The Ultimate Merger

Copyright May 2012, Delaney Diamond

Cover art by MTheresa Arts Copyright May 2012

Delaney Diamond

Atlanta, Georgia

Smashwords Edition

This book is a work of fiction. All names,
characters, locations, and incidents are products of the author's
imagination, or have been used fictitiously. Any resemblance to
actual persons living or dead, locales, or events is entirely
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The Ultimate Merger is the prequel to Second
Chances, Book 4 of the Hot Latin Men series.

Two workaholics slow down long enough to find
love when they least expect it.

Renaldo da Silva is on the verge of entering
the U.S. market with the purchase of a hotel in downtown Chicago.
After working hard for several days straight, he heads to a local
bar and sees a woman who instantly makes him reconsider how to
spend his evening.

When another one of her male counterparts
unfairly becomes the lead on a project, Sabrina Porter leaves work
intent on drowning her sorrows in wine and loud music at a local
bar. Instead, she meets a sexy Brazilian who’s intent on showing
her a different way to unwind.

Dedication

More Stories
By Delaney Diamond

About The
Author

Bonus
Excerpt

To the women below, who acted as beta readers
by donating their time and offering me feedback on the story. Your
assistance was greatly appreciated!

Belinda Green

Brooke Oliver

Jackie Wallace

Rahab Mugwanja

Sherika Williams

Tiffany Krepps

Sabrina Porter stormed in and slammed the
door to her windowless office. She didn’t give a damn if they
heard. Slapping the sheets of paper in her hand onto the desk, she
blinked back tears of anger.

It’s so unfair
, she thought.

She had worked harder on the Japanese project
than her co-worker, Devin, but
he
was the one sitting back
in his chair, smiling like a Cheshire cat, hoarding the accolades
from the senior analysts.
He
was the one they decided would
be the lead on the merger. And why? Because she didn’t play
golf?

Too wired to sit down, she paced the floor
with a fist jammed into her hip bone.

A soft knock shifted her attention to the
door. Before she could answer, Ernestine, the assistant she shared
with Devin and four other analysts, poked in her head.

“Is it safe to come in?” she asked with a
timid smile.

Sabrina gave a curt nod.

“How’re you holding up?”

Ernestine pushed her gold-framed glasses up
on her nose and clasped her hands in front of her. She’d been
working at Global Investments, Inc. since the formation of the
company fifteen years ago. Despite the difference in their ages and
the fact that Sabrina was one of her supervisors, they’d become
friends when the firm hired Sabrina two years ago.

“How am I holding up? You took notes in the
meeting. They gave the Japan project to Devin. That fu—” She closed
her eyes and took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. Then she
took another deep breath and let it out slowly, too. “That
freaking
brown-noser. Apparently, you don’t need any real
skill or intelligence at this firm to handle a multi-million dollar
merger. All you need is a penis!”

Ernestine’s pale cheeks reddened to the same
shade of her hair. She cleared her throat. “You might want to lower
your voice. You don’t want anyone to hear you, do you?”

Sabrina let her head roll back and stared up
at the ceiling, knowing Ernestine was right. “No, I don’t,” she
said in a heavy voice. She walked over to her desk chair and
collapsed onto it. “It’s just so unfair. I work twice as hard as
Devin does—three times, even, and I produce good work. I’ve been
here two years, Ernestine. Two years, and every time a major deal
is in the works, one of the male analysts gets it. Why am I even
here? Did they have to fill a quota?”

Ernestine lowered onto the chair on the
opposite side of the desk. Her sympathetic gaze connected with
Sabrina’s. “Your work will be recognized eventually. You’ll
see.”

“When? I thought that busting my butt would
get me recognition, but it doesn’t seem to matter. As far as the
senior analysts are concerned, I might as well have gone to Jane
Doe University and not even bother to come in to work every day.
I’d get the same amount of respect.”

Ernestine took a deep breath before
responding. “You’re going to get even more upset when I tell you
what I’m about to.”

Sabrina sighed. “Lay it on me.”

“They’re moving Devin into a bigger office.
One on the same hallway as the senior analysts.”

Sabrina slumped back in the chair and stared
in disbelief at her co-worker. “Are you kidding me?”

“I wish I were. I was told to start
coordinating the move with the building facilities manager.”

“Unbelievable.”

Sabrina shook her head. She worked so hard,
but it all seemed for naught. Two years ago she’d finished magna
cum laude with an MBA from the University of Chicago. She’d hoped
to land a job in a firm where she could work her way up in her
specialty—mergers and acquisitions. However, even though she
consistently churned out excellent work, she never received any of
the exciting projects nor received the respect granted to her male
counterparts.

“Why don’t we go out for a drink tonight?”
Ernestine offered. “Seems like you need it. We’ll go to Giovanni’s
and listen to music.”

“You won’t drink with me.”

“That doesn’t mean we can’t go out. I’ll have
cranberry juice, and you can have one of those mojitos or whatever
you like—on me. How’s that?”

Sabrina smiled genuinely for the first time
all day. Ernestine was so sweet. Having someone in her corner
helped to temper her unhappiness.

Normally, she didn’t drink much because
growing up, she’d seen the adverse effects of drugs and alcohol on
those around her, but she needed a drink tonight.

“Nah, go home to your hubby and kids,” she
said. “In the mood I’m in, I’ll need more than a few drinks. It
might be better for me to go straight home.”

Ernestine rose from the chair. “You need to
get out more.”

“What? You’re the one who rushes home every
day after work. I’m surprised you even offered to go out with
me.”

“And you’re the one who hasn’t been on a date
in months.”

Sabrina groaned and covered her face with her
hand.

“You know it’s true. Why don’t you let me fix
you up?”

“I don’t want any more hook-ups.” Last time
her co-worker tried to set her up had been a disaster. The date
ended in an argument with the guy calling her “you modern women” in
a tone that clearly indicated it was not a compliment.

“Okay, I screwed up the last time, but I do
have another man in mind for you. He’s more your type. You need
someone with your drive and ambition and someone who appreciates it
in you. Clark wasn’t the right person.”

“Yah think? He practically told me he wanted
me barefoot and pregnant.”

“Don’t exaggerate.”

“I’m not.”

“The man I have in mind for you this time is
different. He’s—”

“No.” Sabrina wagged her finger at Ernestine.
“Just because he’s black, doesn’t mean he’s perfect for me. You
need a better screening process, and because of that, you are not
allowed to set me up ever again. Comprende?”

“One more time. I promise you’ll like this
one. He’s nice, but he’s the kind of man who could handle you.”

“No. I can find my own dates, thank you very
much.”

“Fine.” Ernestine headed for the door. Before
walking out, she said, “If you change your mind, let me know. The
right man can help you relieve some of this work-related
stress.”

“If I need to relieve stress, I’ll get a
massage.”

“It’s been so long, you’ve forgotten how good
it can be.” With a saucy wiggle to her hips, Ernestine reached for
the doorknob.

Sabrina shook her head. “You have your
husband wrapped around your finger, don’t you?”

Laughing, Ernestine said, “I’ll see you
later,” before closing the door behind her.

Sabrina took a deep breath and swiveled in
her chair to face the computer screen. She needed a man like she
needed a hole in her head. Besides, if she wanted to get laid, she
knew who to call. In fact…

She picked up the phone and punched in the
number to her friend-with-benefits, Samuel. It had been a long time
since they’d connected, but maybe she’d get lucky and he’d be free
tonight.

“Hello, beautiful.”

What a nice way to be greeted. “Hey, you busy
tonight?”

“No. What did you have in mind?”

“Dinner and drinks at Giovanni’s. My
treat.”

“Do I have to put out if you buy me
dinner?”

She twirled the phone cord around her
forefinger. “Yes.”

He chuckled, and she imagined his
coffee-colored eyes crinkling at the corners. “Rough day?”

Sabrina sighed. “Yeah, you could say
that.”

“I got you. Call me before you leave work and
I’ll meet you there.”

“Thanks.” Sabrina hung up.

Now she had something to look forward to at
the end of the day.

Renaldo da Silva stood and stretched in the
living room of the suite he had at The Drake Hotel in downtown
Chicago. He rolled his shoulders to alleviate the tension in his
muscles. He might as well have been in a basement for all the
attention he paid to the deluxe room with its stunning view of Lake
Michigan in the distance.

Ever since he’d arrived in Illinois a few
days ago, he’d been in and out of meetings and spent the rest of
his time on his laptop conducting research and communicating with
his staff. He’d hoped to be farther along in the deal by now, but
he’d just have to be patient a little while longer.

He flexed his shoulders and grabbed the room
key from the desk. He’d been in the room all day, and it was now
dark outside. He needed a break. Time to get out and see a little
bit of what Chicago had to offer.

Downstairs, he asked for a recommendation to
a place where he could get a drink and unwind. Before long, he
headed out on foot to a nearby restaurant recommended by the
concierge. When he arrived at Giovanni’s he could hear music
playing and the weekend crowd had already started gathering.

One of the best ways to relieve stress was in
the arms of a woman. Unfortunately, he’d been so busy he hadn’t had
time to make the acquaintance of anyone during his short stay. The
energy of the patrons and the beat of rock music would have to
suffice tonight.

Renaldo sat at the bar and ordered a scotch.
As he nursed his drink, mentally listing everything he had to
accomplish next week, a tall black woman walked in. She entered the
restaurant with a straight spine and a confident walk. At first he
gave her only a cursory glance. She appeared to have just left
work, dressed in a plain gray business suit with a white silk
blouse and very little jewelry. After she took a seat at the
opposite end of the bar, his eyes strayed to her again.

With her kinky, chestnut-colored hair pulled
back from her face and clipped neatly at the back of her head, he
couldn’t tell its true length. She didn’t wear much makeup on her
tawny-colored skin. Good thing, too, because she had an attractive
face.

In one graceful movement, she removed her
blazer and then twisted on the stool to hang it over the back of
the chair, the motion causing the silk blouse to pull taut across
her chest. He was a breast man, and she had two nice-looking ones.
Not big, but enough to almost fill his hands. His jaw tightened at
the thought as he swirled the scotch in the glass. He hoped she was
alone. If so, his situation might be improving.