Lydia rolled open the laminated plans and felt the heat of their attention like the scorching mid summer sun. It didn't take her long to piece together that the men in front of her were Royce and Sofia's sons, how she'd not seen photos of them was beyond her... In fact, she'd not seen any photos of the remainder of the Silvetti family, no children, brothers, aunts... No one. For the next hour they went through her designs and worked on perfecting it.

"So I propose a large court yard in the middle of the hospital, building the wards around the garden with alternating mezzanines on the ascending levels... It would allow the space to not feel as closed in and clinical. If the paediatric ward was on ground level, it would give the kids a way to escape without having to actually leave the hospital" She trailed off.

It had been that idea that had first caught their attention with the small company. Zeus Landscaping. Because not only did it come from a landscaping view, it factored in the architectural nuances of the build. Sinn and Nikolai had taken over the family business a few years ago, since then they'd spent a majority of their time finishing off old contracts and maintaining their current ones. This hospital build would be a new investment, it felt like their pride and joy.

So enough of the chit chat, Nikolai thought, "we are offering to buy your company, Lydia." Then he continued, "20 million to buy you out with an annual remuneration of 2 million."

The colour seemed to drain from the woman's face, she blinked purposefully and then questions, "I don't understand, are you not looking for a external contractor?"

"We'd much prefer an internal one," Cosinno added in, though the husky tone he took tainted the pure words.

She shook her head and looked around the space, she wanted to expand but selling out felt cheap and it took away that dream. "No, I'm sorry gentlemen but I can't let my business go. We would love to work for you but I cannot sell."

He admired that in her, she wasn't chasing money, he could see she genuinely held affection for her business. "You wouldn't be letting it go Lydia, see us as silent investors."

She shuddered, her name across the tattooed man's tongue felt inappropriate. "Investing, I can accept." Lydia finalised, still not prepared to sign the title of her business to the two devilishly handsome men before her. She watched as Nikolai rubbed his jaw, what she would give to be inside his mind at that moment...

Sinn glanced at his brother, knowing he could feel the same heat and desire to pin her down against the damn glass table and have her submit. Hell he could almost guarantee Nikolai had already imagined perching on his knees behind her while he dropped her hot little shorts and panties. They were being impulsive, reckless even... The plan had been to buy the business, give her the title of lead designer and executive. What they hadn't factored in was her refusal.

And what an attractive refusal it was. She was clearly intimidated by the brothers but the fire in her eyes and the determination in her jaw refused to back down.

Nikolai leant forward, holding his hand out, "you've a deal, Lydia."

The young woman wondered when they'd gone from using her last name to her first. Hesitantly she held out her hand, somehow it felt like she was shaking hands with the devil and his brother. "Come to the office Monday morning to finalise the partnership, it'll be a pleasure working with you." Cosinno wrapped her palm in both of his once his brother had let go.

Engulfing her entirely, she worried her heart beat out of her chest and land on the prints. That was how much these two men effected her. "Have a great evening Mr Silvetti." She replied, standing. Lydia needed to get them out of her space before she combust. Extending her hand she gestured to the door.

A soft chuckle escaped Cosinno's lips as he and his brother rose to their full heights, "Sinn, Lydia. Call me Sinn."

Oh boy... Lydia clenched her thighs together, was it possible for the men to become any more intoxicating. Nodding she decided to lead the party, walking past them she exited the office. Taylor and Ben fumbled around pretending to find interest in Taylor's blank black screen that had gone idle from lack of use.

Then when they saw the two giant figures following her, they stood up, almost on instinct. She felt it too, their power and control. The wiser part of her knew that not heeding to their words would be troublesome, but the more insane part of her wanted to stroke their flames until they were the ones to combust. The thought was liberating.

"Let's sign the deal over lunch, Lydia. We will see you at twelve next week, Si?" Thick, accented and uncompromising.

Afraid if she leaked any further they'd smell her arousal, she nodded quickly, "yes."

With that the two men left through the sliding glass doors, Lydia watched as they crossed the street and slipped in the backseat of a blacked out Rolls-Royce. And only when the luxury vehicle had moved out of complete visibility did she release the breath she'd been holding. Feeling her shoulders drop she made her way to her curious beaming friends.

Taylor grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her close as if it was some big secret, "what was that, you were in there for almost two hours!"

"They wanted to buy the business." Lydia replied, reaching for Taylor's glass bottle and taking a much need sip of water.

"Wanted?" Benjamin pressed.

She nodded, "I said no."

That's when both the redhead and love struck Benjamin exclaimed, "You what!?"

Lydia finally looked them in the eye, "I said no. Contracting for them is one thing, but selling... not when we've spent so long making this business ours."

"You're fucking crazy," Ben sighed. "But I respect it, Lyd. We could've been millionaires but instead we've left with our dignity and integrity intact... which I guess some would considered more worthy."

Lydia rolled her eyes at his theatrics, "still millionaires, Ben. I agreed to work in partnership with them, they'll be silent investors in the company."

Taylor squealed, jumping around the table and wrapping her arms around Lydia, "holy fucking shit, is this real!" Then she swooned, "are they real, surely men like that don't actually walk this earth."

Benjamin frowned, "they weren't that hot..."

"Weren't they?" Both women questioned.

He waved it off, "fine, whatever. So celebratory drinks?"

Lydia laughed, interesting... Maybe Ben wasn't as unaffected by Taylor. "I've dinner at dad's tonight, ritual, you know." Her friends excited expressions dropped a fraction so she added, "how about tomorrow night?"

"Yes and yes!" Taylor grinned.

*

Lydia parked outside her fathers ranch style home, walking up the stoned pathway she located the spare key on the porch and let herself inside. "Honey, I'm home!" She called out, removing her jack and hanging it on a hook in the hallway.

"In the kitchen, honey," he called back sarcastically.

Laughing Lydia teased, "I brought pumpkin pie." It was their inside joke to the older woman in the neighbouring acre, that seemed to have her eye set on Henry Payne. She'd visit her father at least once a week with a different pie, bright smile and 'honey' endearments... If she wasn't five foot nothing it would be creepy, and despite Henry politely rejecting Ms Fiona, the older woman refused to back down.

She maneouvered through the house past the open living space and dinning room, towards the large kitchen that led to the back patio. "Very funny. You'll put me in a early grave joking about that damn women." Henry pulled her into a hug.

Lydia returned the embrace, holding him to her tightly, "she just likes you, dad."

"She almost put me six feet under with her pumpkin pie last Wednesday." He frowned.

The young woman pulled away and made her way around the wooden island towards the stove, lifting the lid of a large pot, Lydia inhaled. "Smells like heaven, dad." She then makes her way to the bar fridge and in hunt for beer while her father checked on the... roast. "Interesting, I didn't realise Christmas had come so soon."

Henry laughed, "your old man thought it'd be nice to spice it up a little for our guests."

"And here I thought you did all this for little ol'me." Lydia pulls herself up onto the island and watches Henry walk around fixing this and that. "Roosters vs Eagles tonight, we still on?"

Henry snapped around to face his daughter, "there's a game on?"

Now this had Lydia straightening up, her father practically breathed and lived for the footy. "Okay... spill, who is coming over?"

She watches him squirm for a moment before finally replying, "so, I've made a friend and we've been hanging out the past few months and I wanted you to meet her. I hope that is okay, sweetheart. I can call it off if it's too early?"

Lydia shook her head and smiled warmly, "dad, I can't wait to meet her." Just as her words settled in the room a knock came form the front door, "I'll get it," she jumped down off the island and made her way to the front of the house.

Passing the living room, Lydia flicked the television on and then continued towards the front door. Switching on the porch lights, she pulled open the door with a smile, only for it to drop off her face when she saw who was standing before her.

Because there on her fathers white peeling porch stood Sofia Silvetti... and, as if that wasn't enough to have her speechless, the two tall, muscular figures behind the older woman sure as hell were...

Fuck.