Page 65 of Sinful Lies

The only downside of taking yet more time off is that I’ve gotten seriously behind on my case reports. But it’s been a while since I’ve worked late at the office, so I make sure to pop out with Karlie at lunch time and stock up on some snacks to get me through the long evening ahead.

The office starts to empty around five, so I head to the break room to make myself a coffee before settling in at my desk and cracking on with case reports for the next few hours while the place is quiet.

It doesn’t take long for me to get through the first two, given that I only had to proofread them and tweak a few sentences here and there. It’s the Wilson case report that’s going to take a while. I should have completed it on Monday, but after what happened in Giovanni’s office, not only did I fail to organize the case file, but I didn’t even make a start on the final report.

I’m honestly surprised that he hasn’t pulled me up on it.

Ripping open a bag of gummy worms, I pop one into my mouth and load up the witness statements for the case file and get to work.

I’m an hour into the Wilson report when my phone lights up beside me with a message from Dimitri. My stomach flutters as I unlock my phone and scan thetext.

Are you working late? X

I bite the inside of my cheek to stop myself from smiling.

Is he worried about me?

Yes, still catching up! Be home around nine :)

The three text bubbles instantly pop up, and I eagerly wait for his reply.

I’m picking you up in an hour and taking you to dinner. You can finish your work later x

I can’t stop myself from smiling as I read his message. I quickly reply, letting him know that I’ll be waiting outside for him as I know there’s no point in telling him no.

The man likes to make sure I eat, and I’m definitely not complaining.

Plus, it’s a nice added source of motivation to get my report done in the next hour so that I can enjoy this dinner guilt free.

Shutting off my phone, I try to ignore the excitement building in my chest at the thought of having dinner with Dimitri.

He’s turning out to be pretty great, and the more I get to know him, the more I’m really starting to like him, which scares the hell out of me.

I know I have no place to feel such things, but he’s got such a sweet and thoughtful side to him that has me swooning like a teenager in high school. It’s becoming clear that the cheeky playboy persona was more of an act than the real him.

I never would have seen him as the type to go to the trouble of bringing me my favorite takeout food after I had a bad day, but the gesture was so sweet it literally brought me to tears.

Am I really so broken that such a small gesture tips me over the edge?

I frown.

I hope not because I’m enjoying getting to know Dimitri. And I want to get to a place where I don’t run at the first sign of intimacy.

Putting my head down, I shut out all distractions as I focus on finishing up my report in time.

At five minutes to eight, I gather up my materials and neatly organize them back into the original folder.

All I need to do is drop it on Giovanni’s desk, and then I’m officially done for the week. I’m really proud of the progress I managed to make this evening. I hate getting behind on my work as I’m such an overachiever, so it feels good to have checked everything off my to-do list. Plus, I don’t want to ever give Giovanni a reason to call me into his office.

I’m hoping that the sight of my report on his desk first thing on Monday will keep him off my back for a few extra days.

Clutching the file to my chest, I quickly hurry across the empty office floor toward the private offices. I’m so busy thinking about my dinner with Dimitri that I don’t clock the fact that Giovanni’s office light is still on.

I throw open the door and let out a cry at the sight of him sitting behind his desk.

“Oh, my god, you scared me!” I clutch a hand to my chest as I try to catch my breath. “I didn’t realize you were still here.”

“This is what hard work looks like, Zara.” Giovanni glares at me over the top of his computer. “And you’re interrupting me.”

---