Page 71 of In Love and Revenge

He’s also not mentioned the incident in his office, either. But that could have something to do with the fact that I’ve avoided him like the plague for the past two days.

I tilt my head back, admiring the giant crystal chandelier above our heads. Dove’s informed me that the man who lives here is Fairfax Guardian’s newest potential client. I don’t recall exactly what she said his business was. Something big that involvesa lotof money. This evening’s soirée is being hosted by him in order to alleviate concerns about restructuring and reassure partners and investors that it’s business as usual.

‘You know Poppy, the stepdaughter? It was her mother who started the business. Apparently, the husband didn’t want her to work after they got married and encouraged her to let him manage it all, thinking he could do better. Bet she didn’t expect him to be almost running the company into the ground,’ Dove says.

‘Things can happen that you least expect,’ I reply as I look around the room.

A shiver runs up my spine as my eyes collide with rich, molten bronze ones. Rafael holds my gaze for a few seconds, and I glower at him before he’s pulled back into conversation again and looks away.

‘I’d love to meet Poppy,’ Dove adds. ‘I’m going to go and see if I can find her.’

‘Okay. I’ll catch up with you. I need to use the bathroom.’

‘Okay.’

I watch her walk away, passing Rafael as she does. He’s still deep in conversation.Bastard.I’ve been running through a lengthy list of insults in my head over the last two days that I’d love to use on him. The man is insufferable. He knew the moment I stepped into his office that he was going to mess with me. The arsehole got a kick out it, I know he did. He toyed with me like a cat with a mouse, belittling me for his own perverse pleasure.

Almost making me come on his desk, with a bloodypen.

My cheeks heat with a cocktail of shame and anger as I recall the heat of his broad body leaning over me.

I hate that I was turned on by him.

I hate that I wanted him to kiss me.

I hate all of it.

I hatehim.

Weaving through the sea of dinner suits and tuxedos, I exit the main living space and cross the marble-floored foyer.

‘Could you please tell me where the bathroom is?’ I ask a member of the wait staff as they approach with a silver tray of canapés.

‘That way, madam,’ he says, gesturing towards a small group of people waiting outside a closed door on the far side of the grand entrance hall. ‘Of course, there is another bathroom down the hallway, fifth door on the left, should you wish.’

‘Thank you.’

The hallway is wide, stretching on with closed doors on either side. A door on the right opens and Gabriel walks out, quietly closing it behind him.

‘Aurora!’ he greets, his brows shooting up behind his glasses like he’s surprised to see me.

‘Hi.’ I smile, forcing myself to breathe. ‘I was just looking for the bathroom.’

He clears his throat. ‘Me too. Wrong door. Are you having a nice evening?’

‘I am. It’s . . . interesting.’

‘Indeed it is,’ Gabriel replies, glancing up the hallway as voices float down from the main entryway. ‘Excuse me. Enjoy your evening.’

He strides off in the direction I came from as if he’s forgotten he was looking for the bathroom. Something about it makes me wait for him to be out of sight before I carefully open the door to the room he came out of. Poking my head in, it’s a cute little librarywith floor-to-ceiling bookshelves and one of those ladders to reach the high ones. A comfy-looking sofa with threads hanging from its cushions sits in the centre of the room. The most interesting thing is the window. It’s huge, arched, and beautiful, complete with a cosy window seat. The moonlight shines outside, illuminating an extravagant circular fountain in the garden.

Closing the door gently, I move along the hallway, locate the bathroom, and step inside.

Standing at the basin afterwards, I fish for my lipstick inside my purse. My phone pings and I pull it out to read the message.

Dove: OMG! He’s here!!!

‘What the hell?’ I murmur. There’s only one person Dove would use that many exclamation marks for. The man who didn’t just break her, hedestroyedher. The one we never ever speak about. Not unless we’re really drunk. And even then she won’t tell me exactly what happened. Only that he lied to her and left her heartbroken.