Read Online Baby By Accident: International Billionaires III: The Italians by Caro LaFever - Free Book Online Page A

stern stuff, though. She’d merely glared down her nose at him and then proceeded to calmly try and undermine his plans. Much to her regret, he hoped, she wasn’t making nearly the progress she’d made when he first arrived on the scene. No, he was steadily winning over the hearts and minds of not only the stockholders and the board members, but the average accountant, the lowliest delivery man—hell, even the Princesse’s own PA had started to warm to his charm.
    It must irk her. It must irritate her. It must.
    Yet she never let him see it.
    He should fire her.
    He’d thought about it a dozen times. A million times.
    But he knew if he acted out, did what he wanted, her dismissal would hurt the company. So instead, he stomped down his emotions, stopped her sabotage, and seethed with frustration.
    “Do you agree, Mr. Mattare?” Her cool, clipped voice reached across the long oak table.
    He had no idea what she asked him. His hand clenched on his knee. “I wish to hear more.”
    “Really?” One blonde brow rose. “I thought Ms. Gelson explained the data in perfectly clear terms.”
    “My apologies,” he smiled, his teeth grinding. “Perhaps it is the language barrier.”
    “I don’t mind explaining in more detail,” the eager Ms. Gelson gushed. “I’d be glad to do anything for Mr. Mattare.”
    “Thank you, Cindy,” the Princesse said, her mouth firming in displeasure at the younger woman’s willingness. “I’m sure we’ll all be more attentive this time.”
    She skimmed the line day after day.
    The line of respect for her superior. The line of courtesy. The line of his temper.
    He managed to keep his attention focused on the business as the meeting progressed. Though all the while, he watched her, watched her face, her movements.
    Something was wrong.
    Behind the calm, collected persona lurked something else. Something cracking the high and mighty façade she projected.
    Last week he’d noticed the symptoms had grown worse. The tinge of pallor in her pearl skin had turned to outright pale pastiness. The smudges under her eyes now were dark circles. Her clothes hung on her. Her eyes weren’t the usual clear ice blue.
    She tried to keep up appearances.
    Yet it was obvious, there was something wrong.
    He quickly squashed a zag of concern. It didn’t matter to him if she suffered because her fiancé finally figured her out and dumped her. In the long run, what man wanted a woman who couldn’t be trusted? He hadn’t thought about her stupid engagement when he’d been pounding into her, but he’d thought about it since.
    A dozen times. A million times.
    Lise Helton, for all her high-and-mighty ways, was a cheat. The type of woman he scorned. He held not an iota of concern for the woman. She deserved everything she got.
    The meeting came to a close. The staff stood, gathering their papers, talking in low tones about their daily tasks. Vico rose from his chair, snapped his laptop closed and glanced to the end of the room.
    She stood. And wobbled. Her hand landed on the table in front of her, propping her up.
    Tensing, he forced himself to stay still instead of bounding down the room to her side.
    A gleam of sweat on her brow glistened. He’d swear to it.
    A sudden realization came to him.
    This couldn’t be only emotional distress. This had to be something more.
    “Ms. Helton,” he said. “A moment of your time, per favore .”
    Her head jerked up, her blonde hair bobbing in soft curls on her shoulders. The hair wasn’t the same, though. Not like his memory of silky, healthy strands wrapping around his hands as he plunged into her. Now the strands appeared lackluster and lifeless.
    Something was wrong. He was sure of it. Something physical.
    The beat of his heart sped, then stilled.
    “I’m quite busy today.” Her words were rushed.
    “A mere moment.”
    Her gaze darted to the door as the last person left the room.
    Left them alone. For the first time in seven long weeks. For the first time