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Authors: Leanne Banks
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knew their marriage wasn’t forever. If she gave up her job, she would be throwing away her future security. “There’s no need to rush, and my company may be flexible. I would feel like a slacker if I didn’t work at all.”
“That’s a first,” Leo said with a crack of amusement in his voice. “I haven’t met a woman yet who wasn’t ready to dump her job for a life of leisure.”
“Maybe that’s part of the reason you married me and not the others,” she said, lifting her chin.
“I doubt it,” he said and pulled her against him. “But I’ll give you a little time to work things out with your employer.Just remember your first allegiance is to your husband,” he said and took her mouth with his. “Always.”
Calista felt a shiver of forewarning. It had been hard enough for her to hatch the plan of meeting and marrying Leo. He was such a strong man, inside and out, she wondered what she would be like after six months with him.
Two weeks later, Leo and Calista flew to Japan. Calista was still worried that she’d put her job in danger by insisting on taking the trip. Leo found her concern both irritating and sweet. She still didn’t seem to comprehend how wealthy he was and that his wife would never want for anything.
Her brow furrowed as she studied her work assignments on her laptop.
Leo stroked that furrow with his index finger, startling her with his touch. “What—”
“You should relax. This is a long flight,” he said. “I’m the one who has to be ready with facts and figures. You just need to look beautiful and act charming.”
“Not quite. My boss expects me to have this assignment completed within three days. I’m sure jet lag will hit me before I know it, so I need to get it done while I have the energy.”
“I don’t know why you’re fighting it. You may as well go ahead and quit,” he said, turning back to his own preparations.
“I don’t want to quit. I like my job. It gives me a feeling of accomplishment,” she said. “I just need to learn how to juggle everything. I’ll get there.”
“We’ll see,” he said, shooting her a skeptical glance. “In a few weeks, we’re going to India.”
“India?” she echoed. “How in the world can I get off for two major trips within such a short time?”
“Exactly. Quit and I’ll triple your salary,” he said with a grin.
Not amused, Calista frowned. “It’s not that easy.”
“What’s so difficult? I can cover all your expenses and more.”
She hesitated a long moment. “I have some responsibilities with my sisters.”
“I thought your cousin covered their expenses.”
“They do as much as they can, but Tami has asthma and college is roaring toward us like a freight train.”
“So tell my accountant what you need and he’ll write a check. Money should be the last thing you’re worried about. Instead, I’d rather you be prepared to meet my business associate and his family. My assistant completed a report for you,” he said and handed a folder to her.
She lifted her eyebrows. “A report? I’ve been schooled in proper etiquette for at least a dozen countries.”
“I know you have. One of your many valuable qualities,” he said. “What you need to know is that you’re not only meeting Mr. Kihoto and his wife, you may also meet his mistress, Shonana,” he said.
“Mistress?” she echoed. “Surely he wouldn’t flaunt that relationship with business associates.”
“It depends on whether we go out to a nightclub,” Leo said.
Indignant, she flipped through the report. “How am I supposed to pretend to his poor wife that her husband isn’t a cheating jerk? Look, they have children,” she said, pointing to the report, clearly appalled. “She’s probably trapped in this marriage with an ogre.”
Amused by her reaction, he bit back a smile. “I’m sureshe knows and accepts it,” Leo said. “It’s not unusual for a wealthy man to have a mistress.”
She pressed her lips together
“That’s a first,” Leo said with a crack of amusement in his voice. “I haven’t met a woman yet who wasn’t ready to dump her job for a life of leisure.”
“Maybe that’s part of the reason you married me and not the others,” she said, lifting her chin.
“I doubt it,” he said and pulled her against him. “But I’ll give you a little time to work things out with your employer.Just remember your first allegiance is to your husband,” he said and took her mouth with his. “Always.”
Calista felt a shiver of forewarning. It had been hard enough for her to hatch the plan of meeting and marrying Leo. He was such a strong man, inside and out, she wondered what she would be like after six months with him.
Two weeks later, Leo and Calista flew to Japan. Calista was still worried that she’d put her job in danger by insisting on taking the trip. Leo found her concern both irritating and sweet. She still didn’t seem to comprehend how wealthy he was and that his wife would never want for anything.
Her brow furrowed as she studied her work assignments on her laptop.
Leo stroked that furrow with his index finger, startling her with his touch. “What—”
“You should relax. This is a long flight,” he said. “I’m the one who has to be ready with facts and figures. You just need to look beautiful and act charming.”
“Not quite. My boss expects me to have this assignment completed within three days. I’m sure jet lag will hit me before I know it, so I need to get it done while I have the energy.”
“I don’t know why you’re fighting it. You may as well go ahead and quit,” he said, turning back to his own preparations.
“I don’t want to quit. I like my job. It gives me a feeling of accomplishment,” she said. “I just need to learn how to juggle everything. I’ll get there.”
“We’ll see,” he said, shooting her a skeptical glance. “In a few weeks, we’re going to India.”
“India?” she echoed. “How in the world can I get off for two major trips within such a short time?”
“Exactly. Quit and I’ll triple your salary,” he said with a grin.
Not amused, Calista frowned. “It’s not that easy.”
“What’s so difficult? I can cover all your expenses and more.”
She hesitated a long moment. “I have some responsibilities with my sisters.”
“I thought your cousin covered their expenses.”
“They do as much as they can, but Tami has asthma and college is roaring toward us like a freight train.”
“So tell my accountant what you need and he’ll write a check. Money should be the last thing you’re worried about. Instead, I’d rather you be prepared to meet my business associate and his family. My assistant completed a report for you,” he said and handed a folder to her.
She lifted her eyebrows. “A report? I’ve been schooled in proper etiquette for at least a dozen countries.”
“I know you have. One of your many valuable qualities,” he said. “What you need to know is that you’re not only meeting Mr. Kihoto and his wife, you may also meet his mistress, Shonana,” he said.
“Mistress?” she echoed. “Surely he wouldn’t flaunt that relationship with business associates.”
“It depends on whether we go out to a nightclub,” Leo said.
Indignant, she flipped through the report. “How am I supposed to pretend to his poor wife that her husband isn’t a cheating jerk? Look, they have children,” she said, pointing to the report, clearly appalled. “She’s probably trapped in this marriage with an ogre.”
Amused by her reaction, he bit back a smile. “I’m sureshe knows and accepts it,” Leo said. “It’s not unusual for a wealthy man to have a mistress.”
She pressed her lips together
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