He ignored that and growled, “Did you kiss someone here before we met? More to the point”—Desmond pursed his lips—“was he good?”
I ignored him. “Is there a chance my mother’s restaurant will be the location for your new hotel?” I asked. “Did you hide that from me?”
“There is a chance, yes,” he responded quietly.
“You lied to me?” I took a step backward.
I waited. Desmond wasn’t saying anything. Which told me everything I needed to know.
Fuming, I turned away. The café could wait. I needed to be alone, so I strode up to an empty elevator before Desmond could stop me.
31
AVA
“You lied,” I repeated as he followed me into the empty elevator. The sides were wood-paneled, and mellow yellow light softened the mood. “I can’t believe you went so long without telling me that there’s a chance my mother’s restaurant will never be revived.”
“Did you kiss someone?” Desmond asked. “Someone else?” he persisted.
“Why do you care? This is just a two-week fling, isn’t it?” I asked aggressively as I pressed the gold-plated button to the second floor. I needed to get to the break room and waited for the doors to close. It was taking its time.
“Because, Ava, I damn well am not sharing you with someone else. That’s why. And, yes, I held something back about the restaurant. Is that really what you want to talk about right now?” he asked.
I turned to him as the music from the speakers in the ceiling panels of the elevator wafted down to us. There was an intense moment when, despite people walking past the still-open elevator doors, Desmond directed a look of suchlonging at me that I felt a little of his pain. A pain I’d felt for the longest time. Of wanting something you couldn’t have.
“Yes, Des, it matters tremendously. Because I just learned that the man I had been sleeping with doesn’t trust me.”
He drew in a deep breath.
“And I didn’t kiss Otto. Bianca was just trying to stir up trouble.”
His shoulders fell. “Shit,” he said, looking upset. His eyes flicked to me, repentant. “I’m sorry for questioning you, Ava,” Desmond said, pressing the close-door button on the elevator, and then he cleared his throat as the elevator finally moved. This time, he looked back at me with a sort of restrained hunger on his face. “And there is a chance we might build a hotel there instead,” he said. “I’m sorry about holding that detail about your restaurant back.”
It was my turn to be bullheaded now. “Sorry that you lied or sorry that you got found out?”
He grunted and shook his head with a snort. “What kind of question is that? Of course I’m sorry that I lied.”
“When were you going to tell me?” I asked, not giving up.
“Ava, let’s not do this now,” he muttered under his breath.
That’s not an answer.
I groaned in frustration, and he put one hand on the wall and the other on his hip as he stared at the floor in silence.
Then, he ran a hand through his hair, looking agitated and restless. I fought down the urge to go over and clock him on the head with my handbag and turned away to stare at the back wall of the elevator.
Why was he so frustratingly stupid? Why had we gotten involved when we’d already hurt each other before?
“Sweetheart,” he said while I stood with my back turned to him.
I covered my eyes with my hand and took a few deep, calming breaths.
My mom had been right. Working for someone else gave them an unfair advantage over you. A power to ruin your career should it suit their needs. I was making the same error she had done years ago.
“You know what?” I said as I turned around to face him. “This thing between us”—I gestured to the two of us—“was a mistake. One that shouldn’t happen again.”
The look he gave me was one of disbelief. “What?” he asked.
