The Last Kolovsky Playboy. Carol Marinelli

‘If you choose to stay, and I get even a hint that you’re looking for work elsewhere, not only will I fire you on the spot, don’t even think to put me down as a reference—you won’t like what I say.’

      ‘Don’t threaten me, Aleksi. I do have rights!’ Her blush wasn’t just an angry one, it was embarrassment too, because, given the conversation they’d just had, she’d already decided her night would be spent online, firing off her résumé. But he had no idea what she was going through right now—no idea just how dire her finances were at this moment.

      ‘Exercise your rights.’ Aleksi shrugged. ‘Just know I don’t play nice.’

      ‘I don’t get your skewed logic, Aleksi.’ Kate was more than angry now. ‘All you had to do was ask that I stay, but instead you go straight for the jugular each time!’

      ‘I find it more effective.’ He looked over to where she stood. ‘So you weren’t considering leaving?’

      ‘Not really.’ Kate swallowed. ‘But if Nina does win…’ She closed her eyes. ‘Not that she will—but if she does…’ Hell, maybe she wouldn’t get an award for dogged devotion to her boss, but it came down to one simple fact. ‘I’ve got a daughter to support.’

      ‘Then back a winner.’ Aleksi said. ‘Are you in or out?’

      God, he gave her no room, no space to think. But that was Aleksi—he hurled his orders and demanded rapid response.

      ‘I’m in.’

      ‘Good,’ Aleksi responded. ‘But if I find out—’

      ‘Aleksi,’ Kate broke in, ‘I’ve said that I’m in, that I’m not going to look for anything else. You’re just going to have to trust me.’

      His black smile didn’t even turn the edges of his mouth. ‘Why would I?’

      She just loathed him at times.

      Back at her desk, she loathed him so much she was tempted to have a little surf and find a job—just to prove him right!

      Just to prove her word wasn’t enough.

      Just to convince him that his eternally suspicious mind was again merited.

      And then he walked past, his leg dragging just slightly, and she watched as Lavinia gave him an intimate smile and tried to engage him in conversation that would be fed back to Nina.

      His own mother was trying to destroy him.

      Why would he trust anyone?

      Why would he even contemplate trusting her?

      All Kate knew was that he could.