Page 114 of In Love and Revenge

My shoulders soften. It must be Gabriel.

‘What did Gabe say?’ she asks.

I tense again. Angelo? Please let it be Angelo.

‘Uh-huh,’ she murmurs, glancing at me. ‘Actually, Aurora’s here with me now. Is there a problem with the campaign?’ She sighs. ‘Why are you always so bloody cryptic? Fine. I’ll ask her.’

She looks at me. ‘Rafe wants us all to meet to discuss something. He’s asking if this afternoon works? He’s got plans for lunch, so after that?’

‘Um ...’ My own phone ringing rescues me from blurting out something I can’t take back.

Why does he want us all to meet?The knot in my stomach tightens. Does he want to tell Dove about me and him already? Despite that being exactly what I was about to do, the idea of Rafael wanting to do it feels so much more official.

I swipe to answer my phone. The name on caller ID registers too late in my brain as the call connects.

‘Rory,’ Charlie says, sounding delighted I answered.

‘Charlie, now isn’t a good time,’ I say, catching eyes with Dove.

She frowns. ‘Tell him to piss off,’ she hisses. ‘Not you,’ she says into her phone. ‘Aurora’s ex just called her. I don’t know. Wants her back, probably.’ She exhales. ‘Fine, yep, speak to you later.’

She puts her phone down as Charlie continues.

‘Rory? You there? I really want to meet and talk. What about lunch today? I could—’

‘I’m busy. I have to go.’ I jab ‘end call’.

‘Why didn’t the knob put as much effort into your relationship before it ended?’ Dove snorts. ‘Maybe you’d have at least got an orgasm out of him.’

I screw my face up at the memory of sex with Charlie. It feels like a lifetime ago.

My phone rings again with a withheld number.

‘If that’s him again, give it to me,’ Dove snaps.

‘Hello?’

‘Aurora.’ Rafael grits out my name like he’s angry. ‘Where are you?’

I shake my head at Dove.Not him, I mouth.

She gestures to the bathrooms and rises from her seat.

I watch her move far enough away before I reply.

‘I’m having coffee with Dove. You know that. You were just on the phone with her.’

‘Where exactly?’ he presses.

I don’t know what’s got into him, but he sounds like he’s about to pop a vein.

‘Near my client’s house. I’m headed there in fifteen minutes.’

‘Send me your location,’ he growls. ‘I need to speak to you.’

‘Why?’

‘Please, just bloody do it.’