Chapter 21

“Full creative control?You’re fucking with us, right?” One of the four male producers in the split-screen barked.

Zoe, who was sitting in front of the TV in Natalia’s conference room, leaned forward. “We all know that’s not how this works.”

Natalia engaged every ounce of self-control in her body. Despite the anger gnawing at her belly, she retained her calm exterior. “That is the condition precedent if you want Dr. Reyes to consider a deal for the rights.” She stressed the maybe of it all again.

“Are you sure she doesn’t want a pony and a trip to space while we’re at it?” One of the suits on the screen laughed in a style reminiscent of Jabba the Hutt.

Staring straight at them, Natalia didn’t so much as blink. She sat quietly until the laughter petered out to uncomfortable throat-clearing. There were few things in life more unnerving to a powerful man than not laughing at his joke. Easy to do when they were so rarely funny.

“Natalia, I’m sure you explained to her?—”

Natalia didn’t let him continue. “It is not my job to explain anything to Dr. Reyes. I’m not brokering the deal. You asked me to find a way to those film rights. I did.”

“But who the hell does this… lady think she is? Stephen King?” One of the suits let his anger flare. Natalia nearly lost her hold on hers. He had said lady in the same way he’d say bitch.

“That lady has something you want.” Natalia stood up, refusing to engage in the same conversation over and over again.

“Whose side are you even on?” Zoe shrieked, earning a devastating glare from Natalia.

“You asked me to get you something impossible.” She unleashed her sharpest tone while leaning over the conference table. Zoe leaned back even though she was several feet away. “I found you an avenue. Take it or leave it.”

“Where are you going, Natalia?” Jabba the Hutt’s twin whined. “We’re not done?—”

“I got you your terms,” she started for the door, giving everyone her back. “You’re more than welcome to enjoy my internet while you tread the same ground, but I have other work to do.”

Behind her, Zoe’s complaints disappeared as soon as the door closed. She signaled for Martina — her head assistant agent — to keep an eye on the conference room and take care of Zoe. She didn’t need to tell her she wasn’t interested in speaking to Zoe again today. Her drawn office shades would make that blindingly clear.

Natalia strode back to her office, irritation simmering beneath her cool exterior. As soon as she had complete privacy, she pulled off her blazer and hung it on her coat rack. The layer of perspiration coating her back was as bad as the one building over her chest.

She pulled out the fan she kept hidden in a drawer for the occasional hot flash and turned it on to full blast two inches from her face. As soon as her rage sweat dried, she got to work.

She tried to distract herself by reviewing a contract she’d already redlined, but her thoughts kept circling back to Samantha. Back to their heated encounters and that electrifying kiss in the parking garage. Natalia could almost taste those full lips again. Feel the soft skin under her nails where she’d clawed at Samantha’s hips.

A dangerous longing coiled in her core. She ached to see her again, even if it was against her better judgment. Even if she could already feel her reason and logic being clouded by her desires. Even if she wanted a level of intimacy Natalia was no longer capable of giving.

Shaking her head, Natalia shook off her concerns. She hadn’t been compromised. She hadn’t influenced Samantha when she was devising her terms. All she’d done was transmit Samantha’s conditions. The negotiations had nothing to do with her.

Minutes later, Samantha was back on her mind. She couldn’t stop fantasizing about pulling Samantha close. Feeling their bodies press tightly as clothes melted away. Natalia yearned to hear her gasp again. To be lulled by her whispers in the dark.

Cursing under her breath, Natalia shoved those thoughts away. She didn’t do relationships anymore. Not after last time. Not after giving her battered heart to someone who had promised forever, only to betray her trust in the worst imaginable way.

Natalia had barely survived that devastation with her spirit intact. She’d sworn off love, vowing she would never leave herself so vulnerable again. Being in a relationship, being vulnerable, was the surest way to pain. Letting someone in meant showing them exactly where your design flaws were and how to exploit them. Use them against you when things soured. And they always soured.

Despite trying to focus, her thoughts drifted again. The image of Samantha’s lazy smile, her bleached hair slicked back and exposing her dark roots like some cologne ad model ripped from Natalia’s fantasies. Her smart mouth and endless arrogance. Natalia knew she should walk away before things went too far. Cut ties before she did something reckless, like fall for those warm brown eyes that saw far too much.

Yet even as her pragmatic side warned of danger, Natalia felt an unfamiliar longing take root. A treacherous desire to connect, to be known, that left her shaken. She thought those wishes long dead, but Samantha had awakened dangerous hopes she barely dared acknowledge.

Natalia stood abruptly, desperate to cut off this foolish train of thought. She couldn’t afford to be weak, to indulge in some romantic fantasy. Her armor had kept her safe all these years. She wouldn’t let anyone breach it now.