Yesterday.
And this induced coma? he pressed.
It was only overnight until they were sure there wasnt any brain damage. Shes awake and the doctors are optimistic shes out of the woods.
Javier exhaled. He released his death grip on his phone when the plastic creaked. I should be wheels up in an hour but Id appreciate frequent updates on her condition.
Youre coming to Italy? Dracos voice expressed surprise.
Javier snapped up his briefcase shut and headed for the door. Considering how much Ive invested in our mutual client, I believe a personal interest in her recovery is well within my rights. Ill see you in seven hours.
He hung up and walked past his PAs desk.
Cancel all my appointments until further notice.
She opened her mouth then immediately shut it.
In his limo minutes later, he tried to wrestle his fury under control.
So what if Carla Nardozzi had rejected him in a way only the father whod barely acknowledged his existence had done? After years of biding his time, hed finally found a way to get his own back. The Ice Princess would be taught a salutary lesson. All he needed was to ensure she got back on her feet in order for him to deliver the punishment she truly deserved.
His emotions had nothing to do with this.
This was a matter of business. And of his pride.
Nothing else.
* * *
Carla tried to lift her head off the pillow and was immediately engulfed in a fog of pain and confusion.
No, signorina, dont try and move.
She relaxed, and the pain receded a touch. But the confusion remained. Shed been sure she was dreaming. And yet the voices and images flitting through her mind had been so vivid, so real.
Her fathers voice had been unmistakeable. Hed been there the few times shed woken up in the strange, sterile room.
But it was the other, deeper voice shed heard the last time shed woken that confused her and made her heart race. The change in the lighting suggested shed fallen asleep some time after hearing him.
By all accounts that voice didnt belong here...wherever this cold, grey here was.
The last time theyd met, hed been icily indifferent, a ruthless businessman intent on one thinggetting her to sign along the dotted line.
Or at least, he had been...until hed had her exactly where he wanted her. Until that kiss.
Like a blurred lens swinging into sharp focus, the memory of the kiss burned bright and insistent. Along with the recollection of the way hed looked at her afterward.
Javier Santino had looked at her with pure hatred. And she didnt blame him. After what shed done three years ago, he had every right to detest her. It didnt help that her will power withered away to nothing in his presence. But since that unfortunate day a month ago, shed summoned enough strength to assure herself nothing would happen.
Javier hated her. Shed dealt his ego a great blow. And a ruthlessly powerful and charismatic man like that would never forget an insult to his pride.
Which bemused her as to why hed kissed her in the first place.
Or had she kissed him...?
Memory blurred and confusion remounted. Carla lifted her hand to her head. Tracing her fingers gingerly over a particularly sore spot, she gasped as pain ricocheted through her. A dull throb in her other wrist brought her attention to the fact that it was in a cast.
Where am I? she attempted, swallowing painfully around a dry throat.
The buxom woman bustling around her paused and Carla noticed her nurses uniform for the first time. In a private hospital in Roma, she replied, smiling her sympathy. You suffered a bad fall and a particularly nasty concussion.
Of course. Memories of her accident resurged. The row with her father. Then with her trainer, Tyson Blackwell. Her instincts screaming at her in the moments before the accident to walk away. Then the sickening twist and the ice rushing towards her, one arm out in front of her in a vain attempt to break her fall.
She curled her fist and rested it in her lap. How long have I been here?
Three days. Youve been asleep for most of the time since you came out of surgery, but its great that youre healthy. Youll be on the mend soon. Ill get the doctor now, then you can visit with your family. Theyve been quite anxious to see you awake.
They? she echoed, puzzled. Her father was her only family. Had been since... Carla swallowed as tears pierced her eyelids, surprising her.
She hadnt cried since that fateful night when she was ten years old. Shed known then that tears would earn her nothing but a sharp tongue and dire punishment and had quickly wised up.
Sì, the nurse responded. Your papà has been here throughout. He left about an hour ago, just before your young man arrived. Hes been haunting the halls ever since his arrival. The older woman cast her a sly glance. Youre lucky to have such a passionate man in your life.
I...what...?
The nurse patted her hand. Dont fret. The doctor will be here soon. She exited, leaving Carla in a deeper state of confusion than before.
Pull yourself together.
Grabbing the remote that adjusted the bed, Carla slowly raised herself up, just as the doctor arrived.
Signorina Nardozzi, its good to see you awake.
Carla nodded a reply, then lay there patiently as she was checked over, the fog clearing with each passing second, and with it a heart heavy with foreboding and regret.
The accident had happened because shed been fleeing her demons. Pushing herself beyond her endurance in light of what her father had done and their ongoing rowing. Finally understanding why hed been even more callously demanding these past few months had done nothing to alleviate the pain lodged beneath her breast.
She had well and truly reached a crossroads with her father.
Carla forced herself to listen to the doctors prognosis. The state of her health was directly connected to her career. Despite the changes she intended to make, she needed to ensure her health remained optimal. The very roof over her head was dependent on it.
Your father mentioned youre eager to return to training? the doctor disclosed once hed reeled out his list of dos and donts. Your next figure-skating event is in two months, I believe?
Yes, she replied. It wasnt a championship event, but an important one nonetheless.
The portly man frowned. I advise against any form of training for a few weeks. Two weeks of total rest if you heal fast enough. Four weeks just to be on the safe side before you begin any strenuous exercise. Your wrist on the other hand will need a little longer than that.
What about publicity workphoto shoots and such? I have commitments to fulfil. Her contract with J Santino Inc. didnt include lying about in hospital beds. She was surprised Javier hadnt sent his lawyers after her already considering the stringent clauses in her contract.
The doctors frown deepened. I strongly recommend that you take at least two weeks without any stress on your body. After that, perhaps if you agree to engage private care
Carla shook her head. That wont be necessary. I can take care of myself
Shell have private care from the day shes released. You have my word on that, Doctor.
Carlas breath caught in her throat at the deep voice that preceded the sleek, powerfully built man who entered the room.
Carlas breath caught in her throat at the deep voice that preceded the sleek, powerfully built man who entered the room.
So...she hadnt been dreaming after all.
Javier approached. From the top of his dark wavy hair to the tip of his handmade designer shoes, he commanded a formidable, absorbing presence that reduced the rest of the rooms occupants to mere spectators as his intense, dark brown eyes locked on her.
Tongue-tied, she watched him approach with measured, self-assured strides until his broad shoulders filled her vision.
What are you doing here? Her vocal cords, rough from disuse, rasped the words.
Javiers eyebrows arched, his gaze cuttingly cynical. News of your terrible accident has been all over the media. Your adoring fans are camped outside the hospital. You think me so uncaring that I would stay away at a time like this?
His voice was smooth. Deep and warm and beautifully nuanced with inflections from his Spanish mother tongue. Mesmerising enough to disguise the vein of cruel cynicism to anyone but her.
Carla heard it loud and clear. It cut right to the heart of her. But she refused to look away. Whatever Javier intended for herhed spent the better part of a year dangling the lucrative sponsorship carrot in front of her father just so he could get to her, after allshe would face it head-on. Shed spent far too long bowing her head down. It might have taken her the best part of twenty-four years to stand up for herself. But she was done taking orders from anybody. A part of her regretted that it had taken this long, that her actions might have caused ripples shed never be able to reverse, but it was better late than never.
Thank you for your concern, but, as you can see, Im in private consultation with my doctor, so if youd excuse me?
A nervous throat cleared. Im sorry, signorina, but I understood from your father that Mr Santino was permitted to be here, the doctor offered.
She forced her gaze to remain on Javiers. The permission wasnt my fathers to give.
Tense silence descended on the room. Javiers eyes gleamed, an almost unholy relish in the mahogany depths before one corner of his mouth lifted. Are you suggesting the doctor throw me out, Carla? Or are you not up to dealing with me right now?
Her stomach hollowed, the unspoken threat in the words gnawing at her. Im up to dealing with anything. I just dont think this is the right time or place. Perhaps you could come back later. Or never.
His jaw flexed. I could, but why bother? I think what the doctor was trying to say was that you need further rest when you leave here. In light of whats happened, Im prepared to suspend any commitments to J Santino Inc. until youre well enough to commence your sponsorship duties. Youll also have round-the-clock care by medical professionals.
The doctor nodded eagerly. Thats a very wise decision
Thats very generous of you, but I wont be needing your help with my recuperation, she bit out, hiding her shock that Javier would be prepared to go to such lengths to help her recovery. She didnt doubt he had his motives for his overt generosity, but they were none she intended to subject herself to.
She held her breath as he moved closer to the bed. She was forced to tilt her head up to look at him; her head swam as the magnitude of his persona hit her full force.
You may have forgotten the small print in the contract you signed, Carla, so Ill refresh your memory. It included my company, and therefore me, being made aware of and taking steps to ameliorate any new medical issues that might adversely affect our agreement. You being out of commission for several weeks has the potential to reflect badly on our association. Unless I choose to be...magnanimous.
Carla managed to pry her gaze from the sensual mouth that dripped poison onto her skin. Im sorry that my accident inconveniences you.
Its unfortunate, yes, but Im willing to work with you provided you dont resort to stubbornness. Or perhaps you wish me to get my lawyers to pry that information from the hospital administrators?
How dare you? she breathed.
Javiers narrow-eyed gaze flicked to the doctor and nurse who watched them with unabashed curiosity. If youve finished, Doctor, perhaps I can speak to Miss Nardozzi in private? You have my assurance that well reach agreement about the best way forward for her aftercare.
Carlas heart climbed into her throat as the doctor nodded almost reverently before leaving, trailed by the nurse, who most unwillingly pried her eyes from Javiers body.
The moment the door shut behind them, the private hospital room shrank. Every inch of her focus zeroed in on the man who stood watching her in utter, dread-inducing silence, dark eyes piercingly intense.
Slowly, inexorably, his gaze wandered over her, lingering in places that made her breath catch.
She became hyperaware of the thin, insubstantial hospital gown and blanket that covered her body. The almost debilitating weakness in her limbs that had nothing to do with her health and everything to do with how this man made her feel just by being in the same room as her.
Itd been that way from the moment they met, three years ago, in Miami. The weekend from hell was firmly engraved in her mind. A naive twenty-one-year-old, striking out against the rigours that battened her down. A dangerously captivating man whod represented the exact opposite of the caution she shouldve exercised that night, hed been like a blazing comet in her dark world.
Except with morning had come the brutal realisation that shed risked much more than her independence.
Suddenly you have nothing to say?
I have plenty to say, she rasped through a painful throat. But you seem to be in the mood to throw your weight about. I thought Id just wait until you tire yourself out.
A grim smile chased across his lips. Have you forgotten, cara? I dont tire very easily. Especially when it comes to the things Im passionate about.
Raw heat replaced the weakness in her limbs, firing her blood and making her head pound.
He advanced a few final steps, and stared down at her. Then he reached for the water jug on her bedside table. Still keeping his eyes on her, he poured a glass of water, inserted a handy straw and held it to her lips.
Drink.
She wanted to refuse. But her throat hurt. She was beyond thirsty. And getting back on her feet as quickly as possible was imperative. She couldnt begin to take control of her life from a hospital bed.
She dropped her gaze from his imperious regard, and parted her lips. Sucking on the straw, she drew the cool water into her mouth and shuddered with relief as the soothing liquid assuaged her ravaged throat.
He let her draw another mouthful, then he pulled the straw away. Take it easy, you dont want to make yourself ill again.
The sound that emerged from her throat felt blissfully less abrasive. Your audience is gone. Please stop pretending you care about my health.
He returned the glass to the nightstand. The state of your health is directly connected to the millions I stand to lose if you dont meet the terms of your contract. Trust me, theres no pretence on my part. Tell me what happened with your trainer.
Carla frowned as the unwanted memory sliced across her thoughts. Shed let her emotions get the better of her. Had refused to listen to her instincts even though shed known training with Tyson Blackwell had been a mistake. Hell, her agent and friend, Draco, had warned her repeatedly about Blackwell.