Accardi by allison franklin novel

Chapter Sixteen: Genevieve finally managed to escape from Matteo's associate, Marco, thanks to him receiving an urgent call. It wasn't his ego, his intensity, or even his sudden shift in asking her out for dinner that unsettled her. He had that look. The kind of look women only dread recognizing after being hurt by it. The heavy-lidded, narrowed eyes of a man who wanted to ensnare and dismantle you. Gen quickly retreated to her office, instructed Jasmine not to let anyone in, and shut the door. Leaning back against it, she tried to catch her breath. He had found her.

Of course, he had found her. Jada had warned her. Gen needed to get out of there. She hurried to her desk and checked her schedule. Groaning when she saw the appointment with Misty Cohen in half an hour. Misty was known for being punctual, and there was no way Gen could cancel the appointment. "Damn it, damn it, damn it!" Gen muttered. "Now that certainly sounds familiar," someone said from the doorway. Gen's whole body tensed. A mix of fear and curiosity crept up her spine, straightening her back. She spun around to face Matteo, who observed her from the doorway.

Jasmine stood behind him, giving Gen an encouraging thumbs-up, followed by an obvious once-over of Matteo's physique. Matteo stepped inside and pushed the door closed with his foot, maintaining eye contact as if she were on the verge of fleeing. Maybe she was. Her hands gripped the desk ledge behind her, leaving marks. The pictures she had seen of him didn't do justice to his eyes. The hazel-green, brown hues shifted as light pierced them. Matteo gave her another familiar look, the kind that made most women swoon.

It was the kind of look that threatened to engulf her in an entirely different but compelling way. She was mesmerized, powerless. Then he moved. Startled, she began to sidestep her desk. "Mr. Accardi. What are you doing here?" Genevieve inquired. "There were discrepancies in my bank accounts," Matteo stated. As he advanced toward her, Gen continued to circle the desk. He smirked upon reaching the desk, only to find her on the other side. He lowered his shoulder and started removing his suit jacket, sending her breathing into a frenzy.

"You know what I mean. How did you find me?" she asked. His smile widened as he began to loosen his tie. What was he up to? Then he started moving toward her again. "Come now, what kind of 'big, bad, powerful mafia boss' would I be if I couldn't track you?" Genevieve's retreat paused briefly. "That was you in the stairwell?" "Taking the stairs is good exercise," he replied while unfastening his cufflinks. He watched her take several more steps backward, placing the cufflinks on her desk before rolling up his sleeves.

"It's truly a shame you've finally discovered who I am. I enjoyed having a beautiful woman look at me without fear in her eyes," Gen's back met the door of her office. "I'm not afraid of you. I knew who you were the second night I came to you," she confessed. This revelation momentarily halted his approach. His eyes briefly widened before his expression turned resolute. He took three long strides until his body was almost flush against hers. His nose grazed her shoulder.

She tried and failed to suppress the shiver that ran across her skin. "You knew who I was and still thought you could run from me," he whispered against her ear. "Mr. Accardi," Matteo breathed against her jaw. "You ran off with my hoodie. Ladrumesska," Mr. Accardi, I think it is best if we remain professional," she argued, fighting the urge not to yield to how delightful his lips felt against her collarbone. He pressed his body more firmly against her. "Is that really what you want?" he taunted, trailing his fingers up her back. "Yes," she squeaked as his hand inched upward, causing her to shudder.

He exhaled against her neck. "Time." He took a step back, running a hand through his hair before folding his hands in his lap. His countenance shifted, a more human air washing over his eyes to the marveling gaze. "You want to be thorough in selecting a partner concerning our accounting needs," Matteo said, watching Genevieve intently. The tension in the room escalated as she tried to stand her ground without faltering.

She cleared her throat and addressed him with a steely gaze. "I said no," she reiterated. He narrowed his eyes, deep in thought, his demeanor capable of taking on the challenge. "She is young, unattached, and willing to go the extra mile to be a suitable ally," Gen explained. Matteo scoffed. "My business is worth nearly a billion dollars, and you propose entrusting it to a novice?" Genevieve drawled, "If she meets your standards, our seasoned worker Malie has managed numerous high-profile accounts and..."

"No," Gen interrupted, huffing as she settled back into her chair. She crossed her arms. "Those two women are our best options, Mr. Accardi. With all due respect, you don't know my employees, and I am more than capable of assigning the right team member to your case." Matteo scrutinized her momentarily. Pushing away from the chair, he strolled to the window, standing there in contemplation before turning back to her, hands in his pockets. "Lauren is a recent Harvard graduate with a father struggling with gambling addiction.

Not the most suitable choice for a company owning multiple casinos, race tracks, and nightclubs, is it?" Matteo posed. Before Gen could counter, he continued, "Marie is seventy, doesn't arrive before 11 am, eschews weekends, and no longer holds a driver's license. While her expertise may be exceptional, I require someone more dedicated to the job." Returning to her desk, he leaned across it, forcing Gen to recline further. "You, on the other hand..."

"Me? No..." Gen began, only to be interrupted by Matteo. "You, on the other hand, invested every penny into this business, forcing you to live with four roommates. You possess a decade of industry experience. You unearthed and diagnosed the discrepancies. You want professionalism? This is a multi-million dollar deal, Miss Sinclair. One that can make or break my business, just as it could yours. Any professional would be foolish to forgo this opportunity for both the financial gain and connections it offers. You cannot afford to decline this deal.

You know it. I know it. Your associate who has already committed your services to me knows it." Gen sprang from her chair, confronting him. "You conniving bastard!" she snapped. Matteo smirked, his gaze dropping to her lips before capturing his own between his teeth. He shrugged. "You do have the option to refuse. There's no contract signed yet. But I'd wager my entire inheritance that you will come to your senses once you grasp what my company can do for yours." Leaning back, he extracted a rolled document from his back pocket, placing it on the desk, his eyes fixed on hers.

"Read it. Ponder it. Discuss it with your partner. When you reach a decision, you can find me at the InterContinental. You have until tomorrow morning when I depart for New York." Matteo's facade slipped, his eyes roaming her face as if committing it to memory. When his gaze returned to hers, they were tender and open. "Regarding what you said... in the stairwell," Matteo began, drawing closer. "You were right about feeling safe with me and the fact that I needed it as much as you." He shook his head.

"But we both know our story is worth far more than a weekend. You're not merely worth pursuing. You're worth capturing... and now, I have you right where I want you." With one of his trademark dimpled smiles, he pivoted on his heel.