Page 109 of Dangerous Temptation
A laugh escaped him. It just bubbled up from out of nowhere. His people were more loyal to her than they were to him.
Then again, he’d ordered them to be.
‘I hope that was OK,’ she said.
He ran his hand down her back. It was more than OK. She was half-dressed, tousled and sexier than ever. She could have anything she wanted when she looked at him that way. ‘It’s fine. Why do I get the feeling Leonard had some part in this?’
She traced circles on his chest. ‘He and Marta have heard my presentation so many times they probably have it memorised.’
Alex shook his head. He trailed his fingers down to the necklace she still wore. She’d never really left him. She’d been at Wolfe Manor the entire time. She’d been busy making it a home.
‘Did I ever say congratulations on your achievement, Dr Bardot?’
She smiled. ‘I don’t remember. It’s been kind of a busy day.’
He gave her a fast kiss. ‘Get ready for more, baby. I’m going to throw you the biggest graduation party ever.’
Chapter Seventeen
The night of Elena’s graduation party, Wolfe Manor sparkled like a jewel. The gates had been opened and visitors were welcomed from far and wide. White lights glimmered in the trees that lined the drive all the way from the main road to the house. It was lit up, too, with violet sashes adorning the necks of the wolf statues that guarded the front door.
The press had been allowed inside the gates to film the comings and goings of celebrities and power players. Their positions were strictly monitored and one who had tried to explore further had already been escorted from the premises by security. A chosen few from respected news organisations likeTime,FortuneandEntertainment Weeklyhad been allowed access beyond the doors.
Caroline Woodward, unfortunately, had not been on the guest list.
Unbeknownst to Elena, the fourth floor of the manor housed a ballroom. The festivities were being held in the massive open space with gorgeous hardwood floors and French doors that opened onto the top-floor veranda. Women in gowns looked like princesses as they climbed the never-ending staircase out front. Friends and acquaintances mingled on the landings in between. Security had the rest of the house blocked off, and all doors, for once, were closed.
The sheer size of it all was still rather stunning. Anyone who was anyone had fought for an invitation. Wolfe Manor hadn’t been open to the public in decades, and the party was the event of the season.
Elena stood at the head of the room in a casual receiving position. She’d greeted friends and strangers alike, and she was happy about that. She wanted Alex to get back to his old life.
The one he’d had before everything had come tumbling down around him …
She gave him a soft wave, and he was finally able to escape his discussion with a congressman.
He kissed her temple.
‘Are you having a good time?’
‘The best.’
The event was being catered by Jean-Georges, somewhat to the dismay of Marta. Instead, the cook had been given the honour of making the cake. It was stacked four tiers high and frosted in NYU’s school colours. Matching purple-frosted cupcakes filled the rest of the table. Her mother had provided those.
Music was provided by a DJ, although several stars of the music industry were in attendance. Many of Alex’s colleagues and upper-crust friends were starting to come out of society’s tightly grained woodwork. The two of them had their supporters and their enemies. The press had split two ways. Half thought that the new software Wolfe Pack had in development was genius. The perfect way to salvage their reputations and make the best of a bad situation. As Elena had guessed, though, the other half thought it was a ploy, a way to make money hand over Ponzi fist.
That still irritated them, but she and Alex were finding ways to cope better with the bad attitudes. They could put up with a lot now that they were together.
She smiled when Dr Walters came up to shake her hand.
‘Congratulations again.’
‘Thank you, Professor.’
He shook his head and his wire-rimmed glasses wobbled on his skinny nose. ‘When your young man here called me in to consult at Wolfe Pack, I really didn’t have much to offer him. Little did I know that you had the answer. You’d shared bits and pieces of your work, but I didn’t have the opportunity to see the full picture until your presentation.’
Alex looped an arm around her waist. ‘It was a surprise to both of us, Professor.’
‘A welcome one. This is setting some in the economics field on their ears.’
