Page 76 of Modern Romance January 2025 5-8

What had the email said? She was so mad she hadn’t read it.

“Are you sure she wants to see your offices?” Auggie asked.

“Yes,” he said, looking at her like she was a fool.

Charmaine’s eyes clashed with Auggie’s, and Auggie knew a moment of deep disquiet. She didn’t like the look in the other woman’s eyes.

Auggie was a girl’s girl. Auggie was all about the freedom and power women had to shag Matias to their heart’s content without judgment.

Being a girl’s girl, though, meant when she didn’t trust a woman, there was a reason.

This was nothing more than a gut feeling, but it was a strong one.

“Matias, can I speak to you for a moment?” she asked.

“No,” he said smoothly. “Enjoy the city. I shouldn’t need you for a couple of days.”

She lifted her brows. “Really.”

She didn’t like this at all.

“Yes. You only worked for me for three months. I find that I can function just as well without you.”

“Indeed.” She hesitated. “Matias, I wonder if I should just go to the offices with you?”

“No, that won’t be necessary.”

Maybe he was a dumb, gorgeous idiot.

She swore Charmaine gave her a small smile before they turned away and began to get off the plane and Auggie was stewing.

She didn’t know what Charmaine could do being at Matias’s offices, but she just felt...she feltsomethingabout it.

And it had nothing to do with the fact that every day, every week, Matias got more and more attractive to her.

He was like a beautiful object in an art gallery.

Nice for some, but Auggie couldn’t afford him. So she would look, but she would never touch.

She packed up her things and watched as Matias got into a waiting limousine with Charmaine. Auggie was ushered into a town car. She was totally happy with that. Happy with the quiet, and the luxury that surrounded her. She was not happy to be told that she wasn’t needed, mostly because she didn’t believe it.

The Pitbull is disconcerting.

Why is that?Lynna asked.

Because he has brought a woman to the offices, and he said he doesn’t need me.

Well, maybe he is a himbo. Only thinking with the Pitbull downstairs. Perhaps he wants to have her on his desk,Irinka said.

He is most assuredly only thinking with his downstairs brain, but he isn’t stupid.

She got to the hotel room that had been reserved for her and set up her computer, and all her peripherals. She opened up Matias’s schedule, and her calendar. Then she initiated a video call with the work wives.

“I’m in Barcelona.”

“You look fantastic,” said Irinka, who was always gorgeous in the most immaculate way.

“Glowing,” Maude said. Maude, for her part, had mud on her cheek. She was wearing dungarees, and was standing out in a field.