Gabriel POV
Three days had passed since Isabella walked into my office.
I wasn't a patient man.
Sterling Tech was slipping through Isabella's fingers, and I was offering her a deal. A lifeline. Yet she kept fighting me, acting like she had a choice.
She didn't.
I leaned back in my chair, staring at the stock reports. As expected, the numbers had dropped again. Investors were panicking. The market smelled blood.
Isabella should be calling me any second now.
My fingers tapped on the table. And just then, my phone rang.
I picked up the phone, smiling as her name showed on the screen.
I let it ring twice before answering. "I was wondering when you'd call."
Her voice was tight. "You think this is funny?"
I chuckled. "Yes."
"I'm guessing you've finally taken my offer," I said.
"No," she answered.
"Then, we're done," I said, about to hang up.
"Wait!" She yelled.
I heard her inhale, and then she spoke. "Meet me. Tonight. You pick the place."
"Are you asking me on a date?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
She sighed. It was full of irritation. "I'm giving you a chance to negotiate in person. Take it or leave it."
I grinned. "Oh, I'll take it."
She hung up without another word.
Damn, I liked her fire.
********
The restaurant was high-end, private, and a perfect place for business or something else.
I waited, sipping a glass of champagne when she arrived. She looked around, searching for someone. She spotted me and came forward.
She wore a short black dress barely reaching her knee. It hung to her curves, and I enjoyed watching the men look at her.
Her hair was styled back in a low, loose bun with curly, loose strands resting on the side of her face.
Her sharp features made her stand out. She reached the table and slid into the seat across from me.
"You look beautiful," I praised.
"Thank you," she replied. "You clean up nice."
I poured her a glass of champagne and passed it to her.
She didn't even look at me and spoke. "Let's talk business."
I smirked. "I was hoping for dinner first."
Her eyes narrowed, and she continued. "You want a controlling stake in Sterling Tech? Convince me why I shouldn't let the company crash and rebuild it myself."
I leaned in, my voice lowering. "Because you don't have time. Your father knows it. Your board knows it. And deep down, so do you."
Her lips pressed into a tight line, but she didn't argue.
I continued, my voice soft but firm. "You need an ally, Isabella. Not an enemy."
She exhaled sharply. "And you want me to believe you are my ally?"
I grinned. "I can be."
She studied me, her head tilted. "And what do you get out of it?"
I didn't answer immediately. Instead, I let the silence stretch. I let her feel my presence, the tension building between us.
My eyes slowly moved down from her face to the revealing skin of her cleavage. They popped up through the dangerous, low-cut V line.
They moved gently as she breathed.
When I met her eyes again, something dark flickered there. She noticed.
She swallowed but didn't look away. "You think this is a game?"
I chuckled, leaning back in my seat. "Everything's a game, Isabella. The question is...do you know how to play?"
Her jaw tightened.
Then, unexpectedly, she leaned forward, mirroring my posture. "Fine," she said smoothly.
She smirked, and her voice turned slutty in a second. "Then let's make this interesting."
I raised an eyebrow. "Go on."
Her voice was low, deliberate. "I want seventy percent of the shares and the right to air my ideas."
"Your ideas, sure," I answered. "But you're getting twenty."
Her lips curled into a playful grin as she slid a hand across the table, just close enough to graze mine. A light touch, yet it sent a shock through me.
"Sixty," she bargained.
"Twenty-five," I countered.
Her eyes never left mine, the tension between us palpable, almost suffocating.
"That's too poor, Gabriel," she said.
"It's all business, love," I answered.
"Fifty then," she whispered.
I smiled, and she pulled her hand away. I caught her hand, locking her fingers with mine, holding it there for a moment longer than necessary.
"Thirty percent. That's my final offer," I voiced.
She smiled, her eyes glowing, almost like she wasn't scared of the line she was about to cross.
Without warning, her leg shifted under the table, brushing against mine. It was a slow, deliberate movement, teasing, testing the limits.
I maintained a stern expression, my body on edge, but inside, I was a storm of desire, frustration, and anticipation.
My heart raced at the heat of her touch. "Isabella," I called softly.
I grabbed her leg, holding her still. She struggled, but I didn't budge.
"I don't like games, Isabella," I warned gently. "I don't like to back down when I start something."
She met my gaze, smiling wickedly. "Try me."
That deadly smile of hers. It did something to me. It lit a fire I wasn't sure I could control.
I stood abruptly, my hand still gripping hers as I led her out of the restaurant. I didn't care who was watching.
We got to the car, and I opened the door. She got in, and I closed the door.
I walked over to the driver's seat and entered.
"Where are we going?" She asked, her voice low and tempting.
"You'll find out soon enough," I replied, my voice low.
I drove, heading towards my mansion. Her hand brushed past my thigh and I shivered.
I parked, and without wasting time. I grabbed her hand, leading her up the stairs.
She giggled following me behind as we climbed the stairs.
I turned, looking at her struggle on her heels and carried her in my arms.
"Put me down," she pleaded, but I kept walking.
The maids greeted me, but I ignored them. Isabella's face turned red, and she blushed.
I pushed the door open, walking in with her behind me. I gently let her down, and pinned her to the wall, my body pressing into hers.
I stared into her eyes, my breathing rough.
With one hand, I held hers above her head. She looked surprised. My other hand traced her lips. "Let's see if you're really as bold as you claim."