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Others would probably think the woman had it coming, Pippi ruminated, but where she was concerned, it was always the rich men that were to blame. Her father, a Chicago-based millionaire, was a prime example of that, and so had been all the failed past loves of her great-aunts.

Thinking about the Jones curse had Pippi gnashing her teeth as always, and she found herself stomping down the rest of the hallway. In her vexed mood, the beautiful artworks that lined the marbled walls lost its power to entrance her, and she might as well as be deaf to the musical magnificence of Franz Schubert'sQuartettsatz in C Minor,which played softly in the background.

Upon reaching the double French doors at the end of the hallway, Pippi made sure to school her expression into one of impersonal efficiency. She could already feel a sea of shyness welling up inside of her, threatening to wash away her ability to be rational and coherent, but she managed to hold on to her control.

Just play it cool like you always do, Pippi reminded herself.Don't give him the smallest opportunity to strike a conversation, and you'll be on your way out before you know it.

Gazing at the doors' panes of frosted glass, she debated whether to knock or use the discreet-looking metal buzzer next to the door entry monitor. Or maybe she should call Reception—-

One of the doors suddenly opened, and she hastily put her professional smile on, thinking it would either be Mr. Simonides' housekeeper or butler.

But instead, she got...Acheron Simonides himself.

"Mr. Simonides!"His name flew out of her mouth in an unplanned and embarrassingly shrill fashion, with Pippi being caught off guard by the CEO's unexpected appearance.

It was her first time to see him up close, and Pippi struggled not to stare at him in dumbstruck silence.Wow. And because no better word came to mind, she found herself thinking again.Wow.Just...wow.

It was rare for Pippi to be so easily bowled over by a man's looks, but even she knew Acheron Simonides wasn't anyone's average kind of handsome. Silky black hair, chiseled features that seemed to have been carved from the same mold as Greek gods, and a ruggedly muscular body that no man who pencil-pushed almost 18 hours a day had any right to possess.

His looks were the type that smoldered,literally,considering how invisible flames now seemed to be tonguing every inch of her skin.

Wow,she thought again, but this time with a helpless, sickening feeling in her stomach. She had the craziest urge to run, more so when she saw his impatient gaze raking over her as he snapped, "Are you just going to stand there like an idiot?"

"I...I..." His voice was deep and strong, so darn mesmerizing it made his insult sound like a compliment. It was a foolish sentiment, but it was also the truth, and Pippi's unease turned into full-blown anxiety. That she was horribly ill equipped to handle a man like him in close quarters had never been more obvious, and she could already feel her heart giving out as shyness tied her tongue in knots.

Don't puke.

The thought - half-warning, half-plea - flashed out of nowhere, and she clung to it for life. She always worked better with a goal, anyway, and with the thought giving her something to focus on, Pippi succeeded bit by bit in regaining her composure.

Clearing her throat, she said in a fairly steady voice, "I'm sorry for the unseemly reaction, Mr. Simonides."Smile. Don't puke.“I was told you wouldn't be home." She saw his lip curl in response, as if finding her words a complete waste of his time, and her temper - so rarely seen it might as well have been nonexistent - started to rise.

"Who the hell are you, anyway?"

Anger had her shyness receding, and she forgot all about being intimidated. All she wanted to do at that moment was throw the folder at his face. Teeth gnashing, she gave him her name and position in his company, adding somewhat icily afterwards, "Mr. Collins believes this should be given to you as soon as possible, sir." She handed him the folder with both hands, but nothing happened.

Okay.

Maybe...

He wanted her to deliver it straight to his study or something?

Her gaze reluctantly went back up - and that was when she finally noticed it. This time, the sickly pallor underneath his bronze tan was impossible to miss, and was it just her - or did he seem to be swaying on his feet?

"M-Mr. Simonides?"

His face, already white, turned even whiter at the sound of her voice. "I'm fine."

Oh, if only she could believe that. She really wished she could, but since she was a great believer of doing what Jesus would do in such circumstances—-

"You don't, umm, look like it, sir."

"I said I'm fine!"

The fury in his voice stunned Pippi, making her take a wary step back.What on earth was his problem?Their gazes clashed, Pippi's blue eyes filled with a mixture of hurt and indignation at his rudeness while his dark gaze was...

Feverish?

Nurturing reflexes - honed for decades in a household filled with love and laughter - kicked in, and she unthinkingly reached up, having to tiptoe a little just to touch his forehead. He yanked away with a curse, but it was too late.