Page 66 of In Love and Revenge

I study her. She’s watching me, an eager curiosity in her eyes despite it no longer being Dominic we’re talking about. Perhaps she thinks getting me to share something personal with her is the start to getting me to tell her whatever else she wants to know.

‘It is,’ I reply, deciding to toy with her, lull her into a false sense of security, to think we’re sharing a moment. She might think she can find out something that’ll aid her crook of a father, but she won’t. Because George Thorne is a guilty son of a bitch. He stole from his company. He stole from me.

I spread my thighs, pushing my leg harder against hers. Her fingers tighten around the edge of my desk, but she doesn’t move away.

‘My mother believes her guardian angel was looking over us that day. And that it’s the reason she walked away with barely more than a scratch, when our car, on the other hand, was reduced to a mangled wreck. It’s why she gave us all angel names. Except Dove. My brothers and I made her sick throughout her pregnancy. But Dove didn’t. Her “little slice of calm”, she said.’

A soft smile tilts Aurora’s lips. ‘I was the opposite. Apparently, my mum had morning sickness the entire time.’

She looks at me and I ignore the sudden pang in my chest at the sadness in her eyes. Dove told me Aurora’s mother died from complications shortly after giving birth to her. But I shut down the surge of sympathy; she’s not going to get me falling for her innocent act.

We’re silent for a few moments before Aurora clears her throat. ‘So, do you? Have plans for lunch?’

‘I’m not meeting with Dominic today.’

Her face falls and I make a show of checking my watch.

‘But I am expecting a call from him soon, now that you mention him.’

‘Oh. Should I go?’ she asks, her voice lifting a little like there’s the offer of something else at the end of her sentence.

I shake my head. ‘No. You should stay right here.’

She bites her lower lip and gently moves her leg so it brushes along my thigh. ‘Okay, um—’

My phone rings with perfect timing, and I could kiss Dominic for always being such a punctual bastard.

‘Dom?’ I answer cheerfully after bringing it to my ear. ‘I was just talking about you.’

Aurora’s eyes widen and she pales like she might be sick.

‘Should I be concerned?’ he chuckles.

‘Of course not,’ I answer, holding Aurora’s eyes, knowing she can’t hear him on the other end.

‘Listen, it’s just a quick call. I wanted to check if you’re up for golf with Hillingdon on his course?’

I purse my lips, mulling over the idea, even though I already know my answer. So many of these CEOs want to do business on the golf course, or over a poker game. I’d rather do it in my own meeting room. But this is business, and if Fairfax Guardian wantto keep landing the big clients, then we need to be prepared to accommodate them.

Sourness coats my tongue, because I know first-hand what can happen when we don’t. It can risk the entire business. And that cannot be allowed to happen.

Lifting my eyes back to Aurora, she’s listening intently.

‘Absolutely. One second,’ I tell him, reaching around Aurora and grabbing a pad and my pen from beside her. ‘Did he seem interested in our quote, then?’ I ask Dom.

Aurora sucks in a little breath as I draw back, and the back of my hand grazes the front of her skirt.

‘After he called you an up-yourself twat, yes.’

I smile. Hillingdon, a sportswear mogul who needs insurance following a suspicious fire at one of his factories where some employees were injured. He wants to keep it out of the press, and I want to make Fairfax Guardian money.

Desperation attracts a higher premium.

‘Give me the details. I’ll look forward to beating his arse on the course before I take his money,’ I tell Dom.

I take the lid off my pen and write something on the pad, keeping it angled away from her. I’m not even listening to Dominic any more as I place the pad face down on my desk.

‘I’ll see you then,’ I murmur in response to his instructions about when and where to meet him. He’s a good friend to have, both in life and in business. He sends as much business our way as we send his.