Page 7 of His Beautiful Revenge
“Well?”
Norah nodded, grinning. “That is one gorgeous man.”
“And you could be workingcloselywith him,” Zulika teased, “I can see it now …you’re working one late night, on an urgent presentation. You’re both so absorbed in the work that you don’t realize it’s gotten dark outside. You lean across him and he smells your perfume…”
Norah was giggling. “Are you writing some kind of porn movie in your head?”
“Hey,youmentioned porn, so who’s the pervert?” Zulika grinned and Norah flushed. She’d got her there. Norah held up the iPad, trying to hide her embarrassment.
“Look at this man. Whowouldn’tthink of porn?”
“True story.”
Grinning, Norah handed her back her tablet. “Anyway, besides that, it could mean the business taking off.”
“Which might mean you not being free to work here as much.” Zulika nodded, “I get it. We always thought that might happen.”
“Do you mind?”
Zulika shook her head. “Putting aside the fact I’ll miss your company, your business is the reasonourbusiness has been financed this long. I’m grateful. I’m more than that; I’m delighted for you. We need to celebrate.”
“Good idea.”
Zulika studied her friend. “Why don’t you stay with me tonight? Call Luc, tell him you need a girl’s night in.”
Norah nodded. “I’d like that.” What she didn’t add wasit would be a relief. The tension at home and Lucian’s mood swings—she needed a break from it. What she also hadn’t told anyone else was that she’d been looking at apartments in the city to rent. If Lucian was cheating, then she already knew her plan. In a weird way, she almosthopedhe was cheating because then she would have the final push to do what she had wanted to do for a long time.
End it.
Giacomo had now been to theAnthologythree times and was feeling like somethings of a stalker. Finally Seb had told him that Norah Reddy had called and tomorrow was the day he would finally meet her. The few hours he had spent in her unknowing company, he had seen a woman who, above all else, was free. Free from vanity and free from expectations. He reminded himself that he did not really know her from those hours observing her, but he couldn’t help feeling excited about the meeting.
Tonight, however, Tara was sitting out on his balcony, smoking one cigarette after another and fretting about …what was it this time?Giacomo sighed and went outside, pinching a cigarette from her packet.
“What is wrongtoday?” He said, lighting the cigarette and inhaling deeply. He studied her. Tara, her denim-blue eyes large, was almost thirty, but she looked a good five years older. Sun damage and smoking had weathered her face, but it didn’t detract from her beauty. She gazed back at him steadily.
“Why have you never asked me to marry you?”
The question surprised Giacomo. They had never discussed marriage before. He leaned forward. “Because marriage has never figured into my plans,” he said honestly. “And, rightly or wrongly, I thought you would prefer to have a career rather than be shackled to me.”
And why would I marry someone who would cheat on me? Or is thatwhyyou are cheating on me?
Tara smirked. “My career is steady. I get the work of girls ten years younger.”
“I know that you do.”
“But I think of marriage, kids …”
“With me?”
Tara put out her cigarette. “Of course you.”
Giacomo smiled coolly. “I’m surprised.”
“Why?”
He met her gaze steadily, leaving the reason unspoken. Tara was the first to look away. “Whatever.”
She got up, but he caught her hand. “You are not happy, Tara.”
