Free If You Want It (BDSM Billionaire Erotic Romance) (If You Dare Book 2) by Evelyn Troy Page A

possible so that she could show Armando all of the paperwork, facts and figures he needed to see. She had only spoken to him on the telephone, but the impression he gave was one of quiet professionalism, and Zoe was determined to leave him feeling impressed with both the company and her.
     
    She called down to the hotel lobby and asked that a car and driver be ready for her in ten minutes time and then spent a couple of minutes making sure that she had all of the relevant paperwork together to take with her. After a quick last look in the full length mirror, Zoe made her way to the lobby by way of the elevator; the uniformed male member of staff inside it giving her a blatant look up and down before throwing a cheeky wink her way.
     
    Zoe arrived at the Ritz Carlton and looked up at the impressive building when she got out of the car. She didn’t know what she was more surprised about; the sheer size and opulence of the hotel before her, or the fact that she wasn’t as surprised by it as she would have been just a few short months earlier. She had become so used to staying at fancy hotels and eating at lavish restaurants that they didn’t seem to faze her anymore.
     
    She straightened her skirt and made her way into the building and the fine dining restaurant it housed, giving her name to the maître d’ and following him to the table she had booked to await Armando Delacourt’s arrival. Zoe ordered a glass of water and opened up her briefcase, retrieving the papers she was going to need and laying them out neatly on the table and giving them a quick once-over even though she’d already done that numerous times before.
     
    A few minutes later, she watched with interest as the maître d’ escorted an olive-skinned gentleman to her table. Now that is some serious eye candy, she thought, as she took in his swarthy good looks and muscular physique. She smiled as she got to her feet and extended her hand. “Mr. Delacourt?” The man engulfed her small hand in his much larger one. “I’m Zoe. Thank you so much for meeting with me today.”
     
    “The pleasure is all mine, Zoe, and please, call me Armando.” His voice was as sexy as the rest of him; all husky accent and smooth as melted chocolate. Oh boy, why did this have to be a business meeting , she couldn’t help thinking. Armando pushed the chair in under Zoe as she retook her seat, and then he took the chair opposite her, looking around with a slight frown on his handsome face.
     
    Zoe felt nerves kick in. He didn’t look impressed for some reason and she felt that his first impression of her wasn’t necessarily a good one. “Is everything alright, Armando?” She managed to keep all trace of her nervousness from her voice, much to her relief. “I can see if I can get us a different table if you’d prefer?” Please say no, she mentally willed him, this table was almost impossible to get in the first place.
     
    Armando shook his head. “This table is fine. I’m just not a fan of talking business over dinner. It’s a little too formal for me.” He smiled at her and she felt a little flutter of awareness in the pit of her stomach. “Let us eat first and then discuss our options afterwards, yes?” His lilting voice was enough for her to agree to anything he wanted and Zoe was quite shocked when she came to the self-realization that she really did mean anything.
     
    “That sounds like a good idea to me.” She nodded at the waiter and he brought menus across to their table, taking their drinks order and then departing with an efficient nod. Zoe spent the time they waited for their meals to be brought to them by clearing away the papers and folders she had laid out, placing them back in her briefcase and hiding her sigh of frustration. She had to think of a way to get this meeting back on track or Dawson was going to be pissed off at her.
     
    Their meal arrived and the two of them made polite conversation while eating, laughing at impersonal jokes