Billionaire Bachelors 7 ; The Billionaire's Final Stand(68)

He was determined to find out if it was an act, or if she was indeed over him.

Joseph sat back and watched. His eyes constantly strayed to her as she spoke, pointing out numbers and logistics, but he didn't care. He already had the corporate information memorized. He was impressed with her knowledge, though.

As she finished, questions were fired at her, one after the other. She never sweated it. She calmly answered each one, leaving no room for doubt that she was on the board for a reason. A very good reason.

She'd changed since he'd last known her. The fire that had always burned bright inside of her was now out in the open for the world to see. Her demeanor seemed to say if people don't like it, then they can back off. 

He found himself even more drawn to her.

She was a rare woman. Beauty, passion, poise. She had the crowd eating out of her hand before she was done. He wondered if she could see past the show some of the members put on. Only time would tell.

The meeting droned on with other board members speaking, more questions asked. He was losing patience with it all by the third hour. He wanted Katherine to himself. He was done with the politics involved in a new CEO being elected.

He could wait. He'd waited five years, already. What was another hour or two?

Katherine felt as if a thousand needles were being drilled into her head. She knew Joseph's gaze rarely left her. It took momentous willpower to keep from shifting her eyes and connecting with his cold blue depths.

Her stomach was tied in knots as she waited for the meeting to end. The questions kept coming, one after the other, several of them just a variation of the one before it. She had to keep on her toes, though, had to pay attention, because if she missed even the slightest verbiage, she'd be lost and the piranhas would pounce.

They'd love to take a bite from her flesh, as much as she knew Joseph would be first in line for that honor.

Katherine knew Joseph was making a stir among the people. His very presence stopped traffic wherever he was, but there seemed to be no middle ground when it came to him. The people either loved him and looked at him like a savior, or they despised him and expected him to destroy their world.

She wondered for a moment what it must be like for him to yield that kind of power. To be so important that your very existence influenced the lives around you.

As she shook off the thoughts, she realized the room was silent. Maybe the people had heard enough for the day. It seemed Round One was soon to be over.

"Thank you all for being here today. The board members have agreed to stay for the next hour and answer individual questions you may have. We understand that the decision we're making affects all of you and we want your faith and trust in us. Meeting adjourned," Katherine said.

The room erupted in conversations as people moved about, everyone trying to figure out where to go that would benefit them the most. Who did they want to rub elbows with the most, who could advance their careers? It was all a game  –  just a game on a million dollar scale.

She quickly gathered her belongings, already having notified the other members she wasn't staying for this part. She wanted to escape before Joseph came near. She knew he would. It wasn't in him not to.

"Very impressive, Katherine. I think you've learned quite well how to play games in the corporate world, how to dance a different routine to each separate piece. I guess you're no longer the naïve girl I met five years ago," Joseph said, stopping her movements.

Had she really been so dumb to believe she could escape without him tracking her first?

She slowly turned, frustration brewing in her. There were too many people standing around for her to make a scene. She couldn't act antagonistic toward him, or rumors would spread.

She felt like having a small tantrum, possibly using her three inch heel to dig into his foot. The thought almost made her smile.

She managed to keep a cool expression as she looked into his face.

"Thank you, Joseph. I appreciate your kind words. I'm running late, but would love to chat later, perhaps after the next board meeting," she said, then turned to leave.

His hand shot out and gripped her arm. His fingers holding on tightly, though no one around them would know. The way he held her would look to any outsider as if he was simply escorting her for a walk.

He began leading her toward the very door she'd meant to escape through. She didn't want to go through it with him, though. She didn't trust herself, not after what happened in her apartment.




 

 

"You should know by now, Katherine, that I'm not a patient man. I can't wait until the next meeting. I think you also know that I'll use any means necessary to get my way. You can either speak to me willingly, or I could always try another method to get your cooperation," he threatened.