Page 11 of Virgin's Stolen Nights with the Boss

‘Of course,’ Carmen said, and went and collected the necessary bottle.

But as she started to pour she heard the current speaker—or rather, heard the uncomfortable pause.

Looking over to the stage, she saw that the speaker was the man from before.

He was too good-looking not to recall.

He’d made her smile earlier, with his honest response to his partner.

It had been no more than that.

But now she could see that he was in trouble.

Carmen was more than used to this type of function—had been to a thousand such events herself. Albeit usually she was seated rather than serving. Still, she was aware—as was everyone else in the room—that this pause in the smooth proceedings had gone on for too long.

The man’s brown hair gleamed and his stunning features were amplified by the lighting. He wore his evening suit exceptionally well, and yet despite the excellent cut of the fabric he seemed somehow confined.

Carmen watched as he reached up to adjust his tie, but then changed his mind and awkwardly brought his hand back down to his side.

Was he nervous? she pondered briefly. But why? Perhaps he had forgotten the name of the person receiving whatever award he was presenting?

But now she was really watching—and she saw that he wasnotnervous. He reminded her a little of Sebastián on the day of their father’s funeral, attempting to be civil but having to bite his tongue and keep a lid on his deep and complex emotions.

She knew that look.

This speaker was struggling to contain himself...

His hands were clutching the podium, his breathing was shallow, and his eyes were shooting daggers into the audience...

There were three things that hauled Elias back from the brink.

The promise he had made to his brother when he’d identified his body—that no one would ever know about his wife’s vile betrayal.

The fact that Elias had sworn to protect his family—especially his mother—from further hurt.

And the sudden distraction near the back of the room, which gave Elias an easy excuse for his extended silence...

‘Hey!’ the lady cried, as the water Carmen had been pouring spilled over the top of the glass and quickly pooled across the table.

‘I’m so sorry!’ Carmen offered,

But the woman leapt up, knocking her chair over, furious that her dress was wet.

‘I’m drenched!’ she shouted into the awkward silence.

‘Ma’am, I’m...’ Carmen took a breath and reminded herself that she was working.

She hoped to God that she had never spoken to a waitress like that. No. She might be spoiled and difficult, but only with the people she loved.

She clamped her lips shut on the retort she wanted to make, that the woman’s dress was barely wet. ‘I do apologise, ma’am.’

The manager ran over, followed by a troop of waiters with cloths, but all Carmen was really aware of was that the speaker had found his voice.

As the small commotion at the back of the room faded he apologised for the interruption, checked that he could progress, and said, ‘Yes, Joel asked me how come his new wife and he were so fortunate...’

‘De Luca!’ her manager hissed. ‘I’ll speak to you in the kitchen.Now!’

All eyes must be on the speaker, of course, and yet Carmen felt as if every eye was on her... She was going to be fired, she knew, and she blushed as she made her way between the tables.

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