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She politely waited as he ordered, said no to a top-up of wine, and then relented because at least it made her relax

‘So, about George’ She flicked open the file and felt the weight of his hand over hers

‘In good time’

‘Sorry I thought youso hard that she wondered if sheinto one of those si airheads Or even worse than that, one of those clever wo in action the second he came too close

‘Only just beginning’

He dealt her a slashing s to steady her disobedient body and she pursed her lips in response

‘Perhaps I should have takenyou’re one ofstars’

‘I didn’t think you got involved in doing appraisals on anybody in your company,’ Kate responded politely Boss/eot to ask all the questions and the eot to ask none whatsoever

‘True,’ Alessandro conceded

He didn’t look at the waiter as he placed their food in front of the of their plates All he wanted the orated and didn’t want to lose the moment They were few and far between as it was

‘I like to think that’s what h, in fairness, they probably work to rule like the rest of the occupants of your floor’

‘Everyone works overtime in the winterhot outside—I guess they want to leave on time and enjoy the sunshine’

‘But not you?’ Alessandro pointed out ‘Nothing urgent out of hours waiting for you?’

‘I don’t think what I do outside work is actually any of your business—and I apologize right now if you think I’ rude when I say that’

‘No need for apologies I just want to make sure Do you feel the need to live in the office in order to get on?’

‘I’

She tried to iht nohipping up so his watch if she was running late She would have to do soht into reality She didn’t uy in her life now, but she would eventually She wasn’t meant to be an island, and if she wasn’t careful she would wake up one day and find herself alone because she had sacrificed everything to her quest for security

‘Tell ’

‘Huh?’

‘You’re a million miles away,’ Alessandro drawled drily ‘Simple question, really I didn’t think it would have required that ht’

‘I’

For a few seconds she nearly told hiht that ‘siine because—like it or not—this man who saw his vast empire as a family affair was a man who came from money How could he ever understand the drive inside her to fill all the gaps her upbringing had left?

‘Sorry No Of course I know that there’s no need for h, in fairness, I probably work fewer hours in winter than ues’

‘Ah, yes Because you’re a creature of the night?’

And just like that Kate thought of herherself off in whatever nonsense she was told to put on A creature of the night doing night-ti like her

‘Don’t you ever say that to me!’ she blurted out before she could stop herself She was shaking with anger and stuck her hands under the table on her lap so that he couldn’t see that they were shaking

‘Say what?’ Alessandro asked slowly, his sharp eyes narrowed on her flushed face ‘Did I say so?’ He frowned and saw her ather herself ‘Tell me what the problem is’

‘There isn’t a problem I’m sorry I overreacted’