She sucked in a deep breath. ‘I apologise for the inconvenience—’
A slashing gesture with his hand stopped her words. ‘He’ll be back in two weeks. Feel free to come back then.’
The lift doors started to shut. Galvanised into action, she threw out a hand to stop it just as he did the same. Warm fingers grazed hers, sending electricity zapping through her. Perla jumped back and felt her heart thunder as she caught the look he levelled at her.
‘I’m...I’m afraid this can’t wait. Just point me in the direction of HR and I’ll be out of your hair...’
As if reminded of that part of her, he stepped back and his lazy gaze trailed upward to rest on the hair she’d pulled back into a tight bun. Once he’d looked his fill, those hazel eyes, whose mesmerising flecks she recalled so vividly, recaptured hers. ‘The whole HR team is on a day’s training in Paris.’
Her stomach plummeted with despair. ‘You’re kidding, right? The whole team?’
He raised a brow at her.
‘This really is an emergency. I came here specially. I need to talk to someone.’
Just like that, he shrugged, turned and walked away.
With every fibre of her being she wanted to let the doors shut once more and be plunged back to the ground floor, back to safety. But too much depended on her trip here today. Much too much.
So she took one step into Arion Pantelides’s vast, opulent domain.
The architecture of the Pantelides Tower had looked formidable and stunning from the outside. Inside his office, the glass, chrome and steel structure blended with earthy tones made the place simply magnificent.
A wide roll-top desk, obviously an expensive antique, took up one corner of the glass-walled room, offering a breathtaking view of the river and the iconic buildings across the water. Under her feet, a deep gold carpet muffled her tentative footsteps.
She managed to take that all in in the handful of seconds before Arion folded his leanly muscled frame behind his desk.
Fighting her rising irritation, she glanced back at him. ‘Did you hear what I said? I need to talk to someone. It’s important.’
‘By all means, if this can’t wait, tell me what the problem is and I’ll see if I can accommodate you.’
He was toying with her, like a jungle animal toying with his prey. But she would not give him the satisfaction of thinking he could pounce and annihilate her again without consequences.
Even though the need to turn tail and flee stalked through her, she held her ground. Because what other choice did she have? She couldn’t exactly flounce out of here. Her situation was too dire. They needed a solution now or Morgan’s parents would lose the house in which they’d brought up their son. After what they’d been through, Perla couldn’t stand by and do nothing whilst they suffered another blow in addition to the one they’d already been dealt by losing their only child.
Pursing her lips, she reached into her bag and brought out the file she’d compiled. Stepping forward, she slapped it on the table in front of him.
‘According to these letters, neither Morgan’s parents nor I are entitled to his death-while-employed insurance pay out. That can’t be right. I know he signed on for that benefit.’
Arion steepled his fingers and watched her dispassionately over them. ‘Ah, so you’re here to collect on your husband’s death.’
She couldn’t stop herself from flinching at his tone. And he saw it because his eyes gleamed with something akin to satisfaction.
She straightened her spine. ‘I’m only asking what is rightly due to me as the spouse of a man who died while employed by your brother’s company. I’ve read the small print. I know my rights, so I’d thank you not to make me sound like a vulture, Mr Pantelides.’ She kept her voice firm because she sensed that any weakness would be met with scalpel-sharp ruthlessness.
Abruptly, he sat forward. Even across his desk, his imposing figure dominated, enclosing her in his powerful aura and making her pulse race.
Steady breaths. Just breathe.
‘Trust me, glikia mou. No red-blooded man would look at you and liken you to a vulture. There are other, more exotic creatures perfectly apt to describe you.’
Really? Perla nearly groaned in relief when she realised she hadn’t asked the question out loud.
‘I’d prefer not to be thought of in terms of creatures great or small. Are you able to help me with this or am I wasting my time here?’ she snapped.
Arion shrugged and glanced at his watch. ‘Unfortunately, I have a lunch meeting in fifteen minutes.’ He reached across and grabbed the papers from the table. ‘Are you staying in town?’