Diablo Blanco Club: Unfair Advantage Read Online Free

reluctant to have me replace my father. Factoring in the recent downturn in the economy, two stalled contracts, and one outright canceled, along with the mess created by the article in Upscale , some on the board feel I no longer have the right image to represent Halsey Unlimited, Inc.”
    “But that’s crazy.” Mattie rose from her seat and began pacing the wheat-colored Berber carpet beside his desk. “You ran this company for Jacob while he was recovering from his heart attack. You and Richard worked hard to reverse the losses on the stock and even increased the profits. How can you not be the right image?”
    Bryce seemed to choose his words carefully. “Some of the board members feel there are aspects of my personal life that reflect poorly on the company.”
    Mattie understood just what he was saying. His partial ownership of the Diablo Blanco Club and his reputation as a Dominant were undisputed facts in San Diablo. The board, especially Frieda Makepeace and her husband, Lionel, had tried to demand his resignation over a year ago, when one of Bryce’s former lovers had given details to a reporter with one of the less-reputable gossip magazines. “The Makepeaces are leading the charge, right?”
    “They have some of the others concerned with the direction the company would go if I were in charge.”
    “Frieda Makepeace is a conniving, backstabbing bitch,” Mattie snapped, dropping onto the arm of the leather sofa. “Everyone knows she’s resented your position in the company for years. She’s fought every attempt you’ve made to diversify the interests of Halsey’s.”
    “This time she may actually get what she wants.”
    “You aren’t really going to resign?” Mattie shook her head. Rising, she moved closer, her hand gripping the back of one of the chairs facing his desk. “You can’t let her win, Bryce.”
    “Then marry me.”
    She couldn’t have heard him correctly. “Excuse me?”
    Bryce grinned, his white teeth a sharp contrast to his sun-darkened features. “I’m not crazy, Lawrence. Both my dad and Dixon feel that if I present the board with a wife, I have a chance to regain some of the support I’ve lost. Most of the members are only wavering. Makepeace has convinced only a few to side with her, but the others are on the fence.”
    “But why me?”
    The warm clasp of his hand around her wrist had Mattie’s heart picking up its pace. When he tugged her around the chair to stand directly in front of him, it grew worse. The muscles in her belly clenched, the slick heat between her thighs pulsed, and her breasts ached. Against the lace of her bra, she could feel her nipples harden. She swallowed and focused on steadying her breathing.
    “I need a wife that the board can respect and who knows that the interests of the company are paramount.” He watched her face, seeming to read every thought that spun through her head. “She has to be able to face down any objections and possibly take on Frieda and Lionel when it comes to convincing everyone that the marriage is real.”
    Mattie shook her head. “I’m not sure—”
    “I am.” He gripped her hands in his. “You’re smart, Lawrence. Most of the board likes and respects your hard work and dedication to the company. Hell, some of them keep complaining about your refusal to be promoted since you finished your MBA. It’s a win-win situation.”
    Needing to be able to think, Mattie pulled her hands from his and moved back behind the chair, putting distance between her and the man who did such intense damage to her self-control. “How is it a win-win situation?”
    “It’s pretty likely that if I’m forced to resign, you’ll lose your job. Anyone replacing me would be an idiot not to keep you, but business doesn’t usually work that way. I doubt whoever takes over would allow your promotion to one of the other management positions for fear of you carrying out some of the policies I implemented.” He shrugged. “Your reputation