Mistletoe Maneuvers Read Online Free Page A

one-year extension are not enough.”
    She swallowed, taking a deep breath. “What do you want?”
    â€œI want the raise, the extension, and…” He paused, noticing the way the her slender hands clutched the papers. “Half of your stock.”
    The color drained from her face. No wonder. It was an outrageous request. So outrageous that he had not even pondered it. But since she seemed so desperate to have him return, why not?
    â€œNo,” she said.
    He took another step toward her. He was so close, he could smell her slight flowery scent. “Well then,” he said in a soft whisper, “I don’t think we have anything to talk about.”
    Her eyes were full of fire as she tightened her lips. “This was my father’s company. He always intended that I would one day be at the helm.”
    â€œAnd maybe you will. In the meantime, I’ll own half of your stock. We’ll be partners.”
    â€œPartners?” she asked quietly, her voice ragged.
    It was obvious that she was hesitant to give up hope that she might one day regain the company. But it was difficult to feel pity for her naïveté. She should’ve known better than to challenge him. He had warned her and she had no one but herself to blame for the consequences.
    Still, this interaction was making him uncomfortable. He would have an easier time of this if she were defiant and narcissistic. He walked back toward the elevator and pressed the button. As the doors opened he said, “Feel free to take some time to think about my offer. But the bottom line will not change. You need me if you’re going to save your father’s company. You and I both know I’m the only one capable of accomplishing this. If I don’t come back, try as you might, I can guarantee you that Sabrina Vickers will take over the company. And when she does, she will do what she has always done. She will break it up into little pieces, selling off the properties your father and I have worked so hard to build. By next year Lawrence Enterprises will be nothing but a memory. Is that what your father would have wanted?”
    He could almost see the inner machinations of her brain. She had no choice but to accept his terms, however audacious they were. “I’ve worked very hard for this company, Alessandra. I’ve given it fifteen years of my life. I don’t want to see it destroyed. But this is your decision.”
    â€œI’ll agree under one condition,” she said after a moment’s hesitation. “That I give you my shares only when the threat of a takeover is alleviated.”
    â€œFine,” he said, holding out his hand. “So we have a deal.”
    â€œI’m willing to put past grievances behind us in order to save the company,” she said. With what appeared to be a supreme amount of effort, she accepted his hand.
    â€œI’m very happy to hear that, Lessa,” he said, squeezing her hand gently. “Because in order to save this company, you’re going to have to forget what you learned in grad school. Now,” he said, letting go of her hand, “can I take your coat?”
    â€œWhat do you mean, forget what I learned?” she asked, shrugging off her coat and handing it to him.
    â€œSabrina Vickers is simply the first in a long line of companies waiting to steal Lawrence Enterprises,” he said, hanging up her coat. “The problem is not Sabrina, it’s the perception that Lawrence Enterprises is a company in turmoil. All the Sabrinas have crawled out of the woodwork. And there’s only one way to get rid of them.”
    â€œLet’s hear it,” she said, taking a seat on his leather sofa.
    He sat across from her and leaned forward. “We need to convince Sabrina and everyone else that my job is intact. That our…union is secure.”
    â€œWhat are you suggesting?”
    He paused, almost enjoying the look of anticipation in her