Free When Love Takes Over You by Norah C. Peters Page A

be
different to anything that’s every been done in Europe.”
     
    "Sounds exciting!" Susan did her best to
ignore her attraction to Mike and frowned in an effort to focus on
the business at hand. "I’m sure you’ve already had a good look at
my portfolio and you know what you can expect from me. I have a
well earned reputation for excellence and originality. Still, I do
need to know a little more about what you want to create. I’d like
to know who you want to appeal to, what they expect, that sort of
thing. So, when it comes to the interior design, what would you
like me to factor in?"
     
    Mike hopped out of his chair and looked out
the window at the city. "Susan, I need you to create an experience
so impressive, so jaw dropping that people can’t stop talking about
it. I want River Heights to be the number one choice for new money.
Think the opulence of The Dorchester and the style of The Ritz
rolled into one but even more exclusive. When I look out over this
city I see a desperate need for extreme exclusivity and privacy for
the ultra rich but they have nowhere to go. I aim to solve that
problem. With your help I can make this happen. One last thing, I
have a reputation for being an obsessive and compulsive maniac when
it comes to business. I’m sure you’ve heard about me already. “So,
let me be very clear. All the horror stories you’ve heard, they’re
all true. If you do great work you’ll make a lot of money and
cement your reputation as one of London’s top interior designers.
On the other hand, if you mess this up and make me look bad I’ll
destroy you. Got it?" Mike snarled and turned back from the window
to look Susan in the eye.
     
    Susan gulped, her hand shaking, she reached
for her glass and sipped on the water before taking a deep breath.
"Mike, there’s no need to be so blunt. As I already mentioned, I
have a well earned reputation for excellence and if that’s not good
enough for you we can end this meeting right now. I can deliver on
what you need but I have no intention of working with a client that
talks down to me or threatens me. Do I make myself clear?"
     
    Mike sat back down at the table and laughed,
"Good for you, Susan. I love working with people who can give as
good as they get. You’ve got fire in your belly, I like that. I’m
sure we’ll get along just fine. One question though, do I make you
nervous? You look a little tense."
     
    Susan felt her cheeks flush. "Of course not!
I’m just over caffeinated this morning. Don’t worry about it, I’m
fine, just fine. Anyway, I’ll go away and come up with some initial
ideas and talk to you again in a week’s time if that’s ok with
you."
     
    "Sounds good, Susan. Hey maybe we could meet
over coffee in Battersea. That way I can show you how I want the
development to fit in with the local environment."
     
    "Perfect. I shall look forward to it. Thank
you for your time and I look forward to meeting you next week."
Susan held out her hand and felt the warm strength of Mike’s hand
wrapped around her now relatively tiny hand. She felt her heart
leap as she looked into his blue eyes and wondered why he had such
a big smile on his face.
     
    * * *
     
    Susan sat, with her best friend Becky, by the
fire in her living room with glasses of Merlot in hand to wind down
after another hectic day at the office.
     
    Becky’s eyes twinkled in the light from the
blazing fire. "So, tell me, is Mike Forest as hot as he looks on
TV?"
     
    Susan beamed from ear to ear, "Actually, he’s
even hotter. It doesn’t sound very professional but I felt weak at
the knees when I walked into his office. He’s gorgeous, I mean,
drop dead gorgeous. I hope he didn’t notice but I barely heard a
word he said I was so distracted. We had a quick meeting and I had
to get out of there as soon as possible before I made a fool of
myself and said something silly."
     
    "That doesn’t sound like you at all, Susan.
It sounds like he made quite an impression on