Page 18 of Black Tie Billionaire
But for the first time since sitting down across from her, Gideon smiled. The curling of his sensual lips was slow, deliberate...and menacing. “Oh yes. Your brother will care. And he’ll understand.”
“Another enigmatic message, Mr. Knight?” She waved a hand,frustrated. “I’m too old for games. Whatever your play is here, make it plain.”
“I’ll make this very plain, Shay,” he said, using her given name even though she hadn’t granted him permission to do so. His voice, as dark and sinful as his eyes, caressed her name like a long, luxurious stroke. It was damn near indecent.
“You can pretend to be my significant other, and convince your brotherthat you are mine. Or...” a steely edge that was both lethally sharp and smooth entered his voice “...I can let the truth about Leida Investments drop into your brother’s lap. Imagine his fury when he realizes the secrets his sister has been keeping. And then, while that little bomb detonates, I will release the information in that file to not just the SEC but to every news outlet and journalistI have access to. And believe me, the list is long. As would be the jail sentences your brother and his precious senator would face for everything they’ve been up to. What effect do you think the meltdown of your family name and company will have? How many people will want to accept funds from a woman associated with a man whose name will be synonymous with financial scandal and fraud? Even thedesperate will think twice about that. So both of you would be ruined, if everything in that dossier leaks. That leaves us at an impasse, Shay.”
He paused, and the import of his words—no, histhreat—sank into her like the realization of a floundering person being swallowed by quicksand.
Slow but no escape.
“And the choice is yours.”
