Beneath This Man(56)

He looks down at his emerald green dress shirt with bright pink tie. Colour clash in Tom's world is highly offensive. 'Fabulous, isn't it?' He strokes his tie.

No, it's not. It's highly unpleasant, in fact. I know that if I was looking for an interior designer and Tom turned up on my doorstep, I would shut the door in his face. 'Where's Victoria?' I ask.

'Appointment in Kensington.' He throws his man-bag on his desk and takes his glasses off to clean them on the tail of his shirt.

'Did you find out what happened?' I press.

'No!' He slumps into his chair. 'She moped and sulked all day.' He leans forward and scans the office. 'Hey, what do you make of our Sal?'

Oh, he's noticed. It's hard not to. 'She had a date.' I whisper loudly.

He puts his glasses back on in a dramatic gesture that suggests he needs to see my face given the news. It's ridiculous. They're a fashion statement and Tom's attempt to appear professional. Professional? He should lose the shirt and tie combo. It's making me squint.

'No!' he gasps.

'Yes! And a second date tonight.' I nod.

His eyes bulge again. 'Can you imagine how boring he is?'

I recoil, suddenly feeling extremely guilty for engaging him in such a conversation. 'Don't be a bitch, Tom.' I scorn.

Sally walks through the office, stopping our gossip dead in its tracks. Tom raises his eyebrows and grins as he follows her path to the photocopier. If I was close enough, I would kick him.

He turns back to me, catching my disapproving expression and holds his hands up. 'What?' he mouths.

I shake my head and return to my computer, but my peace is short lived.

'So,' Tom calls from his desk. 'Victoria tells me you've moved in with Mr Ward.'

I look up from my screen in shock and see him casually flicking through a catalogue. How does she know? Of course...Drew. He and Victoria were together on Friday night, but what has happened since then to put her in such a foul mood? I don't want to engage in this conversation. Tom thrives on drama, and my life is really quite a drama at the moment.

'I've not moved in with him, and I need you to be quiet, Tom.' I carry on deleting junk emails. He doesn't take the hint.

'Fancy that, living in the ten million quid penthouse that you designed.' he muses thoughtfully, still flicking pages.

'Shut up, Tom.' I glare at him when he lifts his eyes from the catalogue he's not even reading. He takes the hint this time, carrying on about his business.

I don't know how I'm going to get around this with Patrick. It doesn't look very good, me dating a client, and all I need is Tom blabbering off in the office for all to hear.

I return my focus to my computer and finish emptying my inbox of junk emails before preparing a payment schedule for Miss Quinn along with some brief ideas.

As five o'clock hits, I sit tapping my pen on my desk, deep in thought, and I have a bloody fantastic thought.

Oh my God I'm amazing! I jump up from my desk and quickly clear it of drawings and files. I grab my bag and flowers and head for the office door. 'I'm done, see you tomorrow, guys.' I call, as I all but sprint out of the office. I have half an hour. I can make it.

I head for the tube and to my intended destination.

I run from the tube to Lusso. I need to be showered and ready before Jesse gets home. I bypass any conversation with Clive and jump in the elevator, puffing and panting from my exertion. My poor body has really taken a hammering today.

I fly into the bedroom and throw my flowers and bag on the chest before unpacking all of my purchases, shoving them in the wooden trunk and quickly jumping in the shower, eager to ready myself for the evening ahead. I'm careful not to wet my hair as I frantically wash the day away and not so frantically shave, before removing myself from the enclosure and reaching up to grab a towel.

I turn, slamming straight into a familiar, solid and very naked chest.

Oh shit!

'Surprised to see me?' His voice is low and threatening.

I slowly lift my gaze to his and find hooded, dark green eyes and a deadly serious expression. Dominant Jesse has arrived, and he has completely screwed my plans up.

'A little.' I admit.

'Thought so. We have a small issue to resolve and we're going to do it now.'

I stand frozen in place, dripping wet and clutching the towel. I'm completely and utterly gutted that he has caught me like this, but my disappointment doesn't prevent the stab of pleasure that's just shot from deep in my stomach, straight into my groin. His menacing, lean frame towering all over me, accompanied by his heavy breathing, tells me I'm in no position to protest. But I just can't help myself.