The Only Woman to Defy Him(2)

                Rather, she just hadn’t specified on her résumé that the sum total of her real estate experience had comprised of helping her mother sell the farm before the bank had foreclosed on it.

                Then Elizabeth had told her that the client she would be working for was none other than Demyan Zukov.

                ‘I take it that you do know who he is.’

                You couldn’t not know who Demyan Zukov was! He actually dined at times at the very elite restaurant where Alina worked, though their paths had never crossed. The last time he had been there she had been home, sick with tonsillitis, and on her return had had to suffer all the staff talking about the very glamorous guest.

                Alina had been very tempted to confess there and then that this role was completely out of her league but the thought of having Demyan listed on the credentials part of her résumé had simply been too irresistible to pass up.

                The agency had ensured the contracts and signatures were rushed through—Elizabeth had even turned up at the restaurant where Alina had been working that night to ensure that the deal was signed off.

                ‘All our clients are important, Alina, but I hope I don’t have to tell you just how important this one is.’

                ‘Of course not,’ Alina had said, but Elizabeth had been too worried to be subtle.

                ‘Are you sure that you’re up to this, Alina?’

                ‘Absolutely.’

                It hadn’t helped that when she’d delivered her assured answer Alina could see the doubt evident in Elizabeth’s eyes.

                You are up to this, she told herself as she stepped out of the taxi and stood for a moment at the entrance to the hotel, trying to will herself calm, watching as elegant men and slim-suited beauties walked by confidently.

                Yes, today had to go well because if it didn’t...

                Alina blew out a breath as she made a promise to herself.

                If this didn’t work out then she was going to quit even trying to survive the corporate world and just hands up admit that it wasn’t for her.

                If only she’d kept to her diet, Alina thought, feeling the bite of her waistband.

                That was the problem with working at the very top-end restaurant at The Rocks—the owner was nice and ensured that all of the staff got a meal from the sumptuous menu on their break.

                Who could say no to that?

                Not Alina.

                She was a country girl at heart and had an appetite to match, yet today she had to play the part of a slick city PA who allowed nothing to faze her.

                Not even the formidable Demyan Zukov.

                Alina could feel sweat on her top lip as she made herself known to Reception and was asked to show her ID.

                ‘One moment, please.’

                Oh, God, Alina thought, she wasn’t even going to get past the receptionist! But a few moments later she returned and handed Alina a card for the elevator that would take her up to the presidential suite.

                Alina actually felt sick as the elevator hurtled her towards the twenty-fourth floor. Worse, though, was when the elevator door opened at its destination and a very beautiful raven-haired, mascara-streaked woman stepped in as Alina stepped out.