Free Heart Matters by tani shane

sensuous, bringing out the
woman behind the clothes. I especially like your blend of the
Western and Oriental designs.” He paused, having surprised her with
his keen observation on her. He had done his research on her and
had assessed her style accurately. “You have great potential,
Jessica and that’s why I’m willing to consider a business
relationship with you. Here’s my proposal.”
    He moved his chair sideways, frowning
thoughtfully while keeping his eyes on her. “Let me be frank with
you. I believe in mergers. I want to make your company an integral
part of Hart Incorporated. You can retain your name but you will
essentially be a part of a larger group. I will finance the
production and the marketing. In return, you lend me your name,
your designing skills and of course, we share the profits. But I’m
concerned about one simple thing.” He eyes watched her closely.
“You have a lot of enemies in the business, Jessica, enemies who
are out to get you. What will happen if they strike again? I can’t
afford to lose out on investments that I make.”
    Jessica felt a nervous gnaw in the pit of
her stomach but kept her chin up defiantly. “If you are referring
to the fire that gutted my manufacturing unit, I must tell you that
it cannot be ascertained to be deliberate. The short was a case of
human negligence.”
    “It could also be made to look like human
negligence,” he observed astutely.
    She nodded. “Yes but it has not been
proven.”
    “That makes no difference to me. I’m sorry
if I sound like a pessimist but that’s the way I choose to look at
it.”
    His resolute attitude annoyed her but she
struggled to keep her calm. “Well then you should know that’s why I
approached ‘Hart Inc.’ I have come to understand that your mere
presence keeps enemies at bay.”
    Steven gave an involuntary smile that sent a
warm rush through her. “I seem to have quite a reputation, don’t I?
‘Mean Boy of a Mean Age.’ ‘Cross Your Hart and Hope to Die.’
Oh, yes, newspapers have coined some interesting phrases about me
but I stand unimpressed. I am not a vulture, Jessica. When someone
goes bankrupt, I get to shoulder the blame. I don’t forcibly take
over small firms. When their owners can no longer run them, they
come to me. I take a risk each time I buy one of these indistinct
names but I guess I’m always lucky. I turn them into successful
businesses and make a fat profit. That is what annoys my
critics.”
    He shook his head absently as though
dismissing a vague thought. “However, I’m not invincible, Jessica.
And I’m certainly not stupid. I weigh my pros and cons before I go
through with a deal and hence this apprehension.” He leaned back, a
preoccupied frown on his face. “Did you have the fire
investigated?”
    “Yes, of course”
    “And?” he prompted.
    “And they came up with nothing. There
weren’t any witnesses. It happened after two in the night. The
security men didn’t see anything suspicious.”
    “What was the cause?”
    “A short circuit in the pantry. Someone left
the hotplate on. The whole place went up in flames and was reduced
to ashes. The dress materials I use are expensive silks, organza
and satin. These materials light up easily and result in extensive
flames. The investigation team has proof of foul play. The
insurance company obviously thinks I had something to do with it.
But they don’t have concrete evidence.”
    The frown on his face deepened. For a long
time he said nothing then queried slowly, “Do you suspect
someone?”
    She shrugged noncommittally, wondering if
she should discuss her suspicions with him. After Jeff had sown the
seeds of doubt in her mind she had done some investigation of her
own and come up with one possible suspect. She looked at Steven
dubiously then decided to confide in him. After all if she wanted
him to accept her proposal she had to trust him. “I think ‘La Belle
Shari’ had something to do with it,” she divulged