One Night With The Boss

CHAPTER 7

For a moment Elgort stood still, steadying his breath, and then he turned to face Kate, no feeling in his face. "So, do you describe yourself as cruel?"

"Honestly?" The soft corners of Kate's mouth were lifted. "No, not me. But I don't think you have to be ruthless to succeed in business."

"What about fraudsters and manipulators?" Elgort kept his tone neutral. "Is that quality that you consider necessary for the company's progress?"

Kate looked at Elgort. "I don't understand where this conversation went."

'No?" Kate wondered.

And suddenly Elgort decided on an action. He will show the girl the consequences of his actions. In person. And, by doing so, he would make sure that the girl was suffering. Really suffering.

Elgort's eyes were fixed on the neat little suit and the thin and tall heeled sexy shoes. Oh, yeah, he's gonna suffer.

In general, her interest in women's clothing was only fueled by the release process, but she knew that four-inch heels and woods were a less promising combination. "Have you packed a bag, Miss Rutherford?"

"For what?"

"I want you to stay for a few days, as my guest." Elgort gets rid of the disturbing vivid picture of Kate's naked body lying in her lavish guest bedroom and instead she imagines the girl walking along a rough forest road with a pair of heels designed for a short walk around the glittering shopping mall.

"You came all this way. There are some things I'd like to show you, while you're here."

Like snakes, spiders, and more woods than you ever dreamed.

The vigilance in Kate's eyes appeared. "A moment ago you told me I only had ten minutes. Why did you suddenly invite me to stay?"

Because Elgort is going to push up the tension level. Then she'll make Kate regret it. Really, really sorry.

"I've always been impressed with the determination, Miss Rutherford," he said, suppressing the irony in her tone. "You're getting extra time."

There was a glint of hope in Kate's eyes. "Are you willing to give me more time?"

"As long as you agree to allow me to show you the wonders of our forest." Elgort's delicate tone of voice did not seem to ring the alarm bell as he gave Kate a warm and trusting smile.

"Thank you very much." Kate clasped her hands in front of him. "You won't regret it. We can chat on the way."

Chatting? Wondering whether to point out that the word does not really exist in her vocabulary, Elgort glanced at Kate doubtfully and then realized that the girl really did not know what was going to happen to her.

By the time he was done with her, he was more likely to scream than chat.

"I look forward to showing you some rare and beautiful landscapes in my country." Elgort snoring. "I'll enjoy the opportunity to take you to certain parts that I find interesting."

One of them might be her bedroom, she thought on a whim, noticing the colors that touched Kate's cheeks.

It's true she would rather put her business life and sex life apart, but Kate Rutherford couldn't be considered a business because she would personally make sure Kate's business was done. Which means he can turn his attention into pleasure.

"I don't plan to go for a walk." '

"I totally agree. I want to visit a coffee farmer. My father insisted on doing that part when we originally made the deal. What a great idea."

Ignoring the dimples and the sudden heat on his waist, Elgort suddenly wanted to laugh.

Now Kate should be wondering how much Elgort knows about her, but there's no glint of guilt in her eyes. Or concerns about a proposal that takes him deep into the woods.

He just stood there in an Armani suit, balancing with four-inch heels, as if trampling the woods he often did in his spare time.

He clearly did not know what it took to walk through the forest in the heat and humidity.

Five minutes, Elgort said to himself with grim satisfaction. Five minutes was all it took to make her scream about the snakes and insects clinging to her.

Without heels, suits, and lip-gloss he would be lost and vulnerable.

And the girl will look at him. And then Elgort will move to kill.

"Then I'll set it up for tomorrow." Elgort stood up. "In the meantime one of the staff will escort you to a room so you can turn into something more comfortable."

"Staff?"

"Of course, the staff," Elgort raised an eyebrow in a mocking tone. "You think this place is for one person? You think I swung through the trees with a loincloth and ate a pineapple?"

"The pineapple doesn't grow in the Atlantic forest."

The girl knows that much, then. More than any woman he had previously taken to his woods, who painted his nails throughout his geography lessons.

"I have a team of staff in all my homes. It makes my working life more efficient. Your bag has been taken. I'll see you at dinner. Camila will prepare some local dishes." Elgort waited for Kate to shiver in fear but the girl just smiled.

"Definitely Delicious. Thank ye. You're very good."

Ok?

Over the years women have called him many things but never quite like that. Elgort was looking around for irony on Kate's face, but saw nothing but honesty, a sweet smile.

That smile made Elgort's nerves tense. If Kate is worried then she doesn't let her worries be seen and suddenly Elgort is determined to ruin Kate's composure.

By the time Elgort finishes with Kate, he won't be smiling. The girl would get wet and uncomfortable, her legs blistered, her skin covered in insect bites and she would think twice before deceiving anyone again.

Satisfied that Elgort was controlling the situation well, he turned his attention to the barrage of phone calls waiting for him.

Feeling a little shaky after her meeting, Kate follows Camila, the housekeeper. Climb the wooden stairs that meander into his bedroom. He did not know whether to be relieved that his ten-minute deadline had been extended or worried that he would spend more time at Elgort Downey's company.

Kate thinks Elgort is tough and ruthless. After all, it was his reputation. It's just that Kate didn't expect Elgort to be so cold and intimidating.