“This bombshell will certainly shake things up for Alma.” Will tossed the newspaper onto the glossy mahogany desktop. “Think parliament will ratify his coronation?”
Patrick grunted as he sank into his leather desk chair. “It’s just a different branch of the Montoro family that will be taking the throne, so it really doesn’t matter.”
Will clutched his coffee cup and shook his head. Anything to do with the Montoros was not his problem. He had his own battles to face, starting with his father right now.
“What did you need to see me so early about?” his father asked, leaning back so far in the chair it squeaked.
Will remained standing; he needed to keep the upper hand here, needed to stay in control. Even though he was going up against his father’s wishes, Will had to take back control of his own life. Enough with worrying about what his father would say or do if Will made the wrong move.
James had never bowed to their father’s wishes and Will always wondered why his twin was so against the grain. It may have taken a few years to come around, but Will was more than ready to prove himself as a formidable businessman.
Will was a master at multitasking and getting what he wanted. And since he’d kissed Cat a few weeks ago, he’d thought of little else. He wanted her...and he would have her. Their intense encounter would allow for nothing less.
But for right this moment, Will was focusing on his new role with Rowling Energy and this meeting with his father. Conquering one milestone at a time.
“Up till now, you’ve had me dealing with the company’s oil interests,” Will stated. “I’m ready to take total control of the real estate division, too.”
His father’s chest puffed out as he took in a deep breath. “I’ve been waiting for you to come to me with this,” Patrick said with a smile. “You’re the obvious choice to take over. You’ve done a remarkable job increasing the oil profits. They’re up twelve percent since you put your mark on the company.”
Will intended to produce financial gains for all of the company’s divisions. For years, he’d wanted to get out from under his father’s thumb and take control, and now was his chance. And that was just the beginning of his plans where Rowling Energy was concerned.
Finally, now that Will was seeing clearly and standing on his own two feet, nothing would stand in his way. His father’s semiretirement would just help ease the path to a beautiful life full of power and wealth...and a certain maid he’d set in his sights.
“I’ve already taken the liberty of contacting our main real estate clients in London,” Will went on, sliding his hands into his pockets and shifting his weight. “I informed them they would be dealing with me.”
Will held his father’s gaze. He’d taken a risk contacting the other players, but Will figured his father would be proud and not question the move. Patrick had wanted Will to slide into the lead role of the family business for years. Slowly Will had taken over. Now he was ready to seal every deal and hold all the reins.
“Another man would think you’re trying to sneak behind his back.” Patrick leaned forward and laced his fingers together on the desktop. “I know better. You’re taking charge and that’s what I want. I’ll make sure my assistant knows you will be handling the accounts from here on out. But I’m here anytime, Will. You’ve been focused on this for so long, your work has paid off.”
Will nodded. Part one of his plan was done and had gone just as smoothly as he’d envisioned. Now he needed to start working on the second part of his plan. And both aspects involved the same tactic...trust. He needed to gain and keep the trust of both his father and Cat or everything would blow up in his face.
Will refused to tolerate failure on any level.
Especially where Cat was concerned. That kiss had spawned an onslaught of emotions he couldn’t, wouldn’t, ignore. Cat with her petite, curvy body that fit perfectly against his. She’d leaned into that kiss like a woman starved and he’d been all too happy to give her what she wanted.
Unfortunately, she’d dodged him ever since. He didn’t take that as a sign of disinterest. Quite the opposite. If she wasn’t interested, she’d act as if nothing had happened. But the way she kept avoiding him when he came to visit his father at the Playa del Onda estate only proved to Will that she was just as shaken as he was. There was no way she didn’t feel something.
Just one kiss and he had her trembling. He’d use that to his advantage.
Seeing Cat was another reason he opted to come to his father’s second home this morning. She couldn’t avoid him if he cornered her at her workplace. She’d been the maid for his twin brother, James, but James had often been away playing football—or as the Yanks called it, soccer—so Cat hadn’t been a temptation thrust right in Will’s face. But now she worked directly under Patrick. Her parents had also worked for Patrick, so Cat had grown up around Will and James. It wasn’t that long ago that Will had set his sights on Cat. Just a few years ago, in fact, he’d made his move, and they’d even dated surreptitiously for a while. That had ended tragically when he’d backed down from a fight in a moment of weakness. Since their recent kiss had brought back their scorching chemistry, Will knew it was time for some action.
Will may have walked out on her four years ago, but she was about to meet the new Will...the one who fought for what he wanted. And he wanted Cat in his bed and this time he wouldn’t walk away.
Will focused back on his father. “I’ll let myself out,” he stated, more than ready to be finished with this part of his day. “I’ll be in touch once I hear back from the investors and companies I contacted.”
Heading for the open double doors, Will stopped when his father called his name.
“You know, I really wanted the thing with you and Bella to work,” Patrick stated, as he stared at the blaring, boldface headline.
“She found love with my brother. She and I never had any type of connection. You’d best get used to them together.”
Patrick focused his attention back on Will. “Just keep your head on your shoulders and don’t follow the path your brother has. Getting sidetracked isn’t the way to make Rowling Energy grow and prosper. Just do what you’ve been doing.”
Oh, he intended to do just that.
Will gave his father a brief nod before heading out into the hallway. Little did his father know, Will was fully capable of going after more than one goal at a time. He had no intention of letting the oil or real estate businesses slide. If anything, Will fully intended to expand both aspects of the business into new territory within the next year.
Will also intended to seduce Cat even sooner. Much sooner. And he would stop at nothing to see all of his desires fulfilled.
* * *
That familiar woodsy scent assaulted her...much like the man himself had when he’d kissed her a few weeks ago.
Could such a full-on assault of the senses be called something so simple as a kiss? He’d consumed her from the inside out. He’d had her body responding within seconds and left her aching and wanting more than she should.
Catalina kept her back turned, knowing full well who stood behind her. She’d managed to avoid running into him, though he visited his father more and more lately. At this point, a run-in was inevitable.
She much preferred working for James instead of Patrick, but now that James was married, he didn’t stay here anymore and Patrick did. Catalina had zero tolerance for Patrick and the fact that she worked directly for him now only motivated her more to finish saving up to get out of Alma once and for all. And the only reason she was working for Patrick was because she needed the money. She knew she was well on her way to leaving, so going to work for another family for only a few months didn’t seem fair.
Years ago her mother had moved on and still worked