"Superb, my dear Kat, just superb." Although Roman was speaking to her, Kat got the distinct feeling his cocky grin was all for Viktor's benefit.
Coming up beside her, Kat shivered when she felt the heat from Viktor's hand as it hovered just shy of the small of her back. He directed both she and Roman into his office. Kat entered what she would think of from that moment forward as the ‘throne room', sandwiched between two of the most commanding men on the face of the earth.
I am so out of my league with these guys.
Right before he closed the door, Viktor called out to his assistant. "Bring us some refreshments, if you would please, Clara."
"As you wish, Mr. Katsaros," came the woman's response as the door clicked shut.
Kat was surprised when Viktor pointed to the head of the large glass-topped conference table and instructed her to sit there while he took the seat to her left and Roman the one to her right. Clara popped in with a huge tray of refreshments almost as big as the petite woman herself. Kat smelled fresh coffee and almost swooned. The strong black tea Bjorn had gotten her for breakfast had been good but she was in desperate need of her java fix.
As if he'd read her mind, Viktor said, "Clara, can you get our guest a cup of coffee please? I wouldn't want her to think we're uncivilized." He chuckled and she felt the resulting rumble all the way to her toes.
"Yes, sir," Clara responded and then to Kat, she asked, "Milk or sugar?"
"Yes, both, thank you."
Once they'd all been served, Clara exited the room and Roman began to speak. "Thank you so much for taking the time to come to us, Kat. As you know, Viktor and I found your proposal intriguing to say the least and wanted to hear more."
The fog that had clouded her mind upon meeting Viktor Katsaros was beginning to clear, and Kat finally remembered the room upgrade, flowers, and gift basket Viktor had given her upon her arrival yesterday. Not wanting him to think her uncouth, she immediately voiced her gratitude. "Pardon me for changing the subject, Roman." She turned toward Viktor, avoiding direct eye contact with the hopes of keeping her much needed wits about her before she continued, "But I would be remiss and terribly rude if I forgot to thank you for the beautiful suite and gifts I found waiting for me when I checked in yesterday. It was totally unnecessary but I will admit to loving them all."
It was totally unprofessional and somewhat girlie but she had to admit to feeling a little giddy when he smiled at her and said, "You are most welcome, Katarina. It was my pleasure."
Resuming her professional demeanor, she spoke to both men, "Thank you both. The tech I am about to share with you is groundbreaking. I believe with all my heart, and the market research we have done supports my belief, that we have a real winner here. It is the cutting edge in graphics with almost limitless applications."
The rest of almost two hours was filled with one of the most interactive and energetic presentations she'd ever given. Kat was thrilled. Both Viktor and Roman had been engaged and asked thought provoking questions. Together, the three of them had hashed out the beginning of an agreement between KI and Roma Tech that was more than Kat could've ever hoped for.
A little disappointed when Clara called through the intercom to tell Viktor his next appointment was in twenty minutes, Kat turned and hid her regret by shuffling papers. Their negotiations had been exhilarating and she didn't want it to end. Unable to keep from stealing a glance at her host, Kat was shocked when Viktor looked her right in the eye as he instructed Clara to reschedule his other appointment and order lunch. Something important was hidden in his turbulent expression, something Kat was drawn to discover but didn't know where to begin.
Lunch came and went and before she knew it, the long shadows of evening were shining through the enormous wall of glass behind Viktor's desk. During their meal Viktor stood, took off his black Savile Row suit jacket (the label became visible as he slung it over the back of his chair) that had obviously been custom tailored to fit him to absolute perfection, rolled up his sleeves, and loosened his tie. Kat's brain had gone on autopilot as she shamelessly finished undressing the billionaire in front of her.
In just his light blue dress shirt she could discern the definition of his well-toned shoulders and chest. Kat speculated for way longer than she should've what they would feel like if she ever had the chance to massage them. With his sleeves rolled up, more of the tattoo she'd first glimpsed on the back of his hand when they met became visible. It looked tribal, but the longer she stared the more she was able to discern simple design from actual Greek letters. Looking at the notepad in front of her, she was surprised to see she'd doodled some of those letters while listening to him speak.
There is something hypnotic about that man? Shame I don't mix business with pleasure.
At six p.m. on the dot, Clara once again called into the office. "Will you be needing anything else, Mr. Katsaros?"
"No, Clara, thank you. Have a nice evening."
"You too, sir."
"Well, it looks as if we've taken up your whole day, Kat. Do you have plans for this evening? The least we can do is entertain you while you're in our city. As they say, all work and no play makes Kat a dull girl." Roman said, chuckling at his own joke and still wearing the same grin as he had been wearing when she'd first arrived.
A look, so quick she would've missed it had she blinked, shot across the table between Viktor and Roman. They were both so adept at schooling their expressions Kat wasn't sure what to make of it, but all was forgotten when Viktor spoke. "Yes, Katarina, would you like to join us for dinner at Sanguinem?"
I love the way he says my name.
More tired than she'd ever been but also more energized, she accepted without a second thought. "Thank you so much. That sounds wonderful. Just let me go back to my hotel and change and I'll meet you there. What's the address?"
Another look shot across the table, this time from Roman to Viktor as Katsaros interjected, "If it's okay with you, we can take my car to the hotel. I need to check on the new chef and this is the perfect excuse for a surprise visit, wouldn't you say?"
"It's fine with me. Are you sure it's not an inconvenience?
"Not at all." The lilt had returned to Viktor's voice, making something deep inside of Kat jump for joy.
Ignoring her own craziness, she added, "Be sure to taste his rich tea biscuits. They are phenomenal."
Arching an eyebrow and grinning conspiratorially, Viktor all but whispered, "I just bet they are."
Chapter Four
Sitting across from Katarina in the back of the limo, Viktor was at peace for the first time in his life. Watching the lights dance across the keeper of his heart's face as Sampson expertly made his way through rush hour traffic to the Corinthia was cathartic. It fed his soul with the light it been deprived of since his awakening all those many years ago.
When Carlyle had called early that morning to inform Viktor that his custos animae was having breakfast with a strange man, the ancient commander had become instantly enraged. Using the preternatural speed bestowed upon him by Zeus, Viktor had been dressed, in his car, and speeding toward the gate of his estate in mere seconds. Had it not been for the malfunction of his remote control, he would've been on his way to confront the man who dared to look at his mate and in direct violation of the very rule he'd had to reprimand Lee for the day before.
Squeezing the steering wheel of his 1966 Aston Martin DB6 so hard the mahogany began to crack, Viktor had invaded Katarina's thoughts. He looked through her eyes at the rogue whose heart he vowed to rip out if the cad stepped one toe out of line. Studying the man's features, the supreme commander couldn't help but feel as though he'd seen him before, even known him on some level. Searching his memory, running through year after year, century after century of faces, he found a few that were similar but none that matched.
Viktor stayed connected to Katarina as he turned his car around, went back to his house, and prepared to meet his custos animae in person. Several times during his surveillance, the man across the table from Katarina would do something or say something that sparked a glimmer of recognition in the far reaches of Viktor's mind. Unfortunately, it was gone as quickly as it had appeared.