The Art of Retaliation (27 page)

“Hold all my calls.
 
I’m
not to be disturbed for anything,” she whispered, careful not to look up so he
would pick her out straight away.
 
This was a reunion she wanted to conduct in private.

“Don’t worry.
 
Nobody
will get through that door.
 
Good
luck.”

Mara rushed back to her office pretending she hadn’t seen him and
sat down.

Stephane
brushed
off Mara’s secretary’s attempts to stall for time and walked into her office
slamming the door shut.

Mara started to stand up but before she could complete the action he
was pushing her back down in the high black leather chair.
 
He leaned over her, his hands resting on
the arms of the chair barring any means of escape.
 
There were no pleasantries, no
explanations for his sudden arrival.
 
She sank into her chair intimidated by his posture and the coolness in
his eyes.

“I’ve played your little game, Mara.
 
I am here.
 
It’s just what you wanted isn’t it?
 
You wanted me to run over here after you
rejected me just to show me that you won’t be controlled?”

He watched the surprise show in her eyes confirming what he
suspected.

“Well it worked, didn’t it?
 
You’ve come,’ she said haughtily trying to regain some balance.

“Right then you have a choice, you either marry me and come back to
Paris or I kidnap you again and take you back and make you marry me.”

She stared up at him not knowing whether to cry or smile.

“Well I don’t have much of a choice then do I?” she laughed.

“No you don’t.
 
And as I
told you like it or not I am in charge.”

He smiled and laughed with her pulling her up in his arms.

“So you agree to leave this all behind.
 
I think we could find you a job in the
company, may be in the legal department” he teased.

“No I will do well enough as the partner in charge of the firm’s French
office, Marcus is retiring and Raymond Matisse wants me to handle all of his
legal work from now on.”

“Well done,” he said as though he justly expected it.

“Your sister?” she was anxious.

“She’s doing really well, the operation was a success.”

“That’s good,’ she said with relief.
 
‘I’ve really missed you” she rested her
head on his shoulder.
 
“Don’t let me
leave you again.”

Stephane
cupped
her face and kissed her tenderly.

“Never again.”

“There is something I have to tell you.
 
I only found out last night.”

Her voice trembled as she lowered her eyes to her stomach.
 
Stephane
followed them.
 
His eyes widened
with surprise.
 
Gently he reached
out his hand and cupped her stomach.
 
His smile beamed at her.

“I’m pregnant,” she confirmed.

“I love you,” he told her stroking her stomach capturing her lips
against his.
 
“I can’t wait to raise
a family with you.
 
This will be the
first of many children,” he grinned.
 
Now it was her turn to widen her eyes with surprise.

“Yes, Sir,” she smiled loving the idea.

Stephane
swung an
arm under her legs and carried her to the door.
 
He bent down to lock it and then lowered
her to the corner of her desk.
 
Mara
giggled watching him loosen the buttons of her jacket and then the buttons on
her blouse and delve into the cup that held a breast, groaning that he had been
away from her body for too long.

‘You and I future Countess of
Albain
have
a lot of catching up to do,’ he murmured tipping her head back to take her
lips.