Billionaire Bad Boys of Romance 2(125)

The slow, steady smile breaking on his lips did nothing to ease her apprehension, and she resisted the urge to wrap protective arms around herself.

“I was kind of expecting you to say that,” Nick murmured, that grim little smile on his face. “And I truly hoped that it wouldn’t have to come to this, but you’ve forced my hand, Keyonna.”

Keyonna frowned at his words and watched him retrieve an envelope from inside his suit, before holding it out to her.

“What are you talking about?” she asked suspiciously, her eyes fixed on him. “And what’s that?”

“Open it,” was all he said, handing her the envelope and turning away to look through the window.

Heart pumping faster, Keyonna opened the envelope, took out the folded sheets of paper and then scanned the printed lines with rising dread.

“How did you get hold of these?” Keyonna asked on a strangled gasp, her wide eyes flying to rest on his broad-shouldered back.

He merely shrugged, not bothering to look around. “I’m a powerful man, Keyonna. In more ways than just money. And yet in this case, my power and money did aid in letting me gain access to vital information – information that had me buying controlling shares in the same company financing your latest project.”

Keyonna could not conceal her dismay, the papers clutched in her hands. Just two months ago, Keyonna had pooled all her resources, her life’s savings – her very name, into a new real estate investment that was supposed to pour in returns in the next half-year.

It was the biggest move she’d ever made financially; a massive gamble that if it went as planned, would see her making enough money to go into early retirement if she wished. The kind of dough that would ensure she never had to worry about money again – as well as being able to build her own company and finally make the name for herself she’d always dreamed of doing.

That was the reason she’d felt irked with Mark for his unplanned and unwanted appearance. She had so much on her plate right now; she was finally on her way to the big time and she didn’t need a man holding her down.

But now, judging by the documents she’d just viewed, Nick could now single-handedly pull the plug on her deal of a lifetime – causing her to not just lose her money and her business, but to put her in debt for probably the rest of her life – it was either that or bankruptcy. Keyonna couldn’t hold back a shudder at the prospect of exactly everything that could go belly-up if he decided to go through with such a threat.

“You’d really do this? You’d hurt me?” Keyonna breathed to Nick’s implacable back as her chest tightened with disbelief and anger.
#p#分页标题#e#
He finally turned to face her, walking up to where she stood like something turned to a pillar of salt. “Desperate measures, Keyonna. I’ve gotten to know enough about you to realize this is something you wouldn’t do, not willingly. You have a strong work ethic and sense of family loyalty. You’ve worked very hard to be where you are today. While studying at Columbia, you held down a job as well as did some modeling to meet your expenses. After college you chose not to be a career model and instead focused on your interior design career, getting interned with the best and putting yourself out there, working hard and working smart. Last year, you branched out and started your own business. You’re planning on a Master’s at Stanford and in the meantime, went into this high-risk investment scheme in the hope of finally hitting it big. You want it all, Keyonna. The money and the career. On your terms.”

He smiled thinly at her dazed expression. “Well, like I said Keyonna, I’m not that different from you. I’ll do whatever it takes to win, on my terms. It wouldn’t take much doing but yes, I can and will hurt you. But it needn’t be that way between us,” he added in a softened tone, his hooded eyes running meaningfully over her face and body. “It’s safe to say that I go to any length to make you mine. In every sense of the word. Just picture it if you can and you’ll see this would be the best move you’ve ever made. Marriage to me can’t be all that bad, can it? Think of all that money at your disposal as my wife. Your social status; the connections you can make as well as the respect you’d gain for being the next Mrs. Vitale.”

He had that hateful cold smile on his face, a mocking light coming into his eyes as he watched her conflicting expressions. “I’m quite sure I make a far better catch than Mark ever was – and let’s face it, I’m much more exciting.”

Keyonna pressed fingers to her temples and tried to calm down, fighting back the feeling that the walls were closing in on her.