The Truth About De Campo Read Online Free PDF Page A

Campo. I want your wine.”
    Damn, but she was a pain in the butt. “Riccardo and I had dinner in your Park Avenue restaurant this week. We wrote down a list of ten crucial mistakes you’re making that would put you back in the black. You may want to hear them given our restaurants have a profit margin unheard of in the industry.”
    Her gaze flickered. Bingo . She crossed her arms over her chest. “Go on.”
    “Put us through to the next round and I will.”
    Her brows tilted. “What if you don’t make it? You have an opportunity now to make your case.”
    “I’ll take my chances.”
    “Ah. A gambler too.”
    “Always. Tell me something, Quinn. You don’t like being underestimated, do you?”
    “Not particularly, no.”
    “Thought so. Funny then that Daniel Williams thinks he has you tied up tighter than tight.”
    “Excuse me?”
    “I think his exact words were ‘I’ve got that filly tied up tighter than tight, De Campo.’”
    “Filly?” The full force of that green gaze sank into him. “He said that?”
    “Just now, in fact. Ask him. And while you’re at it, you might want to find out where he’s staying. I could have sworn I saw him walk out of the hotel across from yours tonight. The one with the three-word name that is not the Luxe brand.”
    Quinn’s mouth dropped open. She stood there gaping at him, then apparently realized what she was doing and slammed it shut. Matteo flashed her a grim smile. “Appearances are deceiving, aren’t they? You think I’m a playboy? You think I manipulate with my charm? Sure I do. I appreciate women. I appreciated you the moment I saw you and I know the feeling was mutual.” He lifted his shoulders in a careless shrug. “But the thing is, you aren’t my type, Quinn. I prefer the warm, affable ones over the ice queens. So perhaps you can tuck away your claws and play fair. Judge De Campo on our track record, not your misguided presumptions of who you think I am. Or this chemistry test is going to be a joke.”
    He walked after that, afraid if he said anything else he would sink De Campo’s chances.
    If he hadn’t already.
    Quinn followed him back to the others. Gut churning, he grabbed a drink from the tray of a passing waiter. What in God’s name was wrong with him? Hot-headed was not an emotion he would normally have associated with himself. Reckless at times, yes. But that woman was impossible . And his career depended on her.
    He watched her interact with the others, visibly cool with Daniel Williams now. At least he’d made her think twice. If he’d guessed right, the Silver Kangaroo CEO’s arrogant words would make a woman like her crazy. And maybe it would make her do exactly the opposite of what she’d been planning. Backed up by the sound reasoning he’d provided.
    * * *
    The thought he might have once again destroyed the biggest opportunity in De Campo’s history kept him awake for much of the night as the monogrammed Luxe Hotel sheets stared him in the face. Eventually he threw them aside with a curse and got out of bed for a 5:00 a.m. run before his flight.
    It would be a couple of days before he learned the fallout of his actions. Quinn had said they’d be informed the beginning of next week.
    The only thing he knew for sure right now, he thought, grimacing and picking up his pace into a flat-out run through the park, was that he, the master of charm, had not only failed to ace the chemistry test, it had been an adjunct failure of epic proportions. Quinn Davis might actually hate him after last night.

CHAPTER THREE
    M ATTEO HAD JUST stepped into his loft after his flight back to New York when his phone buzzed in his pocket. Riccardo no doubt, looking for the full debrief.
    He dropped his bag on the entryway floor, pulled out his phone and checked the caller ID.
    Quinn .
    His chest tightened like a vice. Fast. Too fast?
    “Quinn.”
    “Congratulations, Mr. De Campo.” Her tone was brisk, businesslike. “De Campo has made Luxe’s