Chapter 2

I started following them like a little pet they took out for a walk. I knew this would be a unique opportunity, so when I was called in, I accepted right away. I was tired of just bringing coffee or making calls when I already knew so much. I had grown within the company, doing a lot of work that wasn’t mine, and yet others got all the praise. The hotel in Las Vegas was full of businessmen, it was a new setting, and I could show that I was truly ready to move forward.

Then, I saw the two of them stop near the elevator while they talked more about how they would approach Ching. In the heated conversation, if there was something I admired, it was that they both had such contagious energy in the business world. For them, it was almost like a day in the park. They mastered every move to catch the big whales, as they called the large companies.

“The Chinese look for quality, they tend to be more certain about closing a deal if it's something familiar, especially since, for their culture, family is sacred.” I heard my voice speaking with the same enthusiasm as theirs. “Only two companies are big enough to get into this fight...”—I shrugged, watching their silent eyes staring at me. “Trank and Ozborne. From what I noticed, Trank wasn’t present at the second Chinese lecture, no one from the committee was there representing the company, which means we have an advantage by having this information first. Maybe, if we invite Mr. Chan for a business lunch, it will show him more about our infrastructure.” I dared lift my eyes to the two serious men looking at me, analyzing every word that left my lips. “And how the company has been growing in recent years, reaching our goals and objectives in record time, no other contractor finishes projects as fast as Ozborne. I’d suggest taking him straight to the Rooltes Casino, as it was our biggest deadline record on any continent, so he can see with his own eyes the work we did there in a matter of months.” Their eyes met as if they were having a silent conversation. Still, I gathered all the courage I had left, wanting to show them my point of view and prove that I wasn’t just the coffee girl. “And not in years, like most offer. We could offer a 5% discount on labor. No company offers a better deal, and even so, we won’t lose, since we make 45% on all the materials we buy. Exporting our material there would still leave us with a good profit. Not even Trank could offer something like this.”

I exhaled as the two big men in front of me looked at me with curiosity.

“How does an intern know so much about the company structure and the economics of materials percentages, Miss Alonso?” Bruce was the first to question me, turning his eyes to Tauro.

I couldn’t just tell him that I do the real work of his lazy secretary, so I simply squeezed the damn folder in my fingers, avoiding their gaze.

“I’m already in my final year of internship, Señor, I’ve learned a lot in the company.”

Bruce just shook his head, stretching his body more, making me feel like a bug in front of them. Tauro, with his arms crossed and his serious face, looked at me with his chest puffed out, making me wish I could disappear from their sight again. But I was tired of being just the small beta fish in that big sea. I was ready to be a shark.

“I think we should contact Mr. Chan’s team then.”

His deep voice, in a serious but not angry tone, spoke while looking at me with an intense gleam in his eyes. I could have sworn I almost saw a small smile forming on his square face.

“Actually, gentlemen, Chian was present at the fourth lecture, sitting next to me. We started talking after he asked to borrow my pen.”

“Your pen?” Tauro’s voice was polite, but I could sense a hint of sarcasm and insinuation.

“Yes, Señor, my pen!” I tried to keep my composure, going back to my arguments. “Chian Kong is Mr. Chan’s son. He was there listening to the progress of trade development in the south, so he invited me to lunch with him and...”

“Of course, what a surprise! The intern was flirting!” The dark eyes mocked me, almost as if he were angry. I didn’t understand why Señor Bruce was so unpleasant with me.

I almost squeezed that damn white throat out of anger so they would let me speak.

“Dios mio, cabrón!” I gritted my teeth, trying not to shout out of frustration. Of course, I wouldn’t tell the whole truth. After long minutes of fervently talking about the industrial market with the young Chinese man, he asked me if I’d be interested in a full-time position on the Chicago management committee of Ching Na.

“Why the hell did we bring this damn intern, Tauro?” And he turned his eyes to his cousin, glaring at me in anger. “If you call me a bastard again, I’ll put you on your knees and give you the slaps you keep asking for.”

My eyes widened as soon as he said that, and I could clearly see that he was serious about the slaps. His mouth twitched as he looked at me, almost burning me with his gaze.

“Because my lovely cousin, your brother, wanted to test our patience...” Tauro gritted his teeth, turning back to look at me, gesturing with his hands. “Continue your story, Miss Alonso!”

“Well, as I was saying, he invited me to lunch with him and his team. His father, Chan, will be present.” I turned my eyes to Bruce, glaring at him. “Immediately, I suggested it would be better at the Rooltes Casino and told him I’d bring my bosses with me!”

I finished speaking with pride, crossing my arms, puffing out my chest, and raising my face, staring at both of them. I didn’t enter this world to lose, I wanted to make that clear to them. A lightning bolt could strike me if I were to throw away my years of study, locked in a library, just to become the coffee girl.

“You little Latin devil!” It was the first time I saw Tauro giving me, even if crookedly, a form of praise. I smiled even more at both of them.

“We’ll have an advantage over Trank, we’ll take the whole whale, not just pieces. God, how this intern is Machiavellian.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment, Señor Bruce!”

Before he could argue, a group of businessmen pushed us when the elevator door opened. I felt a strong hand on my shoulder holding me up to prevent me from falling while pulling me inside, along with a second pair of hands on my waist. I almost got crushed when everyone piled in. And before the large door closed, I realized I was in the middle of the two biggest, most intimidating, and damned sexy men invading my dreams. Tauro let his fingers slide over my arms as if he were calming me down. I didn’t even make an effort to distance myself from him. The scent of the man completely overwhelmed me as his large, firm, and rough hands slid up and down. My fingers were splayed on his chest. I could feel the firmness and solidity of that delicious pectoral.

“Are you okay, little one?” His low voice, near my ear, was like hot air in front of an ice cream: I melted quickly.

“Yes, Señor...” I whispered softly, clearing my throat.

“Well... very good, we don’t want our little devil to get hurt, do we?”