Page 6 of One Week To Claim It All
She scoffed at that, but he ignored it. “And I resent the implication that I would play dirty. I would never stab you in the back like that, Esmeralda. You know—”
“What do I know?” she demanded, her expression thunderous. “That after you promised me a thousand times that you had my back, you cut me loose in a second? That in the end you chose him?” Her voice broke just the smallest bit on the last word—him.
He knew this was coming, but it still felt like a blow to his solar plexus, every ounce of oxygen escaping his lungs at once. He wanted to tell her the truth, explain how things had gone so terribly wrong that weekend so long ago. How Patricio had fallen for Carmelina’s lies and scheming.
“I never—”
The anger and frustration coursing through him felt like molten lava in his veins, the need to tell her the truth almost shattering his self-control. But he couldn’t. He swore he would never speak of how things went down, not even to defend himself from Esmeralda’s loathing. What was the use? After all these years finally telling Esmeralda what really happened would only make things worse. Minutes, merely minutes of having her back in his life and the cold and controlled demeanor he was known for was tearing at his seams.
And yet, instead of leaving this room, going somewhere he could get himself together, he moved toward her.
His nostrils flared, body tight with the need to touch her. To see if his caress still affected her like it used to. If his hands on her hair, his mouth on hers still made her melt. But that was not what they were to each other anymore. That part of them had been irrevocably broken. He’d thrown away his chance to have her like that.
“We can keep this professional. I want to be CEO of Sambrano Studios. I’ve worked for it. I even think I deserve it.”
She opened her mouth to speak, but whatever she saw on his face made her pause. “But despite his faults, I respected your father and I would never interfere with his wishes. If you’re the best person for the job, I won’t stand in your way, but I won’t give it to you, either.” His back molars clenched, from the need to soothe the hurt he saw in her eyes from his words. “As a matter of fact, be prepared to fight like hell, because that’s what I plan to do.” No matter how much Esmeralda got to him, and she clearly could still undo him, he would not back down from this.
“I don’t need you to give me anything.” She practically spat out the words. “And I plan to fight for this, too.”
She’d come closer with every word, and now they were only inches apart. He still towered over her. She was only a few inches above five feet, but what she lacked in stature she’d always more than made up for in personality.
“Oh, that I’m very clear on,” he said bitterly. She’d turned down every attempt he’d made to reach out to her over the years. Rejected every effort from her father or him to help her get ahead in the industry. She was determined to make a name for herself on her own. And now she was here, ready to claim her place and he knew she would fight to the death for it. His Joya was a warrior. And he would really need to figure out a way to stop thinking of her as his. But how was he supposed to do that when everything in him wanted to possess her? To take her in his arms and show her that he’d never stopped wanting her?
“You were always much better than I was at not letting your passions get the best of you. But I’ve learned,” she assured him.
He couldn’t contain the caustic laugh that escaped him. “Except when it came to you. I always forgot myself when I was with you.”
“You have a funny way of showing it, Rodrigo.” Her eyes narrowed again, and she leaned in so their bodies were practically touching and he had to fist his hands to keep from bringing her against him.
“Is that a proposition, Esmeralda?” he taunted, pressing close enough to feel her heat.
That’s when he saw it—right behind the frustration there was just a hint of desire in her eyes. He heard it in the way her breath hitched when he leaned into her. He felt it when her body reached for his even as she tried to keep some distance. When his eyes focused on her lush lips, they parted for him like he was the only water she’d seen after days in the desert. They were fools, both of them. Hadn’t learned a thing in all these years, and yet he could not make himself walk away.
“Esmeralda.” He said her name like it meant something all on its own. Because it did,it always had. He felt his pulse hammering in his chest, at once urgent and trepidatious. Once they’d done this, once this kiss happened, everything would change and Rodrigo could not bring himself to care.
He placed a hand on the back of her neck and brought her forward. “You make me crazy,” he growled through gritted teeth, aching to close the last centimeter of distance between them.
“I hate that I want you this much,” she muttered as her arms circled his neck.
Common sense was beyond him, need burning in him like a fever. “I could take you right here.” The tension in the room pulsed around them as they stood there, poised to crash and burn before they’d even really started. The pressure of the door opening at his back sent him tumbling forward and almost knocked him on top of Esmeralda.
“Oh my goodness, I’m so sorry, Mr. Almanzar. I didn’t realize anyone was here.” He recognized the young woman as the executive assistant for one of the VPs. He couldn’t quite remember which one, but it didn’t matter. Hell, he should be thanking the woman for saving him from himself.
“That’s fine. Miss Sambrano-Peña and I were just discussing some details about the five-year strategic plan.” He glanced in Esme’s direction and had to look away from the flush on her cheeks, because focusing on her obvious arousal would only lead to more bad decisions. “Can you give us a minute?”
The woman’s eyes widened as she realized she’d interrupted something, but she quickly made a grab for the doorknob. “Of course.”
The click of the door sounded like a gunshot in the quiet room, and he was sure he could hear the drumming of both their hearts. What a disaster.
“That can’t happen again.” Esmeralda’s voice was low and husky, the heat of the past few minutes clearly still coursing through her veins. And right then, he wished he was the kind of man who could forget his responsibilities. But he was nothing if not dutiful. Hell, it was his need to always put his duty first that had cost him Esmeralda. Besides, it was all too far gone to fix any of it. This almost-kiss had been a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long ago slipped from his fingers. The only way out was to move forward.
“It won’t happen again.” He looked at his watch. It was almost 7:00 p.m. and this day had been a decade. “I will show you to your office, and tomorrow first thing I will guide you through some of the material the board will want you to take into consideration.”
Esmeralda nodded, but did not say a word for a long time. “I’m sure I’ll be fine. Just show me where I can work and I’ll take it from there.” She pulled the door open and stalked off.
He followed her out, feeling off-kilter and more than a little sexually frustrated. Whether she wanted it or not, he was going to do his job, and part of that was showing her how to do hers.
That was what he was known for after all, never deviating from the task at hand. Everything else could fall by the wayside, but Rodrigo Almanzar always delivered—even when it cost him his own happiness.
