Youngest member of the Zaynes, heirs to the billionaire dollar Lady Zayne beauty empire, Nicole spends her time improving the company's bottom line and proving she's just as good or better than her siblings and cousins. Often, she's fought with nemesis, Jaxson Forest, the force behind Forestone Pharmaceuticals' cancer treatments over rare and innovative ingredients and formulas. While pursuing a rare African plant, they are both caught with minimum security in a small African country and kidnapped. To escape, they must work together. When they return, will their intriguing and unexpected attraction become something more? Scientific genius and philanthropist, Jaxson Forest, has always done what he wanted and gotten everything he wanted. Getting kidnapped has a profound effect on him as he discovers that Nicole is more than a worthy opponent. Can he convince her that she is not the unlovable Zayne and that together they might have forever? This novel includes the enemies to lovers, forced proximity, and interracial romance tropes.CHAPTER ONE Spirits high at the prospect of a successful acquisition for her company, Lady Zayne, Nicole Zayne walked the path confidently with her purse, laptop, and a packet of plant biology information. Her first hint of trouble came when she reached the stone entrance to the meeting place. A burly giant of a man in clothes resembling the camouflage outfits soldiers wore stepped into her path. He frowned at Nicole and her bodyguards. "No weapons and no guards allowed inside " one of the lethal-looking men flanking him declared. Inches away from the dangerous-looking man blocking their path, she stopped and turned to Liam Beck, the head of her security team. He shook his head. His dark eyes were expressionless, his big hand meaningfully close to his gun. She trusted Liam and knew he was frighteningly good at what he did. They'd talked about her meeting, and it had taken days to convince him that she'd be going, with or without her team. He'd only accompanied her today when she promised that no matter what, she would not agree to be separated from him. Shoulders straight, her face arranged in what she hoped was her version of Badass, she swallowed. Getting the African Poule flower had been her goal for months. She didn't want to give up now. "No guns and no bodyguard?" Liam repeated, his eyes on Nicole. "We need you to be safe. This is not a meeting for us." Surprising everyone, including herself, Nicole turned in her black Louboutin booties. There were no others on the walkway as she took a few steps. Each invitee had been given a tight window for arrival to guarantee everyone's privacy. Her heart felt heavy, and a need to scream in frustration threatened. The compulsion to do something to redirect her rapidly disappearing opportunity ate at her, but what? A new, cultured-sounding voice intruded on her frantic thoughts. "Ms. Zayne? I am Andre, the host for this event. Please don't walk away from this promising opportunity for your company and yourself. Perhaps we can find a solution to the current problem." Halting on the stone pavement, she turned around. An urbane-looking man in an expensive black suit stood with the hired muscle. "Can we discuss it?" He smiled, soothing the rough edges of her nerves. Nicole was certain Liam's jaw clenched tight enough to bite a brick as she headed back to the entrance with her security detail. She refused to look at her bodyguard. This was another chance to get the African Poule flowers, and she didn't plan to waste it. They walked back to the entrance. The lethal-looking men backed off, the man in the business suit obviously in charge. "What did you have in mind?" Liam bit out. Ignoring Liam, the man gave his attention to Nicole. "No guns, but perhaps we could allow you one bodyguard. Would that suit your needs?"
