She didn’t, of course. She stiffened and forced herself to step further into the relative safety of the building. She was not screwing this up for Juno. But she wished her twin had told her how ridiculously attractive Alvaro was, because her inability to cope with the reality of him was something terrible. If only she’d known.
‘Goodnight, Juno.’
For once in her life Jade couldn’t execute a polite reply. She simply nodded and closed the door, before leaning against it to stop herself opening it again and saying something stupid.
Why now? Why him?
She’d met several attractive men: advisors, guests, even King Leonardo of Severene—who her father and his advisors suggested would be a suitable husband...
But she’d never felt her pulse skip and sprint the way it did around Alvaro. She’d never felt restless or had an ache burning deep and low in those secret parts that had stayed resolutely silent before.
How was she to survive the next few days with Alvaro Byrne as her boss?
It was impossible.
CHAPTER FOUR
‘SO, JUNO—’
‘Please,’ Jade interrupted Grace, another of the social media assistants. ‘Please call me PJ.’
‘PJ?’ Alvaro, sitting just along from her, frowned.
‘Yes.’ She forced a smile and grabbed assertiveness with both hands. ‘For—’
‘Pineapple Juice?’ Grace joked.
‘Plain Jane?’ Jade giggled back.
‘Poor Joke?’ Alvaro added blandly.
Jade shot him a look. ‘Yes, it’s a new thing, but it’s good to refresh, right?’
‘Refresh?’ Alvaro echoed.
‘Like we need to do with some of your social media channels,’ she said with more bravery than she felt. As a comeback it was weak, but it was the best she could muster in front of everyone.
It was her own fault that he was watching her with that wary, almost disapproving eye. She’d been late, thanks to figuring out the damn subway system again, which would’ve been fine except he was waiting by her desk to ask her to join in this never-ending meeting with so many other people.
‘You did an amazing job turning this issue around for us yesterday,’ Sophy, the marketing manager, filled the sharp little silence. ‘It’s the honesty and authenticity that people have responded to.’
Jade wasn’t either honest or authentic. She was sitting here lying to them all right this second. And she couldn’t bear to look at the tall man sitting to her left, yet she couldn’t seem to stop herself. Her pulse still wouldn’t settle but worse was the heightened state of awareness, the heat, the craving she felt for his attention.
‘Are you all okay to work through lunch?’ Alvaro asked. ‘I’ve ordered catering.’
A noisy cheer echoed around the meeting room. Jade’s stomach cheered too. Turned out Juno didn’t keep her fridge well stocked and Jade hadn’t had time to stop to get anything on the way to work this morning. So yes, she was starving again.
‘Lunch is important, after all. To keep us going.’ Alvaro’s gaze landed on Jade again. ‘And it’s our last week before our Christmas break, right?’
Try as hard as she could, she couldn’t tear her gaze from that knowing glint in his—as if he’d somehow twigged she’d gone without again and he’d deliberately ordered in.
‘And the sooner we refine these plans, the sooner we can break up early,’ he added.
While the rest of the staff looked delighted, Jade wished she could melt and slide into a gooey mess under the meeting table. She never tripped over her words. She never felt nerves like this. But she was far too conscious of him.
‘Can you work up a proposal, PJ?’ Sophy asked. ‘It doesn’t have to be fully costed or detailed. I’d just like the concept to mull over during the Christmas break.’
‘Of course.’ Jade scrambled to catch up on what it was they’d been saying and on what topic it was she was supposed to propose...and she’d get to researching ‘how to write a proposal’ the second she was back at her desk.
‘Wow, did you get hair extensions?’ Grace paused beside her when they finally stood to leave the meeting room, almost three hours later.
‘Pardon?’ Jade lifted her hand to her head and realised some of her hair had fallen from the topknot she’d tied it in early this morning, and it was now hanging in a long streak over her shoulder. ‘Oh, yes, I did.’
‘It looks amazing. I love the length and the colour.’
‘Thank you.’
But yet again her errant, apparently uncontrollable gaze glided across the room to collide with Alvaro Byrne’s once more. He impacted every sense—her vision and hearing were so attuned to him, but most of all he struck a need for touch within her. It was appallingly inappropriate. Even after the meeting—after he was locked away in his own office—he still oozed animal magnetism, dominating every damn one of her thoughts. It was as if she’d walked into a cloud of heated, sensual fog. She couldn’t see beyond him, couldn’t think of anything else. It was mortifying—mostly because it seemed so beyond her control.
There were plenty of other men in the office and there were those personal trainer guys who worked at the gym downstairs who walked around with equally ripped muscles on show all the time... But none of them had the effect on her that Alvaro Byrne did, even now when he was covered up in his perfectly tailored suit.
The worst thing, though, was that she was sure he was aware of her response to him. There was an arrogant tilt to his lips and an astute glint in his heavy gaze, as if he could see through her superficial layer to that guilt just beneath. He watched her as if he knew, or at least suspected, something was wrong.
And he was right, of course.
She didn’t want to wreck Juno’s reputation, but she didn’t think she could sustain this lie. She’d gone too public and what had been a minor error was now getting more attention than before. That online bulletin had asked again to interview her—it was ridiculous—and more people were trying to follow her online. Thank goodness Juno had shut down her social media platforms because, as it was, some of her old pictures had been recirculating. If anyone looked too closely and spotted any differences between them and the ‘Juno’ in the office now? It was a nightmare waiting to come to life.
But it was that internal battle that was the most hideous. She’d prided herself on her ability to contain her emotions, to be the calm, polite princess who could control her own thoughts and get the job done. But all that control had slid the second she’d encountered Alvaro Byrne.
And now she’d got to know a little of him? He wasn’t the autocratic bully who didn’t bother to listen...in reality he did hear, he did see. He even apologised.
Which meant he was impossible to stay mad with, impossible to say no to, impossible to ignore. But he was her boss. So she had to. Because he was so, so out of bounds.
Something still didn’t add up. And that fact that he was still obsessing over her days later? Alvaro couldn’t wait for tomorrow—Friday, finally. The office was officially closing for Christmas and it would give him a few days alone to sort out his head—and other parts. Because he did not screw around with employees. Ever. It wasn’t as if he hadn’t had the chance. He’d had to be very distanced from one former recruit who’d made a pass at him, but he didn’t like it messy in the workplace.
Outside the company? For a while seduction had been a sport like any other, and Alvaro always played to win. But he’d matured since the days when he’d taken what had been offered just because he could. And he’d swiftly learned it was simpler to stay single. With his workload he couldn’t meet the commitment or expectations of a long-term relationship. Nowadays he enjoyed an occasional brief affair with a woman willing to enjoy the lifestyle—and lack of strings—he offered. A woman unencumbered by unrealistic dreams of happy-ever-after, or drama.
But this wo
man? An employee. A princess—even if cast off from her kingdom... There was so much drama. So much that was forbidden.
Yet he couldn’t tear his attention from her. Couldn’t stop the urges whispering within—they’d been his constant, irritating companions every minute since he’d sparred with her first thing last Monday morning. Every day since had only added to the weight of temptation. And his curiosity—sexual and otherwise—had equally magnified as the days had passed.
Why had a supposedly streetwise ‘rebel’ struggled to unlock her own front door? Why had she fleetingly looked panicked when she had been late the other day? And he couldn’t be sure, but he suspected that for some reason she wasn’t eating much. He’d seen her pour herself too many coffees from the office filter, adding doses of sugar and cream as if to magically bulk it into a meal... He was probably projecting his own old feelings and fear of hunger on that one, but he’d ordered lunch into the meeting on Tuesday just in case. He’d done the same again every day since, calling it his new Christmas tradition. As if he knew anything about those. But he couldn’t stand to think of someone starving. Sometimes she seemed miles away—Sophy had had to call her name twice the other day. And her immediate apology, the polite smile she offered? The stillness in the way she sat? Her quietness in the office? She was a contradiction. Because he knew that, beneath that supposedly serene exterior, she was stifling a snappy fighter. He wanted that Juno to emerge again. Instead, she’d buried herself in that stupid proposal Sophy had requested.
He’d had to resist, employing every ounce of self-control not to try and provoke the feisty determination he’d discovered lay beneath that poised facade. She was too perfectly contained. Where was the wild ‘Rebel Princess’ her old social media posts showed her to be? Where was the flash of spirit she’d shown him on Monday morning?
While she looked the same, she didn’t seem the same.
But he didn’t need to be wasting his time contemplating her. It was the slide into the holiday season, right? Maybe he’d fixated on her as a distraction from all the happy family, festive tinsel stuff filling the city. Speaking of which, he clicked into his email system to check that his orders to Ellen had been delivered. His foster carer had always worked Christmas, as had he as soon as he was able. He still did. Satisfied when he saw the receipts were signed off, he pushed back from his desk and stood. Thankfully it was Thursday night and he’d made it. He’d not gone near her, not noticed those slim-fitting black trousers and pristine white shirt. He’d ignored the fact that his fingers itched to skim over her lines and that he ached to discover what softness and curves lay beneath...
His staff were going out tonight, celebrating the holiday starting tomorrow. He’d never been more glad that he’d agreed to close the office a few days ahead of Christmas. He told his assistant to pass on his good wishes. They were used to him not stopping in to socialise.
He took the stairs down to the gym, once more trying to work out the never-ending frustration, knowing that when he got back, she would be gone and out of reach. The relief would be immense. Avoidance was his only remaining strategy.
But when he returned to the office in gym shorts and tee, a full fifty minutes later, she was still sitting at her desk, still in that same self-contained pose, still silently focused on her screen. The only other person on the floor.
‘What are you doing?’ he demanded, his patience blown.
‘Oh!’ She spun on her chair and drew in a shocked breath. Her jade eyes widened.
Déjà-vu. Suddenly he was hotter than he’d been mid-workout. Because once again she was staring at him as if she’d never seen a man before. Honestly, it took everything not to flex. But every muscle was already tense—they’d been on high alert for days.
‘I thought you worked out this morning,’ she blurted, then blushed.
Alvaro smiled faintly. She taken note of his routine? Good, because he’d been barely able to tear his attention from her for days now.
‘I did,’ he said. ‘I work out twice a day. It’s how I manage stress.’
It was a discipline too. The habit branded within him from his youth. He’d learned that if he wanted to succeed at something, he had to work harder, longer, heavier, than any competitor. Only this time his competitor was his own lust. So in fact he’d gone for another session in the middle of the day today, desperate to burn some of the energy coiling tighter and tighter within him.
‘I’m sorry you’re stressed.’ She bit her lip. ‘I don’t think I’ve helped you there.’
That was incredibly true, but not in the way she meant.
‘It’s habit as well.’ He shrugged, trying to rein himself in and at least act casual. ‘Twice a day, every day. I like it.’
Another blush swept across her cheeks. He stared. Was she interested in what he liked? In what made him feel good? Because really, the best thing of all was the most instinctive, the most animal of urges...was she thinking about sex? Because he not so suddenly was. Damn, if he didn’t have the overriding instinct that the chemistry between them would be instantly combustible.
‘Why are you still here?’ He growled, irritated with his one-track mind. ‘The others have gone for Christmas drinks.’
‘I know.’ Her expression pinched. ‘But I wanted to finish up that report before leaving.’
‘There’s always tomorrow morning.’
‘I don’t want to leave it until the last minute. I want to be sure it’s done and done well.’
Seriously perfect, wasn’t she? His skin seemed to have shrunk too small for his muscles. Why didn’t the ‘Rebel Princess’ want to party? He’d overheard one of the guys ask her out yesterday and she’d made some weak excuse about getting home to her cat. But there’d been a large ‘no pets’ sign at the entrance of her apartment building the other day and definitely no felines yowling around. She’d been lying.
‘You’re not going to join them?’ Her glance was wary as he silently stared at her.
‘I’m the boss. They’ll have more fun if I’m not casting a shadow over proceedings.’
Jade stood, her nerves too strained for her to remain still. He was no shadow. He was a light that commanded all attention, who made her incredibly aware of every movement, every breath. She needed to leave.
She couldn’t believe she’d come across him in his wretched workout gear all over again. This time he hadn’t stripped, he still had a tee shirt on. But the arms on show? The skin? All those muscles? It was impossible not to stare even as she burned to a crisp, her brain overcooked and immediately unproductive. She’d been struggling all week—hyper-aware, absurdly impressed. And it was evident his staff were completely loyal—no wonder they’d all phoned Juno so desperately when that little post had gone awry. They would do anything for him and no wonder—with his patience in meetings, his insights, and those incredible catered lunches?
Yes. She had to get out of there. Now. Before she did something mortifying. Because now he was nearer, now there was an element in those amber eyes that expressed...care.
‘Are you okay?’ His voice was low and husky and soothing. ‘Juno?’
She closed her eyes. She hated hearing her sister’s name on his lips. She hated that she’d lied to anyone, but most of all him. And she hated how much his opinion of her mattered to her.
‘I’m not used to...’ Having a stunning man stand so close. She opened her eyes and sighed. ‘I’m just a bit tired.’
‘You’ve had a tough week.’ He was looking at her as if he were trying to solve a puzzle. ‘What do you do to unwind? If it’s not heading out for a drink and it’s not burning off stress in a gym...’
She froze. The only other thing she could think of was the one thing she’d never done with anyone. Why was that utterly inappropriate suggestion leaping into her mind now and flashing like an unavoidable neon sign?
‘What are you going to do?’ A frown inten
sified the amber depth of his warm eyes. ‘You’re obviously strung out.’
She’d thought she’d done a good job of holding herself together, and he was telling her everyone could see right through her?
‘You’re pale. When did you last eat?’
‘Actually, I had a protein bar for afternoon tea.’ And that was after a huge sandwich from that lunch he’d had delivered.
His mouth quirked but he shook his head slightly. ‘Not enough.’
‘A protein bar lasts a long time.’
‘Rot.’
‘Maybe my engine doesn’t need the same amount of fuel as yours.’
His gaze drilled into hers. ‘All engines need good fuel and good, regular service.’
She suppressed a shiver. She was misinterpreting what he was saying, reading something inappropriate into every word.
She tried to laugh. ‘You take this interest in all your staff?’
She felt his tension immediately treble.
‘You’ve had a difficult few days,’ he clipped. ‘Dealing with that stuff online can become overwhelming, even when mistakes haven’t been made. I want to make sure you’re okay.’
‘I’m okay.’ She forced a smile. ‘Thank you.’
‘Are you sure?’
This didn’t feel like a normal conversation between boss and employee, or colleagues, or even friends. This was heavier. Her heart thudded, bolting her in place right there before him. He didn’t move either. The world telescoped. They were inches apart and no one else was there and there was no threat of interruption...and the longing sweeping through her was crazy. Any rational capacity lapsed, leaving only the ache of temptation. Her limbs trembled as yearning flooded. It was almost a dream when he slowly lifted his hand and lifted a lock of her hair, then ran it through his fingers. She held her breath, not wanting to move, not wanting this mirage to end.
‘It’s so long,’ he muttered. ‘I can’t believe it isn’t real.’
The Queen's Impossible Boss (The Christmas Princess Swap, Book 2) Page 4
