A Diamond Deal With The Greek

‘I’m not interested in who you are. My security will furnish me with that information if I need it. What I am interested in is you being escorted off the premises—’

‘Okay, this is getting ridiculous. My name is Rebel Daniels, Nathan Daniels’ daughter. I’m here to have lunch with my father. I forgot to sign in downstairs so Stan let me in. My dad wasn’t here. I assumed he was in a meeting or something, so I thought I’d wait for him. The yoga thing was just to relieve a little bit of stress.’

Several questions stormed through Draco’s mind. Was his security so lax that someone could just forget to make themselves known downstairs and still make it up here? She was Daniels’ daughter? Why was she stressed?

‘Your parents named you Rebel?’ Mildly disconcerted at the least relevant question that had chosen to fall from his lips, he watched a smile twitch at the corners of her mouth.

‘Hardly, although my mother did wonder why she hadn’t thought of that when I started using it at fifteen.’

Draco waited, wondering at the shadow that crossed her face a moment later. When she continued to stare at him, he pursed his lips. ‘So your real name is?’

‘I thought you weren’t interested.’ She turned and bent over to pick up her yoga mat.

He forced his gaze from her delectable behind to her bare feet, then away from her altogether when he realised he was even growing fascinated with her peach-painted toenails. ‘I’m only interested in you if it helps me locate your father.’

Her head jerked up, the rolled mat held against her body as she frowned at him. ‘What do you mean locate him? Isn’t he here?’

‘Did you have any reason to think he would be?’ he countered.

‘Of course I did. Why else would I have come here?’

Draco spotted two burly men rushing towards the office. His head of security looked extremely nervous. As he should be. He held up his hand when they reached the door. ‘When did you last speak to your father?’

Her gaze darted from the men back to him, a tiny flash of nervousness darkening her eyes. ‘Why, what does it matter?’

‘Because I would very much like to speak to him too.’

Her eyes widened, again a minuscule motion that he otherwise would’ve missed had he not been watching her closely. ‘So he’s not here?’ she pressed.

‘I think we’ve established that, Miss Daniels. Now are you going to answer me, or shall I hand you over to them?’ He jerked his head at the security men.

She frowned. ‘What exactly is going on here? If my father’s not here and you want me to leave, I will. There’s no need to throw your weight about. And I certainly don’t need to be escorted out.’

‘But you were in here on your own for over fifteen minutes. Who knows what information you’ve made yourself privy to?’

‘Are you accusing me of stealing something?’ she snapped.

‘Did you?’

‘Of course not!’

‘I’ll leave them to be the judge of that. I’m sure you’ll be released in a few hours once the security footage has been analysed, your belongings searched, and your alleged innocence confirmed.’ Draco motioned for his men to enter.

His head of security entered, followed by his assistant. Draco ignored their contrite expressions. ‘Take Miss Daniels’ bag—’

‘You can’t be serious!’

‘And the yoga mat. Make sure she’s not in possession of anything that doesn’t belong to her—’

‘Okay, fine. I’ll answer your damn questions.’

The men paused.

Draco shook his head. ‘Take them. Leave her shoes. I’ll let you know when I’m finished with her.’

She sent him a look filled with pure vitriol and her fingers clenched around the yoga mat as the younger guard stepped towards her. Eyes flashing blue fire, she released her hold on it, slipped her feet into her knee-high boots and propped her hands on her hips.

‘Shall we get this ludicrous inquisition over with?’

Sparks virtually flew off her. In another time, Draco would’ve enjoyed stoking that fire just to see how high her conflagration burned. It’d been far too long since any emotion besides bitterness, guilt and the rigid control he’d put in place ruled his life. Anything beyond that was a luxury he could ill afford.

It was the same control that dictated he take hold of this situation before it blew up in his face. He’d allowed his suspicions about Nathan Daniels to go unquestioned for far too long as it was.

He straightened. ‘Come with me.’

‘Where are we going?’ the question was snapped back immediately.

‘My office.’

‘Uh...sir?’

He turned to his security chief.

‘We need the lady’s full name in order to log her into the system.’

Draco raised an eyebrow at her.

Her mouth pursed, bringing his reluctant attention back to her plump lips.

‘It’s...my name is Arabella Daniels,’ she muttered reluctantly.

It took less than a second for Draco to place her. Arabella Daniels had once been a promising cross-country skier until she’d abruptly changed disciplines to become a ski jumper. Although she’d remained in the top ten for the last few years, the twenty-five-year-old woman had never risen above fifth in competitions. Probably due to her off-piste antics.

His mild shock subsided into a heavy dose of distaste, but he kept his expression neutral as he dismissed his men and strode to his office.

He waited until she entered, then activated the privacy setting on his windows. Once the glass was frosted, he perched at the edge of his desk and watched her pace warily in front of him. The burn in his groin as he followed her lissom figure made him kick out a chair.

‘Sit down.’

‘No, thanks. I thought you had an important meeting? Or was that just a fib rolled up as an insult?’

‘It wasn’t a lie. But the party concerned will understand. I tend to surround myself with reasonable, rational individuals.’

She paused in her pacing, her eyes narrowing. ‘Is that supposed to be some sort of dig?’

‘I know who you are, Miss Daniels.’

‘Well, since I told you my name, I should hope so. I wouldn’t like to think you were thick or anything, seeing as you seem to be the head honcho in this glass playhouse.’