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‘A million and a half dollars, give or take a few thousand.’
‘What did you do?’ Her anger simmered beneath the surface, and she held onto it with difficulty. ‘Conduct a running inventory?’
‘Yes.’
Her fingers clenched until the knuckles showed white. ‘Why?’
‘You want me to spell it out?’
He’d sat on the fringes of her life and watched as Ariane’s treasured belongings were sold off, one by one? To what purpose?
‘I instructed an agent to buy every item you and your mother have been forced to sell.’
What manner of man was he?
One who was prepared to do anything to achieve his objective.
Something which chilled her to the bone.
Danielle examined his chiselled features and felt her nerves stretch to breaking point. ‘Why?’
His gaze was unwavering, and his lips curved slightly in a faint smile that was totally lacking in humour. ‘A whim, perhaps?’
A man of Rafe Valdez’s ilk hadn’t built his life by indulging in a whim. Her eyes flashed with barely hidden anger. ‘Please. Don’t insult my intelligence.’
He lifted the goblet and took a measured sip of wine, then held the stemmed glass and slowly swirled the contents, studying the texture and colour for several seemingly long seconds before shifting his gaze to fuse with her own. ‘You intrigue me.’
Something jolted deep inside, and raced through her nervous system with alarming speed. Only a naïve fool would mistake his meaning, and she was neither.
Pride, and sheer courage, enabled her to query with icy calm, ‘With almost the entire city’s female population, eligible and otherwise—’ She paused deliberately, then added with polite sarcasm, ‘I fail to see the fascination.’
The waiter served coffee, his smile fixed as he sensed tension thick enough to slice with a knife, then he retreated with polite speed.
Danielle banked down the desire to do the same.
Only the certainty that Rafe Valdez would ignore any histrionics kept her in her seat.
‘My father and his father before him laboured in the d’Alboa family vineyards, and considered it an honour to serve such a wealthy landowner.’ His gaze never left hers. ‘Ironic, wouldn’t you agree, that the son of an immigrant peasant has the power to rescue the granddaughter of the revered Joaquin d’Alboa?’
A cold fist closed around her heart. ‘This is about revenge?’
He smiled, but there was little warmth evident. ‘I was merely explaining the connection.’
Danielle watched as he spooned sugar into his black coffee, then lifted the cup to take a measured sip.
His gaze speared hers, his expression enigmatic. ‘Everything has a price, don’t you agree?’
Why did she get the feeling this was manipulation at its worst? Yet she had to ask. ‘What is it you want?’
‘A child of my own to whom I can bequeath my fortune. A child born in wedlock. Who better to conceive and gift me that child than a descendent of the d’Alboa aristocracy?’ He watched her features, saw the comprehension, the doubt, then the anger.
‘Are you insane?’ she demanded in a voice she didn’t recognise as her own. ‘There are plenty of needy children in the world. Adopt one.’
‘No.’
She cast him a look of total incredulity.
‘It’s a question of needs,’ Rafe offered with damnable imperturbability. ‘Yours and mine.’
‘The hell it is!’
His gaze narrowed, and his expression assumed an implacability that was frightening. ‘That’s the deal. Take it, or leave it.’
Dear heaven. It was unconscionable. Wasn’t it?
‘Let me get this straight,’ she said tightly. ‘You’re advocating I marry you, and act as a surrogate mother to your child…then walk away?’
He didn’t pretend to misunderstand her. ‘Not until the child enters the scholastic system.’
She wanted to hit him, and nearly did. ‘Are we talking kindergarten level, pre-school, or school?’
His eyes narrowed fractionally. ‘School.’
‘Almost seven years, given I should be sufficiently fortunate to fall pregnant immediately?’
‘Yes.’
‘For which I’ll be recompensed to the tune of approximately two hundred thousand dollars for each year?’ She paused to bank down the anger and take a fresh breath. ‘Paid up front in the manner that free-holds the apartment, clears all debts, restores all Ariane’s prized possessions, and resettles the boutique?’
‘Yes.’
‘And what of the years I spend as your wife?’
‘You get to enjoy all the fringe benefits of living in my home, acting as my social hostess, a generous allowance.’ He waited a beat. ‘And sharing my bed.’
She forced herself to conduct a raking appraisal of his features. ‘Forgive me, but I don’t see having sex with you as a bonus.’
His expression didn’t change. ‘That’s a foolish statement,’ Rafe drawled with a tinge of humour. ‘For someone who has no experience of me as her lover.’
She banked down wild images of that powerful body engaged in intimacy, and held his gaze. ‘Really? Is that knowledge gleaned from superb feminine acting and countless “you were wonderful, darling” compliments?’
‘Do you require recommendations as to my sexual prowess?’
Why did she have the feeling she was fast moving out of her depth? ‘And when I’ve fulfilled my side of this diabolical scheme you’ve devised…what then?’
‘Elaborate.’
‘After the divorce,’ she said succinctly.
‘That is something for negotiation.’
‘I want all the facts now. Do I get to have visiting rights to my child? Or am I to be cast aside after my use-by date?’
‘A suitable arrangement will be made.’
‘How suitable?’ she persisted.
‘It is not my intention to banish you from the child’s life.’
‘But you’ll legally limit it to minimum time during the holidays and the occasional weekend.’ He’d employ the best legal brains in the country to ensure his influence over the child was total.
‘And naturally a pre-nuptial agreement will ensure I walk away after the divorce with nothing.’
‘You’ll be settled in a suitable residence and maintained with a generous allowance until the child comes of age.’
‘I imagine you’re prepared to put all this in writing?’
‘I already have.’ He slid a hand into his jacket pocket and withdrew a folded legal document. ‘It’s signed and notarised.’ He placed it on the table in front of her. ‘Take it with you, read it carefully, and give me your answer within twenty-four hours.’
It was unbelievable she was still sitting here. Pride had caused her to attempt to walk out on him once. She knew with certainty the next time he would make no move to stop her.
‘What you ask is impossible.’
‘You’re in no position to bargain with me.’
‘Is that a veiled threat to withdraw your offer?’
‘Your words. Not mine.’ He regarded her steadily. ‘This is business. Nothing more, nothing less. I have spelt out the terms. It is for you to accept or decline.’
He was that heartless? She felt sickened as she rose to her feet and collected her purse. If she remained much longer in his company she’d say or do something regrettable.
‘Thank you for dinner.’ Politely spoken words that lacked sincerity.
Rafe lifted a hand and summoned the waiter. ‘I’ll see you to your car.’
‘That’s totally unnecessary,’ she responded stiffly, and began making her way towards the entrance.
She acknowledged the maitre d’, then stepped out onto the pavement, and she had only managed a few steps when a tall male frame drew level.
‘In such a hurry to escape?’ Rafe drawled, watching the play of street-lighting on her expressive features.
‘You got it in one.’
She reached the corner, turned, and walked as quickly as stiletto heels would allow.
Another block and a half, then she’d be free of him, and she almost counted off the seconds until her car was in sight.
‘Goodnight.’
He ignored the obvious dismissal and accompanied her to the small sedan, then stood waiting as she unlocked the door and slid in behind the wheel.
The ignition fired and she attempted to pull the door closed, only to have him hold it open as he leaned towards her.
‘Twenty-four hours, Danielle,’ Rafe reminded silkily. ‘Think carefully. You have much to gain, and everything to lose.’
Then he stood back, and she eased the car out of its parking space and into the flow of traffic.
Damn him. Who did he think he was, for heaven’s sake?
Don’t answer that, an inner voice prompted as she attempted to focus her attention on negotiating her way out of the inner city.
A marriage arranged to the mutual benefit of both partners wasn’t unheard of in this day and age.
The question was whether she could enter into such a business agreement with a man she professed to dislike.
A child. Her stomach muscles twisted into a painful knot at the thought of surrogacy. Rafe Valdez had given his verbal assurance she’d retain an active part in the child’s life after the divorce.
Was it too high a price to pay?
First, Danielle determined, she’d have a lawyer peruse Rafe’s written agreement.
Then she’d make a decision.
CHAPTER TWO
SEVERAL days later Danielle stood at Rafe Valdez’s side in an ornate gazebo situated in the gardens of his beautiful Toorak home and exchanged marriage vows directed by a celebrant in the presence of Ariane and Rafe’s lawyer, who acted as witnesses.
The previous week had passed in a blur, each day seemingly more hectic than the last as legal documents were signed and Ariane’s affairs brought to order pending the wedding itself.
Soon after signing the marriage certificate, Rafe Valdez would attach his signature to an affidavit authorising payment of all Ariane’s debts and the restoration of her previously sold assets.
Wealth was equated with power, and he’d used it ruthlessly to achieve his objective.
Danielle extended her hand for him to slip the wedding ring onto her finger, and her own hand shook slightly as she returned the tradition.
‘You may kiss the bride.’
She heard the words, experienced momentary panic as the man at her side cupped her face and covered her lips with his own in an evocative open-mouthed kiss that tugged at something deep inside.
Surprise caused her eyes to widen momentarily before she quickly lowered her lashes, forcing a smile as she accepted the celebrant’s voiced congratulations, closely duplicated by Ariane and Rafe’s lawyer.
Ariane’s hug conveyed maternal concern. The words had all been said, and it lent much to Danielle’s resolve that she’d managed to convince her mother that her decision to become Rafe Valdez’s wife was not born out of capricious insanity!
Now, however, she wasn’t so confident.
Bankruptcy had been averted, a considerable debt wiped, and precious d’Alboa possessions restored. All for a price.
One she was about to begin to pay for.
