Page 61 of The Rebel Billionaire

“Thank you,” he says, holding out a hand and taking it from me as soon as I’m within reach.

Our fingers brush, sending an unwelcome jolt of awareness through my body.

“Would you like me to go over today’s plans?” I ask, composing myself. “I can come back.”

“It’s fine, take a seat. Did you not make yourself one?” he asks, realising I’ve nothing to drink.

“I’m fine. I’ve had a cup already today,” I lie.

I don’t want to hold up proceedings, so I make a note to bring a drink for myself tomorrow for our daily planning sessions.

“You mentioned there are a few changes to my schedule?”

I open the tablet. “Your nine o’clock, Dillon Hancock, messaged late last night to say his daughter is sick and he needs to rearrange. His wife is away… sorry, you probably don’t need all that detail. I’ve rescheduled his appointment for Friday morning. You had a slot free after your meeting with Pete and the suppliers.”

I look up as I sense his eyes on me.

“Better to know why someone has cancelled. Dillon is a good family man. Friday morning is fine. Be aware in future that my meetings with Pete and our suppliers sometimes overrun.”

“I’ll make a note. There’s currently a half-hour break between meetings,” I say.

“That’s fine then,” he says.

“Great,” I continue. “As a result, I’ve moved your ten o’clock this morning. Teresa is more than happy, as she has back-to-back meetings, and it allows her time between you and her next appointment.”

“Fine.”

I take that at face value, meaning a positive fine. It’s hard to tell. I’ve not got much to work with. Alex has his stoic look down to a fine art.

“Everything else is as it was.”

“Until it’s not,” he says. “Thank you, Brooke. I appreciate you moving Teresa forward. Are the reports I asked for ready?”

“They are. I have them on my desk.”

“Excellent. You can send them in with Teresa when she arrives,” he says, turning his attention back to his computer.

I take it as his signal that I’ve been dismissed.

I get up and make my way to the door.

“Is there anything else you need?”

“No, that’s all.”

When he doesn’t even look up from whatever has suddenly caught his interest, I leave, making sure I don’t slam the door behind me.

I walk to my desk, moving the reports to where Teresa can see them as she passes. It’s only eight-thirty, and I feel like I’ve already run a marathon. Thinking, rethinking, then overthinking everything.

Breathe, Harper Frazer. Brooke has got this!

CHAPTER 18

ALEX

The door closes with a soft click, and I sink back into my chair. Brooke’s scent—her perfume, shampoo, shower gel or whatever it is—lingers in the air. It follows her around and is becoming embedded in my memory.

Asking her to stop calling me Alessandro wasn’t because I feel like I’m being reprimanded. From her lips, it sounds more like a lover’s caress, and I can’t have that with my PA, especially when she’s wearing another St Clair outfit that looks like it was designed solely for her.