Page 24 of One Steamy Night

Now he had her curious. “And what is this proposal?”

He leaned forward in his chair as if to make sure he had her absolute attention. There was no need for him to do that since he’d had it the moment he’d walked into her office. “Ravnel Technologies wants to replace the Dunnings Financial Group as the sponsor for this year’s holiday play.”

She didn’t say anything for a minute because she was too stunned to speak. His company partnering with the school for the play would be wonderful. A prayer that was answered. A...

A thought suddenly popped into her head, and she looked at Jaxon. He was staring at her. For some reason she couldn’t turn away and the thought that had taken root in her head began growing. She broke eye contact and looked down at the notepad on her desk and then back at him. He was still staring at her.

“Why, Jaxon?”

He lifted a brow. “Why what?”

“Why do you want to partner with Dream Makers Acting Academy? What do you think you’re going to get out of doing so?”

Jaxon figured there were several answers he could give her. The main one being her idea of being acquaintances wasn’t working for him and he was determined to make sure it didn’t work for her either. The moment he had walked into her office, everything faded to black except her. Desire, to a degree he had never felt before for any woman, had rushed through him while he had taken in every single thing about her. Her dark slacks and pink blouse made her look feminine as hell, and her hair, a mass of locks around her face, highlighted her features and emphasized what a totally beautiful woman she was.

Now he was here and she was there, right within his radar, and he had come up with a plan that would keep her there. But he wouldn’t admit that. Her question meant she suspected he had an ulterior motive for choosing this school to partner with. She was right, yet he would not only downplay her suspicions, but he also intended to eliminate them completely. He was a businessman and she’d never seen the business side of him before. Now she would.

“What exactly are you asking me, Nadia?”

She leaned forward and placed her elbows on her desk to rest her chin on her hands. Her eyes pierced into his, but he had no problem with it because his gaze was just as penetrating. “Does your decision have anything to do with me?”

He had to fight back telling her that everything had something to do with her. Instead, he said, “To be quite honest, it only pertains to you because you mentioned last week that you needed a sponsor for the play. My reason for deciding to replace Dunnings Financial Group has everything to do with my relationship to the Westmorelands and Outlaws. As you indicated the other night, you and I don’t have a relationship, we have an acquaintanceship. I made it clear then, and I’m making it clear now, that I will abide by your wishes.” He paused before continuing, “Ravnel Technologies likes to bond with the towns they become a part of. When we purchased that land in Forbes last year we partnered with the Boys and Girls Clubs there. Therefore, it would make perfect sense to align my company with an institution connected to a group I now consider as family.”

He allowed a lull in the conversation to let what he’d said to sink in before adding, “If you have a problem with it, please say so.”

“I don’t have a problem with it.”

He nodded. “The sponsorship I’m offering is strictly business. You will be required to periodically keep my company abreast of how things are going with the play. Will you agree to that?”

She stared at him and a part of him knew Nadia was stubborn enough to say no, she didn’t agree. She had just that much nerve and was just that defiant. Seconds had almost ticked into a full minute before she said, “Yes, I’ll agree.”

“Good. My administrative assistant, Langley Easton, will be contacting you later today to complete the necessary paperwork and ask questions for the newspaper article.”

“The newspaper article?”

“Yes. Sometime this week your local newspaper will announce my company’s plans to build here. Whenever such an announcement is made, Ravnel Technologies uses that opportunity to assure the citizens of our commitment to the community by making it known what nonprofit organization we plan to partner with the first year. Typically, we rotate annually. Since this is almost the end of the year, it was decided that sponsoring the holiday play would work in our favor. In January, we will open it up so other local nonprofits can apply.”

“I see.”

He stood. “Do you have any other questions for me?”

“No. I don’t have any questions.”

“Like I said, Langley will be contacting you later today. However, at any time you can reach me at this number,” he said, extending his business card to her.

“I have your number already.”

“You have my personal number. This is my business number.”

She took the card. “Thank you.”

“Have a good day, Nadia.” Then, without saying anything else, he walked out of her office.

An hour later Jaxon walked into his hotel room. He hoped what he’d told Nadia had squashed her suspicions about his company’s motives for the sponsorship. He had finished ordering room service when his cell phone rang. He couldn’t help but smile as he clicked on. “Dad. Are you and Mom back?” His parents had flown to Barcelona. No special occasion, just a two-week getaway. They did that a lot now that they’d both retired.

“Yes, we’re back but not for long. Your mom wants to spend a couple of weeks in Toronto before the cold weather sets in.”

Jaxon nodded. It was no secret that Ingrid Ravnel didn’t like cold weather. She barely tolerated it. “I take it Barcelona was nice.”

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