Her Lion Billionaire(5)

She decided against putting her hair up like usual and let her raven,  waist-length hair hang down. It was nicer that way. The makeup set on  the vanity caught her attention. She toyed with the idea of trying it  all on but chickened out. She settled on just a red lip tint.

Anika announced her arrival with a soft rap on the door. "Knock, knock,"  she said. "Look what we have here. You cleaned up prettily." Anika  invited herself in. She stalked around Charlotte while studying her  face. Anika's gait reminded Charlotte of a lioness cornering her prey.  "You're missing something. A little makeup would have a big impact."   





 

"No, I don't do that. Makeup isn't my thing," said Charlotte.

Anika rolled her eyes and said something that sounded like Russian. "I  promised Danny that I'd make you shine. Let's try some on."

Charlotte flinched.

"Don't worry. I won't touch you. I don't want you snooping inside my head. I have plenty of secrets of my own."

"Ah. Did Daniel tell you about my …  ability?"

"A little. I'm sure Danny kept the most important matters to himself. My  brother doesn't let anybody get too close to him, even his own family,  but he let you, even though the two of you have just met. You must be  pretty special to him."

"That's not it," Charlotte muttered under her breath.

"No?" Anika's hearing was surprisingly sharp.

"It's my ability that he wants."

"I'm quite sure it's more than that. If Danny were only interested in  your special power, he'd install you as his employee, not as his  potential mate."

Hearing the words "potential mate" mad Charlotte blush. Yeah, like  that's really going to happen. "Actually, I came here to decline his  offers. It has become a bit too much for a nobody like me."

"Good luck with that. Once Danny has set his mind on something, nothing  on Earth can change it. Didn't I tell you that already? Now, how about I  pretty you up for the dinner? Just think of it as secret leverage for  the negotiation. Makeup is a woman's battle shield."

"Battle shield," Charlotte echoed, marveling at the sound of it.

"Yes. Danny is a born and bred businessman, as he is the alpha, and let  me tell you something, alphas loves challenges. He wants something from  you, and you should use it as leverage to protect your interests."

"But I don't want anything from him; I just want him to leave me alone."

"Then, isn't that something you want?" Anika's pupils slit into feline form.

Charlotte blinked. "You're right."

"Of course I'm right. Make him comply with your own terms. Dictate your  rules to him and set your own boundaries that you're comfortable with."

Charlotte let out a small laugh. "You seem experienced with this kind of stuff."

"Why of course, just ask my three ex-husbands."

Charlotte remembered Anika had blurted out some long last name when they  were introduced. She let Anika put on some light makeup. Everything was  done by brush with no direct skin contact. When Anika was finished,  Charlotte couldn't believe what she saw. She almost didn't recognize  herself in the mirror.

Anika watched her with satisfaction. "Just as I expected. You have much  hidden potential. High cheekbones. Lovely big eyes. A little makeup will  highlight those gems. All right. You're ready. Shall we see him now?"

"I think so. Let's get this over with."

"Get it over with? Charlotte honey, my brother hasn't even begun yet."





Chapter Four





Daniel entertained her in the kitchen. Anika didn't join them for  dinner, so it was only the two of them. The table was set with white  linen, Japanese chinaware and porcelain cups. White candles and an  ikebana of white phalaenopsis orchids set the evening's ambience.

Charlotte sat idly while watching Daniel expertly work his magic on the  kitchen counter. She hadn't recovered from his compliment about her new  look. She was one hundred percent giddy. Strange. Usually she wanted to  disappear into the background when someone paid special attention to  her, but this time, she wanted to look pretty for him.

Oh, geez. Her cheeks heated. Am I starting to like him too?

Daniel brought two plates to the table. The food looked sumptuous.

"Broiled baja clam with Monterey Jack, chipotle seasoning, garlic and butter."

"I'd never have guessed you're such a chef." The clams were served in  half shells. The aroma of citrus, cilantro and melted cheese teased her  appetite. Charlotte scooped one and tried it. "Oh my. Very delicious."

"Thank you. I find cooking soothing. A Zen way to relieve stress."  Daniel sipped the red wine. "Besides, my friend once said that cooking  for someone you like is love."

"Is that so?" A sliver of happiness slipped inside her heart. The  feeling didn't linger long when she thought of how many women Daniel  must have invited to his special dinners before. Surely she wasn't the  first one.

This is ridiculous. Why am I getting jealous for no reason at all?

She sipped the wine and began, "About our conversation earlier-"   





 

"Please," Daniel interjected, "I'd rather not talk about business during  a meal. Wait until dessert if you don't mind. I have prepared our  dining courses especially for you tonight."

"Sorry. And thank you." Charlotte took another bite. "So delicious."

Daniel beamed. "That's only the appetizer, my dear. Wait until I serve you the main course."

"And what would that be?"

"Sushi night."

"You," Charlotte gulped, holding in her laugh, "make sushi?"

"Why, you don't think I can?" Daniel dabbed his mouth elegantly with the  Boutross linen napkin. "From the dossier that my men compiled, I  discovered that you're a sushi aficionado. So I thought to myself it  would be delightful if I treated you to a sushi dinner. I was planning  to take you to Nobu, but then I was afraid you'd bolt in the middle of  the dinner, and there'd be nothing I could do to remedy that situation,  so I decided to invite you to my home. In the event you're compelled to  make a hasty exit, I won't lose face, and the public won't know the  secret we both carry."

Charlotte blinked. She didn't know what to say. This guy was unbelievable.

Watching her looking dumbfounded, Daniel laughed softly. "Can you see  I'm trying hard to impress you? With the culinary selection, I mean, not  the pseudo-kidnapping."

Charlotte grinned along. "So you admit you kind of kidnapped me here."

Daniel relaxed, back against the chair, eyes calculating. "I still don't  like that word. Kidnapping is such a vulgar term. First of all, you're  not a baby goat, and secondly, there'll be no napping involved at all.  Can we call this a ‘forced negotiation?'"

She rolled her eyes. "Fine. I wasn't going to take off in the middle of dinner anyway. I know some basic manners. Kinda."

"May I take your word as a promise?" Daniel extended his arm and held up  his pinky finger. "Promise me you won't run from me-ever."

Charlotte just looked at him.





"Come on, for someone who loves Japanese culture, you won't grant me  this little promise?" Daniel wriggled his pinky finger. "You must be  familiar with this gesture. Yubikiri genman."


Charlotte linked her pinky finger with his and sang. "Pinky promise, if I tell a lie, I will drink 1000 needles."


Daniel let her finger go only to catch her hand.


"How did you know all this?" she asked. Pinky promise was a Japanese  children's pastime they did with their dearest friend. Daniel Addington  didn't show a drop of Oriental heritage in his blood. He was tall, tan  and blond-all Anglo-Caucasian.


She'd googled his information and found out that the Addington family  came from Pietermaritzburg, a city in South Africa, in the late nineteen  century. Harold Addington, the grand patriarch of the Addington family,  was rumored to have come to New York a wealthy man. Harold was a mine  digger in Kimberley until the diamond strike in 1868. He then  squirrelled away a stash of raw diamonds and headed to America. In New  York, Harold dabbled in the steel industry and built the family fortune  until his golden year. His son, Evan, became an hotelier and opened the  first grand hotel on Park Avenue. Daniel was the seventh generation of  Addington's empire and seemed as shrewd as the former family patriarchs.


Daniel rubbed his thumb against the pad of her hand. "Let's just say, I've studied many things that arouse your interests."

"Including sushi?"

"Including the art of making sushi."

Charlotte pulled her hand away. "You don't seem like a guy who likes raw seafood."

"I must say, I'm not a picky eater."

"What's your favorite food, anyway?"

"Steak. Beef and game," said Daniel without hesitation. "Very rare. Raw almost."

Why of course. She shouldn't have been surprised considering what Daniel  really was. A lion hunted hot-blooded mammals, not fish or seafood.