“No. She’s staying in France.”
“Then who’s replacing Vivien?”
“Natalie Hall. She used to work under Ralph and Vivien.” Alex saw Ethan’s eyes narrow. “Don’t worry, she’s sharp. She’ll be fine.”
Actually, more than fine. Alex would have liked nothing better than to have had her for dessert last night. Only the knowledge that he would win the bet by the end of the week had prevented him from acting on his male instinct.
Ethan was looking at him. “You want to get her in bed.”
“Crossed my mind. So?”
“So she might be in bed with the Rodales.”
“Why do you think that?”
“It makes no sense that Ralph would make so many blunders and lose two big contracts to Rodale International. Someone must be feeding information to the Rodales, and Natalie is a logical choice. She has easy access to the right information.”
Alex leaned back in his chair and steepled his fingers. “I’ve considered the possibility.” That had been one of the reasons he’d sought her out.
“But you don’t think she’s to blame.”
“No.”
Ethan shook his head. “Don’t let your attraction to her cloud your judgment. Willing women are a buck a bushel,” he said, reverting to his Midwestern roots.
It was true that she intrigued him, and maybe that was affecting his thinking. But Alex’s instinct told him Natalie wasn’t the mole. Still, a woman had been the cause of his father’s downfall—a man who’d been invincible otherwise. “I know what I’m doing.”
“Okay.” And just like that, Ethan dropped the topic, his eyes turning bland again.
“Invite Natalie to dinner later this week.”
Ethan’s mouth quirked. “Spanish Inquisition?”
“No. You need to brief her on her new responsibilities.”
Ethan rose from his seat, a lazy smile making him look utterly harmless. “Thursday all right?”
Alex nodded.
“Should I let her know who’s coming?”
“Why would you want to do such a thing?”
Shaking his head and laughing, Ethan left.
Chapter Four
NATALIE COULDN’T DECIDE what she ought to feel. Alex had ignored her since Monday, and she was both relieved and disappointed. The whole bet had probably been a joke; he must have been having fun at her expense.
She was still in the same office, but now the plate on her door read “Senior Financial Analyst.” None of her coworkers had said anything about her promotion except “congratulations,” although Danielle had brought in a home-baked cake. Apparently there was a pay raise that came with Natalie’s new responsibilities. Not that she would need it once Alex paid her her million dollars, haha.
“Almost done with the P&L?” Natalie said, stopping by Danielle’s cubicle on her way out.
Danielle nodded. “Just a couple more adjustments.”
“Thanks. Send me a soft copy when you’re done.” She said good night and left the office.
Ethan wanted the figures first thing the next morning. Natalie was finding him fabulous to work for. Unlike Alex, he didn’t distract her with overwhelming sexuality. Not that he wasn’t attractive, but he was just charming enough to make her like him without clouding her mind with lust. Although…he did have great shoulders.