Goddess of Vengeance - Jackie Collins [78]
Armand threw her a severe look. His lip curled, exhibiting his distaste at having to speak to a woman about business. It was quite obvious to him that she was merely a figurehead, and that Jeffrey Lonsdale was running the show.
‘Excuse me?’ he repeated, annoyed that a mere female would have the audacity to address him in such a brazen fashion.
‘Are you from America, Mr Jordan?’ Lucky asked, beginning to suspect that he must hail from some far off country with antiquated ideas about women.
‘Of course I am an American,’ he answered sharply.
Who exactly did this whore think she was? How dare she question him? She was so far beneath him it was ridiculous. If they were in Akramshar he would have had her thrown into jail for exhibiting such blatant disrespect.
‘I bet you weren’t born here though, were you?’ Lucky continued, going on a hunch.
‘Mr Jordan is originally from the Middle East,’ Fouad said, attempting to smooth things over. ‘He became a naturalized U.S. citizen at the age of eight.’
Armand could not believe what he was hearing. Fouad shooting his mouth off as if he, Armand Jordan, was auditioning for this audacious cunt. Fouad needed shutting up and fast. ‘We’re wasting valuable time,’ he said, making a controlled effort not to lose his temper. ‘Surely you realize that my offer is too good for you to turn down? I am telling you to name your price.’ So do it, bitch. Do it now.
Lucky raised a cynical eyebrow. ‘Telling me?’
Here it comes, Danny thought. And I for one cannot wait!
Armand refused to back down. Finally locking eyes with Lucky, he repeated his words. ‘Yes,’ he said harshly. ‘Telling you.’
‘Hmm,’ Lucky said, remaining surprisingly calm. ‘Let me give you a piece of valuable advice.’ She picked up the Never fuck with a Santangelo letter-opener, balancing it in the palm of her hand. For one wild moment Danny thought she might stab the man. But she didn’t, she continued talking. ‘This is the deal, Mr Jordan. If you wish to keep doing business in America, then I suggest that you make a supreme attempt to conquer your extremely obvious and very intense fear of women. It makes you seem impotent and weak, and you wouldn’t want that, would you?’
Armand glared at her, trying to imagine her naked, crawling around on all fours while he pissed all over her, for that’s exactly the kind of treatment the cunt deserved.
‘You make it clear why women should be seen and not heard,’ he said at last. ‘How dare you presume to know me. You know nothing about me.’
‘Ah, but I do know that you’re an asshole,’ Lucky said, rapidly losing patience with the game that was taking place.
‘And you,’ Armand replied, his words laced with venom, ‘are nothing but a foolish, impudent woman with an extreme lack of brainpower.’
Jeffrey began to speak – but Lucky silenced him with a wave of her hand.
‘As I said before,’ Lucky said, directly addressing Armand, her blacker-than-night eyes feline and deadly, ‘you’re an asshole with both feet planted firmly in the Dark Ages. So I strongly suggest that we end this ridiculous conversation right now. I repeat for the last time – The Keys is not for sale. Get that into your hooker-riddled head and then get the hell out of my hotel. Oh yes, and finally,’ she added fiercely, ‘those two working women you fucked last night want the money you owe them. So be a man for once and pay up.’
Danny felt like applauding. Who else had a boss as feisty and perfect as Lucky Santangelo? She was unique.
Filled with unmitigated rage, Armand abruptly stood up and marched to the door. Once there he stopped and turned, in spite of Fouad trying to manoeuvre him out. Glaring at Lucky, he spat his final words. ‘I can assure you, bitch, this is not the end, it is merely the beginning of a battle you will eventually lose. So get off your high horse and back into the bedroom where you belong. The Keys will be mine – there is nothing and no one who will stop me owning it. Be warned, because I will do anything to get it. And when