Page 12 of Scarred Ruin

I lifted my glass of whiskey. “Guilty as charged.”

Isabel studied me as she’d already done before, only with even more scrutiny. At least she offered me her hand. “Isabel Dayne and you are Maxsim Aristov. But I assume you already knew who I was.”

Her handshake was firm, her expression challenging.

“What an honor for you to know all about me.”

“Hardly,” she said with some disdain in her tone. While she didn’t try to remove her hand immediately, I sensed both a growing sense of desire much like I was experiencing along with a substantive need to break the connection.

Perhaps before it was too late.

I allowed her to pull away, believing she still had control of her small world even after colliding with mine.

“I’ve yet to have the time to discover the real reason you’re involved with a project of this magnitude and nature.”

“Are you suggesting I have a hidden agenda?”

She enjoyed a sip of bubbly before answering. I’d give her credit in that not only was she highly intelligent, but she was also thoughtful in the words chosen. “Let’s just say I’m very curious what a man involved in international logistics would want in spending time creating a medical facility designed for very sick children and their families.”

I moved toward the sketches I’d known immediately she’d done. In speaking with the owners of Graham Taylor, I’d been provided with examples of work from every architect. Her designs had immediately caught my eyes as they had with my brother, Roman.

While there’d been no names associated at the time, he’d brought my attention to them when we’d been narrowing down our choices.

Long before the nightmare had begun.

Whether or not she realized how connected her life had become with mine had yet to be seen. I wasn’t ready to explain the truth behind what many thought was an odd shift within my business. Even though I had desire running through my veins, Isabel had yet to earn my trust.

I felt her presence beside me seconds later and heard the slight hitch of her breath.

“These aren’t supposed to be at this event.” Her admittance wasn’t surprising. I’d already gathered a sense she was a perfectionist.

“If it’s any consolation, they are incredible.”

“They were done with nothing but memories in mind, Mr. Aristov. A primer. At the time I drew them, I had no idea the contract for the project had been signed and that I’d been assigned the task. In fact, I’d been under the assumption I was being given time to decide whether or not I was the right person for the job. But since you already know why additional time was taken for a decision to be made, that would make me assume you used my absence to your benefit.”

The fire swirling within her was palpable, which served as the perfect fuel for the increasing hunger furrowing in my loins. Did she happen to notice the thick bulge underneath my perfectly tailored Italian tuxedo jacket?

“In your discovery of who I am, Isabel, one thing you’ll notice very quickly is that I don’t do anything behind the scenes or without providing an incentive to those involved in my business. That’s simply not how I operate.” I chose not to address the night in question.

That was a topic held in private over a bottle of wine.

“An interesting level of arrogance than I’d expected, Mr. Aristov, but nothing stated so far will dissuade my concern that I’m not the architect for the job.”

“What would make you think otherwise, and please call me Maxsim.”

Her heavy sigh indicated she’d expected to rile me enough to discuss the shooting. “Experience for one, Mr. Aristov.”

I gathered more than a hint of irritation in her voice. She didn’t like being coerced into doing anything she didn’t want or believe in.

“From what I’ve ascertained, your experience makes you highly qualified for the job. With money being no hindrance, you are free to create a top tier medical facility unmatched by another in this country or anywhere else.”

She turned on her heel toward me, her light green eyes flashing with a hint of the anger residing deep within. The woman didn’t impress easily either.

“While I certainly can appreciate a man of your… stature being willing to provide funds for the project, there is much more than just money that goes into thinking, planning, and designing something of this magnitude. Let alone the reality of building something that will be medically sound in providing everything the professionals need to do their jobs while allowing for comfort. Child patients are often terrified of what they are forced to go through every single day. Of medical professionals who treat sick children as little adults, refusing to explain what in the hell is happening to them. Of their surroundings, which are too often bleak, highlighting pain and death instead of joy.”

While she took a deep breath, she turned her head briefly.

But not before I noticed tears in her eyes. A weakness she clearly didn’t want me to witness. If she’d wanted to chill me to the bone, she’d succeeded, but not for the reason she hoped.