It’s nearly here!
My new
release – Tempted by the Billionaire
Tycoon – goes on sale on 21 October (but you can pre-order now). It’s the second instalment of my
Billionaire Romance series. The first being The Billionaire Pursuit of Love.
Below is the first scene of the book. I hope you enjoy it...
Excerpt:
‘Sack her,’
Nicolo Capitini demanded.
Nicolo watched the computer image of his European head
of operations sit up straighter in his chair. Nicolo’s Skype call had hauled Luke
Randal, his man in London, out of bed.
‘I won’t do that, Nic.’ Luke’s voice contained too
much passion for a simple discussion about an employee’s termination.
Nic’s jaw tightened. He and Luke often debated issues
strongly, but this was the first time Luke had refused a direct order.
‘She’s the best general manager in the region,’ Luke
said. ‘Our Lake District resort has flourished under her . . . until
these recent problems.’
Nic had also never heard the stubborn tone sharpening
Luke’s voice. Luke had clearly lost perspective when it came to this Poppy . . . Nic
glanced at the employee file open on his desk. This Poppy Bradford.
‘The best GM in the region wouldn’t allow these
so-called accidents.’ Nic added extra punch to his voice.
It had taken him ten years to build his global health spa
business. Experience had taught him that everything could be snatched away by
one false move.
‘The police say it could be sabotage,’ Luke said.
‘Any GM worth a senior position at Sirona would
organise the security to prevent this. Get rid of her.’
He leant in closer to
the camera built into his computer. ‘Today.’ Nicolo crossed Poppy’s name off his to-do list.
‘Sorry, boss. I won’t do that.’ Luke leant back and
crossed his arms across his chest. ‘I don’t believe there’s enough cause to
sack her. Our European policy is that you need three strikes to terminate
someone, and until a few months ago Poppy’s record was flawless.’
Nic beat his fingers on the desk. Luke’s obstinacy was
very disappointing. ‘Occupancy has dropped from ninety-five per cent to
thirty-five. She’s failing dismally on one of her key performance indicators.
You know my modus operandi.’ He leant forward. ‘I give my employees total
autonomy, but with that comes ultimate accountability.’ He glanced at the file
and ran his finger down the page until he found her date of birth. ‘She’s only twenty-seven;
you’ve promoted her too fast.’
‘Nic, give her another few weeks to turn things
around. She’s good. Really good. Probably the best talent we have in Europe. In
a few years she could be doing your job.’
Nic snapped the file shut. This conversation was going
nowhere. ‘I’ll ring you in a few days,’ Nic said. ‘Get it
sorted, Luke.’
Or I will.
He tapped the keyboard and Luke’s image disappeared
from the screen. He opened the file again and surveyed the contents. Poppy
Bradford had been promoted to GM nine months ago and initially guest numbers in
the Lake District had soared under her management. But several ‘incidents’ had
seen bookings plummet in light of a publicity nightmare.
He scanned the latest news report still active on his
screen.
Near-death caused by poisonous
resort spa treatment.
He thrust his body back into his soft leather chair.
This had to stop.
Standing, he walked to the window and opened it. The
salt-laced breeze played across his skin. As always, his gaze swept directly over
the beach to the horizon of the Pacific Ocean. His heart was always drawn to
his island home far away. The island from which he’d been expelled. The pain
never left.
He quickly turned away from the brilliant blue and his
dark memories, and looked over to the smooth green lawns of his multi-award-winning
resort. He’d searched the southern Californian coast for over a year to find the
perfect location for his first Sirona resort here in Carmel. Now thousands of
guests every year enjoyed rejuvenation at one of his fifty international
properties scattered across the globe; from Sydney to Beijing to Rio.
He couldn’t wait for Luke to act. He’d already
received two calls from financial analysts this morning making queries about
his British operations. He pressed his teeth into his bottom lip. And there’d
be more.
He sat behind his desk. The British Isles represented
ten per cent of his business, and his total European operations thirty per cent;
slightly more if his French acquisition went to plan. But the negative
publicity threatening bookings in England could spread to other resorts. The
impact on the company going public would be disastrous.
The initial
stock offering was set for three months’ time. The awful headlines, accompanied
by a drop in bookings, would affect the initial share price. Too much hinged on
its success.
Snatching up his desk phone, he dialled his secretary.
Three strikes? No problem.
‘Book the jet for tomorrow afternoon. Manchester.
Early as possible. I’ll head to France after that. Thanks.’
As far as he was concerned, Poppy Bradford was already
history.
* * *
Win:
I set Tempted by the Billionaire Tycoon in
Paris, Versailles and the Lake District which I visited in April this year. It
was so fabulous to write the story while on location. I’d love to hear
about a trip you’ve been on recently.
Leave a comment for a chance to win an e-copy of Tempted by the Billionaire Tycoon.
Buy Links:
Stop Press! My best-selling romance, The Billionaire’s Pursuit of Love, is
currently on sale for $1.99. If you’d like to pick up a copy, visit Amazon,
iTunes, Kobo, Google Play or other e-tailers.
