Page 20 of Forbidden Deception

I don’t smile at anyone; in fact, I keep myself in check, not giving anything away. In the business world, you can’t act all bubbly and happy. That’s not how it works. I may chat Rafael’sear off, but my work truly reflects my experience as an assistant. Neat, precise and accurate.

The marketing manager stands up. I love all the creative aspects of the marketing field, but my major is in accounting.

I turn towards Rafael to see his eyes flicker over to me.

Rafael’s eyes have never felt cold to me, as my brother’s sometimes do. They may feel strict and sharp, but they don’t feel empty.

Rafael’s gaze feel like this city feels to me.

Troubled, expressive, and warm. Though he does sometimes spew bullshit at me, I think he does it to test me. He warned me he’d be harsh on me. Yet every time Rafael looks at me, a nostalgic feeling of my time in this city takes over me, raising goosebumps, and making me not hate this city as much as I want to.

“I like this team the most,” I murmur in an attempt to diffuse the tension between us.

A soft smile pulls at my lips when Rafael answers.

“I can image you having the most fun with this team. They manage the creative aspects of the company including interior design. I imagine it’s something you would enjoy doing. You’re free, limitless, and expressive enough to be working with them.”

My mouth parts.

Rafael glances down at my iPad, juts his chin towards it, and gives me his side profile.

That’s the first time Rafael has ever said anything positive about me.

“What if I told you that may not be true?” I say absently, still not over the fact that he actually continued a conversation without me pushing him.

Placing his arm on the table, he leans forward, the scent of his cologne drifting around me. My eyes trail over his veiny handsand his manicured nails. Not many men have attractive hands, but Rafael does.

“Doubt it,” he replies smugly.

I bite my lip to hold in a laugh. “You don’t know me at all.” I lift a shoulder.

“Maybe, but I am getting used to your dramatic self,” he murmurs.

I bite my lip to stop the smile.

“Dramatic? Me?” I whisper-yell, pointing to myself. I can’t believe he called me dramatic.

“You.” He lifts both his brows, and I quieten down.

I look away from him to focus on the presentation and see Danyi step up.

“For the rest of the of year, our plan is to keep up our current strategy, with Gustav Industries being the powerhouse of Gustav conglomerates. We need to keep up with the demand through our carefully constructed budgets of each team.” I didn’t think Danyi would be presenting. Though she is a direct contact for me, I haven’t had to call much, as I’ve never really struggled with my work.

The few times I did try, she shut me out, so I took the hint.

I take a few notes on my iPad about her strategy, then feel eyes on me. Tingles skitter from my forehead to my cheeks and down to my lips. I look up to see Rafael’s eyes dart from me to the papers before him.

A frown tugs on my lips. Did he need something? He has his water bottle next to him, his notes, and I have my iPad. Nothing is amiss.

“I think—”

Rafael’s head snaps up from his papers, and his eyes settle on me, giving me his full, undivided attention. My heart skips a beat, and words fail me for a second.

I clear my throat. “Danyi is the last one. That was quite a long meeting.”

Rafael nods at me, then looks away. My gaze lingers on him, entranced by his side profile. His grey suit fits him so perfectly, stretching across his broad shoulders and chest. Every time he is near me, I can always faintly smell his strong cologne, a musky, clean, refreshing scent. Rafael is truly my type, and it’s sad that our circumstances mean nothing can happen between us. In any other situation, I would have fallen for him at first sight because of his looks.

“Thank you, everyone, for your hard work,” Rafael says curtly.

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