‘Was it something you had always wanted to do?’
‘I always wanted to show the world I was a fighter, that whatever life threw at me I’d get back up, become more successful. I’ve gone from nothing to being able to buy whatever I want. I’m proud of that achievement.’
Everything he did, every deal he made, every new programme he produced and every office he opened around the world was for his parents, for what they should have had. Just as being here with Bianca was.
‘That’s very impressive. The press will love it.’
There was genuine warmth in her voice, but he ignored it, instantly on alert. ‘The press don’t need to know. I will not have my parents’ names dragged up just to sell a product.’
Her eyes widened as she raised her brows in question. ‘A certain amount of your story will have to be told, but I understand about wanting to keep your parents out of it.’
‘You more than most should.’ He pushed his half-eaten starter away; his taste for fine dining had diminished rapidly. He might as well be eating stale bread again.
She reached out and touched his hand. ‘And I do.’
Her dark eyes met his, their gazes locked and her hand remained over his, the warmth of it strangely comforting. This was a woman who did truly know the pain of growing up without parents. Although he’d bet she hadn’t had to live rough and fight for every scrap of food that passed her lips.
She wouldn’t have had to endure time in prison because of being forced to steal food, not just for herself but for other homeless kids, some much younger. She wouldn’t have had to forge herself a new identity just to be able to shake off the past and make it in life afterwards. She’d had the cushion of a successful family business, something he could have had if it hadn’t been for the underhand dealings of another business.
‘Then you know it’s not easy. You don’t need the full details to appreciate that, and I’m sure with your ability to focus on what’s important for a successful launch, you can leave them out.’ He kept his tone firm and pulled his hand from beneath hers.
The look of hurt which rushed across her beautiful face, one less made up than the previous time they’d seen each other, snagged at his conscience. He shouldn’t be so hard on her. She was only his key to gaining the revenge he’d first vowed on as he’d laboured in prison. She wasn’t the ultimate goal.
‘I won’t focus on your past, but the present. It will be the press who will do that, which I’m afraid is all par for the course.’ That tough mask of professionalism was back. For a moment he thought he’d seen real vulnerability in her eyes. ‘And I have the perfect opportunity to show the world the man you are now. Leave it to me.’
‘Do not forget, Bianca, that it is in your interests to keep negative press coverage at bay—if you want the bracelet.’ Anger simmered at the thought of his past being exposed, something he’d lived constantly with, but for the first time, it mattered what someone else would think. It mattered what Bianca would think.
Never before had he cared what anyone had thought of him, and now the very woman he’d forced himself into close proximity with was making him care. He pushed the newfound emotion down and watched as she glared back at him.
‘I will do whatever is necessary to get that bracelet back, Liev—including covering up your obviously dubious past and focusing on the good parts.’ The words flew at him and only the waiter clearing away the first course halted the flow of those angry words.
He sat back and watched the sparks fly. He’d been waiting for the appearance of the fiery brunette who’d stood toe to toe with him at the auction house, all spitting fury and indignation. The woman who’d stirred the man within his toughened exterior.
So her focus was still on the bracelet. She wanted it back—and badly. Again he wondered at its significance.
‘I’m pleased to hear it.’ He wouldn’t let her know yet that her guard had slipped, even if only briefly. He would have to do some more investigation on the silver bracelet which was now stored in his safe. Before he gave it back to her, he had to know why it was so important.
* * *
Bianca was saved from further humiliation by the arrival of their main course. As she ate, barely tasting the delicious food, she watched the amber sunset darkening and the lights of New York shining ever more vibrantly. She hadn’t felt as unsure of herself as she was now for many years, and again she wished she could call Allegra and talk things through with her.
Not that that would help much, not now she’d given away the fact that she was prepared to do just about anything to get the bracelet back. She hadn’t missed the slight narrowing of his icy grey eyes as she’d let those words slip out. He was shrewd and had already proved he was an almost unmovable force, one which would have to be reckoned with if she got in its way.
The best way forward was to keep everything on a strictly professional basis. ‘What do you really want from me, Liev?’ The words came out as fast as she’d thought of them, replacing what she’d intended to ask about his company and the software he was launching.
‘As I have explained, I need acceptance into society and to do that I need you at my side.’ He put down his cutlery, abandoning his food, and looked at her, the sharp glint in his eyes reminding her, if she needed it, just who she was dealing with. ‘And, of course, I need your PR skills for my company.’
She was beginning to suspect there was more to this than just what he’d told her. Those earlier doubts she’d had about him surfaced once more and she couldn’t help but voice her questions. ‘You should do more interviews, make yourself more accessible to the public. Why haven’t you spoken to the press? I couldn’t find anything online.’
‘Because, unlike you, they will not be content to leave the past in the past, and I’m sure you, of all people, can understand the need not to bring up the deaths of my parents constantly.’
He was right about that, and for the moment she was prepared to give him the benefit. She put down her knife and fork, the meal now well and truly spoilt. ‘The only way I can see to be able to move on from here is to be open about your past, but also create more speculation about our relationship.’
‘Then I have exactly the invitation we need. Tomorrow evening we have been invited to a party.’ He delivered the news to her and she frowned at him.
‘I don’t recall a party invite.’
‘I had a phone call this morning from Margaret O’Neil. She mentioned she’d heard about our engagement and suggested we might like to attend her party.’
‘That is good. Being a guest there will achieve just about all you have been wanting.’ It would also mean she could possibly get the bracelet sooner and that could only be for the good with her grandfather’s failing health. ‘I’d like to go home now. I don’t think anything more will be gained from being here like this. Maybe leaving before dessert will create more speculation.’
‘Very clever. Passionate lovers abandon meal halfway through.’ He lifted his brows and smiled at her in such a seductive way she caught her breath and held it against the thud of her pulse. Liev left some bills to settle the check and stood up. ‘I will escort you home.’
Just as he had previously done, Liev walked Bianca to her door and she paused outside, beating back the strange urge to prolong talking with him. But what was she going to do? Invite him in for coffee?
‘Goodnight, Liev,’ she said softly as once again he lifted her fingertips to his lips. The heat that slid down her arm was more in keeping with a passionate romantic affair, not a blackmailed engagement. But she couldn’t help it. Just being with him did something to her.
She watched him as her pulse continued to race. What was the matter with her? It was as if she was a teenager again, falling for the bad boy at high school, the one who would break her heart.