Read Online Master of Bella Terra by Christina Hollis - Free Book Online Page B

shake. ‘Thank you for having your secretary ring me, but I’m working on a very important project,’ she snapped, hoping her brisk tone would put some distance between them again. ‘I can’t simply drop everything and rush to your side.’
    â€˜I know. You’re a woman of spirit.’ The laughter in his voice was infuriatingly engaging. ‘Alphonse tells me you’re practically finished at his place,’ Stefano continued. ‘I’m going to be out of the country for a while, and I wanted to discuss your contract with you, face to face, before I leave. I thought this would be a good opportunity for both of us,’ he added.
    Kira needed this job. She was also desperate to see Stefano again. After all, it does make good business sense, she told herself. There couldn’t be any harm in a formal discussion. It would be like gazing at temptation through the window of a locked cake shop. Work would form an invisible shield between them, keeping her from disaster.
    â€˜You could be right…’ She tried to sound grudging. ‘How do I find you?’
    She could hear his lack of surprise at her decision. ‘Don’t worry. I found you, don’t forget. A car will bearriving to collect you…’ There was a brief pause. Kira visualised him glancing at the designer watch clamped to his beautiful bronzed wrist as he added, ‘In exactly fifteen minutes.’
    And it was.
    Â 
    As her chauffeur-driven limousine glided to a halt at the main entrance of Albani International, Kira looked up at the grand old building with a hint of anxiety. It was enormous, and a constant stream of people flowed in and out of the revolving glass doors. A commissionaire stepped forward to open the car door for her. Thanking him, Kira took a few moments to compose herself before walking into the reception area. She had worked in palaces, villas and condos, but this place had something extra—Stefano Albani. Taking a deep breath, she went in to meet him.
    To Kira’s relief, there was no hanging around. That would have shredded her nerves beyond repair. She had been desperate to see Stefano again from the moment he left her house. Now she realised dreams were one thing, but reality was terrifying. The moment he spoke, her insides would turn to jelly. Her instinctive reaction was to keep her head down and pretend she was invisible, but that wasn’t the way contracts were won. Instead, she lifted her chin, ready to meet his gaze with an equally bold stare. It took a huge effort.
    The man of her dreams was lounging back in a big black chair. His feet were on his desk. He was dictating into a voice recorder and although his eyes instantly locked onto hers he did not stop speaking into it as she walked towards his visitor’s chair.
    Stefano looked every bit as intimidating as sheremembered. Despite his casual attitude, he was dressed in a beautifully cut dark suit. The formality of classically designed business wear suited him so well it was hard not to stare. Kira gave in to the temptation.
    Completing his letter, Stefano switched off the recorder and tossed it aside.
    â€˜We meet again, Miss Banks.’
    â€˜Indeed we do.’ Kira purposely kept her voice light and professional, but couldn’t resist a question that had been tormenting her since he left her side. ‘Did you buy the Bella Terra estate, signore ?’
    â€˜Yes, but I’ve been too busy to visit since then. I suppose you’ve been wondering where I’ve been?’
    â€˜No, not at all,’ Kira said coolly, determined not to betray any trace of the embarrassingly large amount of time she had spent wondering what he was getting up to while he was out of her sight.
    She saw from a subtle change in his expression that the stony nature of her reply had given him pause. His reaction gave her a little lift, and added some real amusement to her smile.
    â€˜In fact, Signor Albani, when