Page 11 of Cinderella Hired for His Revenge

“If you’re not confident in your own abilities, Miss Moss, then perhaps this wasn’t a good idea.”

“Wait!”

He suppressed a smile that his bluff had worked so quickly. Slowly, he sat back down.

“I’m just... You have to admit, given our history, it’s not unreasonable to wonder why you’d want to work with me.”

“You and your father taught me a valuable lesson all those years ago. I’ve become adept at removing emotion from business.” He ignored her flinch, even as something shifted in his chest at the low blow. “You presented a detailed proposal with very competitive rates. My events manager conducted additional research and agreed with my initial impression. You were the best choice.”

She blew out a slow breath.

“Okay.”

“Okay?”

She shook her head slightly, dark brown hair tumbling down over one shoulder. Once upon a time he’d run his hands through her hair, savoring the feeling of silk gliding over his skin as he’d kissed every inch of her.

He threaded his fingers together on top of the table. It had been nearly a year since he’d seen Lindsay, the last time he’d had sex. He and Alexandra had a history. It was only natural for his body to respond to pleasant memories.

Pleasant?a vicious inner voice cackled.What about the most intense, physically and emotionally satisfying lovemaking you’ve ever—

“I’m sorry, Gra—Mr. Santos.” She smiled, and damn his heart if it didn’t lift a little at seeing the genuine hope on her face. “It’s been a trying few weeks. I think I’m in shock, but I appreciate you accepting my proposal and am looking forward to working for the Pearson Group.”

She held out her hand. He eyed it for a moment before steeling himself and returning the gesture. If he was going to live up to what he had said, that he could keep business separate from their tumultuous past, he needed to not be afraid of something as simple as a handshake.

Except there was nothing simple about feeling her warm skin against his again as his hand grasped hers. The hint of callouses on her palms from working with the plants; the warmth emanating from her skin made more potent after coming in from the cool spring storm; the softness in her smile. All of it melded together into a siren’s song that lured him back into the past.

No.

He released her hand and pulled his phone out, focusing his attention on the screen and off the quickened tempo of his heartbeat.

“I’m notifying Jessica to schedule an appointment with you to go over the events, their locations and what we’re looking for. Even though your mole provided some detail, I would prefer you get any further details from me.”

He shot her a look he’d perfected at Stanford, one he’d learned from a grizzly finance professor who had made undergraduates to corporate financiers quake. But if Alexandra felt intimidated or pressured into revealing her source, she certainly didn’t show it as she calmly returned his stare.

At least she had loyalty to someone. He would pursue that line of inquiry later, use it as leverage if needed.

“Aren’t you the CEO and some other fancy titles?”

“Yes.”

“So why won’t I be working with Ms. Jones?”

“You will some. But with the team in Shanghai until two days before the first event, your primary contacts will be myself and my executive assistant, Jessica.”

Something dark and sad flashed in Alexandra’s eyes.

“And you don’t trust me.”

The words were uttered so softly they were nearly buried beneath the murmured conversations, music and clinks of glasses and cups. If he hadn’t experienced firsthand how she could make love as if her soul had been on fire for him and less than twenty-four hours later deliver the cruelest, most vicious insults as she sent him packing, he would almost believe her act.

“No. I don’t trust you.”

To her credit, she didn’t tear up, didn’t make excuses. She simply nodded.

“Okay.”

It would have been easier, less painful, if she had protested, if she’d descended into hysterics. But both of them simply acknowledging the truth stole some of his determination and replaced it with an ache for what had been.

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