Page 14 of Out of Office Nights
Now she was forced to stare into the abyss of possibly losing the one solid thing in her life, the only thing that brought true meaning despite her having seemingly lost her way temporarily, and her heart constricted.
‘You can’t fire me. You’ve renewed my contract for another six months, not to mention we agreed on the six-week deadline.’ Her voice was thankfully poised. Strong enough to paper over the continued quaking in her belly.
Except a sardonic smile still hovered over his sensual lips. Those eyes were still probing far too deep for her to celebrate her composure.
He shrugged. ‘Suing me for whatever imagined breach you cobble up will only make one of us unhappy. And it won’t be me.’
His unfailing conviction wasn’t even needed.
She knew how powerful and influential he was. How quickly and mercilessly he would bring that to bear on any grievance she might make made her insides churn with unease. Not to mention…she already knew from her own exacting standards that she needed to step up her game.
Hating him for having the last word, she pursed her lips as, with a droll look, he said, ‘Now it’s time to mingle and show off my spectacular creation. Let’s pretend we’re not at odds, hmm?’
He didn’t wait for her to answer.
One hand in the small of her back propelled her into the nearest group, who turned as one to hail the Playboy Prince with obsequious welcome. Between one breath and the next, all traces of the hard-edged billionaire boss had evaporated.
In its place a breathtakingly charming Lothario who draped kisses on the backs of feminine hands, offered jaw-dropping largesse to panting acolytes, graciously accepted the reams of accolades when eyes turned to the gown Sabeen wore and delivered borderline-risqué jokes that had everyone falling over themselves with laughter.
Everyone except her. She stood rigidly throughout, ignoring speculation and envy from both men and women alike.
At the very first opportunity, she excused herself to the ladies’ room.
Then proceeded to give herself the talking-to of her life. Right up until the murmured conversation outside her stall froze her frantic self-flagellation.
‘Did you see his latest creation? It’s unbelievably fabulous. God, I’m so jealous!’
‘That you didn’t create it, that you’re not wearing it or that you’re not the one he’ll be tearing it off when the night is over?’
‘Can I sayAll of the above, but especially the last one?’
Laughter rang out, then trailed away on lusty sighs.
‘Maybe you shouldn’t be so quick to want to step into her shoes. Remember what happened with Nathan Gray?’
Sabeen’s breath hitched.
‘God, don’t remind me. I’d feel horrible for her, but seriously, she should’ve known better, shouldn’t she?’
Ice clogging her veins, she clenched her fists and stayed put. Going out there now would turn the gossip mill into a veritable gossip bullet train. They’d speculate about what she’d heard and how it’d affected her. They’d pretend to soothe while examining her for battle wounds.
So she waited until they left.
Then she exited with her head held high. To endure another hour of weighted scrutiny until Teo deemed the torture over.
And as they headed to the car, he turned to her, his face rigid.
‘To your earlier, unwanted point. As to whether my employee is in love with me or not, it’s irrelevant. As long as she fulfils her role efficiently, she’s welcome to feel whatever she feels whenever she feels it.’
She shook her head, her chest tightening absurdly. ‘You really have no scruples, do you?’
A look passed over his face, uncharacteristically solemn. One she recalled only seeing once, at his brother’s wedding when she’d approached him on the terrace. Before he’d summoned the lethal Lothario.
Before the kiss that still made her toes curl whenever she recalled it.
‘I can’t afford to,’ he stated, that hard edge back in his tone.
‘What does that mean?’
