Chapter Four #3
Excellent. That was a solid win. Except there was one little fly in the ointment.
Phoebe. Who tended to resurface in Taz’s life whenever there was an excellent promo opportunity.
She couldn’t let their turbulent relationship spoil his PR rehabilitation.
‘I can explain you meeting Meredith, as she was Alex’s fiancée.
But Phoebe is a troublemaker, and she has to stay away from this, Taz. ’
The woman in her, the one who’d kissed Taz last night, would prefer Phoebe to drop out of Taz’s life entirely. Millie told her to be quiet. She wasn’t allowed an opinion.
His eyebrow lifted at the use of his first name, but she didn’t break eye contact.
He needed to know how deadly serious she was on this point.
Millie gathered her courage. ‘Her reputation is worse than yours, and the charities don’t deserve to be caught up in any drama.
If she’s going to be around, then tell me and I’ll find another way to rehab your rep. ’
‘I like your idea,’ Taz replied, his agreement shocking her. ‘And Phoebe and I are done. Permanently.’
Really? Millie hoped Phoebe had got that message. ‘I track the press releases mentioning your name, and she’s been giving interviews left and right, saying that you’ll be back together soon. That you will be heading to the Caribbean to recoup and reset your relationship.’
He scoffed. ‘There is nothing to reset. I made it clear to her a few days ago, before I left London, that we are over.’
He sounded like he meant it, but Phoebe was a bad penny who kept showing up. But Millie saw the warning light in his eyes and decided to heed his silent admonition. The subject was closed.
She looked down at her iPad, reflecting that she’d made more progress than she’d expected.
It was time to go. ‘I’ll get working on the press statement and researching charities.’
‘Link the charities to where we are racing next. A Miami charity for Miami, an Italian charity for Imola.’ Millie swallowed.
She’d been trying to forget they were heading to the racetrack where Ben lost his life.
She didn’t know if she could do it. But the Imola race was still a month away, and she’d worry about the emotional impact of being at the crash site later. She had bigger problems right now.
‘I’ll see what I can do.’
She stood and picked up her bag and pulled it over her shoulder. She shouldn’t ask but she couldn’t help herself. ‘Are you going back to London or New York?’
‘Not that it’s got anything to do with you, but I’m not sure yet.’
Just when she’d thought he might be evolving into a halfway decent conversationalist and boss, he’d proved her wrong—yet again. The memory of their kiss still lingered, but she was determined to be professional and courteous.
Taz was a master at being difficult. He was also exceptionally good at testing her patience. Deep breath, Millie.
‘Have a good flight. I hope your recovery goes well.’
She smiled, and when he didn’t say anything she turned her back to him and walked to the hallway and the front door of his palatial suite.
‘Millie…’
She slowly turned. He sat on the arm of the couch, and she could feel the intensity of his stare. ‘That kiss…’
She thought they’d dodged that landmine, that his silence on the subject was his way of telling her that it meant nothing. Heat crept up her face. She had no idea what to say or what he wanted from her, so she hugged her iPad to her chest as a bead of sweat ran down her spine.
He kept looking at her, and it took all her willpower to keep her from bolting out of the door. When the tension became too much, the silence too weighty, she spoke. ‘I work for you, Mr De Rossi. What happened was against company rules.’
‘I know. It’s my company. But it was a truly excellent kiss.’
She wanted to grab his shirt and shake him, not that she’d be able to make his muscular frame budge an inch.
This man, she was convinced, was born to drive her mad.
‘I think you enjoyed it as much as I did,’ he stated, his tone silky and deliberately provocative. Was he trying to get a rise out of her?
Be sensible, Millie. Do not let him goad you into being reckless or admitting to your attraction. ‘I don’t get involved with people I work for, Mr De Rossi. It would be highly unprofessional. Besides, you have a girlfriend, and she would scratch my eyes out if she found out.’
‘I thought I explained that Phoebe is no longer in my life. I dislike repeating myself.’ Should she ask whether he was certain Phoebe had received the message? No. He’d already clocked her interest; she didn’t need him to know that he fascinated her.
Millie lifted her chin and gathered her courage. ‘Apart from not dating bosses, I don’t date bad boys. I don’t date at all.’ Well, not anymore.
‘Pity,’ Taz drawled.
Millie gripped the door-handle and twisted it with more force than necessary. She needed to get away from Taz before she did something really stupid. Like dropping her possessions and walking into his arms. Hauling that T-shirt up his chest, kissing his neck…
Leading him into his bedroom. She shook her head at her lust-coated thoughts, not recognising herself. She wasn’t a lose-her-clothes, roll-around-the-bed-with-a-billionaire woman.
Besides, there was too much at stake for her to risk making such a mistake. Taz had the power, wealth and influence to recover from his mistakes…
But she did not.