into a neat, leather dossier. “I’ll be sure to complete the necessary documentation and leave it with the personnel department.” She smiled and collected her things. “Thank you very much. I’ll see you Monday morning.”

Performing on autopilot, he walked his new employee to the door. Telling the receptionist to shut down the office and call it a night, he watched Samantha’s curvy bottom step into the elevator.

“Samantha?”

“Yes, Mr. Lakis?”

“If needed, will you remain past the expected ten month term?” He hesitated, but added, “Until my assistant is ready to return to work?”

“Absolutely, sir.” She smiled and raised her hand.

He nodded, and the elevator door closed.

Sighing, he stormed back into his office, shut the door, sat at his desk, and dropped his head into his hands. “What got into you?”

Demo had never made such a decision in his life. He hadn’t built a multi-billion dollar firm on impulse or bad judgment. He had no idea what had possessed him with the cute redhead or why he’d let his hormones rule his brain. This was out of character for him. Perhaps a simple diversion would rectify the situation?

He leaned back from his desk and opened the top left drawer. Glancing through his personal agenda, he picked up the phone and dialed.

“Katrina, how are you? ...Yes, I know it’s been a while. Work has kept me busier than I care to admit... But I have some time for myself tonight, and I want to ask if you will join me for dinner?”

Tapping his fingers on his desk, he swiveled his chair and patiently listened as his date explained how hard it would be to rearrange her schedule, but she would do it for him.

“Great. I’ll be by at eight.”

Samantha’s bastard fiancé had broken her heart. And every day, Demo learned a little more of how mistaken a person’s concept could be of someone. The more information he uncovered about her former fiancé, the more he realized that regardless of her diligent and thorough methods, even his seemingly perfect office assistant had been mistaken and taken in by a sleaze.

In conjunction, Demo had never been so wrong about anyone before. Samantha was definitely more than a pretty face. Within weeks, she proved to be a very sound business decision. Samantha was the best P.A. he’d ever had. In spite of his initial motivation for hiring her, in the few short months she’d worked with him, she’d managed to become an invaluable asset to Lakis International Consulting.

However, the sunshine hid behind a stormy cloud. No longer with the fiancé, she was now available, but they had established a strong and professional relationship. She seemed to find comfort in her work and Demo didn’t want to take that from her.

Glimpsing a coppery shine as he stepped off the elevator, he hastened his pace. Despite the daily temptation of her physical presence, Demo looked forward to seeing her early each morning. Every time he walked by her desk, he wanted to gather her in his arms and show her how a proper man took care of a woman, but he resisted the urge. It wasn’t his place. Even though he wanted to cross the line he’d carefully drawn for himself, the pain he had seen in her eyes, pain she tried so hard to keep hidden, grounded him.

“Morning, Samantha.”

“Good morning, Mr. Lakis. Giardetti’s people called and emailed the next offer. I’ve printed it and put it on your desk for review.”

“Thank you.” He inhaled the sweet flowers and warm vanilla of her scent as he walked behind her desk and poured a cup of coffee.

“I’ll bring in your coffee,” Samantha offered, reaching for his mug and the sugar.

“No need. Give me half an hour to review the contract, and then get my sister on the phone. Athena is very anxious about this deal.”

Unfortunately, Demo couldn’t sit with his red haired muse this morning, and it wasn’t about his sister’s contract. Receiving a call from the surveillance team at six o’clock had determined his schedule. He had no choice but to react to the threats his prize employee’s ex posed. Demo didn’t take kindly to intrusions by outside forces. Moreover, he didn’t like the idea of the
bastardo
making sudden moves when he was out of town. It left Samantha vulnerable.

Looking down on her slim shoulders, Demo raised his right hand to his temples and squeezed. How was he going to deal with the stressful news and not alarm her?

“Samantha, please see to it that I’m not disturbed before the call. I need to settle something private.”

Turning in her seat, she afforded him the perfect morning view. Eyes full of concern scanned his face. Lush lips pursed to perfection, and soft freckles speckled on the bridge of her nose.

He placed a casual hand on her shoulder. “Would you mind not leaving the building today? I may need your assistance during lunch.”

“Of course, Mr. Lakis. Is there anything you would like me to see to immediately? Perhaps something that needs to be completed before your flight this evening?”

“I will let you know. Thank you for remaining available.” Sidestepping around her, he walked into his office and shut the door. Placing his coffee on the desk, he turned to look out the soundproof glass between them. She’d returned to her computer screen and that was exactly where he wanted her: In the office and out of harm’s way.

Just stay within view, koukla.

Demo pulled his cellular from the inside pocket of his jacket and called the head of security, his cousin Teddy. He gave him instructions, and as he was about to finish when his brother beeped through on the second line.

Taking a seat behind his desk, he flipped over to take the new call.

“Hey, Tony. What’s up?”

“You taking the eight o’clock flight tonight?” his younger brother asked.

“Yeah. I have a meeting with Roberts on the East End Development deal.”

“Good. We’ll ride in together. I have something to do in London this week.” Tony was more excited than his usual upbeat self.

“Nice. It’ll give us some time to catch up. I’ll have Samantha change the reservation to a two bedroom suite.”

“No, my trip is pleasure. I’m taking a few days off. I’ve already made the arrangements.”

Demo laughed and swiveled his chair toward the window overlooking the park. “So what’s her name?”

“You get that only when you admit what a bad business person you are,” Tony teased.

“What are you talking about?”

“You employ the most expensive personal assistant in New York City and get nothing in return. This thing you have for, and are trying to avoid with, Samantha is getting out of hand.” Tony paused for a second. “Extremely expensive because of all the replacements that
just won’t do
. I bumped into Artemis last night. She showed me the bracelet you gave her on Sunday. Rather impressive for a ‘just want to be friends’ gift.”

Nobody held Demo’s attention or interest long. Nobody was like the sunshine he looked forward to on weekday mornings. Since the day he’d interviewed Samantha, his calm and smooth life turned upside down. A pattern had quickly formed, and he’d found himself buying expensive, glitzy, parting gifts for his diversions after, at most, a two-week involvement.

“Come on. Tell Samantha how you feel, or better yet, show her what you want. Friendship with a woman who gets under your skin like this is impossible,” Tony said.

“We’re friends and professionals. That’s all. Now drop the Samantha lecture.”

“Friends are not obsessed the way you are. The first person you ask for when you’re overseas is Samantha. You put the coffee machines near her desk intentionally and have turned into a caffeine junky.” Tony laughed as he teased his older brother. “Plus, you’re protective of her, and you really have no right to be.”

Feeling the need to defend his actions, Demo reminded his brother of the night when Samantha wasn’t able to leave the office because her ex was parked outside. “The stubborn woman wouldn’t call the police.”

“Sure, Demo. Whatever you say.”

“Okay, maybe I’m a bit protective of her,” he admitted. “But that’s because she has no sense of self-preservation. She thinks her ex’s threats are meaningless. You know better.”

Tony sighed into the phone. “I’m not saying you’re wrong about that—”

“I had to practically lock her in the penthouse to make sure she was safe. She kept saying it wasn’t appropriate to stay at my place. She was about to go out and take her chances, and she would have if I hadn’t lied and said I had overseas conference calls all night. Let me tell you, the office couch sucks.”

“Yeah, and since then, you’ve had a car waiting to drive her home or to class every night,” Tony pointed out.

Bastardo
had disappeared overnight, but Demo had personally taken her home the next morning, and then took it upon himself to assure her ex would not have access to her. Damn, he’d definitely overstepped the employer/employee line that time.

And I did it again today.

“Tony, these are things that needed to be done. I can’t imagine any proper person turning his back on a situation like that.”

“Fine, rationalize it anyway you like. But the writing is on the wall, big brother. You’re sunk.”

Ending the call on that note, Demo went on digging the hole a little deeper and verified more of his interference was on track. The team was in place, and he was confident he could leave on his trip without worrying about her safety.

He’d deal with the rest when he returned.

*****

The intercom buzzed. “Mr. Lakis? The Giardetti file just came through. Would you like me to forward it to you?”

“Please print it and bring to me, Samantha. Plus, why don’t you order us some lunch from Chris’s. We could review a few things as we eat.”

She entered his office within five minutes and handed him the file.

“Thank you.”

Samantha pulled back her hand and sighed. Making contact with her boss’s fingers shouldn’t send sparks up her arms, but it did. Each time he was within five feet, her legs turned to jelly and her heart beat in a staccato rhythm.

“Chris’s will be delivering your lunch in about an hour, Mr. Lakis. I tried to get it here sooner, but they said the kitchen was very busy.”

“That’ll be fine. It gives us time to go over the schedule before we eat.”

We?
If he only knew what he was doing to her. They’d had lunch together three times in the past week, and each night, she hadn’t been able to sleep. She’d tossed and turned thinking about him, and when she’d finally fallen asleep, dreams of Demo Lakis haunted her through the night. Her skin would soon look like a lizard’s and her water bill would be greater than her rent if she didn’t stop the midnight showers. No, she couldn’t keep setting herself up like this.

“
Thanks
,
Mr
.
Lakis. We can go over any pertinent instructions you have, but I brought a yogurt in for today. I’ll eat in the lunch room.”

“Yogurt?
That’s not lunch. A yogurt is for a snack, at most a little breakfast when it’s almost time for lunch.”

The horrified look on his face made her laugh. From the sight of him, no one would ever guess the amount of food he managed to eat. There wasn’t a pinch of flab anywhere on his muscular torso. His crisp white shirt hugged his sculpted chest and stretched across a set of broad shoulders meant to lean on. There was nothing wasteful about Demosthenis Lakis. Everything was in perfect proportion. And, he ate more than anyone she’d ever met.

“Thank you, but I’ll be fine. I ordered only your steak and salad—”

“We’ll share.” He walked around the desk and pulled up a chair beside her. “Now, let’s go over the next two weeks. Because of the time difference, I’ll need you in the office earlier than normally required. However, you will be able to leave by noon if you are done.”

“That’s no problem. I usually get here early anyway, so I’ll just move it up a little.”

“I know you do. And your usual time is fine with me. I just wanted to verify that it would be definite.”

The fresh scent of his cologne swept over her and she tried not to inhale. Placing her hands on her knees, she attempted to keep them from shaking. It was difficult to appear in control with him leaning toward her and looking into her eyes.

Were all Greek men so intense? If so, maybe she ought to forget about studying, book a flight on Olympic Airlines, and spend the summer in Greece. She could suffer through a few months of being in a place surrounded by men like him. Hearing herself sigh, her hand flew to her mouth.

“What is wrong? If you have difficulties preparing the documents for the East End deal from here, you can come along.” He stood and reached for the phone. “Don’t worry about not having a passport. We have three hours to have it expedited.”