“No, but I must verify the signature is yours.”
Okay. He sounds paranoid as fuck, but more than that, something else echoes in my mind.
“Mr. Thompson?” My voice turns steel. “You want to sign with us without even asking for a pitch deck? Without asking for a quote? Tell me something,” I speak slowly, giving voice to my suspicions. “These investors of yours... they wouldn't happen to be interested in more than just marketing services, would they?”
He goes silent, dangerously so, before speaking. “I don't know what you mean.”
“I think you do. You're not from Everest Solutions. You're working for the Zakharovs, aren't you?”
“Look.” His voice hardens. “We can't work with you if you won't give us an address. My funders need—” He stops abruptly, realizing his slip.
“Yeah, that's what I thought,” I bellow into the phone with rage, the disappointment washing over me. “Tell your 'funders' I'm not that easy to find. And don't call this number again.”
I hang up and slam my phone down, trying not to let the tears roll down my face. So much for my big break.
“They're still looking for you, aren’t they?” Valentin asks quietly.
I look up to find him standing beside my desk. “Yes, thank you, Captain Obvious. I figured that out all by myself.”
I expect him to gloat and remind me that this is exactly why I need his protection.
Instead, he pulls up a chair and sits beside me, close enough that our knees almost touch.
“I'm sorry,” he says, and the genuine regret in his voice catches me off guard. “I know how much your business means to you.”
I swallow hard, fighting the sudden well of tears in my eyes. “It was supposed to be my big break, you know? I got so excited when I got the call. I thought…people were starting to talk about us.”
“You don't need people to talk about your work,” he says gently, in that same voice he uses with his sisters. “What you've built is impressive, Gela. The real clients will come, and your current ones can’t live without you, remember? These things…take time. And you’re young. So, so young. This is only the beginning for you, just wait and watch.”
“You don't have to say that,” I whisper, looking up into his eyes. His words calm me more than I want to admit.
“I'm not in the habit of saying things I don't mean.” His eyes lock on mine.
Damn it, he’s right. I shouldn’t forget I’m only twenty-five. I hate that he can cut through my panic so easily, because I don’t want him to be the one I lean on.
But in this moment, he’s what I need.
“You're remarkable, Gela Jones. Don't let anyone make you doubt that.”
His words tug at my heartstrings, making it beat fiercer, and I’m lost to all sight but the blue in his eyes, all sound but the blood gushing in my ears. Every second is a loud awakening to how close we sit, his knee now softly brushing mine.
Without thinking, I place one hand on his arm, those same coiled arms I’d daydreamed about, and whisper. “Thank you, Valentin.”
He looks at me with agony, like looking at me isn’t enough, and I know then, exactly what’s going to happen.
“Valentin…” My breath comes out all heady, telling him what I can’t bring myself to.
His gaze drops to my lips for a heartbeat before returning to my eyes, and I know then that any line of restraint has just snapped.
His hand comes up to cup my face, thumb brushing gently across my cheekbone, and I lean in, my lips hovering just near his. He stares into my eyes for just a second before he takes a shuddering breath and brushes up against me.
The taste of his lips has me drowning in the best way possible. I grab his shirt and pull him closer to kiss him back harder.
Chapter 11 - Valentin
I thread my fingers through Gela’s hair, scratching softly down her scalp, and I think she likes it by the sound of the soft little gasps she makes. Kissing her is like having life breathed into the part of me I had long forgotten.
I The taste of her lips is sweeter than I imagined, and I've imagined it plenty. To have her at last is a treat wilder than I had hoped for. Her body arches into mine, and if we go any further, I fear I won’t be able to control myself even if I want to.
