The Arrangement .(25)

Moving quietly, Alexa inched closer and slipped the folder from beneath the stack. She realized she was prying, but how could she not when it clearly involved her brother somehow?

Heat rushed through Alexa’s body when she opened the folder and scanned the contents. Enclosed was a memo to one of the portfolio managers of Atlanta Finance Corporation from Leonardo, in his position as president of the board of directors. AFC held Xander’s loan!

Alexa gulped as she read the instructions. To her utmost dismay, his instructions were to exercise the clause in Xander’s loan. She flipped through the additional pages, which included a full copy of Xander’s loan, supporting documents, and an e-mail from the portfolio manager notifying Leonardo he had done as asked.

It was all clear now. The fact that AFC was enforcing the clause so quickly after Xander had missed his payments was always a surprise to her, but now it made sense. Leonardo had his hand in it, and the reason was clear.

She thought he’d helped Xander, but instead he’d been punishing him because of her, and in order to get back at her. Then she’d gone to him. Like a fly, she’d flown straight into his spider’s web. All he had to do was wait for her to show up, and then he could get his revenge.

Blazing fury took over at that moment. She would never forgive him for this. Leonardo was ruthless and unfeeling, and now she could add unethical to the list of disparaging adjectives reserved just for him.

“What are you doing?”

Alexa swung in the direction of Leonardo’s voice. He stood just inside the French doors. He looked like he knew exactly what she was doing, and by his furrowed brow, he wasn’t pleased. Well, neither was she.

“I can’t believe you!” she spat. “You knew all along. You knew Xander was in financial trouble because you set it in motion!”

Leonardo fixated on the folder in Alexa’s hand, and she itched to toss it and the contents in his arrogant face.

“You should never snoop in someone else’s things,” he said coolly, taking his time to walk over to the desk. He placed his cell phone on top of it. “Especially when it’s none of your business.”

“None of my business?” Alexa all but screeched. She slammed the folder onto the desk. “This most definitely is my business because I’m here as a direct result of what you did. You used your influence on the board to have the portfolio manager accelerate the payment on my brother’s loan, and you used that to blackmail me into coming back here and faking a reconciliation with you.”

“You were never blackmailed,” Leonardo said between gritted teeth. He leaned forward on the palms of his hands. “You had a choice, and you made it. I never forced you back here.”

Alexa laughed. It was a hollow sound. “You actually believe that, don’t you? In your twisted mind, I chose to come back here. Never mind that I practically begged you for an alternative so I wouldn’t have to.” She shook with anger. “So, did you get your revenge? Are you satisfied? Did you get your pound of flesh?”

Leonardo straightened, dragging his gaze down her slender body covered in the robe. Self-consciously, she tightened the belt knot, pulling the garment closer against her body.

A ghost of a smile hovered at the corner of his lips. “We have an agreement, remember? I haven’t come close to getting all the flesh I want.”

Alexa’s treacherous body pulsed to life. Her weakness for him was annoying. “That agreement is null and void. There’s no way I’m sleeping with you again.”

He looked unconcerned by her declaration. In fact, he looked amused, which only served to infuriate her further. “Do you really want to play this game, Alexa? Because we both know who will win.”

“I’m not playing a game. You should have gotten a contract like I suggested. What choice do you have if I walk out the front door? You’ve already given the money to Xander, so you have no leverage.”

Leonardo made his way around the desk. Alexa kept her distance by taking a step back.

“On the contrary, I do have leverage. A check of that amount will be held by the bank for at least three days. Therefore …” He let his voice trail off dramatically, adding an elegant shrug.

Alexa never considered that, and too late she realized she’d spoken too soon. “You can’t withhold that money. I’ve already given it to him, and he believes it’s his. He was so happy because his problems were solved.”

“I did give it to him, with certain conditions.” Leonardo sat on the edge of the desk and did his signature move of crossing his arms over his chest.

“But as of this conversation—what you just said—the terms have changed, so I don’t see any reason why he should still get that money.”