The intensity of his attention on me is like lying out in the sun without SPF. My skin starts to burn. “Things like what?”
“That you’re a waste of space or completely incompetent. Don’t tell yourself things like that. This will never work if you do.”
I swallow, trying not to berate myself for repeatedly sounding like an idiot in front of him. “Okay.”
“Promise me you won’t.”
Something in my chest swells. “I promise.”
“Good. That’s a start.” He’s about to turn away, but I don’t move. I can’t. I’m stunned that anyone would care enough to notice my self-talk, let alone correct it. With a bemused look on his face, he adds, “Don’t stand on ceremony. You can go now.”
A fission of energy runs down my spine at the command. I’ve always hated being told what to do, but bythis man? I have no objections.
“Yes. Thanks. Okay,” I stammer, performing a weird curtsy bow as I duck out of the room, still clutching my laptop to my chest and closing the door behind me, hoping he’s not some kind of mind reader who can tell I’d willingly take his orders any day. I’d do it naked, too.
I’ve already done it naked.
Well, I’d do it again.
I mean, I wouldn’t, of course. Not now I know who he is. But in theory? I absolutely would.
In the hall, I let out a sigh that puffs my cheeks out. I wasextremelyunsexy in there. On the bright side, he’ll never realise who I am if I turn into a bumbling fool every time he talks to me.
14
RAFE
“Rafe?”
I glance up from the plate of food I’m staring at, meeting Henry’s amused gaze across the table. We’re having dinner in the West End, catching up and discussing upcoming investment opportunities, but I’ve zoned out, and Henry knows it. When I get home, Diana will be waiting to discuss her business, and for some reason, I can’t focus on anything else.
“Am I getting you the membership for Delirium then? Early Christmas present. You can have it on me.”
Julian nearly chokes. “Mate, I paid for mine. Why does he get it for free?”
Henry sits back, half-laughing. “Because Rafe’s a good-fucking-boy who has to be coaxed into any activity that’s an inch off the straight and narrow, and you’re a fucking deviant who would have paid me double to be allowed a peek in the door.”
Julian chuckles and takes a large swig of his red wine. “True.” He gets that irritating twinkle in his eye, and I know he’s about to mess with me. “I hear the blonde from Delirium refused to see you again.”
I shoot a glare in Henry’s direction, and he turns his palms up as if he’s blameless.
“That’s not what happened,” I tell Julian.
“Really? Because Henry said you’d been begging him to check the register and give you her details. Strictly against the rules. Can’t share client details like that.” A smirk tilts his mouth. “Maybe you didn’t satisfy her.”
I tap my clenched fist on the table. “I fucking satisfied her.”
Henry’s wry smile mirrors Julian’s. “Not enough.”
I roll my eyes. “Fuck the both of you.”
Julian tips back in his chair, both hands resting behind his head. “Come on. Give us a moment to appreciate the Great Rafe Bastion being turned down by a woman.”
I scrunch the white linen napkin at the side of my plate. “I didn’t tell her my name.”
It’s Henry’s turn to look surprised. “But that’s your trump card. Rafe Bastion, King of fucking London.”
I lean my elbow on the table, trying to ignore the unease rolling around my stomach at the idea that my name and bank balance are the only reasons women are interested. “She didn’t want names. She wanted anonymity. She—”