Page 78 of In Love and Revenge

I frown. ‘You think I always feel at ease? Like I’m not bloody winging it some days? Like I’m not constantly under the scrutiny of my father, for whom nothing is ever good enough?’

I clamp my mouth shut, having said too much. But Aurora homes in on my words, a bloom of tenderness warming her voice.

‘You’re amazing at what you do. Dove tells me so. Your brothers tell me so. And the way every employee at your company talks about you, it’s obvious. They respect you. They admire you.’

‘Pretty sure they think I’m a demanding prick.’

‘You can’t have it all,’ Aurora says, her eyes glinting.

The beginning of my smile falters. ‘No. But I wish I could.’

She falls silent, her eyes narrowing like she’s trying to read me. Like she’s seen a glimmer of something worth looking at, hidden deep down.

‘You want your father to be proud of you?’ she says after a moment. ‘I’m sure he is, Rafael.’

I swallow, my chest growing tight at the memory of sirens and pain, so much pain.Of my mother’s screams when she saw all the blood.And then of the look in my father’s eyes years later when I had to tell him we’d lost the Wyndham bid. The one he’d been working on for months before he retired. The culmination of his life’s work. The deal was worth billions. He’d set it up; all I had to do was get the contracts signed. My first triumphant act as CEO. A walk in the park. A job a monkey could have done.

One I fucked up royally.

The worst part wasn’t that I’d destroyed everything he’d worked his entire life for. It was the way he had turned away,unableto stomach looking at me when I told him.

Some things you never forget.

Aurora looks at me, waiting for me to continue. To open up old wounds that I’d rather not let resurface. Dancing with her was a mistake. An indulgence I should never have allowed myself. One that has gone far enough.

‘It’s been twenty minutes,’ I announce, bringing our dance to an abrupt end. ‘It’s time I took you home.’

Chapter 21

Aurora

I stomp up the stairs as Rafael stays one step behind me, insisting he walk me to my door.

That was the longest car journey of my life. He clammed up the moment his father came up in conversation while we were dancing. Which is a shame, because for the first time I was enjoying his company. But I need to forget about howmuchI was enjoying it – namely the feel of his hands on my back, and the heat of his body pressed against mine as we danced.

This is Rafael. I still loathe him.

‘Home sweet home,’ I announce at my door. ‘Good night, then.’

He’s towering behind me like walking tuxedo porn, eyes burning.

‘Invite me in.’

‘What?’ I splutter. ‘Why would you want to come inside my “not fit for vermin to inhabit” place? Checking on your investment, are you? Still can’t believe you bought it.’

‘I bought it to ensure you wouldn’t be forced to listen to men wanking next door.’

‘You just gave me a job at your office so I could watch them doing it instead. To my videos.’

Everything inside me freezes. I cannot believe I just said that out loud to him. Mortification slithers up my spine.

‘So you did watch?’ His voice lowers to a rich purr like he’s amused.

‘I didn’t say that. I just saw, that’s all. Foronesecond.’

He shrugs. ‘Didn’t do it for me, anyway. Too ...bland.’

‘As if!’ I scoff. There’s no way I’m going to sit here and let him insult me like that. ‘Your phone probably needed drying out, the amount it got covered in!’