Sooner or later, everyone sits down to a banquet of consequences - ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON

Alex paused and then blew out his breath to start over.

Hadn't she always been like this? Unaware and innocent of the chaotic effect her pure beauty ignited in the opposite sex.

"I think you'll find the food to your liking. You always liked French food."

Noticing the plate in front of her, she took a genuine whiff of pleasure and indulged in the creamy bouillabaisse and delicious mussels cooked in white wine.

Alex hadn't seen anyone enjoy food with such a sensual and childlike pleasure except her. All the women he'd gone out with had never been anything like her and had never turned out to be more than he'd expected.

But she... was one of a kind.

He had a tendency to forget himself and the surroundings around her. If the waiter hadn't come in at the right time, he would have been tearing into her till the sun rose and set again.

Alex once again, reminded himself that she was a selfish, heartless little witch who'd as soon as cut a man's heart out even as she bewitched him. But he was not going to fall under Cat's spell again. He promised himself that even as he started to feel the foundation shift from his feet.

She closed her eyes and sighed in pleasure as she tasted a mouthful of creamy broth. He concentrated on the erotic sound and the tempting way she licked her lips as his abs clenched in anticipation and his cock hardened.

Cat's attitude toward him had been charged with shock and tension until now. He remembered the look of complete surprise that he had seen on her face when she had entered his office. During their talk, all he could think about was her betrayal and how she had used him in the past. Bitterness and rage had fought for dominance over the raging lust he had experienced when she had said his name. Even after all these years, it galled him to know that Cat was the only one who instantly elicited such dark and crazed feelings from him.

It had been years since he'd laid eyes on her and when she'd simply disappeared without a trace he had fallen into a deep dark hole of drinking and partying hard. After all his best friend, his person had left him. Just like that. What choice did he have?

He remembered the nights he'd tried getting lost in some random female but hadn't even been able to control his dick that had cried out only for the unfeeling monster sitting in front of him.

As if nothing ever happened.

As if all my thoughts and worries about Cat being alive or dead were for nothing.

He'd searched for her for years after he'd gained control of Knight Inc but to no avail. He'd known someone from the Department of Defense was coming when Claire had informed him about the appointments that week. When his right-hand man Jason had informed him about his contacts recognizing the girl he'd been looking for so long landing in New York, he'd ordered Jase to investigate her further. Alex wanted to know where the hell she'd been all these years.

Why the fuck had she left?

Liar.

When he'd first turned around to meet those feral eyes back in his office Alex had felt a rush of such intense desire swamp him that he'd barely controlled himself. It'd felt as though he'd been somehow transported back to that day in class when he'd first laid eyes on her. That first day when he wasn't even supposed to have been in that Psych Class.

That first day, it had literally hurt to look at her. She was so enchantingly beautiful that it'd made his chest ache with deep longing and something foolishly like...home. But then he'd made some flippantly ridiculous remark and she'd looked at him with annoyance and secret awareness and he'd known. Even then, he'd known that he had to have her.

Now she looked even more beguiling than ever. Her slim teenage figure had ripened into a luscious body. Her sweet, pouty lips looked so soft and kissable that all he could think about was ripping off that inky dark dress and kiss her till all she could feel, taste, touch, and think about was him.

Only me.

Then he'd bury himself so deep inside her that she wouldn't know where he began and she ended. Feeling his erection chafing his trousers, Alex fixated on all the answers he had to have and soon. But first he'd like a little revenge. Alex would personally see to it that her night ended much the same way her day had begun.

After all, that was what friends were for.

"So this is what I propose Catrina, you'll be evaluating my company and give a favorable report when you find everything up to par. But in the time it takes you to finish your report, we will pick up from where we left off."

"What do you mean?" She inhaled sharply.

Twisting a little so that his face was half in the shadows and half visible in the candlelight Alex gave her a sly grin.

"C'mon Cat. Drop that holier-than-thou act. You know exactly what I mean."

Seeing the stunned look on Cat's face, Alex felt a twinge of guilt for a moment, but he quashed it down ruthlessly when he remembered the night she'd left without any explanations.

Remember the rage and helplessness.

"It's payback time and you know what a fickle bitch she is."

"Look, I know you may find this surprising, but whatever happened in the past... is just that. I think we should move on and focus on our present relationship. I-I mean the present job that I am doing... for your company."

He loved watching her flustered reaction. Much to his surprise, she blushed at her gaffe.

"Yes, I know how much you'd like to forget the past, as you put it. But I'm sure you'll also agree that there are things still left unresolved between us. And however much you deny facing them now, it will only become that much harder," He stared at her pinkened cheeks and the way it made him want to reach out and touch to see whether her flesh felt as warm and soft as he imagined.