Page 45 of In Love and Revenge

Gabe’s eyes slide to mine, narrowing. ‘Would you rather she eats lunch with you?’

‘Don’t be so bloody ridiculous,’ I scoff.

He smirks and I fix him with a glare as I shove the lid back on the crisps. I’ve barely seen Aurora since she began working here one week ago. Gabe’s kept me updated on her suggestions to our PR campaigns. Enquiries are up thirty per cent as a result. She’s clever. Too clever.

My plan to unearth where my money is might have stalled somewhat with how busy I’ve been with new clients, but I haven’t forgotten. I’ll still get exactly what I want from her, one way or another.

‘Let’s get this bloody meeting started,’ I grumble.

‘I’m sho sworry, Mr Fwairfak.’

I wince at AJ’s swollen cheek as he cradles a heat pack on it.

‘It’s fine. Get yourself to the dentist. We can’t have you greeting clients like that.’

‘Yesh, swir.’

I should have known when he started complaining about his toothache this morning that this could happen.

‘Bugger,’ I mumble as he leaves my office. I guess it doesn’t matter if he’s not here to take notes for the meetings this afternoon,I can keep track of everything we discuss. I just like AJ to sit in because the man is a walking sponge. He’ll recall every detail, down to the number of times the client blinks. It’s surprising how useful his small observations can be during negotiations.

I open my calendar and check my schedule. I have a couple of calls booked, including one with Sullivan Beaufort.

Getting up from my desk, I exit my office in search of Angelo to get an update on another of our clients – a woman with a private collection of Italian artwork she wants to insure.

Female laughter rings out from the staff lounge as I head down the corridor. Reaching the doorway, I glance in. Steve, one of the underwriters, is leaning against the counter with his hands in his pockets, looking all too bloody comfortable chatting with Aurora as she uses the coffee machine.

He grins at her, and I don’t miss the way the fucker’s eyes drop to her arse in her pencil skirt as she reaches for the sugar.

‘Trust me, it’s a great film. We should watch it together sometime.’

‘Okay,’ Aurora answers innocently, unaware the leech is licking his lips, thinking his dick’s about to get wet.

‘Steve!’ I bark. ‘Where’s the file for Ruperts?’

His eyes widen as he takes me in, and he straightens from the counter. ‘Mr Fairfax, I didn’t see you. Um ... Ruperts?’ he questions, confusion knitting his brow. ‘That only came to me this morning.’

I usually give him a few days to look over a new client in detail.

‘If you’ve got time to plan a movie night when I’m waiting on something for a new client, then I’m obviously paying you too much,’ I say, watching the colour drain from his face.

‘Of course.’ He swallows thickly. ‘I’ll get right on it.’

‘You do that,’ I grunt.

He scurries past me and Aurora watches him go with a frown.

‘What?’ I snap.

She turns her attention to her coffee and stirs it. ‘I didn’t say anything.’

‘But you’re thinking it. I can tell,’ I say, moving to stand beside her at the coffee machine.

I place a mug underneath and click it on. She side-eyes me like she’s wondering why I’m using the machine here when I have a better one in my office. The scent of her perfume dances up my nostrils and I place my hands on to my hips so I don’t reach out andtouchher. It’s sweet, feminine, and adds a whole new layer to what I already know about her from watching her vlogs. In those I can watch every tiny expression she makes, hear every little lift in her voice when she likes something. Savour the sparkle in her eyes when she reallylovessomething.

My dick thickens in my trousers, threatening me with the possibility of a raging hard-on in the goddamn staff lounge.

‘You might be a shrewd businessman, but you can’t tell what I’m thinking,’ she says.