Billionaire Romance: Darque Control (A Darque Billionaire Romance Book 2) by Diana Steele

Chapter 1
     
    Why are human beings always fascinated with the things in this world that harms them?  Whether it be a creature, the ubiquitous threat of poisonous foods or disease, or even a person—the things that are the most dangerous are those we desire most.  Bella was no different.  Even when she observed the mean streak within Darque, the attraction never ceased—despite the instances in which he berated her for asking personal questions, though it was her job.  He was still a powerful man, still charming, and with an air of invincibility about him.  His facial features were certainly never compromised; dark, haunting eyes and black as night hair.  It was styled in a manner that spoke as honestly as a politician.  The world around her, it seemed, was evolving fast.  Whereas being cruel to others and covering up facts used to be perceived as a character flaw, it’s not what permeated the national consciousness.  Senator Darque was running for president.  Humility and qualifications were secondary, because someone could be hired to clean up the low morality of the Darque clan—specifically Bastien, an enigma of a man who had been accused of horrible travesties, and yet, a man that women could not quit. 
    Bella chomped down a hamburger while thinking of her new boss, always aware of the slow poison these artificial foods contained.  W hy do we keep doing what we know isn’t safe, she thought as she finished the burger save for the crust.  Maybe I could quit Darque, too, before I get too emotionally invested. 
    She often thought as to whether or not that she should keep things professional between herself and Darque.  He even advised she stop mixing business and pleasure.  His directions in regard to his professional needs from her were clear and concise—a clean-up job for reputation management, or a ‘spin doctor’.  Personally, however, he warned her.  He would hurt her, but she would like it. 
    The warning label was there.  Didn’t she owe it to feminism, to idealism, and to her career to keep a distance even if there was a definite attraction on both ends?
    The next time she saw Darque was while at work.  He was paying a visit to the staff clarifying a few things about the family name.  Of course, none of the scandal that everyone was talking about was discussed.  This made the whole damned job slightly hypocritical in Bella’s opinion.
    Ugh , she thought, dreading her continuing internship as she watched everyone congregate in their penguin suits to discuss what ought to be done--as if morality mattered to these people.
    Darque did notice her and sent her a glance.  It was one of those loaded looks in between smoldering desire and professional distance letting her know that nothing’s changed.  Nothing would ever change in that respect.  Darque liked women and certainly wasn’t above taking advantage of his co-workers, though he was proud of the fact that he had no complaints.
    Or at least, complaints from any of the living.
    Bella couldn’t avoid Darque for long.  Within a couple of hours she came face to face with him, discussing details of the online PR campaign. 
    “The best solution is to get articles printed at major publications, so that we can drown out the pages that…”
    Don’t say “tell the truth”.
    “Say unsavory things about your family name.”
    Darque nodded, wearing a half smile.  He knew all of this stuff, but he just couldn’t keep his eyes off her. She looked beautiful—a rarity indeed.  Bella was one of the very few women Darque had ever met that merited the term. He actually admitted that she was beautiful, a compliment not given to supermodels, A and B celebrities and sexy Wall-Street-bitch-goddess tycoons.  They all tried to be sexy.  All he really saw of them were their breasts and legs, the accentuated parts of a costume, and a design they invented.  They were neither repulsive nor attractive beyond the usual bump and grind desire that