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‘I’ve had people looking into the whereabouts of the bracelet and it’s coming up for auction in New York next week.’ Bianca remembered the elation she’d felt at tracking down the bracelet. ‘I did approach the owner and offered to buy it privately, but they were adamant as it was such a unique piece it would go to auction.’
‘At least it will be easy for you to get. You will only need to bid for it,’ Allegra said quickly, and again Bianca was curious about her sister’s time in Dar-Aman, where the Fabergé box had been found.
‘None of this makes any sense,’ Bianca said, wondering if she should question Allegra further. ‘But if it makes Grandfather smile whilst he is so ill, then I’ll do anything for that.’
‘Hadn’t you better go?’ Allegra looked at her watch, ever the mother figure. Or was her sister evading the questions which she longed to ask her?
Doubts began to creep into Bianca’s mind about having agreed to dinner with Liev Dragunov. She had no intention of representing his company, and the fact that he was so persistent made her uneasy. There was something about him, something she couldn’t quite pin down, and it was just one more thing to worry about that she really didn’t need.
‘Yes, I suppose I’d better not keep such a wealthy and persistent man waiting.’
By the time Bianca arrived at the bar that was exactly what she had done. She spotted him immediately. He stood out from all other men around him, not just because of his height and undeniable good looks. Even among other wealthy businessmen he had a commanding presence which dominated the room.
He was sat at the bar, his back to her as she walked up to him, which gave her time to take in his broad shoulders and the way his suit jacket fitted with perfection, emphasising strength without showing what she knew would be a body envied by men and admired by women.
His short brown hair, which she guessed had lightened in the sun, gave him a hardness she was convinced lurked beneath the surface of his show of wealth. There was no mistaking this man’s success, displayed with tailored suits to expensive watches.
There was also a rawness about him which hinted at danger and was probably exactly what he exploited to attract women. But not her. She wasn’t going to fall for that kind of destructive charm—not again.
‘Sorry I’m a little late.’ He turned as she spoke, his gaze sliding down the classic little black dress she’d chosen to wear. It was dressed up enough to go out to dinner in, but not so daring that it would give him any wrong ideas. If there was one man she needed to make herself clear to, it was Liev Dragunov.
She slipped onto the tall stool at the bar where he sat and made the mistake of looking directly into his eyes. These grey eyes held hints of blue, like the ocean as the spring sunshine finally danced on its surface after winter. They also appeared to be assessing her with calculated coolness.
‘Isn’t that a trait all women have?’ The deep tones of his voice were courteous yet patronising, instantly putting her on the defensive.
‘No. As it happens, it is not. I was detained with family matters. For which I apologise.’
‘I took the liberty of ordering champagne.’ He signalled to the bartender and a bottle of champagne was opened and poured into tall flutes before she could state her objection.
‘You seem to be living under a lot of misconceptions as far as women are concerned, Mr Dragunov.’
He lifted his flute, his eyes challenging her to refuse his toast, but something sparked to life within her. Something that enjoyed the thought of the challenge Liev Dragunov represented. She chinked her flute against his, not able to suppress the smile which threatened.
‘And one in particular.’ He took a sip of the bubbly liquid.
Bianca blushed as she realised her scrutiny had been noticed. She could feel the conversation sliding off course before it had even begun. He was talking to her as if they were on a date, and despite the lightness of her mood, that was something which needed changing. ‘Maybe you can explain about your company and why you are so insistent mine should represent it, that you contrive to be here in Geneva, donating to my sister’s charitable cause.’
He lifted his brows and a hint of amusement lingered at the corners of the firm line of his lips. ‘So we do have something to celebrate. We are at last discussing business.’
That was exactly how it would stay. Without even knowing how, he had managed to distract her and that was something she couldn’t allow. Not now. She had to be focused. All her attention had to be channelled into getting the bracelet for Grandfather and Dario’s new product launch next month. Handsome Russians didn’t feature in her game plan at all.
‘Discussing business does not mean it’s a foregone conclusion that my company will represent yours, Mr Dragunov.’ He might be charm itself, but she still hadn’t decided why she didn’t trust him. Her gut instinct warned her away from him, that he was hiding something either about himself or his company.
‘I believe you have represented ICE.’ His gunmetal-grey eyes darkened as his expression turned serious.
‘Yes, that is correct.’ She wasn’t about to divulge that she still represented the company, that at this very moment she was in the middle of planning a launch for their latest product, or that ICE was headed by her brother Dario. ‘And do you see your company as competition for ICE?’
‘Would it be a problem if it was?’ He leant back in his seat and regarded her with what she could only describe as suspicion.
‘It would certainly be a conflict of interests, Mr Dragunov. You must know, as you seemed to have researched my company very meticulously, that by representing ICE, I represent my brother Dario?’
* * *
Liev didn’t outwardly flinch when she mentioned Dario Di Sione, owner of ICE and his first target for revenge, as he worked his way to the top. To do so would be to show his hand, and like any good gambler, he played his cards close to his chest.
‘My company manufactures hardware and software that would complement ICE. We would not be in direct competition.’ She looked directly at him and for a moment he thought he sensed her hesitation.
‘Mr Dragunov,’ she began, her voice firm, her chin held high, ‘I represent ICE. The leader in the market. I cannot see any reason why I should jeopardise such a contract to represent your company—direct competitors or not.’
He clenched his jaw at her slight of his company, her rejection of him as a businessman. He may not be the market leader—yet—but the businessman he now was certainly wasn’t accustomed to being spoken down to. He wouldn’t even have tolerated it when he began rebuilding his father’s business from the scraps that ICE’s cruel takeover had left behind and he certainly wouldn’t stand for it now.
‘Would it help if I met you at your office with samples of the products? The following Wednesday, perhaps?’
‘No. I’m sorry, Mr Dragunov. It wouldn’t make any difference, and besides, I have an auction to attend the following Wednesday.’ She stood up, picked up her purse, bringing their business dinner to a close before it had even begun.
Liev recalled the brochure he’d seen on her desk when he’d first visited her office and the mark against the bracelet. The ice queen had a passion for jewellery, confirming his first impression of her—a spoilt little rich girl, cut from the same cloth as the woman he’d once thought he wanted to marry.
‘Very well, Ms Di Sione. You have made your feelings clear.’ His terse tone had little effect on this cold woman. He looked at Bianca, pushing aside the flicker of interest he had in her as a woman, remembering his reason for seeking her out. His plan to find out all he needed to know of ICE may have been thwarted by her refusal to represent his company, but he was far from finished with her.
She was the key to the door of revenge on a company who had destroyed his parents and robbed him of his childhood, taking everything from him, including his freedom. There was more than one way to get what he wanted and she had just offered him an alternative. He would take something she treasured and desired, and now he knew exactly what that was.
CHAPTER TWO
THE AUCTION HAMMER BANGED, jangling Bianca’s usually steady nerves. Just two more items and then the bracelet her grandfather had revealed to be one of the Lost Mistresses, and had asked her to find, was up.
She looked at the brochure image of emeralds and diamonds encrusted on delicate silver strands woven into the most beautiful bracelet. Never had his story conjured up the idea of such a priceless piece, one that would undoubtedly push her to her limits.
Annoyance that the present owners had turned down her more-than-generous offer to buy before it went to auction bubbled up again. They’d told her they had been reliably informed they stood to gain substantially more at auction. She’d raised her offer, but to no avail.
She refocused her attention as the auctioneer’s voice penetrated her thoughts. Whatever happened now she had to hold her nerve; this was one bid she was going to win. She’d promised Grandfather she would do whatever she could to find the bracelet, and now that she had, there was no way she was going to let him down.
She took a deep breath as the hammer came down again and the gentle hum of speculative voices filled the room as the bidding on a gold brooch was completed. Movement at the side of the room caught her attention and, as she looked, every nerve in her body tingled with something akin to fear.
Liev Dragunov. What was he doing here? She’d already politely and professionally refused to represent his company. Not just because it would create a conflict of interest with Dario’s new launch, but because he set off alarm bells in her head. He had such an unmistakeable aura of power about him and had continually proved that he didn’t take no for an answer.
Why he was here at the auction of some of the finest jewels wasn’t worth thinking about right now. She wasn’t going to let him distract her, not when she was so close to getting the bracelet. Her grandfather’s happiness rested on winning the next bid, and as public bidding and jewellery shopping were not one of her most favoured pastimes, she needed to concentrate. There would be time enough later to deal with Mr Dragunov’s persistence—once and for all.
She smarted with indignation as he had the audacity to look over at her and smile, as if they were old friends. But she wasn’t fooled. Even from this distance she could see that the smile hadn’t reached those icy grey eyes and her feelings of mistrust deepened. Just what was he up to?
The hammer banged down again and she drew in a sharp breath of shock. Damn him. He’d almost distracted her, almost made her miss the bid. She focused her attention on the auctioneer, determination rising up from within. She would get this bracelet, no matter what.
‘The next item, a stunning piece of craftsmanship, is a silver bracelet set with diamonds and emeralds.’ The crisp voice of the immaculately suited auctioneer almost sliced through her nerves. She kept her focus on the wooden stand on which the auctioneer leant, looking out at the serious bidders in the audience.
The bidding started and subtly she nodded her bid, alarmed to see the price rising rapidly. Not that it mattered. Her company was one of the most successful in her field; she didn’t need to panic just yet, although she had to have this piece. Thankfully the bidding slowed and she breathed a sigh of relief as her bid remained the highest.
Just as the hammer was about to fall, the crowd gasped as a new and outrageously high bid was entered, pushing the price far too close to her top limit. She wanted to look around the room. See who it was who was denying her grandfather of one of his final requests, but in true Bianca style, she remained devoid of emotion and totally focused on the task.
As her heart thumped anxiously in her chest, she increased her bid, satisfied it was enough to dissuade even the most avid collector.
The crowd gasped again as the figures displayed on the screen rose steeply. Who was doing this to her? She bid again and glanced around the room, unable to locate the bidder. Then she saw Liev Dragunov nod at the auctioneer, outbidding her once again by a ridiculous amount. What was he doing?
Anger fizzed around her and all rational thought left her mind. She had to have this bracelet. Nothing else mattered. She bid again—her final bid—and already beyond her planned limit. She glared a warning at Liev. His face remained as if sculpted from ice, barely acknowledging her. To her outrage he bid again, not with the customary nod of his head but with bold and heavily accented words. He’d doubled her bid. Doubled it!
She reeled in shock and for a second nothing else existed, until the bang of the auctioneer’s hammer completed the sale—and her loss. Her failure. How could she have let that happen?
The applause which followed Liev’s insultingly high bid finally quietened, but the thumping of her heart didn’t. She couldn’t even move. She’d failed her grandfather. Allegra had told her all she needed to do was bid and she hadn’t even been able to do that. Not getting the bracelet had never entered her head. Much less that Liev Dragunov would outbid her.
When sense finally returned and she left her seat, the humiliation of the moment burning on her cheeks, Liev was nowhere to be seen. Settling his debts, no doubt.
Suspicion slipped uncomfortably into her mind. Had he bid for the bracelet to force her hand into representing his company? It was so far-fetched it was ridiculous, but there was only one way to find out.
Confront him.
* * *
Liev waited. His patience had served him well, as had the overheard snatch of conversation with her sister about the bracelet. Now he was finally about to get what he wanted. Bianca Di Sione dancing to his tune.
He stood outside the auction room and watched her leave, glancing around her. From the furious expression on her face, she was obviously looking for him, the person who had deprived her of her latest little trinket. Just like a woman to have her head turned by a piece of expensive and sparkling jewellery.
There was no need to pursue her now, to cajole her into agreeing to act for his company. His sources had done well. Her discreet enquiries about the bracelet, which had been scheduled for auction, had allowed him to move in swiftly, persuade the vendors that his interest was genuine and under no circumstances should they accept any offers before the auction, that whatever happened he would double the bid.
Now he’d proved his bank balance was worthy of New York society and up to such a bid, he wanted to put his name among the elite of the business world and he would do exactly that through Bianca Di Sione. He had her much-longed-for bracelet, the one she would do anything for, and was sure she would fall in line with his new request.
He no longer only needed her to represent his company to get the information for the revenge he so badly wanted. He now had much bigger plans. She’d stood in his way, slighting him and his business, and now she would pay for that. Not only would he use the Di Sione name to open the doors of society which had remained firmly closed to him—a self-made Russian—he would ensure the Di Sione family never forgot his name.
‘How could you?’ Bianca’s furious tones alerted him to her presence, even if the zip of energy which rushed through him hadn’t.
He turned to face her, anger glowing on her cheeks and sparking in her eyes. There was more yet, of that he was sure, and he stood silently against her anger.
‘You are unbelievable. You’ve just done this to get at me, because I wouldn’t represent your company. I knew you were trouble, knew you couldn’t be trusted.’ Her hissed tirade continued, attracting the attention of passers-by. The fury in her face and the exasperation in her stance brought a smile to his lips. She looked quite beautiful, stunningly passionate, with her eyes sparking so wildly that he wanted to kiss her into silent submission.
‘I had no idea you wanted the bracelet quite so badly.’ He raised his brows speculatively as he looked down at her, sure his smooth tone was as irritating as the fact he’d bought the bracelet, belittling her as much as she had him in the bar in Geneva when she’d refused to represent his company. He could feel the heat of her anger burning him.
‘You saw me bidding. You as good as stole it from me.’
Now his anger matched hers, but whereas hers was red hot, his was ice cold. Nobody branded him a thief and got away with it. ‘Think what you like of me, Ms Di Sione, but never call me a thief.’
Her accusation hurtled him back to the days of living rough on the streets of St Petersburg. And he clenched his hands into tight fists at his sides, determined not to allow her to push him to the limits of his control.
‘I need that bracelet.’ There was only the merest hint of desperation in her voice. Anyone else might not detect it, but with years spent on the streets, fending for himself, he’d become adept at such a skill.
‘I’m sorry. Did I deprive you of your latest little trinket?’ A bad taste filled his mouth as he again thought of her, growing up with the life of a princess, while he, along with other unfortunates, had sometimes not eaten for days.
‘Why do you even want it?’ She glared at him, her voice lower and more controlled, but her anger was all there in her eyes to see. He snapped the door closed on his past, knowing it would only make him angry—and anger wouldn’t help him now, only cool control was needed.
He waited calmly as she fixed him with those dark eyes, her breathing coming fast and hard, as if they’d just shared a kiss. The thought sent a rush of awareness around him, flooding his body with an undeniable need to know her much more intimately, to know how she kissed, how she liked to be held, but he pushed aside those heated ideas. He must be fired up by the exchange and the thought that now he had her where he wanted her. ‘That is none of your concern.’
‘I’ll pay you double what you bid.’
Double? Did she really want the piece that much? He already knew she was a woman who was easily distracted by such fripperies, but double his price? He didn’t miss the frown of irritation which creased her brow briefly. He couldn’t push her much longer with his silence. The outcome of this was now inevitable. He would get what he wanted, but he did need her to at least be willing if he stood any chance of getting the information he needed.
‘Double what you paid and I will have a contract drawn up to represent your company for twelve months.’
‘You are desperate, aren’t you? Maybe it’s a bit more than just a trinket.’ He couldn’t help but goad her, just to see those sparks of anger fly in her eyes.
‘It’s a whole lot more, but I wouldn’t expect a man like you to understand.’ The barb of her words wasn’t lost on him. Did she know the truth of his past? She’d already accused him of being a thief. Had she investigated far enough and found the evidence damning his character for ever?
‘A man like me? And what is that supposed to mean, Ms Di Sione?’ She could wait a little while longer for his answer. Then he would put his deal on the table.
‘What you’ve just done proves you are heartless and ruthless.’ She almost spat the words at him. ‘No better than a thief.’
‘I don’t need you to tell me that.’ He fought hard to keep the growl of anger from his voice. His destroyed childhood had made him the man he was today and he didn’t need a spoilt little rich girl reminding him of his past, dragging it all back up.
‘Treble what you paid,’ she said flatly. ‘And that’s my final offer.’
‘I don’t think you are in a position to be making me offers, Ms Di Sione.’
‘And the offer to represent your company still stands.’ Her hard voice held lingering traces of desperation. This was what he originally wanted, but the stakes had suddenly become much higher. Her desire for the bracelet had raised them far more than three times the price he’d paid. She was the key to everything he hungered for. All he needed to extract revenge for his parents’ needless and untimely deaths was in place, thanks to her fancy for emeralds and diamonds. He had Bianca Di Sione precisely where he wanted her and he intended to exploit that fully.
‘When you’ve quite finished making ridiculous offers, I have a proposition to put to you.’
* * *
So this was it. The moment he finally made his intentions clear, and she was sure she wasn’t going to like the terms of his so-called proposition. Bianca could hardly believe this was happening. If it hadn’t been for the family selling the bracelet, insisting on it going to auction, she would never have ended up in this position. Beholden to a man who unnerved her yet excited her at the same time.
She looked at Liev, an uncomfortable suspicion settling over her once more. Why was he here—buying jewellery? He must have known she wanted the bracelet, known that she would be at the auction. How had he found out and, more importantly, what was in it for him?
She inhaled, trying to instil calm into her jangled nerves. Allowing him to see just how annoyed she was would only give him more power over her—and he had enough of that already. ‘And what is this deal, Mr Dragunov?’
‘I need acceptance.’ The cold words smarted with fury as she sensed the tension in his body. Despite the world revolving so closely around them, the throng of people attending the auction, it seemed as if they were alone, as if somehow she had connected to him on a level she’d never before experienced.
Such a thought only served to heighten her awareness of him. Or was that her shock and anger at what had just happened? The bracelet she’d promised her grandfather she’d get for him had slipped through her fingers. Straight into the hands of a ruthless Russian billionaire with a hidden agenda.
‘Acceptance from who?’ The unguarded question came out as she tried to make sense of all he was saying. He must have set this up. But why? Hers wasn’t the only PR company in New York capable of promoting his company. Why was he obsessed with securing a contract with her?
‘Society.’ The word was fired harshly at her, his accent more noticeable. As was his anger.
‘You can’t buy that.’ She thought of her life growing up in that very society, accepted simply because she’d been born into its ranks. But she’d also seen those ranks close against outsiders. It wouldn’t matter how much money a man or woman had; it would take much more than that to infiltrate the elite of New York.
‘Precisely. Which is why I need you.’ He fixed her with a cold glare which sent a shiver of apprehension rushing down her spine. Whatever his reasons for wanting acceptance in society, he was hell-bent on achieving it.
‘Me?’ Still stunned from the deal he’d put to her, she couldn’t form a sentence. She was good at her job. Damn good, but what he asked was a tall order, professionally as well as personally.
She didn’t have the power to gain him the acceptance he craved. It was her grandfather who held all the power in her family. Or Alessandro as the eldest grandson. She was just one of three Di Sione daughters whose parents had been killed tragically when she was only two. She wasn’t even the eldest daughter. How could she possibly gain this man acceptance among those she’d grown up with?
‘I need you at my side. You will be my key to their world.’
His icy grey eyes held hers, and if it hadn’t been for the harsh seriousness in them she would have laughed. ‘Seriously, you have picked on the wrong person if you think I have enough influence to give you standing within New York society.’
The hint of laughter in her voice served only to irritate him further. She could sense it with every nerve in her body and shivered.
‘You can if you are my fiancée, and the announcement of our engagement will be the first step towards that change.’