Page 19 of In Love After Office Hours

Anneke: I’m not talking about S. I mean Willem. I don’t think he’s ready to fall in love yet.

Fleur: God, he’s so blind, it’s not funny. I’m just worried if we let things continue at this pace, it’s the big sister who’s going to get him to the altar.

Anneke: Trust me. That won’t happen. Just look at him now.

Fleur peeked at her brother, who was seated on the row opposite her and Anneke. He was murmuring in a low, pleasant voice, his handsome face serious and unsmiling.

But oh, those blue eyes of Willem.

If only she could show Shane how her brother looked every time he was speaking to Serenity on the phone.

Anneke was right, Fleur thought. There was nothing to worry about. Anyone only had to look at Willem now to know that the Dutch billionaire’s heart already had an owner.

Chapter Six

“YOU MUST THINK VERYhighly of yourself,” Willem drawled, “to demand to speak with me, even knowing I’m in the middle of a meeting.”

At hearing their CEO speak such words, all of the executives in the room quaked in their seats and privately wondered who indeed would be brave and stupid enough to do such a thing. Willem de Konigh might be known as a class act all around, but the people who worked for and with him knew that his courteous manners were but a mask for his perfectionist streak.

From the other end of the line, said brave and stupid girl asked innocently, “Are you in a meeting?”

“No. I’m not in a meeting.” He delivered the lie without hesitation and ignored the way his executives gaped at him.

He knew what they were thinking, of course. Willem de Konigh, Netherlands’ most infamous workaholic, was taking time out from his meeting to enjoy a personal phone call. The Financial Times would shit itself if it learned about this.

“I’m glad,” Serenity was saying with a sigh. “I really need someone to talk to.”

The troubled note in Serenity’s voice made him frown. “What’s wrong?” He rose from his seat as he spoke and gestured for his executives to continue without him before turning towards the adjoining door.

Leaving the conference room, he went back to his office, and when the door swung shut behind him, he commanded, “Talk.”

Serenity rolled her eyes at the order. “Do you really expect everyone to jump and do your bidding at all times?”

“Talk.” Willem had no time for pleasantries. The longer he talked to her, the more he was convinced that something was seriously wrong.

Serenity let out another sigh. “It’s nothing, I——” A scuffle, and when she spoke again, it was like she had her hand cupped over the mouthpiece, as if Serenity was preventing someone else from hearing her. “I have to go, it’s—-”

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