Read Online High Stakes Seduction - Book 1 by Ami LeCoeur - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Ami LeCoeur
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he knew I wouldn't deny him.
"I can’t just leave my sister alone. I’d need to make arrangements to make sure she’s okay for the evening."
"Ah," he said. Then he reached for his cellphone and keyed in a number. "Priscilla, we need one of your ladies available as a companion for Angela’s sister tonight while we’re at dinner." He paused, listening. "Yes, Nevia is a sweet girl. She’ll do. I'll have Thompson pick her up at seven. And send along Angela's outfit with her."
Nevia was indeed very nice, but I wasn't happy with the assumptions Antonio seemed to be making about how much of my life he controlled.
"Look, Antonio," I began when he’d ended the call, "I appreciate what you’re doing for me, and I understand you have expectations of me as your… associate, but you can’t just summon me like this. I am just your employee. I have my own life to live, regardless of our agreement."
He looked at me with that unreadable glance of his, then he looked away. "I know. I'm sorry for such short notice. This client is very fickle and is only in town for a short time. If I play my cards right, we will have exclusive distribution rights to her latest collection."
"Why is it so important for me to be there?"
"You know these events are part of our agreement," he started. "And, you did very well at our last one. I'm confident your input will be just as valuable tonight."
"My input? So I’m to be more than just eye candy tonight?"
He laughed. "Oh, you’re more than just eye candy, Angela. But if you insist…"
He took my hand in his, looking deeply into my eyes. "Will you do me the honor of attending this event with me tonight?"
I caught my lower lip between my teeth, wondering if this was some kind of test. Then I took a deep breath. How could I turn down his request with those eyes staring into me like that? Then I shivered, goose bumps raising on my arms as I realized how dangerously close I was to stepping outside my self-imposed boundaries with this man.
Chapter Twenty
"Where are we going?" I asked, when Thompson pulled the limousine over.
"The salon," Antonio replied, opening his door. He opened my own door a moment later.
I took his offered hand and got out of the car, examining the shops and salons that lined the street.
"This way," he said, extending his arm toward the building in front of us. "I’ve made an appointment for you here. They'll make sure you are ready for tonight."
"They?" I asked, puzzled. The sign above the door didn’t really indicate what lay beyond the glass doors, nor did the woman who greeted us from the reception desk.
"Mr. Mancini," she said, rising and moving around the tall desk. "And you must be Angela. Welcome."
Antonio placed a hand at the small of my back, shooting electricity up my spine as he gently nudged me forward. "Mandy will take good care of you. Just relax and enjoy the experience. I’m sure you’ll love it. Thompson will be back around to pick you up in two hours. I’ll see you tonight."
"What—?" I said, utterly confused as I watched him turn and walk back out the door.
"Right this way," Mandy smiled.
Still confused, and now a little bit apprehensive, I eyed the door a moment longer. I felt a strong desire to escape, but realized how ridiculous that was. I turned to Mandy, who was waiting with a patient but amused smile. When she led me around the corner, I understood, and my confusion instantly turned into jaw-dropping awe—though I had enough of my wits left about me not to actually stand there staring open-mouthed at what was in front of me.
This was a salon. But not just a salon. It was unlike any I’d ever seen before. Sparkling crystal chandeliers dangled above a pure white tiled floor. Large, exquisitely carved mirrors hung on the walls above vintage white salon tables and upholstered metallic silver chairs. A few of the chairs were occupied, the women attended by stylists dressed all in black. On the walls above a seating area furnished
"I can’t just leave my sister alone. I’d need to make arrangements to make sure she’s okay for the evening."
"Ah," he said. Then he reached for his cellphone and keyed in a number. "Priscilla, we need one of your ladies available as a companion for Angela’s sister tonight while we’re at dinner." He paused, listening. "Yes, Nevia is a sweet girl. She’ll do. I'll have Thompson pick her up at seven. And send along Angela's outfit with her."
Nevia was indeed very nice, but I wasn't happy with the assumptions Antonio seemed to be making about how much of my life he controlled.
"Look, Antonio," I began when he’d ended the call, "I appreciate what you’re doing for me, and I understand you have expectations of me as your… associate, but you can’t just summon me like this. I am just your employee. I have my own life to live, regardless of our agreement."
He looked at me with that unreadable glance of his, then he looked away. "I know. I'm sorry for such short notice. This client is very fickle and is only in town for a short time. If I play my cards right, we will have exclusive distribution rights to her latest collection."
"Why is it so important for me to be there?"
"You know these events are part of our agreement," he started. "And, you did very well at our last one. I'm confident your input will be just as valuable tonight."
"My input? So I’m to be more than just eye candy tonight?"
He laughed. "Oh, you’re more than just eye candy, Angela. But if you insist…"
He took my hand in his, looking deeply into my eyes. "Will you do me the honor of attending this event with me tonight?"
I caught my lower lip between my teeth, wondering if this was some kind of test. Then I took a deep breath. How could I turn down his request with those eyes staring into me like that? Then I shivered, goose bumps raising on my arms as I realized how dangerously close I was to stepping outside my self-imposed boundaries with this man.
Chapter Twenty
"Where are we going?" I asked, when Thompson pulled the limousine over.
"The salon," Antonio replied, opening his door. He opened my own door a moment later.
I took his offered hand and got out of the car, examining the shops and salons that lined the street.
"This way," he said, extending his arm toward the building in front of us. "I’ve made an appointment for you here. They'll make sure you are ready for tonight."
"They?" I asked, puzzled. The sign above the door didn’t really indicate what lay beyond the glass doors, nor did the woman who greeted us from the reception desk.
"Mr. Mancini," she said, rising and moving around the tall desk. "And you must be Angela. Welcome."
Antonio placed a hand at the small of my back, shooting electricity up my spine as he gently nudged me forward. "Mandy will take good care of you. Just relax and enjoy the experience. I’m sure you’ll love it. Thompson will be back around to pick you up in two hours. I’ll see you tonight."
"What—?" I said, utterly confused as I watched him turn and walk back out the door.
"Right this way," Mandy smiled.
Still confused, and now a little bit apprehensive, I eyed the door a moment longer. I felt a strong desire to escape, but realized how ridiculous that was. I turned to Mandy, who was waiting with a patient but amused smile. When she led me around the corner, I understood, and my confusion instantly turned into jaw-dropping awe—though I had enough of my wits left about me not to actually stand there staring open-mouthed at what was in front of me.
This was a salon. But not just a salon. It was unlike any I’d ever seen before. Sparkling crystal chandeliers dangled above a pure white tiled floor. Large, exquisitely carved mirrors hung on the walls above vintage white salon tables and upholstered metallic silver chairs. A few of the chairs were occupied, the women attended by stylists dressed all in black. On the walls above a seating area furnished
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