Page 44 of In Love and Revenge

‘Aurora?’

I turn and meet his eyes.

‘How did you know it was me?’

I stall as he stares intently, waiting for my answer. ‘Mike, um ... he told me to ask my boyfriend what was going on,’ I admit, my mouth going sour at the use of the word in reference to Rafael Fairfax.

His eyes burn with a darkness that makes me shiver.

‘I see. Well, don’t let me hold you up. I’m sure my brother has lots to show you.’

Chapter 12

Rafael

Walking into Gabriel’s office, I throw myself into one of the couches he has in his seating area. Dove looks up from her laptop beside me, and Angelo lifts both brows at me in question from the couch opposite.

‘Your face suggests you just got off a call with Dad,’ Gabe comments, glancing up from his computer screen before he continues typing at a million miles per minute. I’ll never understand how he can code so fast or do whatever genius tech whizz stuff it is that he’s so damn good at, without steam coming off his keyboard.

‘That bloody obvious, huh?’ I scrub a hand around my jaw, exhaling with a muttered curse. ‘He wanted to get me before our meeting.’

This is what the four of us do every Monday morning, usually before anyone arrives. Sit in Gabe’s office and go over our plans for the week. My office would be the more logical choice because it’s the biggest. But Gabe’s doesn’t have floor-to-ceiling windows beside his seating area like mine does. A fact that made me want to choose another office when I became CEO, before my father insisted Itake his old one. I can’t stomach a view that high this early in the morning, or any time of day, for that matter.

‘What did he say?’ Angelo asks, trying to keep his tone casual.

My heart bleeds for my kid brother, because I know what he’s really asking.Did Dad ask after me?Did our stiff-upper-lipped father show an ounce of tenderness towards his kids, and actually ask howweare, rather than just how business is? Gabe, Dove and I have grown to expect nothing less, but Angelo still holds out hope.

‘Same as usual. Wanted figures. Gave his opinion on which clients we should be trying to sign. Told me the latest staff bonuses were unnecessary, and they’ll think I’m a bloody soft touch if I’m that generous.’

‘That’s our father,’ Dove tuts. ‘Always about the money.’

My spine prickles with unease. As far as they’re all aware, our investments were never affected by George Thorne’s actions, but her words strike a nerve. I’ve been so hellbent on finding out what George Thorne did with my money that it’s become an obsession.

Maybe I’m more like my father than I care to admit.

Angelo sniffs, looking away. ‘Can we get this moving? I didn’t have breakfast yet and my stomach’s eating itself here.’

‘I’ve seen you hangry, and it’s not pleasant,’ Gabe says, screwing up his nose. He pulls open his desk drawer, grabs something out, then walks over, taking a seat beside Angelo. ‘Here. Bacon flavour. Knock yourself out.’ He scoops Benedict up off the floor, where he’s rubbing at his shins, and cradles him in his lap as he sits back.

‘Nice.’ Angelo nods, popping the lid off a tube of crisps.

‘Whose are those?’ I ask, my gaze fixing on Angelo as he crunches down three at once.

Dove smirks. ‘Don’t tell me she got you hooked on those too?’ she says to Gabe.

‘She’s trying.’ Gabe smiles.

‘Who?’ I snap.

‘Aurora,’ Gabe says.

‘Give them to me,’ I bark, holding out my hand.

Angelo grabs a handful of crisps before passing me the tube. I sniff them, then read the ingredients. ‘These aren’t food.’

‘Taste good,’ Angelo moans through a mouthful.

‘Why is Aurora bringing you these? We’re not paying her to cosy up over lunch with you. She’s got a goddamn job to do.’