The Taste of Magic (13 page)

"So you've learned of my latest business venture."

"Business venture? Is that what you call this? Or is it another twisted way to gain control of me?"

He nodded meaningfully toward Bayer. Katerina's reaction amused him when she realized the scene she had just made. She paled, visibly swallowed and tugged against his hold once more. He released her.

"Excuse me, I didn't mean to interrupt."

"That's quite all right, Kat. We were just finished. Lucas, I'll see you in the lab this afternoon."

Bayer nodded and left the office. He had Kat alone. He stood and came around the desk to stand before her. With her eyes flaring in anger, her lips tightly pursed, she was incredible. He wanted to kiss her mouth, feel it soften beneath him, feel her body melt against his as he seduced her. He recalled loving her, and didn't want to think about business any longer. He reached up and stroked her cheek.

She slapped his hand away. "Oh no, you don't."

"Kat, why so angry?"

"You bought the company I work for. So now I work for you." She jabbed her finger into his chest. He captured it in an easy motion, sliding along her hand until he had her wrist securely in his grip. Alarm flared now in her eyes.

"Yes, you do." He caught her other wrist as she brought it up to shove him away. He jerked her against him. She held herself stiffly.

"After everything we…I told you I didn't want to work for you. Did my refusal bruise your ego so much you had to buy out my company? So you could get your way?"

He smiled. His hand tangled in her hair and she pressed her lips together. In spite of her precarious position, and she had to be aware of it, he could see in her ebony eyes she didn't back down. The very essence of her was challenging, yet more than a glimmer of alarm showed in the depths of her gaze. She tugged against his restraining hands, but her efforts were ineffectual against his superior strength. The glimmer grew, until it flared. Yet she lifted her chin, as if in defiance. The fire that overcame her fear exhilarated him. Still, she needed to be reminded he did as he chose.

"You are vain if you think I make business decisions based on my desire for you."

"Then why did you do this?" As tense as a caged animal, her eyes were full of distrust. She needed to be soothed.

"That shouldn't concern you now. This is all that should concern you." He lowered his head, annoyance cooling his desire when she jerked her head away.

"No, I won't let you seduce me into forgetting why I came here. Why did you do this?"

"It's none of your concern what I do with my business. You had the chance to work for me, and if you'd accepted, you'd know all of the reasons for my decisions. But you refused."

"It would seem that didn't matter to you."

How he loved sparring with her this way. He gripped her wrists in one hand, and with his free arm, drew her more tightly against him. He could feel her heart racing against his chest, and the scent of her blood was particularly intoxicating today.

"No, I respect your wishes. As such, you're fired."

She gasped, her eyes widening. She opened her mouth to speak, but he claimed her in a fierce kiss to silence her. She tried to break free, but he didn't release her, trying to overcome with passion her ineffective attempts to get away. When it didn't work, he drew back. If she could propel a wooden stake with her eyes, he had no doubts she would do it now.

"Let me go, you lying, hateful…"

She fell backwards a couple of steps when he did as she requested. Her surprise was evident. She rubbed her wrists, and he realized suddenly he'd hurt her. Remorse, swift and foreign, rose within him. He took a step, then stopped when she backed up.

"Why? Why must you insist on controlling people like this? Why won't you leave us alone?"

"I'm afraid I can't. Kat, you've bewitched me, and because of that, I can't let you go."

She swallowed visibly, and the alarm she'd been holding at bay grew to full wide-eyed fear. "I see. Well, maybe I should go back to the U.S. I don't have a job holding me here any longer."

No, he had to stop her. When she turned to the door, he was in front of her before she took a step.

"And leave your family behind? After all your talk of saving them from me, I'm surprised you would turn and run so easily."

Her chin lifted, and her lips pressed together slightly. "I'm not running. But I need a job, and…"

"Very well, if you really want it, you may have your job back. Unless…there's another position you would prefer?"

Her knowing gaze told him she understood. She reddened, as she recalled their night of passion. And he knew she did, because he read her thoughts as the memories flashed. They were as vivid as his own.

"No, I won't work for you. I don't need you."

For some reason, the bitter edge to her words pierced him. It angered him that she could bring forth such an emotion. He should let her go and be done with it, but he was far from finished with her. He would show her just how much she needed him.

"As you wish. May I ask that you submit something in writing?" He kept his voice cold, noticing how her eyes narrowed and her fingers clenched.

"You'll have it by the end of the day. Now, excuse me."

He stepped aside to let her pass. She would be back.

* * *

Joshua stared at the newspaper. It couldn't be, it was impossible. But it was there, in black and white.

Du Lac. Shaking hands with the Chairman of KNT before a press conference to announce the takeover of KNT by du Lac Enterprises. How in the world had he managed to be photographed?

"Soph, come here. Look at this." Joshua thrust the paper in front of her. Sophie's mouth fell open.

"Du Lac. But how?"

Joshua shook his head. "I don't know, but we have to find out."

"He's got connections everywhere, probably someone in the press who digitally created it."

Joshua shook his head. "I wonder if he's got the Communications Minister on his payroll. Everyone else seems to be."

Sophie shrugged. "It makes sense. I mean, there are a few judges and other government officials already under his control."

"Not to mention who he's got in his pocket that we don't even know about yet. Would stand to reason he's made some strong ties in the media."

"Do you think Machiavelli's seen it yet?" Sophie asked.

"If he's watching du Lac as closely as we are, then yeah, probably. This is going to raise the stakes a little bit, don't you think?" He smiled, but she glared in response to his pun.

"Probably another witch's spell," she said. "Or something like that."

"Makes sense. Especially since I found out a little more about Katerina Romanov."

"What?" There was a keen interest in her gaze and it bothered him. He knew what she wanted to know, why she wanted to know. The searing pain flared once more before he forced it back. He'd come back here for her, and damn it, he would do whatever it took to get rid of du Lac and the pull he had on Sophie. He'd been relieved when the vampire had taken an interest in Katerina. And he saw du Lac look at the other woman. Sophie didn't stand a chance, no matter what she might think. Joshua just had to convince her and show her how good it could be between them.

"Joshua? Are you going to tell me?" Sophie asked.

"She's the one he educated. She's the daughter of some of the witches who work for him. There's something more going on here than I first thought. And she's damn smart, too. Master's, Harvard Business School."

"You're sure she's a witch?" Sophie asked.

"Positive. I can't find out too much, her family is too tight, their secrets are almost as closely guarded as du Lac's."

"Well, now it makes sense," said Sophie. "He wants her magic. Added to his power, he would be unstoppable."

Joshua didn't miss the brief flicker of hope in Sophie's eyes. Getting her to forget about du Lac was going to be harder than he thought. "We need to find out what she's capable of. If he turns her, it will be too late and we'll never get a shot at him again."

"I'll look into it. If we can take her out of the picture, then du Lac will be alone again and…"

Joshua raised an eyebrow. "Sophie, do you hear yourself?"

"I meant he would be vulnerable, without protection."

Joshua shook his head. "That's not what you meant, but I don't want to talk about it. du Lac has some pretty powerful deals going on, and Machiavelli won't be able to resist trying to stop him. We need to find a way to get to Machiavelli. Then we focus on du Lac."

"And the witch."

Joshua threw up his hands. "Just see if you can pinpoint Machiavelli's hiding place. I'll take a look into anything that pertains to witches and vampires together."

He watched Sophie walk away, wondering what was going through her mind. If he knew, he could find a way to get her to snap out of the funk that had seemed to envelope her since that night at du Lac's castle. And fast, before Sophie did something she would regret.

* * *

Katerina hung up the phone and leaned her head onto her hands. Another rejection. How much more of this could she take? Almost a month of searching, networking and mailing resumes. Even her contacts in the U.S. hadn't been able to help her. No one would hire her.

She knew why. Adrian had put the word out. She knew his power and reputation was far-reaching, but this was ridiculous. Surely there was some company without a connection to him, somehow. How far was he going to let this go? How far was she going to let it?

She sighed and shoved the pile of resumes away. She was at a loss. Go to him.

No, she couldn't. She wouldn't. The very idea of going back to him, telling him he'd won left a bitter taste in her mouth. He hadn't won. She wouldn't let him. But if she didn't find a job soon, she would be forced to return to her parents' home. She would never be able to repay him, never be able to free her family. Unless…

She stood, knowing what she had to do. She didn't have a choice, despite her reservations. Whatever game he was playing, she was ready to join in.

But she was going to play it on her own terms.

* * *

Adrian closed the folder. He couldn't concentrate today. He turned to stare out the window, at the massive, dark mountains in the distance. He knew those mountains well, having traveled them extensively in both his wolf and raven forms. In his vampire state, he had reveled in the taste of the victims he encountered. It was how he had met Machiavelli. The Italian statesman was down on his luck, contemplating suicide, disillusioned with life. He'd made a mistake, he claimed, taking a stand he now realized he shouldn't have, and it would be best if he just disappeared. Adrian had tempted him with the glories of immortal life, and the downtrodden man had been easy to convince.

Adrian sighed. If he had had any idea how vampirism would make Machiavelli utterly unpredictable, he never would have turned him. But this was ridiculous. Adrian should have finished him off by now. He knew why he hadn't.

Katerina.

She was forever in his thoughts, distracting him, making him lose focus. She had been furious with him, and his plan to drive her back to him had not worked. He had something else in mind, and once he did it, she would be here within hours.

Chapter Ten

Katerina took a deep breath as the elevator opened. Greta was at her desk as usual, and she looked up at her approach.

"Good afternoon, Ms. Romanov. Mr. du Lac is in a meeting right now. Did you have an appointment today?"

Katerina shook her head, but wanted to wipe the smug smile from Greta's round face. Adrian's assistant knew full well she didn't have an appointment. "I'll wait."

She sat in one of the comfortable leather chairs scattered throughout the waiting area. A half hour passed, and she picked up one of the business magazines lying carelessly on the end table. She flipped through it, but didn't have any idea what words or images were on the pages. All she could think about was what lay ahead.

She glanced at her watch. Another half hour, then another. Finally, two men emerged from Adrian's office, speaking in hushed tones. Katerina strode to Greta's desk.

"Could you let Monsieur du Lac know I'm here now?" she asked.

"Of course." Greta announced her, and as she hung up the phone, waved her toward Adrian's office.

He sat behind his desk, and didn't look up as she entered. She paused in the doorway, then strode across until she stood before him.

"Katerina, what brings you here today?" He didn't even look at her as he continued to peruse the documents before him. She was surprised he used her full name. And disappointed, though she forced that bitterness aside.