Free Leah's Seduction: 5 (Gianni and Leah - Leah's Seduction) by Emily Jane Trent Page B

its sensual trimmings, had been inevitable. Yet he was haunted by misgivings. The intimacy of the scenes shared in such a setting, and the power of the encounters, was not to be taken lightly.
    If it had destroyed one woman, it could as easily be the end of another. Yet Leah was right. She was different. She wasn’t Ava. The other woman’s fragility was not part of Leah’s makeup, and her tolerance was greater.
    Yet Leah had vowed she loved Gianni, just as Ava had so long before. What love entailed, or how to deal with it, was not nearly as easy as playing out a scene. Emotions ran high with both. Would Leah be able to deal with fiery sex, free of restraint, and still be able to protect her heart?
    Gianni didn’t want to hurt her. That had never been his intention. His concern was that his urge to push boundaries, to blend pain with pleasure, would overpower and eventually crush Leah. He was going to have to do things right this time, and swore he would control the situation to avoid another tragedy.
    *****
    Although distracted with thoughts of Leah, his company demanded his attention. The next day, Gianni returned to the showroom, to business as usual. Messages had piled up. He received multiple solicitations every week from designers seeking representation.
    Many things had to be taken into consideration. The designer’s account base and brand recognition were as important as the product. Buyer relationships were the core of Gianni’s business, and took years to build.
    A designer that GR Showroom contracted with had to be able to meet deadlines, and create fashions that aligned with current trends. Gianni and his team worked hard, and put the company’s reputation on the line every time they put their name behind a brand.
    Gianni had asked Joshua to contact Brandon Sherwood, the CEO of Natalie Baker Designs, to request an electronic press kit, and photos of the designs with pricing, along with social media handles to be used for promotion.
    At the show where Gianni had seen Natalie’s designs modeled, he had pretty much decided he wanted to showcase her latest creations. He knew her lines were doing well internationally, and were just now appearing in New York.
    Timing was everything. Gianni intended to secure a contract with Natalie Baker as soon as possible to include her creations in the fall/winter show. The event would showcase the designs for next winter. The early deadline allowed buyers to place orders, and get them into the stores, before customers needed them for the cold weather. If things moved quickly, he could introduce the fashions before the show, and get some advance press.
    The brands GR Showroom represented often became trendsetters, and were frequently mentioned in the media. Gianni had an eye for the freshest contemporary lines, and was known for giving East Coast buyers what they searched for.
    The day of the meeting, Natalie wore one of her own creations. Gianni recognized it from the photos that had been sent over. It was a light blue suit of stretchy fabric that moved with her body. It was a good example of the type of comfortable fashions in her line, a style that women desired.
    Gianni’s secretary showed Natalie and Brandon into the conference room, and he joined them promptly. Introductions were made. He complimented Natalie on her talent, which he sincerely meant. She seemed a little nervous, which Gianni understood.
    This could be quite an opportunity for her. Fortunately, Gianni wanted her fashions adorning his showroom as much as she wanted to see them there.
    They were quickly on a first-name basis, and Gianni proceeded to discuss the details of the arrangement. He kept it casual, seeing no need for an overly formal atmosphere. “I think you know how impressed I am with your work, Natalie.”
    “I’m flattered,” she said. Gianni was not one to overlook beauty. With her long brown hair and dark eyes, Natalie was an attractive woman. She was slender and wore the designer