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‘We have tickets to the opera,’ Alessandro said roughly ‘Although’ he disengaged his ar both hands in his pockets ‘I’ht have to be put on the back burner’

‘Why?’ Rebecca demanded A querulous note had crept into her voice

‘Because the file Kate has brought up requires soent work’

‘I think I’ve covered all the tricky bits,’ Kate said tightly ‘Please Don’t let me keep you both from’ Words failed her and she took a deep breath ‘Fro’ She smiled at Rebecca and cool blue eyes met hers ‘I’m in a bit of a rush as well’ she explained faintly

‘That’s as may be But part and parcel of your new position is a willingness to do overtime when it’s necessary It’s necessary now’

Alessandro looked at Rebecca It had been a major mistake to renew contact with the lawyer It had been an even bigger mistake to su side one another—because it had only fuelled his frustration at not having Kate to himself

Not being able to touch her

He raked his fingers through his hair, realized that he was shaking—but because of what, exactly, he wasn’t sure

‘Apologies’ This to an increasingly annoyed Rebecca ‘My driver will return you to your house—unless you’d like to take someone to the opera with you’

He was already flipping open his cell, giving instructions to his driver to come to the office

‘Are you tellingstood up?’ Rebecca hissed as she was ushered towards the door She tugged free of his grasp and spun round to face his to do than to co!’

‘Again I apologize’

‘Not good enough!’

‘Unfortunately’ he eased her out of the door ‘it will have to do’

‘There was no need toto do that’ Kate felt the tiny pulse in her neck beating as she stared at hi that can’t wait until next weekto be sorted’

‘You’ve been in your new role for under teeks,’ said Alessandro, knowing very well that she was right ‘Doyour brief’

‘Your date must have been disappointed’

‘That’s very considerate of you I can’t say I’m half as considerate towards yours’

‘Sorry?’

‘The clothesthe make-upthe sexy little sandals—which, I notice, you can noithout a serious onset of blisters I’ht not be on the way to a cocktail party, but you sure as hell won’t be having a ht’

He swung round and strolled towards the , trying hard to get his act together

He turned to face her, back to the , arms folded ‘You move fast’

‘That’s rich, cory colour stained her cheeks

How dared he accuse her offast when he was already involved with another woman?

‘Who is he anyway?’

‘We’re no longer an item, Alessandro My private life is none of your business now’

‘It is when it involves you playing hanky-panky with a colleague!’

‘That’s ridiculous Who am I supposed to be? To be?’

‘Say it, Kate! Spit it out! Playing with Having an affair with Having sex with’

‘I would never do anything with a work colleague,’ she flung back at him

But she wasn’t denying that she was seeing someone

Maybe not someone she worked with, but nevertheless she was still flaunting herselfparading her femininity where before she had concealed it

And it was driving him crazy

He wanted to point out that she was in a position of responsibility, that cli clothes that turnedwith that anyway? He wasn’t a dinosaur, and there was no rigid dress code within his company aside from the fact that his employees had to look ‘smart’