Valeria smirked. Her mother had taken it upon herself to make her a strong woman, even if sometimes, like at that instant, she did not measure her words. “Let me get this straight, Mrs. Bennet. This is what exactly for you? A wager against your son... or against me?” she asked. “No, my dear, this is a desperate attempt to see joy and sexiness walk down these halls again!” Layla assured her. “But you can call it whatever you want. The point is that if in three months you turn out to be just another one of those submissive designers then—” “Then I'm no good to you,” Valeria finished. “Ok, I accept the deal.” She stood up and extended her hand with determination. “Really? Are you sure?” Layla seemed afraid to get too excited. “On one condition: If I am going to confront your son, I must at least have your support. Otherwise, he can fire me whenever he wants.” “Don't worry,” Layla smiled. “I have a special contract waiting for someone like you. Take everything to Human Resources. I'

He was going to explode. Nick felt as if he couldn't fit into the suit he was wearing due to the helplessness he was feeling. That girl was shameless. And she had left him unable to say anything else! Him! He went to his desk and furiously pressed the intercom button on the phone. “Oli!” That scream through the phone made the girl jump in her seat. “Yes?” “Get me Valeria Williams' contract right now!” “Right away, sir.” What Oli found when she opened the office door was far worse than a caged lion, so she put down the contract and almost ran out. Nick was fuming out of his ears. That insolent... shameless... brazen... girl! How dare she threaten to sue him! He just felt like choking her with his own hands... like this... around that neck... just above the chest... that chest... “Fuck, Nick, get a grip on yourself!” he chastised himself internally and sat down calmly, very calmly, to review that damned contract. Ten minutes later, his shout came over the intercom again: “Oli!”

It would have been a lie to say that the slap hadn’t hurt, that unruly girl had a heavy little hand, but the tears running down her cheeks caused a greater impact on him. They were tears of sincere and silent rage, the kind that overflowed and destroyed what was in front of it, and he knew it perfectly well because his was exactly the same. Valeria did not say another word. She left that office crying, leaving him with the horrible feeling that he had made a big mistake, that he had done something wrong, very wrong. He took some time to cool off. He had to calm down because in the last week he had completely lost control. What the hell was happening to him? He wasn't like that! And she wasn't the first easy woman to cross his path. So what was exactly bothering him so much about her? He paced around the office, rubbing the back of his neck with one hand, and saw the folder Valeria had brought him with the designs lying in the corner. He hadn't even seen them properly the first time

Nick closed his eyes. She was absolutely delicious. He could feel the heat rising up her body, tingling in his fingertips when he touched her. She felt small against him. Her body gave off an exquisite smell, and her sex felt hot even through the fabric. He slipped his tongue into her mouth and heard her stifle a moan, but it was obvious she was enjoying that kiss. She wasn't wearing a bra under her pajamas and Nick could feel every instinct awaken in him all at once as she pressed against his body. “Val...” he murmured. Kissing her, having her... it felt like it was the right time, the right place, the right woman... but she wasn't! She wasn't the right woman... not for him. Nick stopped that kiss before things got out of hand. He picked her up, standing up as he turned away from Valeria, and without even saying goodbye, reached for the door and left. Valeria stood in the middle of her kitchen. Trying to analyze what had just happened. Did she even like Nick Bennet? She put a hand

Valeria had never been to a fashion show for distributors before, but it was obvious that it was considered a very important event, because twenty-four hours earlier they had put a huge clock with a countdown in the middle of the Design Studio break room and the real commotion began. The models were going back and forth, the Production girls were fitting everyone, and the designers were doing last minute alterations. Valeria and Oli looked at each other excitedly that they had both been asked to participate. All they talked about was Andrew Davies and the multimillion-dollar contracts that his visit always represented. He was one of the most coveted distributors by any design studio because his department stores were in more than fifty countries. “Are you ready for this?” Oli asked, adjusting Valeria's beautiful wide-sleeved blouse. “Are you ready?” “The worst thing that can happen to me is getting fired. You, on the other hand...” laughed Oli. “The CEO will choke me with his bar