High Stakes Seduction - Book 2 (5 page)

Chapter Eleven

Tap-tap-tap.

It sounded like a woodpecker at my door. I opened my eyes and looked around, trying to remember where I was. The bed was comfortable and I felt cozy, but it wasn't the bed I was used to.

Tap-tap-tap came the sound again.

Oh. That's right, on board ship
.

"Are you awake?" Came the voice on the other side of the door. "Time for some breakfast, my dear. And then time to get to work."

Work?
Oh! That's right, this was a "business as usual" trip, and I was here to work off a debt. Well, a future debt. I hadn't realized Antonio was a morning kind of guy. But then, I really didn't know much about him, did I?

"Give me a moment," I mumbled as I threw off the covers and jumped out of bed. I reached into the drawer, pulling out a sleeveless blouse and pair of shorts. Slipping on my sandals, I ran a brush through my hair.

Good thing my hair isn't too tangled
, I thought, giving myself a critical eye as I brushed my teeth quickly. No time for makeup.
Well, Antonio, today is 'what you see is what you get'.

"Good morning. I hope you
slept
well." God, that sounded snarky.
Great way to start the day off, not to mention our new 'arrangement'
.

Antonio gave me that crooked little smile as he held open the cabin door.

"
Very
well. And you?"

Sheesh, I just couldn't win with this guy. He always seem to have the edge. I just hoped my cheeks weren't flaming too much.

"Let's grab something we can take up on deck," he suggested. "That way we can enjoy the view, and we can talk about this trip."

Seriously? We're going to talk about
that
on deck?
Maybe there was even more to this guy that I didn't understand.

***

Sitting in the early morning sun, munching an almond croissant with my espresso certainly beat sitting in a restaurant. There was something about being in the open air that made me hungrier this morning than normal. I watched Antonio with his yogurt and fresh fruit, and glanced around at the others sitting at the small tables on the sunny side of the deck.

"Angela, thank you for joining me on this cruise. I know it was sudden, and I appreciate your flexibility."

I watched his face, waiting for more.

"I invited you here for a very specific reason."

Um-hmm, here it comes.

"I'm sure you have questions. There's a lot you need to know, and while there are some things we need to discuss, I'm not prepared to go into it in any detail right now. However, I think you understand some things have changed." He leaned back in his chair.

My heart was pounding in my chest. I wasn't sure what he was going to say, and I certainly didn't want to be second guessing myself now.

"As you may have suspected, this trip isn't all for fun. I have several… sensitive… issues that need to be handled while we're gone, and the fact you're here, well, that makes it a lot easier for me in some ways."

"Couldn't you have handled your 'issues' at home? It seems kind of an expensive way to take care of things."

"No. That wouldn't have been possible. Too many eyes and ears."

Eyes and ears? That was something Maria had said, but in a different context. I took a deep breath. "And, so, tell me… what
are
your expectations?"

"Don't look so serious," he laughed, reaching into his pocket and placing a flash drive on the table beside his plate. "For one thing, I need you to handle some details for Carlo and Poula. After all, it's your account."

Carlo and Poula? The twins?

"I'll want to visit them at their studio soon, well before the new line comes out. Please make arrangements for our trip early next month."

Our
trip
.
"You're taking me with you?"

"It's your account, remember?"

"Well, all I did was talk with them and make them comfortable."

"Obviously that was enough. They like you, and they trust you, and it's in my best interest to keep that relationship solid. So this is as good a chance as any to learn about handling designers. Besides, wouldn't you like to see some of Europe? Especially, on an expense account?"

I laughed. "I'd like to see Europe regardless of an expense account, but that's probably the only way I would get to."

Well, this was turning out to be interesting. Maybe this trip really
was
"business as usual".

"But there's more." Antonio smiled at me with that twinkle in his eyes.

My stomach twisted. The croissant suddenly felt like lead in my stomach, and it was more than espresso that was making my hands shake. Suddenly I felt trapped. I took a deep breath, trying not to look as nervous as I felt.

"Tony!" came a hail from across the deck. "Just the man I wanted to see."

"Damn," Tony muttered under his breath. "I'm sorry Angela, please excuse me."

He stood up, greeting the distinguished looking older man, pausing slightly, before the two of them walked in the other direction.

Chapter Twelve

I looked over the itinerary as I sipped my afternoon tea. The ship would dock tomorrow in St. Croix—for the first time since we'd left. I had to admit, I was looking forward to getting off the boat. And this would be my first visit to any country outside the U.S. I'd spent the morning doing yoga in the gym, but that would take a backseat any day to a hike along the beach.

Antonio had set up an excursion for us and I wondered what the island would be like. The weather was lovely and I was excited to finally spend some "off-time" with Antonio. Other than dinners, and our meeting this morning, he had been mostly unavailable and unapproachable.

"Something will come up," I muttered. Then I remembered my vow from the previous evening, and felt embarrassed to be so cynical. I would make the best of the excursion. Regardless of the conditions. Besides, Maria was looking forward to seeing my photos.

Maria
. I had barely even thought about her on the trip. Other than the conversation last night with Tom Markus. I stood up and headed for the media room. It was time for me to contact my sister.

***

"Sis!" Maria's face lit up when Skype connected us. "How is the cruise? Come on, spill it!"

She always made me laugh. "Well, so far, not a lot to report. But tomorrow we're heading off to St Croix for a day trip."

"How about photos? I'm waiting, you slacker…."

I laughed again. "Soon, I promise. So far I've only taken photos of the folks onboard ship here. But after tomorrow I'll have a ton to share. So how about you? How's everything?"

"Just fine, you worry-wart. The nurse is listening to me and I'm getting my way. Oh, and that chauffeur, Thompson, he's coming by tomorrow. We're going on a picnic in a few days."

"Now you behave yourself!" I laughed. I was glad she would be getting out. Thompson was a good man and would make sure Maria was okay. "I'll check back with you in a couple days, then. Maybe we'll both have some good news to share."

"Just remember to get the photographic evidence," Maria teased me.

"Yeah, as if," I replied. "Talk with you soon." I ended the Skype call and stood up, glad I'd taken the time to connect.

I glanced at my watch. Just enough time to get a quick nap and a shower so I would be refreshed for dinner. Maybe I could take a quick look at the flash drive Antonio had give me that morning.

But the moment I set foot inside the room, my phone buzzed.

“Dinner tonight with the Captain. Meet me at the boutique @ 4pm so we can pick out something special for you to wear –A”

Something special? I’d been working for him for a month now and I thought my taste had proven suitable enough for him to no longer feel the need to dress me. I glanced over at the closet and noticed the door was open. Had he been going through my wardrobe? I shifted around some of the dresses, wondering what he could have possibly found wrong with them.

Damn, I guess I still wasn't up to his standards if I couldn’t even dress to impress.

“Better see what my lord and master wants,” I muttered sarcastically before heading to the shower.

Chapter Thirteen

I arrived at the boutique a few minutes early to find Antonio already waiting for me. He was back to his usual suit and tie, chatting amicably with the clerk, gesturing at some dresses.

I had taken a look through my wardrobe after my shower, choosing what I thought was a gorgeous evening gown, suitable for the occasion. But it was still hanging in the closet. After all, Antonio had seen all my clothes, and, apparently, nothing was good enough for whatever he had in mind.

I was surprised at the quality of clothing. I had no idea that cruise ships had designer fashions onboard, I thought they were stocked with more casual sporting attire. This was obviously an upscale boutique on a higher-end luxury ship.

“There you are,” he said, greeting me with his dashing smile. I tried to ignore the flutter in my chest when he leaned in to add a kiss on my cheek. “What do you think of this?” He held up a deep violet-colored dress with thickly patterned lace covering a strapless bodice. It shirred at the waist with a diamond butterfly brocade, the skirts cascading down to mid-calf.

It was far more demure than I had grown used to wearing with him, but I certainly couldn’t deny his eye for fashion.

"Let me try it on." I took the dress into the fitting room.

"We’ll take it," he said a moment later when I stepped back out. “Along with these shoes and earrings.”

The clerk effused, accepting his credit card and leaving to ring up the purchases. Antonio stepped forward, giving me his appraising gaze, though this time it seemed to be tinged with a hint of mischief. “I wish you’d worn your hair up, the way I like it,” he said, tracing a finger along the curve of my one bare shoulder.

I bit my lower lip, trying to suppress the wave of heat spiraling through me at his touch. “I’ll have to remember that for next time,” I replied.

Antonio tucked a knuckle under my chin, raising my face until we were eye-to-eye, so unbearably close that if I just tipped up on my toes, I could brush my lips against his. I could taste him, explore his mouth with my tongue…

“Sit down,” he said.

I blinked. Then stepped back, glancing to the side where he was gesturing towards a plush couch.

He took my hand, making my pulse race even faster, as he led me to the couch. Smiling, he, accepted a shoebox the clerk handed him. I sat, crossing my legs, and to my utter surprise, Antonio knelt down in front of me.

He opened the box, taking out an open-toed pair of heels that matched the dress’s color almost perfectly. With practiced skill, he slid his hand slowly, along my calf, then slipped my foot into the shoe. All the while, never taking his eyes off mine.

His touch was unnerving. I sat there, staring at him, unable to form a coherent thought as my skin tingled beneath the gentle caress of his fingers.

He gave me a nod, and I carefully uncrossed my legs, extending the other to him. With the same maddeningly slow, sensual movements, he slipped the second shoe onto my foot, then he stood, offering me his hand.

I took it and rose to face him. A small “thank you” was all I could manage. I fumbled slightly as I added the finishing touch of the amethyst drop earrings he handed me to complete my outfit.

“Stunning,” Antonio said quietly. Then he offered me his arm to escort me to dinner.

Chapter Fourteen

The prestigious Captain’s Table was set above the dining room on a balcony that overlooked the water. The captain himself sat at the head of the table in his immaculate white uniform, while Antonio and I sat next to each other, across from several politicians and their spouses.

“There’s little chance of that policy being implemented,” said an older man who sat opposite me with this wife. "At least not without a lot of opposition." I had no idea what this policy was about, but it was clearly important enough for him to keep bringing it up for more than half the meal.

“The decision will likely be a tough one for the governor to make,” said another man, “But it’s only a matter of time before the voters get wind of it.”

I was so tuned out of the political conversation that I almost missed when the woman on my right spoke to me.

“Would you like to join us after dinner?” she asked. “We’re having a little get together in our stateroom.”

I looked to Antonio, who was wrapped up in a conversation with the man on his left. “I’m not sure what our plans are for the evening,” I said, not wanting to commit to anything.

"Oh, the men will want to continue their conversation. I'm certain of that," she replied.