Page 40 of Sky High Obsession

Bethany hesitated.Although there was an implicit confidentiality in the early stage of her work, she and Keely had shared info on their various projects before.She trusted her friend with her life.But she wasn’t sure how Keely would take the fact that Zach had inveigled his way into her work life too.Keely was still bent out of shape over the Shades incident, and Bethany wasn’t sure how much reserve she had left where the whole Zach situation was concerned.

“Potentially.We only got the commission today and it’s a fast turnaround, so it’s a bit hectic over here.I’ll fill you in when I can, ’kay?”she said breezily.

“Fine.Guess I’ll have to find a way to amuse myself,” Keely grumbled.Bethany smiled, confident in the knowledge that her best friend would have other plans before she hung up.

After ending the call, she stared at her computer screen, her mind screeching back to Zach and the enigma that surrounded his life.

Could she wait until he divulged his secrets to her?And could she work with him in the meantime and not delve deeper into the despair which threatened to swallow her whenever she thought about that last night in Marrakech?

There was a way she could get out of their professional relationship, but she’d discarded that line of thought earlier today before it’d even fully formed.There was no way she would do a bad job and lose Neon the commission.

Even if she wanted to, her pride in her work wouldn’t let her take that route.

Footsteps clicked along the corridor towards her desk.“You ready to get started?”Sheena quipped.

Bethany gathered the information she’d put together in the last hour.Glancing at the search page one last time, she clicked it shut and breathed out.“Yes.”

12

Philip arrived at four o’clock sharp the next afternoon.Again, Bethany felt a sharp twinge when she noticed the backseat was empty.All day, she’d nervously dangled on tenterhooks as the hours crept by, and her phone remained silent.

The pendulous swing from fielding his calls several times an hour to nothing in almost thirty-six hours played havoc with her nerves.

Those nerves escalated as she slid into the backseat and secured her seatbelt.With a small nod, Philip steered the car into traffic and headed for the Upper East Side.

Yesterday, when she’d arrived with Sheena and Gary for the mysterious interview, she’d been too curious as to the details of the meeting to pay much attention to her surroundings.

Today, knowing this was Zach’s place for however long he chose to remain in New York, her interest heightened as she walked into the plush lobby of the condo whose address constantly appeared on glossy property magazines.

White oak hardwood floors and Venetian papered walls dominated the entryway.The discreet concierge service tucked into a neat corner was staffed by a uniformed couple who looked like they’d just stepped out of a photo shoot.

Philip accessed the elevator to Zach’s condo with his own key card.Expecting him to step in beside her for the ride up, she looked up in surprise when he nodded and withdrew.

“Mr.Savage will be waiting for you.Good evening, ma’am.”With that, the burly man silently retreated.

Steel butterflies battered her insides as the elevator whisked her upward.Turning her head, she stared at her reflection in the mirrored interior of the gilt-framed elevator and groaned silently at the feverish excitement in her eyes.

She looked away quickly.Her hand closed convulsively over her leather document case as her pulse spiked frantically and her breathing altered.

When the elevator opened, he was waiting for her.

Fierce grey eyes bore into her; the narrow-eyed look focused in that unnerving way which caused nervousness and excitement to war within her.

“Bethany.”

God, the way he said her name.Like a prayer.Like a decadent invitation to sin.All wrapped in a wicked, husky rasp that had the power to stop her breath.

She forced herself to move, to not stand there like a gaping idiot, intent on devouring him with her eyes.But despite cautioning herself against it, she couldn’t help noticing how delicious he looked.His white sleeves were rolled up, exposing strong, muscled arms.Dark grey trousers streamlined his lean hips and strong thighs in a way that would’ve made most male models envious.

He didn’t move when she reached him.He seemed content to stare at her, one hand braced on the elevator door to keep it from sliding shut.

“I wasn’t sure whether you would come,” he said finally.His voice held a hint of uncertainty even as his gaze roved possessively over her.

“I work for you now.I don’t have a choice.”

A dark foreboding look gleamed in his eyes before it disappeared a second later.Reaching out, he caught her hand and pulled her forward.“Whatever the circumstances, I’m glad you’re here.”He kissed the back of her hand and tugged her along the wide, exquisitely designed hallway.

She glanced at his gorgeous face as she walked beside him.“Even if I’m not totally happy with the circumstances?”

---