"Not everyone goes for fake boobs and fake blonde hair, Dad." Fiona flipped the page.
Tarrant glanced at Samantha, who'd apparently pretended not to hear. He resisted the temptation to point out that his third wife's breasts were entirely natural, for that would only have been falling into his sharp-witted daughter's trap.
"What do you think, dear?" He looked at Samantha, who ate her vegetable omelet quietly. She was capable of appearing to completely ignore her surroundings when it suited her. An admirable skill he'd never acquired himself.
"I agree that Dominic seems to care for Bella. I don't think you should fire her. He's warming up to the idea of taking over the company, whether he admits it or not. If you push her out you might drive him away."
"You think he'd throw over the magnificent Hardcastle Empire because of a girl he barely knows?"
Samantha's bright gaze warned him to listen. "Don't forget, we barely know him. But he's obviously a man of strong feelings and deep convictions."
Tarrant tapped his fingers on the table. "I know, that's why I like him so much."
"Be careful, sweetheart." Samantha touched his hand with her soft fingers. Her blue eyes shone with concern. "I know how much he means to you. He says he can solve this problem, so trust him. You have more important things to worry about."
"Yes." Tarrant rubbed his hands together. "Like my 'Studio 54 Revisited' party. Might as well relive the good old days before I go." He grinned, then balled up his napkin and tossed it at Fiona. "Make sure Bella Soros is on the guest list."
Bella studied the envelope again. Thick silver paper, hand-inked in black script, addressed to her.
She glanced up at the other people in the lab. Had Tarrant invited all the employees to his latest party? His guest lists usually featured socialites, celebrities and "bright young things," not company employees.
The invitation card, printed on shimmering Mylar, announced that the party would be held in the original Studio 54 location.
"RSVP not required. You will attend."
That had Tarrant written all over it, but Bella couldn't help but wonder if Dominic was behind the mysterious invitation.
And behind something far stranger she'd received by messenger the previous evening.
"Hi, Bella."
She jumped at the sound of his voice. Since she'd come back to the office after their weekend encounter at her house, he seemed to be tailing her. Everywhere she turned, there he was.
Watching her like a prison guard.
It was getting to the point that she could feel his eyes on her even when she knew there was absolutely no way he could be looking.
Like in the shower that morning.
Or in bed at night in her sweltering sixth-floor walk-up, when the beads of perspiration sliding over her skin felt like the caress of cool fingers.
And now that same skin heated under its covering of permanent-press polyester, sure of his steady gaze, though her back was to him. "Mr. Hardcastle."
"It's Di Bari."
"You haven't changed it yet?" She kept her profile to him. Tried to pluck up the courage to say what she had to say.
"I'm not planning to change it."
She turned to face him, determined not to be affected by his handsome features or penetrating gaze. "What about when you take over the company?"
"When I take over … " He paused and his eyes narrowed. "If I take over Hardcastle Enterprises, I'll do it as myself."
She lifted a brow. "Does your dad know that?"
"He knows a lot of things."
Her stomach clenched. Despite his protestations to the contrary, Dominic was so polite, such a gentleman, that she had a tendency to forget he held her career in the palm of his broad, tanned hand.
And apparently he'd decided to squeeze it a little.
"Um, Dominic. I received some papers this morning. They seem to be contracts … to release my mother from the hospital." She cleared her throat. "Do you know anything about this?"
He tilted his head and surveyed her with innocent, deep-brown eyes. "How would I know anything?"
She looked around to make sure no one else was listening. "Because you're the only one who knows my mom is there."
"I can't be the only one who knows. What about her neighbors and friends, for example?"
She glanced around the lab. Kumar was bent over the electron microscope. Sue held a rack of test tubes up to the light. They wouldn't mind if the meeting was delayed a few minutes, but they might start listening if she didn't take this behind closed doors.
Bella gestured for Dominic to follow her to the copy room. Once inside, she closed the door and flipped open the cover letter, printed on the letterhead of a Miami law firm.
"An anonymous donor will cover all expenses related to the care of Mrs. Cornelia Soros in her own home by two experienced registered nurses with expertise in the mental health field." She glanced up at him.
He watched her, silent.
She folded the letter up, her heart beating fast. "I can't accept it."
"Why are you telling me?" His hard features remained expressionless.
"Because it has to be you. Who else?"
"Obviously whoever it is wishes to remain anonymous. Why look a gift horse in the mouth? Don't you think your mom would be better off at home?"
"Well, yes, but … " She drew back her shoulders. "I can't accept it. I won't be in your debt. You've already got me where you want me, and you know it. You could ruin me in a moment. I won't have my mother's life hanging in the balance too."
Dominic's brow furrowed. "What on earth are you talking about?"
"Our deal." She emphasized the second word with raised eyebrows.
He stared at her for a moment, then dawning realization showed in the gleam of his eyes. "Do you really think I'm the kind of guy who'd insist on hot sex as a condition for paying for your mom's medical care?" He laughed.
Bella colored. That did sound bad. "Well, no, but, I don't want to accept any handouts either."
"What, you'd be happier if there was a lawsuit involved?" He lifted a brow.
"No! Of course not. I take full responsibility for everything I do, and that includes taking care of my mom. I don't want her being jerked around like a puppet because someone wants to teach me a lesson of some kind."
Dominic's mouth had flattened into a line. "I don't want to teach you any damn lesson. Not that you couldn't stand to learn a thing or two. I just want to help you out."
He leaned in and glowered at her. "No, scratch that. I don't want to help you. I'd like to help your mom, and since I'm in a position to do so, I don't see why you're making such a big fuss about it."
Bella's mouth fell open.
So. He admitted he was behind it.
She tucked a stray hair behind her ear. "I can't even begin to imagine how much two private nurses cost."
"Lucky thing you don't have to. They're the best there is. Years of experience, and nice people. I got references."
"Why are you doing this?" She peered at him, trying to see what lay behind the dark surface of his gaze.
"Because I can. What's the point of having money if you don't enjoy spending it?"
She crossed her arms over her chest. Why on earth would Dominic enjoy spending money on someone he'd never met? "Some people would buy a flashy car."
"I already have one." A smile hovered behind the hard line of his mouth. "Actually, I have three. After a while the thrill wears off."
"And paying for my mom to come home will make you happy?"
Dominic stared at her. "Make me happy? I don't understand the way your crazy mind works. I hope it will make your mom happy, or at least get her on the road to recovery. Did you sign the papers?"
Bella swallowed. "I signed them, but I didn't mail them."
Satisfaction tilted the corners of his mouth. "Then you do think it's a good idea."
"For my mom to come home? Yes. For me to accept charity from you?" She blew out a breath.
"It's not charity. It's a gift. You've never had a gift before?"
"Not like that."
"Well, you don't seem like the flashy-car type." Humor shone in his eyes.
"You don't owe me anything."
"Did I say I did?"
"This has nothing to do with our deal?"
He looked at her steadily. "Nothing whatsoever."
"I'll pay you back."
"You'd better not. It's rude to pay back for a gift."