Page 378 of Valentino

“Of course, I want to go to Italy,” I scoff, “Everyone wants to go to Italy.”

He sits down onto the corner of his desk. “I’ll take you one day.”

I twist my lips annoyed; I hate you…. remember?

Get with the program.

“What, you don’t believe me?” he asks.

I exhale heavily, “Will you just get dressed.”

He holds his hands out as if surrendering, “You don’t like me in a towel?”

“No. I don’t actually,” I lie.

I love you in a towel.

“It’s off-putting having to watch you get dressed every day and frankly, very annoying. I don’t make you watch me get dressed.”

“Ahh…..” He laughs, “Wouldn’t that be something; Gracie Porter getting dressed in my office.”

I glare at him as I point to the coffee machine. “Make my coffee, Gabriel. You have a very busy day seeing as you didn’t come back from lunch yesterday.” I widen my eyes to try and stop myself from throwing a tantrum on the floor.

He smiles, amused, and begins to make our coffee.

Calm, calm…. keep fucking calm.

“At 9:30 you have a teleconference with London.” I begin to read through his day, from my peripheral vision I see his towel drop in his wardrobe, I glance up to see his bare bottom, and I die a little inside.

I really can’t do this anymore.

I love him, completely and utterly love him, and I’m just…… I don’t count to him at all.

The diary on the screen blurs as my eyes fill with tears.

Focus.

I continue to read out his day as he dresses in his power suit and puts his aftershave on…… and shock of the century, I didn’t wear the perfume he hates.

“And that’s your day.” I smile as I close my diary, I stand and make my way to the door.

“Gracie,” he calls.

“Yes.” I turn back.

“Can you book me a hotel for the weekend, somewhere hot and heavy.”

I stare at him, my heart breaking in my chest.

Ouch……

“Of course, sir,” I reply through the lump in my throat.

He gives me a sexy wink. “What would I ever do without you?”

Fall in love.

I fake a smile and walk out to my desk and slump in my chair.