“When you’ve finished making offers for the bracelet, I have a proposition for you.”

Billionaire Liev Dragunov has spent a lifetime plotting revenge against those responsible for his family’s ruin. Finally he has the way: Bianca Di Sione.

She’s denied their obvious attraction and coolly rebuffs every request to work for him—until he finds her weakness: a diamond bracelet she desperately needs!

Bianca must become his fake fiancée if she wants her trinket! But the taste of revenge isn’t as sweet as desire, and Liev discovers that she is innocent in more ways than one...

Book 3 of The Billionaire’s Legacy

Before Bianca had time to respond he lowered his head and claimed her lips in a kiss that verged on demanding.

Her head spun and, although she knew she shouldn’t, she moved her lips against his, tasting the forbidden. Her fingers clutched the lapels of Liev’s jacket as he put his arms around her, pulling her close against him.

It was insane. It was also amazing.

‘No.’ She pushed against him and he pulled back, but he didn’t let go of her. ‘That can never happen again—not like that.’

Liev drew in a deep breath and let it go slowly, as if curbing an angry response. ‘It will if we are in public. If it’s part of your “role”, as you called it.’

‘Just go,’ she snapped, and relief and disappointment washed over her as he moved back from her. ‘Go, Liev, this charade is over for tonight.’

‘Until tomorrow, Bianca.’

With those words haunting her Bianca watched him stride back to the elevator, wondering what had just happened. Why had she taunted him? But, more importantly, why had she kissed him?

It would not happen again.

The Billionaire’s Legacy

A search for truth and the promise of passion!

For nearly sixty years Italian billionaire Giovanni Di Sione has kept a shocking secret. Now, nearing the end of his days, he wants his grandchildren to know their true heritage.

He sends them each on a journey to find his ‘Lost Mistresses’—a collection of love tokens and the only remaining evidence of his lost identity, his lost history...his lost love.

With each item collected the Di Sione siblings take one step closer to the truth...and embark on a passionate journey that none could have expected!

Find out what happens in

The Billionaire’s Legacy

Di Sione’s Innocent Conquest by Carol Marinelli

The Di Sione Secret Baby by Maya Blake

To Blackmail a Di Sione by Rachael Thomas

The Return of the Di Sione Wife by Caitlin Crews

Di Sione’s Virgin Mistress by Sharon Kendrick

A Di Sione for the Greek’s Pleasure by Kate Hewitt

A Deal for the Di Sione Ring by Jennifer Hayward

The Last Di Sione Claims His Prize by Maisey Yates

Collect all 8 volumes!

To Blackmail a Di Sione

Rachael Thomas

www.millsandboon.co.uk

RACHAEL THOMAS has always loved reading romance and is thrilled to be a Mills & Boon Modern Romance author. She lives and works on a farm in Wales—a far cry from the glamour of a Modern Romance story—but that makes slipping into her characters’ worlds all the more appealing. When she’s not writing or working on the farm she enjoys photography and visiting historical castles and grand houses. Visit her at rachaelthomas.co.uk.

Dear Reader,

I was really excited to be part of The Billionaire’s Legacy—and with authors I’ve loved reading for a long time. In fact, it was an honour.

I fell in love with my hero, Liev, and really enjoyed writing his and Bianca’s story, set against the backdrop of a city I always wanted to visit. When I did, I was totally swept up by it and didn’t want to leave.

I hope you enjoy meeting Liev and Bianca as much as I did.

Happy reading!

Rachael Xx

This is dedicated to fellow members of The Write Romantics: Jo Bartlett, Sharon Booth, Jackie Ladbury, Lynne Pardoe, Deirdre Palmer, Helen Phifer, Jessica Redland, Helen J Rolfe and Alys West. Thanks, ladies, for your friendship and support.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

The Billionaires Legacy

Title Page

About the Author

Dear Reader

Dedication

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Extract

Copyright

CHAPTER ONE

BIANCA DI SIONE SCANNED the busy conference room from her vantage point at the back, looking for her sister Allegra. The buzz of voices became louder as the room filled but she was too preoccupied to notice. She couldn’t quite shake off the sensation that things weren’t right with her sister. Not that she’d mentioned anything to her. That would be so unlike Allegra.

As the conference got under way, Bianca saw Allegra walking onto the stage and knew something was wrong. She was pale beneath the polished exterior she always showed to the world and Bianca felt guilty. She was about to add to that worry. The weight of their terminally ill grandfather’s request would only exacerbate whatever worried Allegra, but she had to talk to her. She needed to confide in someone and Allegra had always been that person. She’d stepped into the role of mother after the tragic loss of their parents when they were young and had always been there for her.

The final speaker was introduced but Bianca couldn’t concentrate; her mind kept replaying what her grandfather had asked of her last week. He’d been so frail, so weak, she hadn’t wanted to press him for more information, but now wished she had. All she had to go on was the tale of his Lost Mistresses, which she and her brothers and sisters had grown up on. Even more intriguing, she wasn’t the only grandchild to be sent on a mission to retrieve one of these Lost Mistresses, but she did understand how important they were to him. She recalled the many times he’d told them that these precious pieces were how he’d managed to set up Di Sione Shipping when he arrived in America. He’d always referred to them as their legacy.

‘Ms Di Sione. This is an unexpected pleasure.’

That voice, that accent which hadn’t quite had the roughened edges smoothed from it, startled her from her reverie. She turned and looked up into the hard but undeniably handsome face of Liev Dragunov.

He looked immaculate, his dark suit emphasising the hardness which sparked from his ice-grey eyes, his brown hair short and as severe as his expression. He looked formidable. Just as he had the first day she’d met him, when he’d approached her company to represent his. The firm line of his mouth hinted that a smile lingered just beneath the surface. Inwardly her heart plummeted. She didn’t need this, not today. Couldn’t the man take no for an answer?

‘Mr Dragunov. I trust you are here for legitimate reasons.’ The same unease she’d felt the very first time he’d stood in her office last week shivered down her spine. She even began to wonder if she was losing her ability to read a person. Allegra was being unusually evasive, probably due to all the travelling she’d done recently. But this man, with his commanding presence and dominating aura, unsettled her far too much.

‘Everything I do has a legitimate reason.’ Was that an undertone of threat in his accented voice?

She lifted a brow in speculation as she looked at him, not totally immune to his bad-boy looks. Her gaze slid discreetly over him as he surveyed the room. He pulled at the cuffs of his white shirt, visible beneath his dark suit, as if he was preparing himself for some kind of battle or confrontation. In response she found herself compelled to stand just a little taller, as if hoping to match his height.

‘That may be so, but what possible reason could you have to be here, Mr Dragunov? Geneva is a long way from New York.’ He turned his attention back to her and she looked directly into his eyes, resisting the urge to shiver at the coldness in them. Instead she kept her chin lifted and her face a mask of composure, hiding her unease, something she’d become more than adept at over the years.

‘As I made a sizeable donation to the Di Sione Foundation, I think it is prudent to see what work is being done. Would you not agree, Ms Di Sione?’ He moved a little closer to her, lowering his voice, and even though his polite smile didn’t falter she sensed something more.

‘Do you have an interest in creating opportunities for women in developing countries, Mr Dragunov?’ Bianca couldn’t keep the crispness from her voice. Neither did she miss the hardening of his jaw, or the glint of steel in his eyes. Could he really be using the Di Sione Foundation as a way of speaking to her again? She’d made it clear her company was not in a position to handle his next launch campaign, something he obviously had difficulty accepting.

She clutched her folder tighter against her chest, unsure what it was about this man that made her feel nervous and also excited. He’d unlocked something inside her, provoked her in a way no other man had, and her instant response was to defend herself. But against what?

Already it was a sparring of words, just as it had been the first time he’d arrived in her office. She’d put her reaction to him down to shock of her grandfather’s request, but wasn’t so sure any more. Liev Dragunov was a force to be reckoned with and right now that was the last thing she wanted to do.

He didn’t take his eyes off her but she refused to look away, refused to give him even one tiny amount of power over her. She’d learnt that trick early on in life—how to outwardly remain in control when inside she was all nerves and apprehension. It was many years since a man had made her feel so uneasy, but it had never been quite like this. Not that she’d ever allow the Russian billionaire to know that, not when he brought out her insecurities and vulnerabilities with just one glacial look.

‘No. But I do have an interest in you.’ The answer was blatant and she almost let a shocked gasp slip out but managed to hold it back.

Only once before had a man been so bold about his interest in her and she’d almost fallen for it. Ten years on, the humiliation of her prom night still raced through her. Brought into the present by a man she instinctively didn’t trust, yet was drawn to, like a moth to an irresistible flame.

What was it about him? Well, there was no way she would be finding out. Life was far too busy at the moment to indulge in such nonsense.

‘I explained last week, Mr Dragunov, that I am not in a position to represent you or your company.’ Irritation caused her words to be sharp and unyielding and his eyes narrowed slightly in suspicion, adding to his aura of power.

‘I don’t believe that.’ He moved a step closer and she caught a hint of his aftershave, as strong and dominating as the man himself.

She couldn’t look away, her gaze locking with his. Her pulse leapt and she wondered if she’d ever breathe normally again. Just when she thought she couldn’t keep up the pretence of indifference any longer he stepped back.

‘And I don’t believe you do.’ He continued before she could gather herself and form a reply. He looked back out across the room as he spoke, giving her much-needed time for recovery. When he turned his attention to her once more she was ready for him. ‘You don’t believe it at all.’

He really was pushing her too far and she glared at him, wondering if she should summon security. Then she recalled what he said, that he’d made a sizeable donation to the charity. Her sister’s charity. She couldn’t very well have him thrown out.

Allegra had enough worries at the moment and she couldn’t heap on more, just because of a man who didn’t understand no. She would have to deal with this herself. There was no way she could run a PR campaign for his company when it was a competitor of her biggest client. Couldn’t he understand that?

‘I meant what I said, Mr Dragunov.’ She stayed behind the protective mask of professionalism she always wore, even though inside, things she’d long ago locked away were now being disturbed, just by his very presence. ‘I am not in a position to discuss this now, but you are welcome to make an appointment with my secretary on your return to New York.’

Applause filled the room and she forced her attention to the stage, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that he still had power over her. Somehow he’d gained the advantage; she had no idea how, but he was now in a position above her and able to use that power. ‘If you will excuse me, I need to speak with my sister,’ she said quickly, grasping at the first thing she could think of. She hadn’t felt this out of her depth for many years.

He looked at her, his hard gaze piercing into her soul, as if he could see everything she’d ever run from. She didn’t like it, not one bit. There were enough worries on her mind without Liev Dragunov and his persistence adding to them.

‘Have dinner with me tonight, Ms Di Sione. If after that you still do not want to represent my company, then I shall leave you in peace.’

Dinner? With this man? Why did the idea of sitting at a table over a glass of wine and dinner set her pulse racing so wildly?

‘My answer will still be the same.’ She kept her air of indifference, desperate to hide the rush of strange emotions which were now flowing through her. She hadn’t had dinner with a man for a long time.

‘Then nothing will be lost and we will have had the pleasure of one another’s company.’ A hint of a smile played on his lips and she wondered how he would look if he really smiled. Would that hard expression soften? If it did, he’d melt every female heart in the vicinity.

‘If I agree,’ she began, not knowing where the words were coming from or why she was playing with fire in such a reckless way, ‘you will find you have had a wasted evening, Mr Dragunov.’

‘That is a chance I’m prepared to take.’ He smiled at her, confirming her suspicions. He was lethal and already she could feel the innocent woman within her stirring, imagining things that would never be possible. Not with this man.

‘What I’m saying, Mr Dragunov, is that I will not, under any circumstances, change my mind.’

‘Just dinner, then? You are staying at this hotel, are you not?’ He glanced at his watch and she found herself studying his strong hands, blushing slightly as he looked back at her.

‘Yes, I am.’ Suspicion raced through her. He seemed to know just a little too much about her, but she dismissed the idea as far-fetched, deciding she would uncover the reasons for his persistence.

‘I will meet you in the lounge at seven-thirty.’ His clipped tones, made harsh by his accent, brooked no argument, but she wasn’t about to allow him to dominate her. If he still wanted her company to represent his, he had to realise she called the shots.

‘I’m not sure it’s such a good idea.’ Bianca remained forceful, keeping her words strong. He was like no other man she’d met; he was indomitable, but there was something else. When he’d left her office she’d made her usual client searches, but nothing had shown up. No reason to refuse his business other than the fact that he was a potential competitor of her brother’s company, ICE.

‘A business dinner, Ms Di Sione.’ The broad width of his shoulders rose as he drew in a deep breath, the only hint that he was working at keeping up the cool aloofness which almost dripped from him. ‘It is still my hope that I can persuade you to represent my company.’

‘That isn’t possible,’ she began, but to her disbelief he cut her off midsentence.

‘Just dinner.’

* * *

Liev watched Bianca Di Sione look around the room as the speaker finished to a rapturous applause. He couldn’t help a smile of satisfaction. Finally, he’d begun to crack the ice princess. His previous attempts, all businesslike and professional, had missed their target, but it seemed that, like most women and one in particular from his past, fine wine and candlelight dining were all that was required. The auction brochure on Bianca’s desk last week had given him that clue; if sparkling jewels caught her attention, then so would dinner, even if it was offered and accepted under the guise of a business meal.

As they’d spoken he’d had to fight off the image of Bianca, long dark hair flowing freely around her shoulders as she sat opposite him at dinner, candles glowing, highlighting her beauty. The image filled his mind and fired his body with heat. No, he couldn’t allow anything to threaten his plans. Even an attractive woman...and he knew well enough just how distracting and destructive a beautiful woman could be.

He’d slammed the door shut on such thoughts, pushing them roughly from his mind. Physically wanting the haughty Bianca Di Sione was not part of his plan. His strategy was to ensure her company represented his, allowing him to get closer to his ultimate goal. She was a necessary means to an end. Nothing more.

‘Just dinner.’ She glanced at her watch, then echoed his thoughts. ‘Nothing more.’

‘You have my word.’

She looked back at him and frowned. Briefly he caught a glimpse of vulnerability in the blue of her eyes as they met his, but then the glittering of icicles in hers froze him out. ‘Why should I trust you? I don’t know anything about you, Mr Dragunov. For a man with such a successful company, it is hard to find any information about you.’

So she had been researching him. She might have turned down the very generous amount he’d offered for her company to represent his, but she had still been interested enough to find out more. As always, money talked. ‘I think you will find, the same can be said of yourself, Ms Di Sione.’

He knew all the ways to keep information under the radar, away from prying eyes, and from the subtle way she ran her company, it was a skill she, too, possessed.

‘Which means, you have tried to find out more about me? Just as I have, about you.’ This time there was a hint of amusement in her voice, the slightest curve of her lips. What would it be like to kiss them, to feel them soften beneath his? He erased the thought from his mind quickly, annoyed this fiery woman was getting to him.

‘Isn’t that what business is all about? Knowing who your enemies are?’ He certainly knew who his enemies were. He’d known since he was just twelve years old, since his parents had died within months of each other. After the loss of the family business and home, he’d had to watch his father spiral into drunken oblivion, too depressed to care how sick his wife had become. Liev had been powerless to help and found himself alone with nowhere but the streets to live, forced to steal just to survive.

Those memories were etched in his mind, the scars going deep. The rage his father had shown, shocking him and his mother. The happy family they had once been, with the bright and prosperous future, was snatched away as even before his parents’ deaths he’d had to fend for himself, his mother too sick and his father too intoxicated.

Oh, yes, he knew who his enemy was.

He doubted she had any idea what an enemy was, having grown up cosseted and protected from the big bad world by her family name. She would have wanted for nothing, would have had every luxury possible. The only thing in common they shared was the loss of their parents. Other than that they were worlds apart.

‘Enemies?’ Her eyes widened, the true extent of their blue showing clearly. ‘Is that what we are?’

He looked at her, irritated he’d forgotten himself and spoken the truth. ‘How could any man make an enemy of such a beautiful woman as you?’

To his amazement, she laughed, a soft gentle sound, which nudged at memories of happiness from long ago. ‘Now you have gone too far, Mr Dragunov.’ Her words were stern, but her smile lit up her face and the cold mask she hid behind slipped briefly away, revealing a very beautiful and alluring woman.

‘Until this evening, Ms Di Sione.’

Before he could say anything else, or allow her to hypnotise him into forgetting precisely what he wanted, he left, assured that by the end of the evening she would be running a very prestigious and lucrative campaign for his company. His first step towards revenge against the company which had destroyed his parents would finally be under way.

* * *

‘Are you sure you are quite well?’ Bianca asked Allegra as her sister almost flopped down into a chair of the members’ lounge with exhaustion. The conference had been a huge success, but she’d never seen her sister look so tired. She would normally be on a high after such an evening.

Grandfather’s illness was obviously taking its toll, or rather his almost insistent requests that the treasures, his Lost Mistresses, be found. It had been a shock to discover that Matteo, her older brother, had also been asked to find one. As children they’d listened to Grandfather’s tales of the precious trinkets he’d been forced to sell when he’d first arrived in America, but they didn’t know the full story. Like Allegra and Matteo, she intended to do all she could to reunite Grandfather with the bracelet he’d told her of.

‘Of course I am. Anyway, there are more important things to discuss, like who was that you were talking to earlier?’

‘I was hoping you’d tell me as he’s one of your biggest sponsors.’ Bianca, still concerned at the paleness of Allegra’s face, poured them both a glass of wine, a little alarmed when even that didn’t interest her. ‘He’s a Russian billionaire who wants me to represent his company. He’s quite insistent about it. A little too much, to be honest. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say he’s made a sizeable donation to the charity just to follow me here.’

Allegra’s gaze met hers. ‘And the problem with that is?’

‘To start with, I’m representing ICE and Liev Dragunov is a competitor. But there’s something else. I’m not sure what. There’s just something about him.’ It was something wild, as if life hadn’t yet tamed him. Bianca was shocked by her thoughts, irritated he’d slipped inside her mind so easily.

‘Other than his good looks?’ Allegra teased. ‘You really shouldn’t shut every handsome man out of your life, Bianca. What happened with Dominic was ten years ago.’

‘Then you will be pleased to know I have agreed to have dinner with him—to discuss representing his company, that is.’

‘I see.’ Allegra smiled and Bianca was relieved to see she looked more herself. It still didn’t mean she could burden her with too much worry over their grandfather. Once they were back in New York there would be time to talk properly.

Bianca shook her head in mock reprisal. ‘Don’t, Allegra. I guess I’m preoccupied with Grandfather’s failing health and his latest request. He’s talked of the Lost Mistresses so often over the years they’ve become part of our childhood. I wonder why they are so important now.’

‘I don’t know, but Matteo’s necklace and my Fabergé box don’t seem connected in any way. How did Grandfather ever manage to have such priceless objects? He was so pleased to see the box, caressing it as if it really was a lost mistress.’

‘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.’

‘Our engagement!’ She almost choked over the words. ‘We are not, under any circumstances, going to become engaged.’

He moved closer to her, intent clearly etched on his face. She wanted to back away, to remove herself from danger, but if there was one thing her past had taught her, it was to face things sooner rather than later. As this thought raced through her mind, he laid out the final terms of his deal.

‘If you want to stand any chance of getting your precious bracelet back, we will become engaged.’ He said the words so softly, all but whispering them in her ear, that to anyone watching they would have looked like lovers. She backed away, bumping into someone passing behind her. She didn’t apologise. She couldn’t speak. All she could think of was his cruel terms.

‘What?’ Finally she managed to speak, the word so loud people nearby glanced over at them. She tried to decipher what he’d said, but her mind was so shocked and muddled it was impossible.

‘We will become engaged.’

‘I have no intention of becoming engaged and certainly not to a man like you.’ She glared angrily at him, totally shocked he could even be suggesting such a thing just to gain entry into a world he was obviously not born into. A world he didn’t belong to.

‘A man like me? A thief and a nobody?’ He snarled the words at her, his voice a low growl, laced with menace.

She lifted her chin, not wanting to show him her fear. ‘That’s not what I meant and you know it.’

‘For your information, if I had a choice, I would not be engaged to a spoilt little rich girl such as yourself.’

She smarted at his inference that she was materialistic and counted every last gem and diamond she owned. It was so far from the truth it was laughable, but right now she couldn’t laugh.

‘Then why an engagement?’

‘It is a means to an end. After three months of our engagement, during which you will ensure the doors of New York society open to me, you will have your bracelet.’

‘No.’ She was aghast. She’d already worked out he wanted to use the bracelet as leverage to his own ends, but an engagement? ‘We can never be engaged. There must be another way.’

‘You said yourself that you alone at my side wouldn’t achieve my aims.’ His voice was calm and steady. The idea of fooling all of New York’s society obviously didn’t bother him as it did her. How could she go out and face them as his fiancée?

He’d lured her into the biggest trap she’d ever seen and she’d inadvertently set it herself, giving him all the ammunition he needed. Her first instinct about him had been right. He was trouble. Ruthless trouble.

‘I won’t do it.’

‘Then you will not be able to add the bracelet to your collection of trinkets.’ He raised his brows and a cruel smile spread over his lips.

‘You purposefully bid for something I wanted just to satisfy your own greed?’

‘Yes.’ He wasn’t at all shamed by her statement—if anything, he was proud of it.

‘That’s blackmail.’ She raged against him and the injustice of it all. What was she going to tell her grandfather now?

‘Not blackmail, Ms Di Sione. Business. Now do we have a deal?’

* * *

Liev watched the horrified realisation spread across Bianca’s face. Waiting for her answer was merely a formality. There was no question as to what it would be. Whatever that bracelet represented, the one that had already cost him far more than he’d bid for it, her answer was going to be the same.

‘If I say no, that I won’t become your fake fiancée, that I will find someone else to play that part, will you allow me to buy the bracelet? Today?’

He couldn’t believe she’d asked that, but he liked the phrase fake fiancée. That part of his plan for revenge had only emerged after he’d overheard her talking to her sister in the private lounge in Geneva. Each time she’d placed a bid she’d backed up that snippet of conversation. She would do anything to get that bracelet and obviously wasn’t familiar with poker because all her emotions had been visible on her face as she’d bid.

‘Absolutely not.’ He spoke calmly, assured that with Bianca as his fiancée instead of merely his current date, his acceptance in society would be quicker, and what better way was there of gaining the information he needed on her brother’s company and getting to the person responsible for his father’s downfall?

‘I suspected you were ruthless, but this is barbaric.’ She spat the words at him, reminding him of the feral cats he’d shared the streets with when he’d been little more than a boy.

‘Correct me if I’m wrong, Ms Di Sione, but you do not have a significant other in your life, nor have you had for many years.’ He watched her eyes narrow in suspicion, and a flicker of a smile pulled at the corners of his mouth. Briefly he considered what it would be like to be the man in her life. She was so icy cold, so inaccessible, he was sure that when the sparks of passion flew they would be earth-shattering. But he’d fallen prey to one such woman before and had no intention of doing so again.

‘That has nothing to do with this.’

‘Ah, but it does. How can we convincingly become engaged if it is believed you are in love with another man?’

He felt a small tug at his conscience as she fought to control the panic that was clear on her pale face. The idea of being engaged to him obviously horrified her and he wondered just who would be her chosen man.

* * *

‘There must be someone else. I can’t be the only person who can propel you into society.’ Bianca looked at him, hardly able to believe he was serious. His stance and his hardened expression left her in no doubt how serious he was. He meant every word. It was the only way of getting the bracelet, and hadn’t she admitted to herself she’d do anything to get it?

‘No. Not if you want the bracelet.’

‘You are the lowest.’ She wanted to hiss at him, to let him know just how angry she was, but astutely she realised that would give the bracelet even more importance in his eyes. He must never know exactly how much she wanted it—or why. If he knew that, he would have all the power.

‘It has been said.’ His cold, somewhat distant reply didn’t make sense, but she didn’t care about what he felt. All she cared about was fulfilling Grandfather’s last wishes. If she had to do it this way, then so be it—for now at least. She would do everything she could, as quickly as she could, to give this man what he wanted. But did she trust him to keep his word?

‘It will never, under any circumstances, be a proper engagement. It will certainly not last any longer than three months, after which time you will give me the bracelet.’ She set out her terms. Events of ten years ago and the bets that had been placed on her at the prom, by the man she’d loved from afar, surfaced like demons from the past.

She thought she was over that humiliation. It had scarred her emotionally, making her determined to keep men locked out of her heart. She’d walked away from that experience a virgin, her reputation intact and with a vow never to be so naive again, and had been unable to trust a man since. And she certainly didn’t trust Liev Dragunov one bit. Not when he had the one thing she had to have, giving her little choice but to agree to his terms.

‘In fact,’ she began again before he could say anything, ‘if you achieve your objectives before that time, our engagement will end and you will give me the bracelet.’

‘You sound sure you can do this.’ His voice held a note of suspicion as she looked up at him, resisting the urge to just walk away and forget it all. But she couldn’t. She had to do this—and she would.

‘The only problem I have will be convincing everyone I have fallen for such a...’ She floundered over her words, hating herself for it.

‘Such a what?’

She looked at him. Everything about him shouted wealth and power, but it couldn’t hide the untamed man within. It was something that would attract women, but she was not one of those women. Never had been and never would be.

‘A ruthless rebel.’ He actually laughed, as if he was proud of it.

‘Do I have your word? Three months at the most.’

‘You have my word—you will have the bracelet before three months, providing sufficient acceptance of my name and standing in society have been achieved.’

‘And if that doesn’t happen?’ She knew the answer already.

‘You will not see the bracelet again, but I am sure with your excellent PR skills you can smooth the way for me.’

She hated him more than she’d hated any man before. But unlike the last time she’d been set up ten years ago, there wasn’t a way out. At least, not an obvious one. She was dealing with a much more determined character this time. A force of nature let loose on her Achilles heel. Her grandfather.

‘Three months. Not a day more,’ she reiterated firmly.

‘Yes.’ His Russian accent, which had softened as he’d whispered his terms in her ear, was suddenly very distinctive again.

‘And when do you propose this fake engagement to start?’ That choice of word wasn’t lost on her as she wondered how her brothers and sisters would take the news of her engagement. Especially Allegra, who knew all the sordid details of the prom and why she’d sworn never to get involved with men. How could she tell her it was all for show, that in order to get the bracelet Grandfather so desperately wanted, she was bargaining with her reputation?

She thought again of how tired and worn out Allegra had looked in Geneva and knew that, whatever happened, she couldn’t confide in her. Not now. This was something she would have to face alone.

She looked directly into Liev’s cold grey eyes, determined not to let her unease show.

‘It will start right now.’

CHAPTER THREE

LIEV WAS CONVINCED the fiery woman who had just challenged him so passionately hadn’t really agreed to his terms. Not completely. Her dark eyes met and held his defiantly, and he knew she was still trying to figure an alternative way out. Playing for time.

All he needed was to discover why the bracelet was so important, why she would even agree to such a drastic deal for a piece of jewellery. But that wasn’t so urgent now. He needed to set the stage for their engagement and it would have to be convincing.

‘Right now we could certainly pass for lovers who have had a tiff, but you are going to have to do better if we are to convince everyone that we are madly in love and have just got engaged.’

‘Madly in love?’ The surprise in her voice echoed that in her expression.

‘Yes, Bianca, madly in love. That way my acceptance into society is more guaranteed. Do you think you can portray a woman in love?’ He lowered his voice and taunted her mercilessly, enjoying all but whispering in her ear. Her scent filled him, knocking his heightened senses off balance.

‘Don’t worry about that, Mr Dragunov. I’ve spent my life in the limelight. I can act my part.’ Bianca’s words, once again, cut short his runaway thoughts.

He nodded his approval. ‘In that case, you will have no objection to me putting my arm around your shoulders as we leave and, naturally, as we are in love, you will welcome it. You will look happy. Ecstatic. I have, after all, just bought you an expensive gift—and, most importantly, you will call me Liev.’

‘Where are we going?’ For a moment she looked startled and again his conscience snagged on something, but he quickly reminded himself this icy beauty was agreeing to his proposition for a frivolous trinket. Diamonds and emeralds it may be, but it was frivolous nonetheless. She was exactly the kind of woman he despised and there was only one reason for being here with her—the revenge he had to exact on the company her brother now headed. The one that was responsible for his family’s ruin.

He smiled and moved closer in the way a lover would do, pushing back the hurt from the past in order to play his part. He caught the scent of her perfume again and this time inhaled, closing his eyes momentarily, enjoying the scent of summer roses. There were going to be parts to this revenge he would enjoy immensely.

‘First of all, as we leave we will have to pass the press that will most probably have gathered to find out who it was that made such an outrageously high bid on the bracelet. Then we will find a quiet bar to finalise the finer points of our deal.’

‘Don’t worry, Mr Dragunov. I can handle the press.’ Her flippant tone made him smile, admiring the fight that still raged in her.

‘I have every reason to believe you can.’ The slight widening of her eyes, which turned into a deep blue, reminding him of the dark waters of the ocean, suggested she hadn’t thought about the possibility that the press would be outside, despite her bravado. But he had. And he intended this to be the first time they were noticed together as a couple. ‘It will set things up nicely for an engagement announcement.’

‘You’re actually serious about the engagement?’ Incredulity filled her voice.

‘I am nothing if not serious, Bianca.’

The use of her name sent a rush of awareness through him, probably because of the way she drew in a sharp breath, her luscious lips looking ever more kissable. The inconvenient pull of attraction to the woman who was the key to successfully avenging his parents was not something he’d considered. Nor would he do so again. Complete focus was all he needed to maintain. Any other emotion was surplus to requirements—just as it had always been.

‘There is a bar on the next block that will be quiet enough for us to discuss the finer details of our arrangement.’ He took her hand and felt her hesitation as she allowed him to wrap his fingers tightly around it.

‘What about the bracelet?’ So she didn’t trust him.

‘It is quite safe and will remain that way until our arrangement is complete.’ Without further comment, he walked towards the main doors of the auction house. As the door was opened for them, he let her hand go and put his arm around her shoulders, pulling her snugly against his body.

It felt good to have her there, where he could feel every step she took and every curve of her body. The flash of the cameras lit up the early evening and satisfaction raced through him. What would make the headlines? The highest bid so far this year at the auction house or Bianca Di Sione out with a Russian billionaire? Either way it suited him. He walked Bianca through the throng and hailed a taxi.

* * *

Bianca quickly got into the back of the car, glad to be out of the glare of the flashlights. Being the focus of press attention wasn’t new for her. She’d been all but hounded by them for as long as she could remember. Such attention certainly hadn’t been courted, but was more something she’d learnt to deal with—and avoid where possible.

She looked at Liev as he got in beside her, still unable to believe what had happened. He calmly gave an address and sat back next to her, seemingly happy that they had been photographed together. Having him so close was distracting and she had to resist the need to slide along the seat, further away from him. Her heart also thumped a little harder, making her feel light-headed. What was the matter with her?

‘So you’ve been photographed as my companion. What’s next, Mr Dragunov? Have you already chosen a fake engagement ring?’ She couldn’t keep the flippant tone from her voice. Was it born out of panic to her reaction to being near him or was it the situation she now found herself in? Her anger rose once more, fired up by her confusion, and together they made a heady cocktail. How could she find a man attractive and hate him at the same time?

‘As a matter of fact, I have.’ He startled her from her thoughts and she looked at him, the golden sunshine of New York’s summer evening playing across the sculpted contours of his face, lending him a dangerous edge. He dominated the very air she breathed as she sat next to him, trying to ignore the tingle of awareness from just being close to him. ‘But it is far from fake.’

Frustration fired through her, making her snap. ‘I can’t believe you are doing all this just because I declined to represent your company.’

‘That was a minor inconvenience and not at all my main goal.’ He looked at her, his eyes hard as they met hers. Everything else slipped into non-existence for the second time that day and mentally she shook herself. Where was the unflappable Bianca who’d forged her way through life for the past ten years without love and definitely without this kind of physical attraction?

‘What is your main goal, Mr Dragunov?’ She forced her mind to focus. This was one man she had to be on full alert with. He’d already proved that.

‘Liev.’

Good grief, even hearing him say his name was sexy. She had to stop thinking such things right now. She had to get a grip and pull herself together. She already knew the consequences of letting emotions show and wasn’t this proposition a battle? One she had every intention of fighting.

She recalled what she’d told Allegra—that she’d do anything to get the bracelet for her grandfather. It seemed that Liev was going to test that claim to the full, but she wouldn’t be thwarted by such an arrogant man. She would do whatever necessary to get that bracelet from him—even a fake engagement.

Her usual cool composure was well and truly ruffled. It was like going back to that prom night when she’d almost allowed herself to be used in the most basic way. She had been a challenge just because of her family name, one she’d risen to and overcome in spectacular style, maintaining her reputation and destroying that of the boy she’d foolishly believed she’d loved.

Since then she’d given men a wide berth, determined not to repeat the same mistake by letting anyone close, but now, confronted with a man like Liev, she had let her emotions show and everything had unravelled. But how could she not bring emotions into the task of getting back something her grandfather wanted so much after he’d told her it was his final wish?

‘You must call me Liev.’ The insistence in his voice was clear and she stifled a smile, knowing she was irritating him.

The taxi stopped and Liev got out. For a moment she thought about shutting the door and instructing the driver to take her home. If it had been anything else this man had taken from her, she would have done just that, but the bracelet was her grandfather’s dying wish. She couldn’t let Liev walk away with the one thing which would make her grandfather happy in his last days. She just wished she knew why it was so important to the elderly man.

Neither Matteo nor Allegra had heard the full story when he’d set them similar tasks. All they knew was that each item was a Lost Mistress from the tales he’d told them as children, as if they were part of the Di Sione fairy tale.

Bianca got out of the taxi onto the sidewalk, the hum of the traffic and the sound of sirens overpowering her. Or was it the man who stood watching her? His eagle-like assessment was unnerving.

‘You made a wise choice.’ His voice was deep and firm and she frowned at him, but before she could ask what he meant, he continued. ‘Not leaving in that taxi.’

‘I was tempted, and believe me, if there was another way, I would have done exactly that,’ she snapped back. ‘But we have to settle the details of our deal first and I warn you, Liev. I will go if those finer details aren’t mutually beneficial.’

She wanted to tell him that the bracelet didn’t mean that much to her, that he’d got it all wrong about her being the spoilt little rich girl, but suspected it would only draw his attention to it once more. If he could put a deal like that on the table, he could do anything. She had to keep her guard up.

‘And believe me, Bianca, they will be.’ The way he said her name, caressing it even while his voice remained granite hard, sent a shiver over her as if he’d actually touched her—and she hated him for it.

She walked into the bar with Liev, not completely unaware of the glances cast in their direction or the way he attracted the attention of just about every female in the bar. He was handsome, that was undisputable, but in a hard and angry kind of way. Or did he just hate her because he thought she was privileged and spoilt? He’d made no secret of his opinion of her.

She drew in a sharp breath as he placed his hand in the small of her back, guiding her to a table set back from the rest of the bar, the privacy it would afford them undoubted. Had he planned this evening down to such a level? Her earlier suspicions surfaced and she became more convinced that he’d known she would be at the auction. She bit down on the anger which bubbled up from deep within.

She slid along the seat, hoping he would sit opposite her, not quite able to take being close to him again so soon after the short journey in the taxi. She still couldn’t understand the effect he had on her, how heat could infuse her so quickly just from being close to him. She’d resisted the pull of sexual chemistry for the past ten years and she could continue to do so now. If Liev thought charm would soften his twisted deal, he was very much mistaken. She was immune to such tactics.

‘This is very, how shall I say, convenient.’ Her words were spiked with tartness as she desperately fought to suppress that new idea of awareness to a man she’d disliked on first sight and now hated with a vengeance.

He flicked his brows up at her sarcasm, then signalled to the bar staff. A bottle of wine, her favourite red, arrived promptly. That uncomfortable suspicion returned. He seemed to know a lot about her. Far too much.

‘I pride myself on being able to prepare for every eventuality.’ The self-satisfied expression on his face just begged to be wiped away, and she vowed that before this deal was over she would do just that.

‘In that case, why not allow me to find a more suitable fiancée for you, one more powerful, more able to open the doors you so desperately want opened? You overestimate my standing in the Di Sione family if you think an engagement to me will do all you want.’

‘Not only is it your family’s name and that old-money respectability I need. It’s your undoubted skill in your professional life. So you see, Bianca, I have made my choice well.’

‘There must be someone better placed than me for this ridiculous sham of an engagement?’

She watched as he poured two glasses of wine, desperately trying to think of who that woman could be, knowing deep down it couldn’t be her. History was repeating itself, but on a much more dramatic scale. Her family name and reputation was being used once more, callously gambled with, but this time she couldn’t see any way out. Not if she wanted the bracelet.

‘And who exactly would you suggest?’ He leant back in his seat, his wine untouched in front of him. She had the uneasy sensation of being more like a hunting eagle’s quarry, set up and unwittingly waiting for the moment she would be swept away from all she’d ever known and devoured.

‘I will find someone.’ She could hear the desperation in her voice. Could he hear it too? ‘There are agencies, although how they’d look upon the request for a fake fiancée, I don’t know.’

She tried hard to think who it could be, but single women able to offer him what he wanted were few, and those she could think of wouldn’t stand a chance against his lethal charm. She had no need to be close to a man, so maybe she was the best woman for the job.

He folded one arm across his body and raised one to his face, his thumb on his chin and his finger rasping over the hints of stubble; the sound, although hardly audible, set her nerves even more on edge. ‘That won’t be necessary. I am certain we can come to a mutually satisfying arrangement. I have something you want and you are in a position to give me what I want.’

‘How long have you been in New York, Mr Dragunov?’ She used his surname and couldn’t help the smile which caught her lips at his annoyed expression. She noticed his eyes glitter, making them ice cold.

‘I have been doing business here for a few years on a small scale, but now our engagement will ensure the success of my latest and biggest venture. It will turn my company global. I will still keep my main office and home in St Petersburg, where I grew up.’ The last few words had a harsh edge to them that was hard to miss.

‘And your family? Where do they live?’

‘I have no family.’

‘So there is no danger of your family finding out about this engagement?’ She flung the question at him, giving voice to the concerns she had over how her family would take the news. He didn’t appear at all worried about deceiving everyone.

‘Not at all. My parents died when I was young.’ She saw his jaw clench, saw the flash of pain in his eyes. Pain she knew only too well. Her heart twisted. He’d lost his parents too. He knew the pain she’d grown up with wishing she had known her mother and father, wishing she had more than snippets of memories.

‘I’m sorry,’ she said softly, not wanting to open up to him about such things. She never told anyone that she could barely recall her mother and had no memories of her father whatsoever, but hearing Liev’s pain, seeing it in his eyes, opened up that shame and exposed her pain. She fought hard against the urge to confide in him, reminding herself they were not in a real relationship. This man was not to be trusted. In any way.

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