Page 373 of Valentino

“Good morning, Gabriel,” I reply, my eyes drink him in while he has his back to me, it’s the only time I can stare uninterrupted.

He turns and passes me my cup and saucer, “Your coffee, madam.”

“Thank you.” I tentatively take a sip, warm and delicious, even his coffee is smooth. He goes back to making his coffee while I take a seat at his desk, I open his computer and log into his diary.

My eyes flick over the screen to his sculpted back, damn it.

Why is he so delicious? How could any female work in these conditions and not be completely besotted with him?

And then he opens his mouth…… and I remember why.

“Did you sleep at all last night; you look like shit.”

“Thanks,” I mutter as I refocus on his day.

“I didn’t sleep much either, actually, can you remind me later to send flowers.”

I bite the side of my cheek.

Fucker.

Not only do I have to watch him date every beautiful woman in the world, I send them fucking flowers too.

“Of course,” I reply as I act unaffected.

I’m positive that I could win an Academy Award for the casual acting that I do.

“What have we got today?” he asks as he disappears into his large closet. From my peripheral vision I see the white towel drop as he puts his briefs on.

Focus.

I exhale as the screen jumbles, he’s busy.

Even reading his schedule is exhausting. “Board meeting at nine.”

“Let’s run through that agenda.” He walks out of the closet in black briefs, his suit and shirt on hangers.

“You are talking about the flow on effect from the defamation case against Noble Industries,” I reply.

“Yes, that’s right. Did we get that information?”

“Bryce has sent it to your email, and it’s saved in your Noble Industry file.”

“Thank you.” He pulls on his white shirt and slowly does up the buttons. “And do I have the graph?”

“Aha.” I bite my bottom lip as I try to focus on the screen, something about him standing there in his briefs doing up a white shirt…… it scrambles my brain.

Every.

Single.

Morning.

“Okay, so what then,” he asks.

“You have a meeting with Roger at 10:15.” My eyes flick up to him, “Why do you have a meeting with Roger?”

“I’m letting him go.” He pulls up his navy suit pants and zips up.