The Fine Print (Dreamland Billionaires #1)(33)

Zahra has this way of dreaming that I find intoxicating. It makes me want to create along with her and design something that brings her vision to life. And that alone is terrifying.

I should push her away for good, but I like how she thinks I’m only a guy who likes to draw random shit. My alias is becoming an addiction despite the risks of growing closer to her. But I can’t find it in me to assign an Animator to work with her, no matter how much I should. There’s something about how she talks to me that has me forgetting my last name for a little while.

Because she has no idea you’re her boss.

A sour feeling takes up a spot in my stomach, but I can’t find it in me to change the circumstance and admit who I am. I don’t feel that guilty.





Professionalism flies out the window as I drop off Scott’s drawing. There’s only one reason for the loss of control and Zahra’s curved ass is to blame for all of it.

I should clear my throat and get her attention. Hell, I should turn around and come back later when she isn’t sprawled out on the floor, typing away on her laptop with her ass facing the ceiling like it needs to be blessed by God himself.

Heat spreads from my chest to the area below my belt buckle. I readjust my jacket to ensure nothing alarming is noticeable, but it doesn’t solve the weird feeling spreading through my body.

I call out her name but her head continues to bob to whatever plays through those plastic earbuds.

I squat like I’m not wearing trousers worth an entire month’s rent. Zahra’s eyes remain shut as her lips move silently to whatever song plays. I’m not sure what possesses me to pluck one of the earbuds out and bring it to my ear. ABBA plays through the tiny speaker.

Huh. That’s not what I expected.

Her eyes pop open, and my eyes drop to her parted lips. I’m drawn to her like a moth to a flame. It’s fitting given how I act like a complete dumbass around her who is willing to risk everything for a moment of her light.

The way she looks at me tempts me to kiss her again. What’s the harm of testing out if our first searing kiss was a fluke? Maybe it was some product of built-up adrenaline and a burning desire to test something forbidden.

I lean forward. It’s only an inch, but it feels like I’m wading through cement to get close to her.

Since when do you care about something forbidden? My eyes drop to her lips.

I’m staring at my reason right now.

“Rowan?” She shuts her laptop, killing my moment.

I shake off the lust as I stand and offer Zahra my hand. She clutches onto it and the same energy crackles between us. Her inhale of breath fills the small space, and my hand tightens around hers before letting go.

She peeks at the leather portfolio in my hands. “What’s that?”

I open it and grab the drawing. “Here. I was told to give this to you.”

She tugs it out of my grasp with greedy fingers. Her entire face morphs into something else as she assesses the drawing. The smile she unleashes makes me feel like I’m staring straight at the sun—beautiful yet blinding. A burn spreads across my body, starting at my neck before spreading to my cock.

How does one look from her make me feel all of this?

I scowl. The idea of losing control over myself again has me stepping farther away from Zahra.

She swipes her phone off her desk and taps away at the screen.

“All good?” I snap.

Her smile from earlier dims. “Yeah. Are you friends with Scott or something?”

My back goes rigid. “Why?”

“Because you don’t seem like the kind of man who has the time to drop off papers that have nothing to do with you. Aren’t you supposed to be busy or something?”

“Or something.” I sneer.

She rolls her eyes with a smile. “So sensitive.”

The insult has my fists balling up at my sides. “You’re right. I do have better things to do than serve as your personal mail courier. If Scott doesn’t have the courage to face you himself, then that’s his problem, not mine.” The lie slips past my lips with ease.

“Oh, sure. No problem. I’ll text him myself.” While her smile is a dimmer version of her previous one, it still makes my chest tighten.

I really need to get the hell out of here. My eyes remain focused on the exit as I leave Zahra behind with nothing but a string of lies to keep me company.





17





Zahra





Scott hasn’t answered my thank you text yet and it’s been a whole hour since Rowan stopped by and nearly kissed me.

And you almost let him. Maybe it’s the way his eyes lock on my lips. Or how my entire body inappropriately heats up whenever he gets too close.

I try to distract myself with working on my presentation but I find my mind drifting. It feels weird to not have spoken to Scott for an entire day, and I’m not sure what to make of that. He’s quickly becoming the first person I text in the morning and the last person I speak to before falling asleep.

I might have no idea what he looks like but I know he has a good heart. I’m all about trusting my feelings and there’s something about Scott that tells me to keep trying, regardless of how shy he might be.

I shoot him a text message with my streaming logins and passwords, hoping to get his attention.