Leah's Seduction: 3 (Gianni and Leah - Leah's Seduction) (5 page)

Chapter 8

The evening with Leah had been memorable, but Gianni tried to push it aside and regain focus. He had a company to run, and though his sex life had taken a turn for the better, he didn’t plan to become obsessed. No woman was worth that.

Leah left after breakfast the next morning, and Gianni went to the gym. He needed the workout. He would be going into the office later, even though it was Saturday. Pressing issues required his attention.

As he sweated on the machines and challenged his muscles, Gianni was unable to put Leah out of his mind. He had read the journal so often that he had parts of it memorized. The image of Leah in the heat of passion lingered in his thoughts, as did the visions of the sexual fantasies detailed in the journal.

More and more, they were one and the same. There was no way to separate Leah’s reaction after he had teased her with ice play, from a haunting journal entry Gianni had recently read.

My master bends me over, and I am at his mercy. He touches and teases my most intimate parts. But I want more. Always more. The feel of his fingers, the graze of his breath on my skin, leaves me weak.

I am his. I want only to be his. And I cannot be otherwise. He takes me with ferocity, and I respond in kind. I’m unable to help it, because he stirs my passion into a roaring flame. To give him pleasure, such as he gives to me, is my greatest joy.

Leah’s fervor and lack of inhibition once aroused were no different than the woman who had written the journal. Possibly, all women had that in their nature. But even if true, Gianni hadn’t experienced that with any woman before Leah.

He continued to be intrigued with the secret journal, and magnetized by Leah’s sexual desires. The combination escalated his need for her. If only he could determine that they were not two separate women, but one. And that the woman was exactly fitted to him, at that. Gianni had no doubt that he would be unable to turn away.

*****

When Monday came, Gianni was in the office early to prepare for the meeting. At the scheduled time, he went the conference room, where his security chief and operations manager already waited. They were drinking coffee and shuffling through their notes.

“Good morning,” he said, and sat across from Dawson and Joshua. They’d known each other too long, and been through too much, to care about pleasantries. The two men nodded at him, and waited for him to start the meeting.

Leaning back in his chair, Gianni said, “I’ve had some news that we need to discuss, and come up with a strategy.” He proceeded to outline everything he knew about Vadim’s plan, and what Leah had seen on the man’s computer.

Dawson listened with rapt attention, sitting tall, and exhibiting no reaction. But when Gianni concluded with, “Thoughts?” the security manager spoke up. “Well, fortunately for us, Vadim has no clue about office security.”

Gianni chuckled. It was ludicrous that Vadim thought he could come after him. But to have such shabby security in place made it worse. “Yes, it is laughable. But still of concern.”

Joshua sat with his legs crossed, his fingers together forming a steeple. “Agreed. But then, it’s Vadim. He’s a cheap crook at best.”

“May I offer,” Dawson said, “that he intends to covertly gain proprietary information. The most valuable to him would be GR Showroom strategy, as then he could steal business from us.”

“Exactly my thoughts,” Gianni said. “If he knew my plans then he could get there first. He would have an unfair advantage with buyers, and offer them contracts based on inside knowledge.”

“We are the only three that know GR’s plans. At least those that have not been publicly stated,” Joshua said.

Gianni nodded. “Yes, that is true, which is why he is targeting me. If Vadim had been trying to gain intelligence from employees, he would have come up dry.” Although what Joshua stated was basically true, there were some things that only Gianni knew. So far his trip to Chicago after the Los Angeles Fashion Week had not leaked. And he intended to keep it that way for a while.

Dawson smiled. “I suggest we use Vadim’s conniving nature to our advantage.”

Gianni raised his brows. Joshua uncrossed his legs and leaned forward.

The security chief’s eyes narrowed. “As long as he thinks he can gain knowledge from our buyer, let’s give it to him.”

It took one look at Dawson for Gianni to catch on. “Good tactic,” he said. “I will play along, and pretend to keep silent concerning information about GR. Then after Byron drags out the negotiations, I will reveal information, letting him think that he’s won.”

“Yes,” Dawon said, “but we will feed Vadim the information we
want
him to have. Let him think what
we
want him to.”

Joshua was of like mind. “We will decide what we intend for Vadim to pursue, thinking that it is our own goal, but lead him to disaster instead.”

“Brilliant,” Gianni said. “I’ll meet with you later, Joshua, and we will draft the details of what I will reveal to Bryon Clifton. I won’t be able to let him in on our plan, as that would be dangerous. The less people who know, the better. But the deal with him wasn’t one I was counting on, anyway.”

Dawson shifted in his seat. “I will tighten up security. Any conversations or calls that are vital will need to be conducted using untraceable phones. I’ll have some for us this afternoon. Since our phone bills are no longer confidential, we just need to be sure that when using office phones or cell phones, we do not mention anything we don’t want Vadim to know.”

Gianni folded his hands together. “And that who we call, or arrange meetings with, falls in line with the false information I will be feeding to Byron, knowing it will go straight to Vadim.”

“In light of what has happened, I don’t see GR doing any deals with Designer’s Edge International. Byron has not acted in good faith,” Joshua said.

“I would not do business with the man,” Gianni said. “Not after this. My guess is that he is being paid for his underhanded tactics.”

“He must be,” Dawson said. “And thinking back, when Cole was forwarding GR’s emails, it’s possible he was working for Vadim.”

“Could be,” Joshua said.

Gianni stood. “Okay, gentlemen. We will move ahead with that plan.” He looked at his security chief. “Stay behind, if you would, Dawson. I would like you to meet with Leah briefly to reassure her.”

Joshua began walking toward the door. “Okay, let me know when you want to get together. I’ll start putting something together.”

When he was gone, Gianni focused on Dawson. “Do everything you can to ensure we have no leaks. And I need you to protect Leah. She won’t think she needs it, and I don’t want to alarm her. But do what you need to in regard to her security.”

Gianni’s phone vibrated, and he saw a text from Leah saying she had arrived. He went to the door to find her standing in the showroom. He marveled at how young and lovely she looked. No one would guess what was underneath that innocent exterior.

Leah wore a navy suit and diamond stud earrings. It was an outfit that hid her curves, and minimized her breasts. He didn’t know why she still chose to wear such attire, even though he had seen to it that she owned better.

Despite the way she was dressed, her shapely legs showed beneath the mid-thigh skirt. And Gianni found that he had trouble taking his eyes off her plump lips and huge brown eyes. She was going to be in so much trouble later.

“Leah,” he said, walking over and putting his arm around her. “You remember Dawson Bennett, my security chief?”

“Yes, of course, we met at the fashion show,” Leah said.

“Good to see you again, Miss Ivers,” Dawson said. He towered over her, and, likely noting that, he sat down.

“Dawson, please give her an overview.”

Dawson proceeded to let her know that he was fully apprised of the situation. He reassured her that there was nothing for her to worry about. He was confident that his team could maintain security, and he was available should Leah need anything.

Meanwhile, as a precaution, he was going to give her a disposable phone. “Gianni will give you more details about its use,” he said. “And I will assign a guard to you.”

Leah’s eyes widened.

“It’s not that we expect any harm to come to you, but when you aren’t with Gianni, it is better to have protection. And I will need your passwords, so I can see that you have proper security online,” he said. “At the office, I suggest you don’t use the computer for anything you don’t want Vadim to see.”

Gianni squeezed her, knowing it was a lot to take in. He was used to such dealings. Leah was not. “Thank you, Dawson. We are off to an early lunch, now. Roston will drive us, and act as bodyguard.”

“I will assign him to Leah, for when you aren’t together. And one of the others on the team can take over your personal security.”

Gianni nodded. “That sounds fine.”

Once in the limo, Gianni held Leah’s hand. “When I have more details, I will fill you in. But I wanted you to talk with Dawson, and have confidence that you are protected.”

Leah smiled. “With him around, I wouldn’t be afraid. Not with the muscle on him.” She hesitated. “He’s handsome too, with those blue eyes. I bet he has no trouble getting women.”

“Should I be jealous?” Gianni asked.

“No. Not at all,” Leah said. “You are the only man I want.”

The way she said it rattled him, but Gianni didn’t show it. “If I wasn’t so hungry, and didn’t need to get back to the office, I’d take you to the condo right now. And give you exactly what you want.”

Leah blushed. Her coyness was endearing. Didn’t she know the effect she had on him?

“Later, then?” she said.

Gianni was about to pull her into his arms and forgo lunch. The privacy screen was already up. His phone was in his hand, and the screen lit up. Instinctively, he tapped it to see who the text was from.

The message was:
Waiting for your response

It was from Marnie, and at that precise moment Leah glanced at the screen. Seeing the name, she furrowed her brow. Gianni wondered if she would ask, but he didn’t have to wonder long.

“Who is she?”

“Personal business,” he said.

“You’re not going to tell me?”

He gave no reply.

Leah glanced out the window. “I think about it sometimes.”

“What?”

“The women you’ve been with before.”

Gianni’s insides knotted, but he kept his eyes steady.

“And,” Leah added, “if you are with anyone else now.”

It was better to satisfy her curiosity, although he wasn’t inspired to talk about his past. He might never be ready for that. But he needed to give her some answer. “While I’ve been with you, I’ve been with no other woman.”

Leah raised her brows. “And before?”

“You know there was a ‘before’ for both of us. But it doesn’t have anything to do with you.” Even as he said it, Gianni knew it wasn’t the complete truth. But it was all he could give her right then.

She sighed.

“I have never asked you about the men you have been with,” he said.

“I’m sure you have had more sex than I have,” she said.

“What makes you think so?”

Leah smiled shyly. “Well…your experience. The things you teach me. You’ve done those things before.”

As true as that was, Gianni also knew it hadn’t been like it was with Leah. It was different, better. And he was hooked. But he didn’t need to give her more power over him than she already had. Thus, he withheld that piece of information.

“Yes, I have experience. But I only care about now,” he said. “And that’s all you should care about, too.”

Leah put her head on his shoulder and touched his cheek. “I try,” she said. “I really do. But it’s hard not to be jealous of any woman who has had you before me.” She lifted her head. “I want you all for myself.”

There was no way to respond to such devotion, so Gianni just leaned down and kissed her soft lips. She wanted to know about the women from his past. That was something he would need to dissuade her from. Leah knew only what they had shared. She didn’t know everything, and maybe she wouldn’t need to.

Chapter 9

Over the next few days, Leah grew accustomed to having Roston shadow her. Although she didn’t think it was necessary, Gianni wouldn’t hear of anything else. The one thing she was relieved about was the disposable phone.

If Vadim could gain access to GR’s phone bill, he could obtain hers also. The idea of him knowing who she called, or possibly seeing texts, was repulsive. It would allow him to intrude into her personal life.

But her boss did not mention the program folder Leah had dropped off. Nor did he question her about being in his office. If he had any clue that she had looked at his computer to gain information, Vadim did not let on.

It was likely that her boss was such an arrogant ass that they he didn’t consider Leah clever enough to spy on him. Such blindness would come back to bite him. Gianni would see to that. Since he behaved normally in the office, Leah did too, and the incident passed.

One day at lunch, Leah skipped eating and took a walk. The exercise was a welcome relief to being pent up in her office all day. The weather was excessively warm but cloudy. Melding into the crowd of people on the sidewalk, she thought of Gianni.

In the limo, when she had asked about the message from Marnie, his reply had been short. Letting her know it was personal business wasn’t enough, though. It didn’t satisfy her curiosity. Maybe it should have, but the look on his face had been unsettling.

If it was just business, Gianni would not have given it a second thought. But Leah had seen it in his eyes. He had tensed, and lagged just a second too long when replying. It was as though he needed to think it through before he gave her an answer.

And that concerned her. It wasn’t that Leah thought he would lie to her. She didn’t necessarily believe that. But she was sure there were things he hadn’t told her. He had so much as said so.

Gianni might think the past was irrelevant, but she knew it wasn’t. A man’s history with women didn’t go away, no matter who he was with at the moment. And knowing about earlier relationships would be enlightening; it would reveal more about his character.

To Leah, he was a trustworthy man. But she was biased. It was difficult to see things clearly when emotions ran deep. And she was acutely aware that Gianni had not wanted to discuss the subject of other women.

It wasn’t only that it didn’t affect their relationship, as he claimed, but that he felt awkward when talking about any woman who came before her. Since Leah didn’t know why he was closed off, it nagged at her.

If only she could ask Gianni and get a straight answer. But she knew he would sidestep the issue. He had a way of maintaining control, and only allowing her to know what he felt she should.

But that was not how Leah wanted it. She wanted to know the real man, his past, and his inner feelings. The likelihood of Gianni opening up to her anytime soon wasn’t high. But it was becoming harder to pretend she didn’t care to know.

Being intimate meant doing so in all ways. That was how she saw it. The physical side of the relationship was exquisite, and Leah wouldn’t trade it for anything. But experiencing so deeply involved her heart.

But not Gianni’s. He continued to dominate her in the bedroom while acting like her heart didn’t exist. Or it wasn’t part of his domain. Of course, he cared about her emotionally. But it was in how she felt about a scene they shared.

He wanted her to reach within and give him all. Could it be that he believed she could do that without falling for him? It had taken strength not to tell him how she felt. And Leah wondered if her feelings were evident despite her silence.

She looked up. The clouds moved slowly overhead. The light changed, and Leah crossed the street with the mob of people, knowing drivers rarely stopped for pedestrians unless they were part of a big group that couldn’t be ignored.

When Leah had moved to New York, she had been thrilled at the pulse of the big city. All through school she had anticipated an exciting career. Now she had that. Yet it paled in comparison to what she felt for Gianni.

Leah had it bad. Wanting to be with him just might overshadow her life if she didn’t be careful. There had to be a limit. She couldn’t continue to give all if Gianni wouldn’t.

Giving him an ultimatum was out of the question. A man like Gianni wouldn’t respond to such a demand. He did what he wanted, and didn’t seem persuaded by what others wanted of him. Yet he showed that he cared about her in many ways.

Why couldn’t she be satisfied with his pampering of her? Dates with Gianni were the stuff of fairytales, and sex with him was straight out of her personal fantasies. Did she have to be so greedy, and demand love too?

Yet no matter how much she attempted to convince herself that she could stick to her agreement with Gianni, that the heart wasn’t involved in their relationship, Leah couldn’t stop wanting more. The need for love, real love from a man, remained unsatisfied.

Passing a bookshop, Leah went inside. It occurred to her that she missed having her journal. Since it had been lost, she hadn’t bothered replacing it. For a while, Leah had thought it would turn up. But it hadn’t.

Her concern that someone would read all the feelings she had poured out on the pages now seemed less worrisome. Months had passed, and whatever bad thing she had feared hadn’t come to pass. If anyone had found the diary, Leah didn’t know about it. And she likely wouldn’t.

She missed the release of writing her emotions down on paper. It was like telling a friend. Walking along the aisles, Leah spotted the racks of sketch books and journals. She went over and picked them up to examine each one.

Running her fingers along the cover of oversized book, Leah liked the feel. The leather felt rich. The pages had gold edges, and inside, the journal was filled with lined pages just waiting for her to tell them her troubles.

The journal was a bit pricey, but Leah felt better holding it in her hands. She had to have it, along with a new pen. As the clerk ran her credit card and bagged the items, she thought of that evening. Leah planned to snuggle into her loft bed, alone, and pour out her thoughts.

*****

After work, Leah met Kyra at Pilates. On the way in, they chatted about upcoming fashion events they might both attend. It seemed Daniela had been doing her friend’s makeup more often to good result, and she would be at many of the shows too.

Before class started, Kyra scrolled, then held up her phone and said, “Have you seen this?”

“Seen what?”

Instead of replying, Kyra held the screen up so Leah could see. There was a picture of Gianni kissing Leah. It had been at one of the fashion shows, and was innocent enough.

But not when it was on social media. The text said:
Gianni Rinaldi, One of New York’s Most Sought-After Bachelors, Hooks Up With the Competition
. All she could do was stare at the picture.

“Don’t you ever go online? How could you miss this?” Kyra said.

“I’ve been working, not surfing the net.” Leah shook her head. “What a mess.”

“Well, you need to pay more attention. It seems you and Gianni are news. Your relationship is no longer private.”

“Not that I thought it would be. Gianni hasn’t tried to hide it,” Leah said. “But it is worse that I’m labeled as the competition. Now Vadim will know about us, or assume he does. It puts him on the defensive, like I’m betraying him by seeing Gianni.”

Kyra raised her brows. “Not good?”

“No, not good.”

“Are you going to deny it?”

Leah rolled her shoulder. “Who would believe me? I don’t stand any chance of that.”

“I agree,” Kyra said. “People believe what they want. And they prefer scandal, so I don’t see any way to counter this.”

“I don’t either.” Leah sighed. “My only option is to be quiet about it. Denying the relationship will make it worse; I’ll look guiltier.”

Kyra raised her hands. “What are you guilty of? Dating a hot guy? I mean, what can you be attacked for?”

“You’d be surprised. But mainly it’s just the exposure. I don’t want to feel like our picture is being taken wherever we go.”

“Gianni must be used to it,” Kyra said.

“I’m sure he probably is. I did a search when I first met him, and he has been seen with a lot of different women. None of them seemed long-lasting. It was an ever-changing parade of dates.”

Kyra put her hand in the air. “They could have been escorts for all anyone knows.”

“Right, it’s just speculation. Soon they will forget about me, just like they have forgotten about all the others,” Leah said.

Kyra’s forehead wrinkled. “Not unless you break up with him. You’re not thinking of doing that, are you?”

Leah’s heart fell. “No, no. I’m not thinking that.”

“Are you worried about how Vadim will react?”

“Some.”

Kyra shook her head. “Well, don’t. What can he do?”

“Fire me for consorting with the enemy?”

Her friend looked puzzled. “I wouldn’t say you are doing that.”

“Actually, I am.”

Kyra raised her brows.

Leah held up her hand. “Too much information. Forget I said that.”

“I am
not
forgetting you said that.”

Raking her fingers through her hair, Leah said, “Look, I know you are my best friend. But there are some things you just don’t want to be involved in.”

“Leave that to me.”

“If I tell you, that will pull you into it, and it’s not safe,” Leah said.

“Is that why you have a bodyguard following you around everywhere now?”

“Yes, that
is
why.” Leah stepped closer and lowered her voice. “There’s a lot going on at the moment. I’ll tell you when I can, okay? But I’m sworn to confidentiality right now.”

Kyra narrowed her eyes. “On one condition…if you are in trouble or it’s dangerous, you have to let me know. That’s what friends are for.”

Leah nodded.

Still not satisfied, Kyra added, “I mean it. Don’t go disappearing or clamming up on me. I’ll worry. You need to let me help, if something is going on.”

Leah smiled. “I will. Nothing is going to happen to me. As you can see, I have plenty of security. Gianni is taking care of everything.”

“He better be,” Kyra said, “because if he screws up he will answer to me.”

Leah hugged her. “You’re the best. Don’t worry, really.”

Although Leah had reassured her friend, she didn’t know if she believed it herself. She was tangled up in a situation that was out of control. Cody had been right: she was caught between two powerful men. Working for Barrington while siding with Gianni was sticky.

Vadim would know that she was intimate with Gianni. And he wouldn’t believe anything else, no matter what she said. Now he would press her for more inside information. Unless he figured out Leah was on Gianni’s side.

Then he would fire her. It crossed her mind that Gianni might hire her if that happened. But she didn’t want him to. Leah depended on Gianni enough already. It was important to maintain her independence in the workplace.

She followed Kyra out to the exercise room. Now her friend knew something was going on, which wasn’t good. Leah was inexperienced at keeping secrets. Her life hadn’t required it. There had never been any secrets to keep.

Now there were. And the situation had just escalated. Once the media got wind of the relationship, they weren’t likely to let it go. It was only going to get worse. Leah had no way out. She had to go forward, trust Gianni, and hope for the best.