Page 17 of Forbidden Desire

Me

Fine.

I concede, regretting it instantly.

The drive to Pulse is a blur, my mind wrestling with the consequences of tonight’s charade. As I approach the VIP section, the bass pulsates through my nerve endings. Zack’s club is wild with raw energy.

And there he is, the king of his domain, clad in a stylish dark suit and surrounded by plush black couches in a velvet-roped sanctuary. His golden eyes catch mine as he rises to greet me. His arm wraps around me, smooth and enticing. “You look stunning, as always, Bianca.”

“Thanks.” I take the glass of champagne he offers. It’s ice cold, with beads of condensation trickling down the flute. Throwing back a big gulp, I face him. “Let’s get this over with.”

He grins wider, lifting his chin. “Relax. We got this.”

I settle next to him, the leather of the couch cool against my hot skin, and focus on the man with the black-rim glasses—the reporter. A bearded photographer hovers nearby, with his camera ready. They’re here for a show, and Zack, in his impeccable suit, is all too eager to perform.

Zack leans into my ear. “Follow my lead.”

His warm breath sends arousal spreading through my body, and I promptly ignore it. Tilting my glass toward him, I arch an eyebrow. “I always do.”

Eyeing me, his brow creases before he turns and faces the journalists.

The reporter leans in, his pen poised over a fresh page. “So, Zack and Bianca, everyone’s dying to know about the wedding. You tied the knot Vegas style, right?”

Zack’s pearly grin doesn’t waver as he takes control. “Absolutely. What’s the point of being in Vegas if there’s no wedding?”

I force a laugh and add a line of my own. “We’re committed to making this work. Not just in marriage but in maintaining the excellence of Pulse and Fitzgerald’s.”

Zack’s hand finds mine, giving it an assuring squeeze. “Power couple goals.”

The contact sends heat shooting through my core, though it’s hardly the time to be aroused. I sit up straighter and crack my neck.

The journalist nods, scribbling down notes. “And how do you balance such dynamic businesses with your new relationship?”

I ignore Zack’s thumb stroking the back of my hand as I clear my throat. “Balance is key. We respect each other’s domain.”

Zack does an animated wink at me. “Absolutely. Though I can’t help but bring a little chaos into this beautiful order Bianca has created.”

He follows up the comment with a burst of heavy laughter.

My head shakes for a moment before I stop it and regain composure. “Chaos can be… productive. Yes.”

The reporter nods and scribbles more notes in his notepad. “Speaking of chaos, there have been rumors about a merger between Pulse and Fitzgerald’s. Any truth to that?”

Just as I am about to respond, Zack jumps in. “Yes, we discussed that just this morning, but we need to finalize a few details.”

Steam pours through my nostrils. Is he undermining me? I snatch my hand away and grit my teeth to breathe. “There’sa lotto discuss with that, actually.”

“Of course.” Zack showcases a big grin for the journalists, but the damage is done.

A subtle glint appears in the reporter’s eye. “Sounds like there’s still some ironing out to do.”

Zack dismisses the rift with a sly wave of his hand. “Just a few tiny details.”

A sudden tickle itches my throat so I cough and gulp down several more gulps of the champagne. “Yes. Just afew.”

Zack wraps his beefy arm around my shoulder, pinning my hair to my back and making it impossible for me to move my head. “Isn’t she amazing?”

The photographer leans in for a quick shot to capture the moment.

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