Felipe walked into his dressing room and stared at the bag his assistant had left for him. He’d spent today ‘working,’ telling himself it was good that in an hour he would board a jet and spend the next three weeks in London working one last acquisition for Eduardo Benedetti.
Except it wasn’t going to happen. For the first time in his life Felipe pulled a personal crisis card—the crisis being his self-control.
He phoned Eduardo, who assured him it was no problem, he’d go to London himself. Felipe then scrolled through his phone after ending the call. Usually he paid little attention to social media—he didn’t care what people said about him—but the vitriol raining on Sophia was appalling. There’d been much gossip about her engagement to Ares over the years—when it had been impending, then assumed, then ended. She’d been judged as a desperate socialite then and was again now. One sexualised comment from some jerk caught his eye—a borderline threat. And as he watched, some other jerk added an even worse reply.
Had she seen this? Was she even at work today?
Hell. He’d been so distracted, he’d not considered the ramifications of her walking out of the event on Saturday night. He’d not thought to ask but he didn’t imagine her boss would’ve reacted well. But he also knew bosses liked money coming in.
He phoned his assistant, asking him to book the event company for a large-budget event, and for Sophia Dimou to take the lead. He’d figure out what the actual occasion would be later. But his assistant sent him a text after only a few minutes. Sophia no longer worked for the company and they’d presented another coordinator’s résumé.
Felipe shoved his phone into his pocket. Sophia no longer worked there only because of what had happened with him.
She was alone, unemployed and needing protection given those psycho-stalker comments he’d just seen online. So how could he solve all these issues? Hiring her directly wasn’t an option. He needed to think more creatively than that.
He turned his back on the bag but the thin gold chain hanging by the mirror caught his eye. He stared at the band dangling from it and the most insane thought whispered.
***
About the time he should have been boarding that flight, Felipe pressed her buzzer and felt immeasurable relief when she let him up. She was back in the baggy jeans, and her beautiful eyes seemed muted.
‘Get dressed,’ he said huskily. ‘We’re going out.’
She hesitated. He’d known she would. He also belatedly realised she wouldn’t respond well to an order. He drew breath and tried to invite.
‘There’s a private showing at a galleria.’ He cleared his throat.
‘I thought you were going away.’
‘Change of plan,’ he muttered. ‘Come with me.’
There were only a select few attending. It would be safe, yet public enough.
‘Sorry,’ she eventually murmured. ‘Two nights out in quick succession is too much for my delicate constitution.’
‘But what if I need you to protect me from the meddling mamas wanting their daughters to make a good match?’ He winked. ‘I feel certain you know the sort.’
She shot him a wan smile. ‘You don’t need any protection.’
No. She did. And he needed to make this right.
He crossed his arms and met her gaze. ‘What if you weren’t my fake date this time?’
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