Wicked Liar (Dark Syndicate 3)

“Yes. He’s out of the picture and I have my eye on Jacques.” Better to resume the lie.

“Okay. If you say so. I won’t push.I can see it’s a tough conversation, so I’m just going to say I’m here for you if you need to talk.”

“Thank you. I appreciate that.”

“Alright, since we are focusing on Jacques, I guess the only thing to book now is that shopping date.I think we should book a personal shopper at Neiman Marcus.I couldn’t help it, yesterday I went online and browsed a few dresses.They have some amazing ones. Let’s go there.”

“That would be nice.”

She claps her hands with excitement and it’s like all talk and thoughts of Dominic have been shoved to the back of the shelf.

“I’ll go through my schedule and we can get something in the diary so no one will bother us for a few hours.”

Her phone rings before I can answer so I nod.When she looks down at the screen and winces, I already guess it’s a call she’ll have to take.

“God, I have to get this. It’s Patterson Gage, looks like he has another bug up his ass.” She rolls her eyes.

I stand up laughing. “Catch you later.”

She smiles and answers the phone.I grab my purse then make my way out.

Massimo has a meeting at ten, so he’s not going to need me for a while.

I think it’s best to head back to my office and get started on the new contracts.That should take me through the day and keep me busy and distracted.

It’s been a while since I’ve had so much on my mind.The last time was perhaps before my parents died.Having to hide what was going on in my home was a task.It still is. When the past is brought up, I have to think hard so I don’t trip over my words and unintentionally spill any secrets.

I rush to the elevator as the doors are about to close.I just make it before they do, but my nerves scatter when I come face to face with who’s inside.

It's Dominic.

He’s standing against the mirrored wall of the cab looking like he just stepped out of some movie where he starred as the heartthrob.In his white button-down shirt rolled up his arms and black tailored pants he’s the perfect combination of sexy and sophisticated.The five o’clock shadow that graces his chiseled jaw adds to the alluring vision of him.

I’m aware I’m just staring, looking at him like it’s the first time I’ve seen a man in my life.So, I blink to clear the fog of fantasy that’s engulfed my mind and walk-in.

“Morning,” I say.

“Hello,” he replies.

We stand side by side and the doors close, sealing in the tense atmosphere along with the heavy silence.

I don’t know what to say to him and that feels weird.We've never been silent around each other.Even in my younger days when I was just crushing on him, and he made me nervous, I was never stuck for words.Now I am because everything I want to say will unleash emotions I don't want to feel today.

Feeling the weight of his stare I chance glancing at him.I don’t think he’s taken his eyes off me at all.Yet I can barely look at him, and this stupid elevator is moving at snail's pace.

I look away and still feel his eyes.I feel them taking in every part of me, even the secret parts, and that changes the surrounding air with a magnetism that makes me remember hot sinful things from the night we spent together.

He continues watching me and the elevator seems to move slower.Oh, so slow, tortuously slow.

I try to take a measured breath to relieve the tightness in my lungs, but it doesn’t work.It might if he would look away, but he's not going to.That’s what he’s like. He commands attention and I’m defying him by trying to ignore him.The seconds that tick by will be a tug of war of who will crack first.Or who will make the other crack?I have a heads up because I know it won’t be him.

I definitely know when I hear the faint wisp of him breathing out an exaggerated sigh.

“Good date?” he asks. His voice is so sharp it slices through the blanket of silence.

The question surprises me because I’m pretty sure he doesn’t care about my date.When I look at him, I feel trapped instantly when I take in his stormy blue gaze.

“Yes,” I answer, and his eyes cloud, swallowing me into the depths of the tempest.