Page 25 of Handsome Devil

“What is this really about, Albert? Did I hurt your feelings when I turned down your tempting offer?” Annabelle asked in a taunting voice.

He’d had the audacity to offer her marriage. She’d almost thrown up.

Albert’s nostrils flared as he stared at her. “There’s still time to change your mind.”

He moved closer, and though her muscles tensed, Annabelle remained in the same pose, hands on her hips.

“Last chance. Marry me, and when the companies merge, we’ll be partners in our personal as well as professional lives. Despite your father’s reservations, I know you’re an intelligent woman. You’re smart. Ambitious. We could rule the Houston market together.”

His eyes glittered with excitement when all she felt was disgust.

“Gosh, Albert, you sure know how to tempt a girl, but I’d rather jump out of a plane without a parachute into shark-infested waters than marry you and ‘rule the Houston market’ together. You’re about as trustworthy as Satan, which might be an insult to the devil. Listen up and listen good. You will never have my father’s company. Ever.”

Albert’s features tightened with fury, and she waited for one of the outbursts he was known for. Rumor had it, he was a violent control freak whose first wife simply wanted to escape from the marriage and did so with next to nothing.

A smile slid across his face, but that was probably worse. Nothing but calculated evil rested in his expression, and when he looked her up and down, her flesh tingled with distaste, as if a thousand ants ran up and down the length of her arms.

“Youwill never have this company, Annabelle,” he said in a soft voice. “I gave you a chance. You could have become my wife, but you chose instead to spit in my face. You’ll regret refusing me and regret trying to take this company from under me. Make no mistake about it.”

“Go to?—”

He grabbed her upper arm in a vise-like grip. “Watch your mouth, little girl. And watch your back.”

“You’re standing awfully close to my future wife, Albert. Is there something going on that I should know about?”

Dante!

Albert stepped away from her and released a nervous chuckle.

Dante’s face was a mask of hard jaws and narrowed eyes. He walked slowly across the carpet, pinning Albert with a steely stare. “You didn’t answer my question.”

“Of course there isn’t anything going on between us. I wanted to express my congratulations to Annabelle since I couldn’t attend the engagement party because of a conflict. You’re a very lucky man, Dante.”

“I know.”

“He was about to leave,” Annabelle said.

Albert shot her a look. “We’ll talk soon.”

He left, and Annabelle took a fortifying breath, rubbing her sore arm. Albert had come at her unexpectedly, ready for all-out war.

“What was that about—because I don’t believe a word he said.”

“It was nothing.”

In a numbed state, Annabelle walked to the minibar and fixed a snifter of brandy. She tossed back half the drink, not bothering to savor its fruity notes, and winced as the liquor burned on the way down.

She needed to tread carefully with Albert. He had her father’s ear and could quite possibly convince Clifton to move forward as originally planned. Then she’d be out on her ass with the rest of the long-term staff because Albert would never allow her to remain at the company once he took over.

“You’re shaking.” Dante’s eyes zeroed in on the wobbling glass.

Annabelle switched to holding it with both hands. “I’m fine. He?—”

“Don’t tell me you’re fine because it’s obvious you’re not. What did Albert want? What did he say to you?” The pointed questions were firm and direct, and his eyes never left her face. He paid attention to every movement, analyzing her with his sharp gaze.

She drank the last of her brandy and placed the glass on the counter with a steadier hand. “He—he threatened me.”

“He threatened you?” Dante repeated in disbelief.

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