Page 83 of Brutal Heir

“The other guy offered us one hundred diamonds for our money.”

I shrugged, adjusting my cuff. “Then you were being cheated.” I nodded toward the diamonds. “Those are five-carat diamonds of the highest quality. If you wanted stones with lower clarity, you should have bothered one of the mid-range dealers and not wasted my time.”

The man who first spoke placed a restraining hand on the other man’s chest. “We meant no insult, sir. We’ll take the diamonds.”

I rose and stepped toward the door. “Very good. Our business is now concluded. One of my guards will show you off the plane.”

The man frowned. “Don’t you want to count the money?”

I turned my head. “Do I need to?”

His chest pushed out. “No, it’s all there.”

“Then no.” I nodded. “Gentlemen.”

As the door closed behind them, I allowed myself a brief exhale before heading to the lounge.

* * *

I found Sabrina sitting ramrod straight on the edge of the sofa with an empty glass and a full tray of food before her.

Sitting, I draped an arm over the sofa behind her. “Do I need to start hand-feeding you?”

She stared straight ahead. “Are you taking me back to the main terminal now?”

I ran my hand along her back in soothing circles. “Not yet. We haven’t talked.”

Her shoulders tightened, but she didn’t move away. “So talk.”

I rose and held out my hand. “Over lunch. I’m starved.”

Her gaze moved from my face to my hand and back. “And if I say I’m not hungry?”

“If you weren’t interested in having lunch with me…I’d be forced to assume you were interested in a different…activity.”

At my insinuation, she shot out of her seat. “My appetite has suddenly returned.”

Escorting her to the dining area, I chuckled. “I thought it might.”

As expected, the table was set with pressed white linen, delicate china plates with the Diamanti family crest in gold at their center, and crystal glasses. I pulled Sabrina’s chair out for her before taking my seat at the head of the table.

She folded her hands primly in her lap. “Once I eat lunch, I’m leaving.”

I lifted one eyebrow. “Don’t you want to hear my job proposal?”

She mimicked my facial expression and lowered her voice to match my pitch. “I’ve heard your job”—she lifted her hands and made air quotes around the word job—“proposal.”

I leaned my elbow on the back of my chair and turned to face her. “Cute. You know you have the distinction of being the very first person to not jump at the opportunity to work for the House of Diamanti.”

She reached for a bread roll. Tearing off a piece, she shrugged. “I’m not saying I don’t want to work for the House of Diamanti. I mean, obviously, it would be a dream job. I’m saying I don’t want to work for you.”

I pointed to my chest. “Moi? I’m a delight to work for.”

She ticked items off on her fingers. “Micromanages, impossibly high standards, icy demeanor, zero tolerance for mistakes, manipulative⁠—”

“I thought you were going to list my bad qualities,” I quipped as I snatched the roll out of her hand and tore a bite off with my teeth.

She snatched the roll back. “Is Diamanti your real name?”