The Millionaire's Bargain

Chapter Two

Turning the key into the lock, Brooke prayed silently that Casey would be asleep. she wasn't exactly up for talking about the party right now.

"You're back so early!" Casey looked over the couch at her. "Why didn't you stay a bit longer?"

"I have a slight headache", which was true considering who Brooke had encountered back at the hotel."So, I thought I'd come home".

"Uh huh. You just don't like the crowds. Come on, Brookie! This was the night for you to bust out of that shell you're hiding in. Give me all the details". Casey sat cross - legged on the sofa, popcorn in a bowl next to her with the tv on mute. "I'm all ears".

"There's really not much to tell. It was a very nice party".

"So you didn't meet anyone interesting?" Casey was probing to find out whether she had been approached by a guy.

"I met the Cromwells and a few business executives". Brokke smiled as Casey's face took on a look of disappointment.

"I send you off in a fabulous dress and you come back early, sober and without even a fling! How lame!".

Brooke laughed, "I hadn't relised that it was a man you sent me out for. Business party, Cass. Besides, I'm not looking and you know it". How many times in the last few months had casey tried to set her up with random guys so they could double - date? The answer was alot of times! And it always ended with Brooke breaking it off. she just wasn't ready to focus on that sort of thing. She had an important job and other more pressing matters at hand to deal with. Not to mention now, the blue - eyed devil from the past she'd now have to see on a daily basis...

"What's wrong?" Casey's voice intercepted her thoughts and brought Brooke back to the present.

"Nothing. Just thinking about work on Monday".

"Ugh! Monday's a long day from now. I don't want to hear about work! Tell me about all the guys you had to be swatting away all night". Casey wouldn't let up, so Brooke told her about the party and a few of the guys she had talked to. Atleast, the dress didn't disappoint Casey! She enjoyed hearing about the men who flocked around Brooke.

"I'm sure one of those rich guys will drop by your office soon. Yo're too irresistable!"

Brooke smiled and hoped she was wrong. She didn't need any guy getting in her way right now.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Brooke was tense heading into the Cromwells' building. Although, it was comforting knowing that Jason hadn't recognized her, it was still unnerving to be near the man. As she entered the board room, Brooke took a deep breath. Seated around the U - shaped table were the company's main runners including Mr. Bingley and Jason. The large room couldn't have put Jason at a farther distance. It still did nothing to prevent her gaze from travelling to the man's profile. Brooke couldn't help but steal glances at him from under her lashes. His hair was ruffled as usual; a clump hanging attractively over his forehead. His charcoal gray suit outlining the hard muscles in his forearms, yet concealing the bronzed skin underneath. The bronze skin Brooke remembered all too well... Brooke tore her gaze away and fanned herself with a page from the binder she had brought. The room suddenly felt thirty degrees hotter!

Throughout the meeting, Brooke had to try to control her composure and fight the urge to look at Jason. Finally, as the meeting drew to a close, Brooke let out a sigh of relief. She could get out of this stuffy room and head back to her department but as she turned towards the door, a voice stopped her.

"Ms. Palinto, I'd like to see you for a few moments to discuss something". Jason's voice caused Brooke's back to snap ramrod straight yet when she faced him, her persona was professional.

Jason waited until the other executives had left. "Well, you're already aware that I'm heading this company from now on".

"Weren't you always heading it from Chicago?"

"Yes, but it seems the headquarters here needs some 'sifting'. The way he said it made Broke wonder just what Jason meant. "Nevertheless, you're expected to meet with me twice a week to discuss strategies to increase our clients".

"Twice a week?" Brooke blurted out. Jason looked at her and asked in a ny icly tone,

"How else are we supposed to come up with a plan? I'm very busy, so there's no other alternative. You think I want to waste my time with some new employee who can't tie the reigns on her mouth?"

Brooke felt colour creep up her neck and she had to practically bite her tongue from uttering the response that sprang to her. "I'm sorry", she replied weakly.

With barely more than flick of a glance at her, Jason strode from the board room. Brooke fumed inwardly as she trailed him.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jason sat at his mahogany desk in his spacious office. the glass paneling overlooking the street below.. Jason watched as the night lit up, dancing across the mist beyond. Winter was almost over. Most of the employees had already left. Jason liked it that way, he could finally work in quietude. The disturbances from the phone had ceased for the day. It was different being in New York, the noises, the bustle of Wall Street. Everyone vying for his attention, annoying him to no end. Then the company needing his undeterred focus. Too bad he couldn't concentrate solely on working. Not when Ms. Brooke Palinto had been all up in his face since he got here one week ago. Well maybe that wasn't entirely the truth.

Fact was that she wasn't in his face at all. She avoided him at all costs, spoke to him only when asked a question and kept out of his way. She surely wasn't out of his head though. Jason leaned back in the plush chair as the image of Brooke danced before his eyes.

Seeing Brooke that night at the welcome party for his family had completely thrown him off. He had known of course that she had been employed by Cromwell Emterprises but he hadn't expected her to actually show up. he remembered her aversions to crowds. Jason had followed her every move since the moment he laid eyes on her. He had noted the cascading wavy black hair tumbling over one creamy shoulder, the sparkling dress that moulded to her lush body. Honestly, it seemed that the black lava had been poured over her curves and that butt... the firm globes supplely outlined had had Jason's hands itching to walk over to her and grab her there and grind her into him.

His self - control was tested even more when he had watched with envy as some fad businessman in an Armani suit had asked her to dance. The snob placed his hand right on the skin of her exposed back in a caressing motion. Thankfully, Brooke excused herself from the man and went to seek the companion of Laura Fenty, which was just as well because he didn't know how much longer he could stand there watching various men gawk and drool over her.

As he had approached her along with his parents, Jason noted the way Brooke held herself aloof. It infuriated him to see that she didn't care about seeing him again. He knew she had recognized him from the distance she put between them and the way she had avoided looking at him directly. So he had done the same. Holding back the lust swirling inside him by just looking at her, he had pretended that he didn't know her. The relief that had emanated from Brooke made him angry. How could she have stood there without being affected by his presence?

And now to top it off, she had come in to work everyday since and barely acknowledged him at all. During the week, he snapped at her in an attempt for her to lash out at him. To show any indication that she remembered what they had shared before. But nothing slipped.

Jason knew she controlled her emotions well but he had also come to know her weaknesses. She thought he didn't remember her. He wasn't about to play on that card for much longer though. Brooke Palinto was about to come face to face with her past. Jason was a man who knew how to get what he wanted and he wanted Brooke back...back in his bed atleast.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------