Viktor: Heart of Her King (2 page)

In less than eighteen hours she would meet the single most powerful businessman in the world—the elusive Viktor Katsaros. Not only her future but that of her father’s company depended on the multi-million dollar deal she was hoping to broker between Roma Technologies and Katsaros Industries. In the last two years, Kat had taken the nearly bankrupt company she’d inherited after her parent’s death and turned it into a thriving business that just the day before she’d left home had been added to the Forbes’ Most Innovative Companies list. If she had any hopes of getting their new product in the hands of consumers outside the U.S., she had to convince Katsaros to be her partner.

The man she was hinging all her hopes of success on was not known for his willingness to partner with people. The little bit Kat had been able to dig up about him on the internet and in articles gave her a clear picture of a corporate raider. He took what he wanted at the lowest price, kept it if it was something that interested him, but in most cases, broke the companies into pieces and sold them off to the highest bidder. It was easy to see how he’d become so rich and so infamous.

But none of that mattered. Kat had a stable company that was operating in the black and she had the tech to back up a partnership. All the patents and copyrights belonged to her personally, not Roma Tech, so even if Katsaros tried to take her business, he would never get the moneymaker. That was the beauty of still being an independent owner. Viktor Katsaros may be a viper in business but Kat had dealt with vipers before.

She’d been working on the proposal for almost three months, basically from the moment she’d met Roman Marinos, KI’s Vice President of Operations, and if all the stories on the internet were true, Mr. Katsaros’ right-hand man. Kat had to believe it had been destiny that they’d literally bumped into one another at the bar while attending Fortune Magazine’s Man of the Year awards banquet.

She’d been there with the hopes of meeting Viktor Katsaros and pitching her idea of their partnership to the man himself. After her many emails to KI’s development department had gone unanswered, Kat was betting on a long shot. By all accounts, Katsaros hadn’t been seen in public for nearly twenty years, but she’d taken the chance that winning the same award for the tenth year in a row would bring the recluse into the light. The outcome she wanted hadn’t happened, but thankfully, the luck that had seen her through some of the roughest times in her life was still on her side and she’d met Marinos.

Kat had been so shocked when he’d called her by name and introduced himself. She’d almost dropped her ginger ale. Her surprise grew as he apologized for her previously ignored correspondence and asked if she had the time to discuss her proposal right then and there.

Never one to miss an opportunity, Kat had followed Marinos to the table farthest from all the commotion, pulling data out of her overworked brain as fast as she could. Once seated, he’d asked a few preliminary questions about Roma Tech that she was positive he could’ve had answered by any business website anywhere. It was Business 101 – never ask a question you don’t know the answer to. If possible, it made her respect him even more.

Fifteen minutes into the hour-long presentation she’d practiced at least a hundred times in the mirror, Marinos lifted his index finger and offhandedly said, “Excuse me for just a moment.”

Kat prepared for what she was sure was going to be the most elegant and practiced brush off she’d ever gotten. From everything she’d seen of this man so far, he was nothing if not the consummate professional. But to her surprise, he’d taken his cell phone from his jacket pocket, made a few quick key strokes, and placed the device between them on the table.

Marinos smiled as the phone rang but gave no explanation. On the fourth ring, Kat opened her mouth to speak but quickly swallowed her words as the voice on the other end answered, “Katsaros.” 

The man’s voice was deep and warm but with a raw power that seemed to resonate within her. He had an exotic accent; one she couldn’t place but knew without a doubt was not British, despite reports that he’d lived in London for most of his life.

You just can’t trust what you read on the internet.

“Roman, here. Glad to see you’re still awake, old boy.”

It was then Kat remembered the five-hour time difference between New York and London, making it nearly three a.m. in the men’s homeland. She knew if one of her associates called her in the wee hours of the morning she would’ve been less than pleased and probably a cranky bitch. Viktor Katsaros however, lived up to what little information she’d been able to dig up about him. He’d been a true professional with a voice any woman would gladly give her eye teeth to hear whispered in her ear.

“I am. What can I do for you,
old boy
?” Viktor answered, throwing Roman’s words back at him with just a touch of levity. It both surprised and reassured Kat.

I was worried he was a stuffy old man. At least he has a sense of humor. Even if he is a viper.

The cocky grin that flashed across Roman’s face made Kat wonder if he’d read her mind, but it was gone so quickly she chalked it up to her imagination and focused on the conversation taking place before her.

“I am sitting here with Miss Romalesky of Roma Tech. She and I were just discussing a joint venture between her company and KI, and I thought it only right I bring you into the discussion.”

Roman went on to explain word for word everything she’d told him. One or two ‘uh-huh’s’ and an ‘I see’ were the only responses Katsaros gave. When Marinos concluded, there was no response from the phone on the table. Several tense seconds of utter silence and Kat thought she might pull her long, red tresses from her head. She tried to appear nonchalant as she felt each tick of the clock, knowing the next words she heard would seal not only her company’s destiny, but also her own.

“How soon can you be in London, Katarina?”

Viktor’s use of her given name stole her breath and caused a warmth to fill her from the inside out. Had she been alone, there was no doubt she would’ve closed her eyes and drifted on the dreamy fog the man’s voice created around her. She thought of the hauntingly erotic dreams she’d been having for the last three years. There was no doubt Viktor would be starring in the next few.

Quickly slamming the gate closed on her imagination, Kat cleared her throat and answered, “I can be there in ninety days, if that works with your schedule.”

She knew she’d taken too long to answer when her eyes met Roman’s and his cocky grin was replaced with a sly smile and a twinkle in his hazel eyes. Kat imagined a similar, sexier grin on Viktor Katsaros’ face before clamping even tighter on her wandering mind.

Thankfully, Viktor was quick to respond, “No sooner?”

Letting out the breath she’d been holding, Kat responded, “No, sir. That’s the soonest I could make the trip.”

She knew it was a lie—or a business maneuver—as Leo, her attorney, liked to say. There was absolutely nothing keeping her from packing up that very night, grabbing a ticket, and taking the redeye to Heathrow, but she didn’t want to seem too eager. Keeping the fact that Roma Tech needed KI more than KI needed Roma Tech would be her secret for as long as she could keep it. “Always leave them wanting more” was her father’s philosophy and one Kat had adopted her first day as President and CEO of what had then been a failing tech company in a small town in West Texas.

There was also the tiny issue of typing up the proposal she’d so expertly given to Roman. She had been writing and practicing it in her mind for months but never took the time to put it on paper. It was important that it have copious details with all the charts, bells, and whistles she could manage. It was going to take a hat trick to make this deal a reality, but she was up to the challenge. 

When Viktor spoke again his voice was even lower, somehow more seductive, and his accent thicker. “If that is the soonest you can come, I shall count the days to your arrival.” Then to Roman he replied in a totally matter of fact tone, “Thank you for the call,
amicus
. See you tomorrow.”

The rest of the banquet had been a blur, just as the last three months had been. Kat spent every day and most of every night preparing her presentation, while running Roma Tech and trying not to lose her sanity from the nightly visits of her dream lover.

Just as she’d expected, it was Viktor’s voice she heard in every dream, more compelling with each appearance. So real that every time she awoke, her hand automatically searched the other side of the bed for him.

Kat knew from all her research into Katsaros Industries that only blurry, out of focus photos existed of its withdrawn owner. But that simple fact did not keep her from searching at least once a day with the hopes that something she’d missed before would magically appear. Of course, nothing had, so she’d depended on her incredible imagination while constantly reminding herself it was unprofessional to mix business with pleasure.

But oh, what pleasure I imagine it could be.

Grinning at her own joke, she planted her best black stiletto on British soil for the first time and headed to retrieve her luggage. Apparently, the heavens were shining down on her, because her bags were the first onto the carousel. Her luck continued to hold as she walked out into the dreary London morning and straight into a waiting cab to be immediately whisked away to her hotel.

Viktor had offered to have his car pick her up at the airport when she’d sent her itinerary to him and Roman a week after their phone conversation. Once the initial shock of a personal response from the CEO himself had worn off, Kat had politely declined. She needed him to see her as a capable, worthy partner despite her age and gender. It was a daily battle and one she would not let stop her from taking Roma Tech to the top.

As her taxi stopped in front of the Corinthia, Kat had a moment of wide-eyed awe. Never in a million years would she have guessed the building before her had at one time housed the Ministry of Defense. The restoration the building had undergone left it in absolutely gorgeous condition. It was like nothing she’d ever seen.

For just a second, she felt like a princess finally arriving at her castle. Sadness threatened her mood as Kat thought of all the fairy tales her mom had read to her over the years and the times her dad had played the part of the horrible beast keeping the princess captive in the bell tower. She missed them so very much but knew they were looking down on her with pride. Life had dished Kat up a bushel of lemons and she was making lemonade as fast as she could.

The fact that she was a country girl at heart would always be her best kept secret from the professional world. Sure, as an only child taking over the family business had been in her thirty-year plan. Right along with marrying the man of her dreams and having two beautiful children. She’d always imagined she and her spouse running the company together after her parents had retired but destiny had other plans, and now it was time to take her father’s dreams worldwide. 

Smiling to herself, she jumped as the hotel attendant opened her door and extended his hand. Quickly paying the cabbie, Kat gently accepted the bellman’s help and exited the vehicle. There were several other stewards unloading her luggage while she was escorted through the pristine glass double doors into the hotel lobby.

If this is any indication of what my suite looks like, I may never go home.

It was all she could do to keep from gaping at the opulence before her. There were chandeliers as far as her eyes could see, glittering like diamonds against the silver and white ceiling. Marble columns strategically placed around the perimeter of what she counted to be at least ten separate alcoves stood at attention like palace guards protecting the groups of patrons who sat either at delicately adorned tables sipping morning tea, or in the more informal settees. A splash of pink decorated every tabletop as a light, fresh fragrance from the bright fuchsia flowers kissed the air around her.

Kat’s heels lightly tapped the geometrically patterned marble floor as she made her way to the front desk. A cute young woman with short brown hair whose nametag read Cecily looked up and smiled as Kat approached.

“Checking in?” the younger woman asked with a thick British accent.

“Yes. The name’s Romalesky.”

“Katarina?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

It took only a few moments for Cecily to confirm Kat’s reservation, secure her credit card, and hand over the key to her suite, but as she was waiting—Kat couldn’t help but feel as though someone was watching her. Looking over her shoulder, first one way and then the other, she saw only hotel patrons enjoying their stay. No one looked out of place or seemed to be paying an inordinate amount of attention to her. Shrugging, she returned her attention to the clerk.

“Enjoy your stay, Miss Romalesky. The bellman will be waiting in your suite with your belongings.”

“Thank you, Cecily.”

Kat entered the first mahogany paneled elevator, ‘lift’ as Cecily had called it, she came to. As the doors closed, she shoved her key into the slot as she’d been instructed and let out a deep sigh of relief. The slow upward motion helped to soothe her increasing anxiety. She took another deep breath and leaned back, letting her eyes slide shut for just a moment. It was the first time she’d been alone in nearly fourteen hours.

Not that Kat was a hermit or a recluse like the man who was quickly dominating her every thought, it was nothing like that. She enjoyed being around people. Had always loved the comradery of friends and had a blast chatting with the people at Roma Tech. Goodness knew she could talk to anyone and had on many occasions struck up a conversation with another shopper at the grocery store over whatever product they were both looking at.

But this was not the Piggly Wiggly and she wasn’t in Texas anymore. This was real life and she was about to enter the race with the big dogs. Correction, the biggest dog of them all, the one that not only won every race, but also owned the racetrack. The future of her company, the one her father had built from a workshop in the back of their garage to one with its shares traded on the NYSE, was at stake. The one she saved from bankruptcy after both her father and mother were killed in an unexplained single car accident on a clear fall night would be sold to the highest bidder if she failed. The one that had the only interactive graphic chip with artificial intelligence capabilities in the world would fall to the wayside if KI declined. It all depended on her ability to convince an elusive billionaire, who to the best of her knowledge
never
did partnerships—only believed in takeovers— to take a chance on her. It was all more than a little daunting.