Page 6 of Forbidden Deception

My mouth drops open, and she marches away.

Fifth? Are you serious?

Remo didn’t tell me that. I thought I was the only one who got the position. It means I need to impress Mr Gustav and keep this job longer than any of my predecessors.

I knock on the door, my heart in my throat. I can do this.

I chuckle nervously.

No, I can’t. But if I don’t, Remo will prove his point and will say ‘I told you so’ like the cocky shit he is.

“Come in,” a deep voice rumbles from behind the door.

I take a deep breath and walk in, ready to meet the man whose life I will be barging into.

As soon as I turn around after shutting the door, my eyes widen a fraction. The office is unlike any I have seen in London. Everyone there loves glass windows and grey, minimalist decor, but this office is exactly what my office would look like if I had one.

Two dark oak bookshelves line the far wall, the middle plane empty except for a clock. Before them is a desk with black legs. Accents of brown are set all around the office. There is a brown leather sofa to my right, just behind the door, with a table in front of it. To my left is a tall potted tree that touches the ceiling.

The man of the hour is looking outside at the streets below through the tall wide window on the left of the office, right next to his desk.

It’s so beautiful.

Reluctant admiration for Mr Gustav grows within me.

The building is situated in the middle of the city of Edinburgh. It has black windows and is made of glass, similar to the office buildings be in London, so the interior decor is a surprise, but clearly this man has taste.

Exceptional taste.

“Mr Gustav?” I call out, leaning my head towards him tentatively.

He’s tall. Like super tall, possibly even around six foot three. Biting my lip, I move closer to the desk, trying to see more than his side profile. It’s dark and grey outside, as usual with UK’s weather, so that isn’t helping much with illuminating him.

I wait another second, and as if finally noticing my presence, he turns towards me.

The moment he does, my breath gets caught in my throat and I almost choke.

Tall, dark, and fucking handsome.

With the sharp lines and stark angles of his face, Rafael Gustav looks like a businessman straight out of Forbes, and youknow what? He might even be on there. Rafael is all masculine beauty. Handsome doesn’t even begin to describe him. He wears a beautifully tailored brown suit and polished designer shoes. Rafael’s hair is slicked back, and each step he takes is precise, confident, and assured. Then I notice that he has premature grey streaks in his hair.

I have never seen a man with grey streaks in his hair and thought he was good looking, but Mr Rafael Gustav has proven me wrong.

My cheeks heat, then I blink to snap myself out of it.

“Venezia Campbell.” I shoot out my hand with a smile.

Rafael’s eyes are brown, deep and absolutely stunning.

Does this man have any flaws in his appearance? Like at all?

His eyes drop to my hand, but he doesn’t shake it. I drop it awkwardly while he walks around his desk and sits.

He nods at the chair before the desk, and I carefully lower myself into it.

Then he looks.

Rafael doesn’t get into business. He doesn’t tell me anything. Doesn’t even open his mouth. He just watches me.