Leah's Seduction: 6 (Gianni and Leah - Leah's Seduction) (3 page)

Chapter 5

The trip to Chicago had been fantastic in every way. The following week on the way to work, Leah gushed to Kyra over the phone, filling her in on all the details. “And the last day, we walked around Lincoln Park, looking at all the gardens.” Leah swerved to miss a crowd of pedestrians flowing by her. “I didn’t even mind the cold. And then we ate at a small café. It was so romantic.”

“I’m so jealous,” Kyra said.

“You should be.” Leah laughed. “And that night we ate at Alinea. It was as much about the experience as the food. There was a helium-filled edible balloon, and a root vegetable in a tumbleweed.”

“Weird.”

“It was just so
modern
, I guess. You enter through a pink-lit hall, which really sets the mood. And Grant Achatz, the chef, even came to our table to serve the dessert personally.” Leah said. “You have to go there sometime. Really.”

“I’d love to. All I need is a gorgeous boyfriend to take me on a romantic getaway to Chicago.”

“Yes. You do.” Leah laughed, and so did Kyra. “Okay, well, I’m here. Gotta go to work. Pilates later this week, right?”

“Absolutely.”

Leah hung up and went into Barrington. The warmth of the showroom welcomed her. She nodded at Aida, who was working at the counter. “Good morning.” The clerk had her red hair done in soft waves instead of the spiky style she favored. “New hairdo?”

Aida ruffled her fingers through the curls. “Just trying something different.” Then she pointed toward Vadim’s office. “Bad mood,” she mouthed.

Leah nodded. “What else is new?” she said, and headed toward her office, hoping to avoid her boss. Since she’d been back, she had focused on her work and ignored his moods. In the past week, she’d hardly seen him.

Over time Vadim had seemed more and more tense. When she had passed him in the hall, or had the misfortune to have to actually meet with him, Leah had noted the stress he was under. It didn’t escape her notice that it had been a while since he had asked for any inside data on GR Showroom.

Likely Vadim thought he knew everything. Stupidly, he had based his business strategy on the false information Gianni had fed him. Other than being assigned to secure an exclusive on the high-end fashions her boss wanted to carry, Leah hadn’t been involved. And she hoped it stayed that way.

Aida had become a friend. She didn’t gravitate toward Vadim any more than Leah did. They had taken to warning each other of his moods, or watching each other’s back in different ways. It was good to have an ally in the midst of such an unsettling atmosphere.

Leah checked emails, and was just starting to work when her phone buzzed. It was Vadim. Pushing the button, she heard his voice boom through the speaker. “I need you in my office. Now.”

His gruff demeanor had grown old. The tone he used was supposed to threaten her, but Leah was unaffected. Vadim was like that every day. There was nothing to be alarmed about. She grabbed her notebook and sighed. Once Gianni’s ruse had its intended effect, Leah wouldn’t have to stay at Barrington, pretending to be clueless. Soon she wouldn’t have to work for that asshole. It wouldn’t be soon enough.

Halfway down the hall, Leah slowed her steps. She didn’t feel like seeing his angry face. Leah’s tolerance for her boss had worn thin. With little choice, she gingerly pushed his door open and saw him sitting behind his massive desk. It struck her that he looked dwarfed behind it.

The sight of Vadim frightened Leah, and she froze in the doorway. He hadn’t shaved recently, and his uncombed hair added to the unkempt look. Vadim’s skin was ashen and his eyes bloodshot. She knew he was fond of vodka. It was either that or he hadn’t been sleeping well recently.

It was the look in his eyes that send a tendril of terror down her spine. His tone had shifted. It wasn’t the daily anger that always simmered there. Leah saw pure venom in his eyes, and she wanted to back out of the office.

“Come inside,” Vadim barked, his voice gravelly.

Cautiously, Leah took a step inside.

“Shut the door.” The finality with which he said it made her anxious, but she shut the door behind her anyway.

Leah didn’t know what was up with him, but was reminded that Vadim was just her boss. So he was unusually annoyed. Nothing
that terrible
could happen. The absolute worst would be that he would fire her. And the way he was acting, that would be a welcome relief.

Vadim glared at her, and Leah sat stiffly in the chair across from him. “What is this about?” Her voice sounded braver than she felt.

For a moment, he didn’t speak. Vadim clenched his jaw and fisted his hands. Leah didn’t like the way he looked at her. Of his many moods, this was one she hadn’t seen before. She waited, clutching her notebook, hoping this would be over quickly.

“Do you know what has happened?” he said tersely.

Leah didn’t say anything.

“Do you?” Without warning, Vadim raised his fist and slammed it into the desk, startling her.

Her mind raced. What would make him behave like this? Leah had an idea. Still, his behavior was extreme. Even for that.

Pointing a finger at her, Vadim said, “You. You are responsible.”

She recoiled, still not certain what was going through Vadim’s mind.

“Don’t pretend to be innocent,” he said, gritting his teeth. “I know it was you.”

Finding a reserve of courage, Leah spoke up. “Do you mind telling me why you are behaving this way?”

He stood and pushed his chair back so hard it hit the wall behind him with a solid
thud
. Leah blinked. “Ha, so pretty and innocent, aren’t you? Wrapping me around your finger. When all the time you
knew
.”

“Knew what?” she said nervously.

The hate in his eyes stabbed into her. “You let me…no!
Encouraged me
to buy those European properties.” His biceps flexed. “And you bought the designer fashions…that cost a fortune.”

That was what she thought this was about. Leah shook her head. “You never consulted me.”

“Ha.” Vadim continued to glare at her. Then he started to laugh. But there was no humor in it. He looked like a madman, laughing with the thought of revenge. And Leah knew she was the target. Worried, she struggled with how to deal with her insane boss.

“You tricked me. You…and that
boyfriend
of yours.” Vadim’s face turned red. “And I won’t stand for it. Do you hear?”

“Vadim, please. You made your own decisions all the way.” Leah’s voice quavered. “You are
my
boss, remember?”

That seemed to infuriate him further. “It seems you forgot that. When he conspired against me, and against your own employer, you certainly didn’t have that in mind.” A thought seemed to occur to him, and a shadow darkened his features.

“You are just a little whore,” Vadim shouted, and Leah knew she had to do something. “You sleep with the enemy, and then connive for the destruction of the company you work for. You won’t get away with it.”

Vadim came around the desk at a rapid pace, and grabbed Leah’s arm before she could stand up. Panic struck. He might actually hurt her. Or worse. Her bodyguard was probably outside in the limo. It was a rare day that she had asked to walk the last few blocks to work, wanting some air.

Leah had forgotten about Roston. He was such a part of her everyday life that she no longer gave him the notice he deserved. But she couldn’t reach him now. Her phone was in her office. And if she yelled, it would alert Aida.

She didn’t want Aida involved. If her friend got hurt because of her, she wouldn’t be able to forgive herself. Leah had known she risked her job when she sided with Gianni against Vadim. But she hadn’t dreamed her boss would get violent.

Vadim held her by the arm, hurting her, and shook her hard. He was yelling something. Adrenaline rushed through her veins, and Leah’s strength surged. She reached up and slapped Vadim as hard as she could. He pulled back in shock.

Leah stood and backed away from him. He had his hand on his face, disbelieving she had defended herself. The next few seconds would be telling. Vadim was taller than Leah, and outweighed her. A physical fight wouldn’t be good. There was no way to come out on top.

Something else occurred to her, and Leah held a hand in front of her body as a warning. “Don’t come near me again.”

Vadim smirked and took a step closer.

“I mean it,” she said. “I will tell everything I know about you, Vadim.” That stopped him. He looked puzzled.

Leah’s body shook, but her voice was steady. “Oh, yes. You don’t think I know. But I do. Your history. What you’ve done.” She watched his arrogance crumble. “I know it all.
Everything
.”

For a moment, neither made a move. Leah hoped it would work. She had to get out of the room. Out to Roston. And she had to take Aida with her.

The fire went out of Vadim’s eyes. “You couldn’t.”

Leah stood straighter. “But you know I do. And…if I tell, your reputation won’t be worth dirt in this city. I’ll issue a press statement. You’ll never work in the industry again. Never.” She tried to gauge his reaction. It was a bluff, and she prayed it was good enough.

One thing she had learned from Gianni was that Vadim had an unsavory background. It was why GR Showroom hadn’t hired him. Leah might not know exactly what Vadim had done, what criminal activities he had been involved in. But
he
didn’t know that.

And any man that would be underhanded enough to try to take down GR Showroom, and Gianni along with it, was capable of much more. Now that he had attacked her, Leah had a sense of the evil that simmered inside Vadim, and the harm he was capable of.

It was a lucky guess that Vadim had a laundry list of things he didn’t want publicly known. And by the time he figured out that Leah couldn’t possibly know about all of it, she would be far from Barrington. And out of Vadim’s reach.

If she got that far.

Vadim stood still. “You can’t do that to me.” His voice was half pleading, the normal bluster gone.

Taking advantage of his confusion, Leah acted fast. Looking directly into his disgusting face, she spoke with authority. “I am going to walk out that door, Vadim. And you are going to get out of my way.” She stepped slowly but certainly toward the door.

Vadim turned, keeping her in sight, but made no move to stop her.

“I will not tell what I know,” she said, “as long as I leave here unharmed.”

Leah made it to the door and looked back at her boss. He was a shell of a man, his shoulders slumped, and his expression showing defeat. She guessed that bullying her was his last attempt at victory; he was still in denial and unwilling to admit it was all over.

Leah opened the door swiftly and stepped into the hall. Then she stuck her head back inside. Vadim stood in the same spot. “And,” she said, raising her chin proudly, “I quit.” There was no time to savor the moment, as good as it felt to tell Vadim to piss off.

She slammed the door and raced to the counter, grabbing Aida’s arm. The clerk looked at her in surprise. “Don’t ask questions,” Leah said. “Come with me.” She dragged her out of Barrington, and spotted the limo across the street.

Waving frantically, Leah got her bodyguard’s attention. He leapt from the car and sprinted over to her, whisking both the women back to the limo before asking any questions. Once locked behind the bulletproof windows, Roston turned to Leah. “What happened?”

Chapter 6

Leah quickly relayed the pulse-pounding tale of Vadim’s vile mood, and how he had physically attacked her. Aida gasped when she told of the tense moment when he nearly crushed her arm.

Roston’s jaw tensed, the look in his eyes menacing. “I’ll call Gianni,” he said.

“He accused me of betrayal,” Leah said, turning to Aida. “And he thought he could bully me.”

Aida raised her brows. “Betrayal?”

“It’s a long story,” Leah said.

Her friend gave her a hug. “I’m so glad you are okay. I heard loud voices, but that damn door is so thick I couldn’t tell what was going on.” Aida shook her head. “I had no idea.”

Roston turned back to Leah. “He says to wait. He will be right here.”

They didn’t have to wait long. Gianni’s car pulled up, and he jumped out, with Dawson right behind him. He yanked open the car door and took Leah’s hand, pulling her into his arms. “Are you okay, baby?”

“Yes, I’m okay. Vadim started to get violent, but I got away.”

Gianni frowned. “Did he hurt you?”

Leah shook her head. “No. But he would have.”

Gianni gave her another tight hug. Then he pulled back to look at her. “How did you get away?”

Leah recalled the look on Vadim’s face. “I scared the shit out of him.”

Gianni grinned. “I wish I could have seen that,” he said. “That’s a story I want to hear.” He guided her back into the seat of the car. “Right now, you stay here with Roston.” He looked at Aida. “Both of you.”

Leah looked up at him. “What are you going to do?”

“I have business to handle.” Gianni shut the door and strode toward Barrington with Dawson by his side. Leah felt a moment of pity for Vadim. But that passed. He certainly had no mercy in his heart for her.

*****

Gianni reached the front door a split second before Dawson. He yanked it open and walked inside. Vadim was probably in his office licking his wounds. And that was where Gianni found him. The instant Vadim saw Gianni, he put down the phone.

Without so much as a hello, Gianni walked toward Vadim. He stood up and began to say something. Gianni didn’t hear it, nor did he care. Gripping the man’s scrawny neck in one hand, he slammed him against the wall.

Vadim gasped for breath, and Gianni glared at him. “Don’t like it when the tables are turned, huh?” Clutching tighter around Vadim’s throat, he said, “You don’t have the balls to come see me. No. You have to pick on a defenseless woman.”

Out of the corner of his eye, Gianni saw Mason Barrington enter the room. “What in the hell are you doing?” Dawson grabbed his arm as Mason started toward them.

Gianni released Vadim’s throat, and he slid to the floor. Looking at him with distaste, Gianni said, “Get up, asshole.”

Trying to get his breath, Vadim clawed his way up the wall until he was standing. “You attacked me,” he gasped.

On the other side of the desk, Mason struggled unsuccessfully to break free of Dawson’s grasp.

Gianni glared at Vadim. “What you did to Leah was assault.” He paused, barely keeping his temper under control. “Assaulting a woman doesn’t sit well with the courts.”

Vadim glanced over at Mason.

“Sit down,” Gianni said to Vadim. And looking over at Mason, he said, “And you too.”

Dawson shoved Mason into the chair by the desk, and Vadim collapsed into his executive chair. For a moment the room was silent. Moving back, Gianni assessed his competition, and decided they were nothing but spoiled children.

“You are such a fucking idiot,” he said to Vadim.

Vadim spat, “You tricked me.”

“And you deserve everything you got. And more.” Gianni began to pace. “Did you really think you could pull it off?”

Vadim shook his head. “I don’t know what you mean.” Gianni started toward him again, and Vadim cringed. “Okay. So I thought I would outdo you. So what?”

“He was just following orders,” Mason said.

Gianni turned to look at his long-time enemy. “Doing your dirty work, you mean.” He shook his head. “You were so determined to see me go under.” He glared at the slimebag. “But it’s not going to happen. Don’t you ever learn, Mason?” He shook his head. “You are just as much of an asshole as your minion here.”

Mason squared his shoulders. “We’re businessmen.”

“That’s not how I see it,” Gianni said. “You are both slimy, underhanded crooks. Business is something you don’t understand. Cheating is all you know.”

“You are so goddamn arrogant,” Mason said.

“Me? That’s a joke.” Gianni raised his hands in the air. “I’m sick of you both.” He looked over at Dawson, who stood next to Mason with his arms crossed.

“You have pushed us toward financial ruin,” Mason said. “Unloading those properties in Europe is next to impossible. And we’ve already sunk money into them. Plus, our operating costs are too high. Those fashions Vadim bought tied up too many funds. And I don’t know that we can sell them fast enough.”

Dawson laughed. “I guess that was the plan, moron. You need to hire smarter people to work for you. Or get some savvy yourself. Don’t blame us that you’re so gullible.” Mason glared at him, but Dawson just continued talking. “It isn’t even so much that you are a cutthroat bastard. But I take issue with your attempts against my employer.” Mason stayed silent. “You are under the delusion that you can wipe him out. Another example of your stupidity.”

Gianni enjoyed seeing Mason reamed out. “I have ignored your antics for too long,” he said. “Both of you are jack-offs. But you crossed the line. You threatened Leah. She will be pressing charges.” He looked down at them. “And if you ever annoy me, or threaten Leah again, I will use everything in my power to take you down.”

Mason and Vadim looked at each other.

“But Leah promised not to take action, that she wouldn’t say anything…if I let her go.”

Gianni took a moment for that to sink in. He knew Leah had more to tell him about how she had backed Vadim off. The man looked nervous about something. “Leah is a woman of her word,” he said. “I, however, did not make any promises. And I’m telling you my threat stands. As of now, I better not see you…in my life…or in my business. Ever. Again. Have I made myself clear?”

“We just want to be left alone,” Mason said.

“That’s right,” Vadim said, nodding at Gianni.

Gianni looked at Dawson. “Go get Leah and take her to her office to get whatever she needs. I’ll wait in the hall for you.” The security guard left the room, and Gianni said, “Both of you stay here. I’ll let you know when you can come out.”

Then he left the room, all too happy not to have to look at the unsavory characters any longer. He shut the door behind him. It was just a damn good thing that Leah wasn’t hurt. Those two deadbeats scraped by with financial disaster. It would have been much worse if harm had come to the woman he cared so much about.

Moments later, Roston followed Aida into the showroom, and over to the counter to get her purse. Dawson stayed with Leah. Gianni stood guard outside Vadim’s office, because he didn’t trust the crooks inside. Somehow he hadn’t thought Vadim was the violent type. He wouldn’t make that mistake again. He waited until Dawson came back carrying a box of stuff from Leah’s office.

Gianni banged on the office door to let them know it was over. For all he cared, they could stay in there until they rotted. With his arm around Leah, they went back to the limo. Roston stowed her box in the trunk, then waited for instructions.

“I need a drink,” Leah said, breaking the ice.

Gianni nodded. “Same here. Dawson will drive us.”

Leah looked at Aida. “What would you like to do?”

She raked a hand through her red hair. “I need a long soak in the tub to unwind. It’s going to take a bit for this to sink in.”

Leah motioned toward Barrington Showroom. “You can’t go back there.”

Aida shook her head. “No, I wouldn’t. Clearly Vadim is a maniac, which makes him an unsuitable employer.”

Leah laughed.

“But I would not work for a man who is capable of assaulting a woman.”

Leah hugged her. “We’ll figure something out.”

“I’ll take you home,” Roston said, and opened the car door to help her inside.

“Stay outside her place for a while,” Gianni said to him. “Be sure she is safe. I don’t want anything else to happen.”

Gianni held Leah’s hand to cross the street, and Dawson opened the back door for them. Sliding into the leather seat, he put his arm around her. Leah put her head on his shoulder. “It feels so good to be here. With your arm around me.”

He held her closer. If anything had happened, Gianni didn’t know what he would have done. “You’re safe. That’s what matters.” He tipped her chin up so she looked into his eyes. “And I think you have a story to tell me.”

Leah smiled. “I think I’d be good at poker,” she said, and Gianni raised his brows.

“I can’t wait to hear this,” he said.

Gianni took her to the lounge overlooking the Waldorf Astoria’s lobby. They settled into the lush setting, with live piano music in the background. It would be good for Leah’s nerves. Gianni could tell she hadn’t calmed down from the incident with Vadim yet.

They each ordered a Rob Roy, the Scotch whisky version of the Manhattan. In fact, Gianni asked the waiter for “a Scotch Manhattan” and he knew what he meant. The alcohol would help Leah relax.

“This is good,” she said. “I needed something strong.”

Gianni stroked her arm. “It really irks me that he upset you.”

“He just caught me off guard, that’s all.” Leah gulped her drink. “I’m still in shock, I think. I didn’t expect that from him.”

Gianni swigged his drink. “I certainly didn’t. Or I would not have let you continue to work there. Not for
any
reason.”

“I know you wouldn’t,” she said, taking another gulp. “It’s hard to believe.”

Gianni gulped his drink, and watched Leah do the same. He flagged the server for refills. “Jealousy and greed got to them. It made them blind. I fed them bogus information, and they ran with it. Now it has cost them dearly.”

“The falsehoods could have been vetted,” Leah said. “I know now that Vadim
wanted
to believe, because he thought he had a way to get ahead.” She reached for her drink refill. “And both he and Mason wanted to get to you.”

Gianni fingered his glass. “Yes, for Mason it became sort of a vendetta. He couldn’t live with the fact that my company outshined his, after he had done his best to see that my business was over before it started.”

“And do you think Vadim resented the fact that you wouldn’t hire him at GR?”

“I’m sure of it,” Gianni said. “Then he connected with Mason, who has it out for me, and, well…you see the result.”

Leah took another sip, then put her glass on the table. She reached out to take Gianni’s hand.

He brushed his thumb over her knuckles. “You haven’t told me how you escaped being harmed by that creep.”

“I barely did.” Leah proceeded to recount the entire story in detail, beginning with being called into Vadim’s office. When she got to the part where he grabbed her, Gianni tensed. He felt like going back and beating the crap out of Vadim.

Then she enlightened Gianni on how she’d bluffed Vadim.

“I haven’t told you anything specific that Vadim has done in the past,” Gianni said.

Leah shook her head. “No, you didn’t. It was all I had, though. I figured if you wouldn’t hire him, he must have something on his record. And I made the leap. If he had done something you knew of, there was likely more.” She looked at him. “I hoped there was. And it seems I was right.”

Gianni grinned. “I wish I could have seen his face when you played that hand.”

“It was great.” Leah smiled. “I held my breath. I wasn’t sure that he would take the bait. But then I saw pretty quickly that it stopped him dead in his tracks.”

“Thank God for that.”

“Yes,” Leah said. “He froze, just like I’d hit him with a stun gun.”

“I wonder what he is hiding,” Gianni said. “Not that I want to deal with him again. And I don’t want you anywhere near him.”

“No worries there.” Leah clinked her glass against Gianni’s. “I’m glad to be rid of him.”

“He won’t bother you again, nor will Mason,” he said. “I’m sure both of them got
that
message.”