Page 41 of In Love and Revenge

‘Like,’ he clips.

I swallow, trying to ease the rough dryness in my throat.

‘If I’m going to get into a fight over a woman ...’

He leans closer until his warm breath fans my ear. I hate that I shiver on reflex. And I hate that my pulse rate kicks up at the scent of his cologne, warm on his skin.

‘... then she won’t be just anyone. She’ll be ...mine,’ he growls. ‘You understand?’

He moves back, holding my eyes for a beat.

‘I’ll expect you first thing Monday morning.’ His attention drops to my pyjama shorts and bare legs. ‘Try to find something appropriate to wear. You will be representing Guardian Fairfax, after all.’

I bite back the urge to say something that’ll wipe the infuriating smug look of an overinflated ego from his face.

‘Of course.’ I smile back thinly. ‘Perhaps a little black dress.’

Realisation hits me as the words leave my mouth, and something in Rafael’s eyes heats before his expression turns grim.

‘I’ll leave that up to you. Good night.’

He storms down the hallway and disappears into the emergency exit stairwell rather than waiting for the lift.

I close the door and lean back against it.

He knew one of my videos was titled ‘The perfect LBD’. How would he know that unless he’s seen it? Which he claims not to have done.

Heat flares up my spine, even though I hate the man with a passion.

It means he’s lying about watching them.

But why?

Chapter 11

Aurora

Stepping out of my studio flat, I check my bag one more time to make sure I have the essentials. Tube of crisps. Check. New treats for Freddie. Check.

I’m leaving early for my first day at Fairfax Guardian. I want to walk Freddie before I go. There’s no way in the world Rafael Fairfax is getting between me and that adorable little silky hairball. Cleaning for Freddie’s owners came with the added benefit that I get to walk him a few times a week too. And I love it. I’d have my own pet if my place wasn’t so cramped.

Rafael’s comment about it not being fit for vermin to live in makes me pull my front door closed with extra force. He’s such a rude prick.

I take the stairs after seeing that, no surprise, the lift is out of order again. As I round the last corner of the staircase that leads into the grimy lobby, puffing catches my attention.

‘Mike?’

He stops his struggle towards the main doorway, turning to face me. His cheeks are flushed and his forehead shines with a layer of sweat.

‘You’re leaving?’ I ask, taking in the two suitcases he’s pulling, one in each hand, and the stuffed rucksack on his back.

He nods, trying to catch his breath. ‘I am.’

I stare at him, dumbstruck. He’s lived here for decades. A fact he announced proudly to me the day I moved in. He swore he was going to die here and sounded rather happy about the fact.

‘Why?’

He shakes his head and readjusts his grip on the suitcase handles.