It was a sexual tension he would normally not have hesitated to act upon, but in Gemini’s case, here and now, it could only have seemed like taking advantage of her vulnerability…
Drakon knew himself to be many things—controlled, arrogant, ruthless—but until this moment he would not have thought self-denial to be a part of his nature. It was a self-denial he would no doubt live to regret if the throbbing ache of his erection was any indication!
He arched arrogant dark brows as he turned. ‘For what?’
Gemini shrugged. ‘Being a shoulder to lean on when I needed one.’
‘I did nothing except listen,’ he dismissed abruptly as he placed the empty wine glass back down on the table. ‘And I believe it is now time for me to listen to you, as you make your offer to me with regard to Bartholomew House. The same as that you made to your stepmother?’ he reminded her.
Gemini looked at him searchingly for several long seconds, but could see nothing of the compassionate and caring man of seconds ago in the harsh implacability of Drakon’s expression. The obviously aroused man who had held her in his arms only seconds ago had also gone.
She gave a rueful shake of her head. ‘My offer is to Lyonedes Enterprises rather than to Drakon Lyonedes…’
His mouth tightened. ‘It is one and the same thing.’
‘Not really,’ Gemini pointed out. ‘Lyonedes Enterprises doesn’t consist of just you, does it? There’s your cousin to consider, too.’
He looked down the length of his arrogant nose at her. ‘My cousin, I assure you, will be more than willing to accept my judgement, as I accept his, in all matters relating to Lyonedes Enterprises.’
Gemini would just bet he would! She had no doubt that not too many people ever went up against this man in any of his decisions—not even the cousin he was obviously so close to. Not in the way that she had done today.
Now that she had actually met and spoken with Drakon she realised she was lucky his Head of Security hadn’t decided to lock her in the basement this morning after all—and thrown away the key!
‘Okay.’ She drew in a deep breath. ‘My offer to Angela in buying Bartholomew House was that I’d pay over the interest from my trust fund for the next two years, and the remaining amount once the capital was released on my thirtieth birthday. I’m willing to make Lyonedes Enterprises the same offer once the property becomes yours.’
It was exactly the offer that Drakon had been expecting Gemini to make, after hearing the details of her trust fund.
And an offer he had no choice but to refuse on behalf of Lyonedes Enterprises.
GEMINI knew what Drakon’s answer to her offer was going to be even before he spoke—could see that answer as she looked into those remorseless black eyes.
‘Yes. Well. Obviously not.’ She moved quickly to pick up her clutch bag from the arm of the chair where she had left it earlier, her face pale in the lamplight. ‘I think it’s past time I was going, anyway. I’m sorry to have wasted your time.’ She turned away.
‘Gemini!’
She froze before turning slowly back to face Drakon. ‘Yes?’
Drakon scowled at the brief flash of hope he saw in those in those sea-green eyes. ‘I cannot let you leave when you are so obviously upset.’
‘I don’t see how you’re planning on stopping me.’ She looked at him quizzically. ‘Look, Drakon.’ She sighed wearily as he continued to scowl his displeasure. ‘It’s obvious that you aren’t any more interested in the deal I’m offering than Angela was, so I think it’s best if I just be on my way now. It will save us both the embarrassment of your having to say so.’
No. Unfortunately Drakon could not in all conscience even consider a deal in which Lyonedes Enterprises effectively paid out millions of pounds for a prime site the company wanted in the heart of London, then shelved their idea to build a hotel complex there in favour of selling it on to Gemini, who would then pay them back in instalments. From a business point of view the whole idea was ludicrous!
And from a personal one…?
Drakon frowned darkly as he saw the look of defeat in the pallor of Gemini’s face. Her eyes now appeared like huge sea-green lakes of bleak despair against that paleness. Because she now knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that she had lost the family home she so obviously loved. The last tie with the father she had also loved and so recently lost…
He gave an impatient shake of his head, knowing that he couldn’t back down on his decision. Not only was it the right one in regard to Lyonedes Enterprises, it would be totally against his nature to do so. ‘I do not believe for one moment that your father intended your trust fund to be used for such a purpose.’
She gave him a bitter smile. ‘We’ll never know now what he intended, will we?’
Drakon’s jaw tightened. ‘The fact that he did not, as he intended, make a new will, perhaps implies that he had rethought his decision to leave you Bartholomew House?’
‘Oh, please, Drakon!’ Gemini threw him a fiery glance. ‘As you didn’t even know my father you can have absolutely no idea what he did or didn’t decide.’
He winced at the emotion in her voice. ‘That is not completely true. I met your father several times at social functions in London over the years.’
That was news to Gemini. Although there was absolutely no reason why her father should ever have mentioned meeting the legendary Drakon Lyonedes to her. He couldn’t have known that Gemini and Drakon would meet one day. Especially under these circumstances!
‘And?’
He shrugged those wide shoulders. ‘And he always seemed a man of decisiveness and purpose.’
Gemini smiled sadly. ‘Then I can only assume you must have met him pre-Angela.’
‘Perhaps,’ Drakon acknowledged. ‘But from a practical point of view what would you even do with a home and grounds the size of Bartholomew House? Surely it is far too big for you to have considered living there alone?’
Her stubbornly pointed chin rose. ‘I have—had,’ she corrected firmly, ‘no intention of living there alone, Drakon.’
Ah. It was a complication Drakon hadn’t but definitely should have considered before now…‘You are engaged. Or intend to be married soon?’
‘Of course not.’ She looked down pointedly at her bare left hand before adding, ‘I wouldn’t be here having dinner alone with you if I was!’ She shook her head. ‘But I don’t intend always to be alone. I would like to be married at some time in the future, and to have children of my own one day. Whenever I’ve envisaged that day I’ve always thought I would be living in Bartholomew House,’ she said huskily.
Guilt was not an emotion Drakon was in the least familiar with, and it now sat uncomfortably heavy on his shoulders. Especially when it was in connection with a young woman he found altogether too attractive for his own comfort! Nor was he particularly happy with the brief feeling of satisfaction he had experienced at knowing Gemini was not seriously involved with anyone else at the moment. The chances of her ever becoming involved with him, now that he had refused even to consider her proposal for purchasing Bartholomew House, were also extremely remote!
He looked across at her through narrowed lids. ‘I don’t see how anyone could have reason to object to your having a business dinner with me?’
Gemini