Читать книгу Seducing the Matchmaker - Elaine Overton - Страница 13

Elegantly dressed and regal in every way, Dr. Suzanne Chambers sat across from Noelle and twisted her nose in disdain. With a shake of her thick, black tresses, she tossed the file on the desk.

“This is not a very impressive questionnaire, Noelle. Some of his answers border on rude. What makes you think I would be interested in this guy?”

“Well, granted, he’s a little rough around the edges, but with the right woman I think he has a lot of potential.”

“Hmm…such as?”

Noelle knew Suzanne was quickly losing what little interest she had shown in the case file of Client 047. “For starters, he’s career driven and extremely ambitious.” Noelle winked at the woman, who was not only a client but a friend. “Sound like anyone you know?”

Suzanne’s mouth twisted in a smirk. “Go on.”

“And let’s just say I have a feeling that the chemistry would work. Trust me. Just meet him first and then make your decision. I have a feeling about this.”

She sighed. “It’s just I thought there would be more obvious signs of compatibility. This feels like just another blind date, and heaven knows I’ve suffered through enough of those for one lifetime.”

Noelle hid the sympathy she felt swell up in her heart. She knew exactly what Suzanne was feeling. The two women had much in common, including their physical build. It was one of the things that had factored into Noelle’s decision to consider Suzanne as a possible match for Derrick Brandt. Noelle knew that Derrick Brandt, unlike some men, would have no problem with Suzanne’s few extra pounds.

“Well, just keep in mind, this blind date is being set up by a professional matchmaker.”

Suzanne reached over and picked up the file once more. “I just don’t know.” Her soft brown eyes focused on Noelle’s face. “I’m tired of having my heart broken by guys only interested in my money. I’m ready for something real, Noelle. That’s why I came to you.”

Noelle reached across the desk and laid her hand over the hand of her client and friend. “Trust me, Suzanne. I think you want to give this guy a chance.”

“Well, if you really think—”

“You can’t go in there!”

Noelle heard the voice of her assistant rise in alarm.

“I’m tired of waiting. I want to see her now!” an irate male voice responded angrily.

Oh, no. Noelle stood from her desk chair.

“What’s that about?” Suzanne turned toward the door with a worried expression.

“Mr. Brandt! You can’t—”

Noelle was halfway around the desk when her office door was thrown open.

Derrick Brandt stopped in the middle of the floor as if surprised to see that Terri had indeed been telling him the truth.

“Mr. Brandt, she’s with a client!” Terri was charging in the man’s wake, and he stopped so abruptly she ran smack into the back of him. Jolted by the impact, she stumbled back, and with lightning reflexes, Derrick turned and caught her before she slipped.

Still fuming in anger, Terri jerked from him without so much as a thank-you and hurried over to the desk. “I’m sorry, Noelle. I tried to stop him, but he wouldn’t listen.”

“It’s okay, Terri.”

With one final glare at Derrick, Terri walked back out of the door, gently closing it behind her.

Noelle ran a hand over her forehead, feeling the onset of a migraine. “Mr. Brandt, as you can see, I am in a meeting.” She gestured to Suzanne, who sat staring up at Derrick like he was a comet that had just dropped from the sky. “Suzanne Chambers, this is—”

“Derrick Brandt.” Suzanne’s eyes widened.

Noelle sighed. “Or as you know him, Client 047. Mr. Brandt, I was just discussing your profile with Ms. Chambers.” Noelle winced inwardly as Suzanne rose from the chair, stepped forward and extended her hand in greeting…only to have Derrick completely ignore it and walk around her.

“Why haven’t you called me all week?” He stopped directly in front of Noelle and stood glaring at her.

“As I was saying, Mr. Brandt, I have been actively working to find a candidate for you, and she’s standing right over there.”

Derrick glanced over his shoulder at the confused woman. “No. I know her type. It’s all about her and her career, and I’m not prepared to be a Mr. Chambers.”

Stunned by the unprovoked attack, Suzanne charged forward. “How dare you!”

Not knowing what Suzanne planned to do when she reached him, Noelle jumped between the two. “Suzanne, let me deal with him. I’ll call you later.”

“Fine.” She quickly collected her purse and jacket. “But you can scratch my name off the list of potential candidates. I wouldn’t date him if you paid me.” She stomped toward the door, and then just as quickly turned and stomped back to where Noelle was still standing protectively in front of her client.

“You know, I would’ve been willing to ignore all the negative things I’ve read about you and given you the benefit of the doubt. But you just proved yourself to be a bigger ass than the press could’ve ever.” She glanced at Noelle. “Good luck finding a woman willing to accept this jerk.” With that she turned and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her.

Noelle was fuming with anger at how he’d dismissed the best possible candidate she could find and had so callously insulted her friend.

She took a deep breath—not that it did any good—and swung around to face him. “I hope you’re satisfied!”

Derrick was staring down at her left hand. “Where’s your ring?”

“Do you realize what you just did? You just chased away the very best chance you had at a compatible match.”

The wolfish grin appeared for a brief moment. “Maybe—maybe not. Answer the question.”

Suddenly Noelle remembered that she’d taken the prop ring off the evening before when she’d gone to her parents’ anniversary party and had forgotten to put it back on that morning. And from the look in his eyes, Mr. Brandt was becoming suspicious.

Noelle walked around to her seat, putting the desk between them. “Mr. Brandt, I understand you’re anxious—”

“Are you married?”

Damn. “Mr. Brandt—”

“It’s Derrick.” He followed her around the desk. “And answer the question.”

The man really is an ass. “That’s none of your business.” She backed up as much as possible and felt the seat of her chair come up against the back of her legs.

His face spread into the most beautiful smile she’d ever seen as he gently lifted her hand to his lips. “You’re not married.”

Noelle was unable to speak as she felt his soft, warm lips graze the back of her hand. “What—what are you doing?” She shook off the hypnotic spell he was quickly casting over her, snatching her hand away.

“Are you even engaged?” That beautiful smile was still perfectly in place, showing two rows of white, well-cared-for teeth as his light green eyes bored into her brown ones. “No,” he finally pronounced. “You’re as single as I am.”

Pushing her chair back out of the way, Noelle backed up and took a stand. “Just who do you think you are? Barging in here—interrupting my meeting and demanding personal information. I can’t do business this way, Mr. Brandt. It’s inconceivable at this point how Love Unlimited could be of benefit to you. Please leave. I will refund your deposit tomorrow. Good-bye.”

He turned and walked back around the desk. But instead of leaving, he unbuttoned his suit jacket and took the seat recently vacated by Suzanne. “You know, I realized something was wrong the last time I was here, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it.” He gestured to her desktop. “No pictures. You have pictures of family. That one with the couple and the little girls, and the older couple that I would assume are your parents. But no husband, no children of your own.”

“Get out!”

The smile fell from his face. “Be careful, Noelle. I understand you’re upset, but you might as well settle down. I’m not going anywhere. Especially not now.”

Noelle was fuming with rage. If she were able, she would’ve physically thrown him out of the office. “Who the hell do you think you are?”

With a sigh, he reached into the breast pocket of his suit jacket, pulled out a folded piece of paper and slid it across the desktop.

Despite her pounding head and racing pulse, Noelle was extremely curious as to what was on the paper but was not about to give him the satisfaction of picking it up. “What’s that?”

“A financial synopsis of Love Unlimited.”

“What?” She quickly grabbed up the paper and scanned the information it contained. “How did you get this?!”

“That’s not nearly as important as what it says.”

Noelle felt like her legs had been cut out from under her. She blindly reached for her chair and pulled it to her, suddenly nauseated. This man had somehow discovered a truth about her company that even her family did not know.

There in three succint paragraphs was the truth of her failing business. Despite the success in matching couples, Love Unlimited was going under. Rising rent, overhead, advertising and social events were just so expensive! She was spending faster than she was earning. And though she could’ve asked her family for a loan, her pride wouldn’t allow it.

As if a bucket of freezing water had been poured over her head, Noelle felt herself go from flaming hot anger to icy cold fear. “What are you planning to do with this?” she asked, working to keep her voice from cracking.

The devil across the desk arched an eyebrow. “Nothing. Now we move forward on an even playing field. No more talk of dumping me as a client, and no more barging into your office. Agreed?”

Noelle considered the options. “And…if I don’t agree?”

“You lose your best and only chance to pull your company out of the red. Face it, Noelle. You need me as much as I need you.” Suddenly he sat forward, and something in his body language conveyed to Noelle a new energy level. Apparently, Lucifer was most energized when bartering for souls. “And I do need you, Noelle.

“I didn’t go looking for that information to embarrass you. It surfaced as part of a routine financial check I run on anyone I chose to do business with.” His light eyes honed in on her face. “You just witnessed a problem I have been dealing with my entire adult life.

“I…” He shrugged, obviously looking for the right words, and Noelle caught a glimpse of vulnerability. “I’m not good talking to women. I’m blunt and gruff. I’m not ignorant of my problems, but I’ve had some bad experiences that have left me with little tolerance for bull. I need someone with your expertise.”

Unable to just drop the not-so-subtle threat lying on the desk between them, Noelle’s eyes narrowed. “So you come in here to blackmail me?”

A quick grin flashed across his face. “Actually, I just picked that up from my attorney on the way over here and had no intention of showing it to you until it became obvious it was the only way to get you to listen to me.”

She sat back in her chair and folded her arms across her chest. “So, what now?”

“That’s up to you. I hope we can put this behind us and continue to work together.”

After several seconds, Noelle let out a long breath. “You can’t just barge in here anytime you want.”

“I understand that. I thought you were ignoring me.”

“Well, I wasn’t.”

“I realize that now. I apologize.”

Several long, tense seconds passed in silence while she considered her options. What options? With one little piece of paper, he’d removed any options. And he was right; they did need each other. But could they work together?

“Okay.” She snorted. “Although Suzanne was the best candidate I had.”

“She’s a beautiful woman, and I’m sure a fine person—but she’s not for me. I have the utmost faith that you will find someone suitable for me.” He stood and buttoned his jacket. “I look forward to hearing from you.” With that he walked out of the office.

As soon as the door closed behind him, Noelle grabbed the synopsis off the desk and quickly ran it through the shredder.

She’s not married. Derrick couldn’t hide the curve of his lips as he considered the implications of what that meant. She’s not married.

The elevator reached the bottom floor, and the steel doors opened. He waited patiently for the people surrounding him to exit before moving forward.

As he headed to the rotating glass doors that led to the outside world, he noticed a bright red flower cart sitting off to one side of the marble corridor. As a thought occurred to him, he changed his direction and headed toward the cart.

Ten minutes later, with a spring in his step, Derrick emerged onto the bustling avenue where his driver, Don, waited with his black Lexus. Derrick slipped into the backseat of the car and, giving Don their next destination, settled back with a wide grin on his face.