CHAPTER 22

**CHLOE DUARTE**

“It will be a pleasure, send me all the details later, I love these kinds of festivities!"

I finish eating my very expensive lunch that James made sure to order and pay for, since I would have ordered a simpler dish, but he refused and chose on his own.

And he was not wrong in his choice, because I have never eaten such a delicious meal as I did today.

James' invitation reminds me of the menu for the ball that I have prepared and that will take place in a few days, and as his assistant, I need to attend this event and check that all the preparations are to the requests made.

This also reminds me that I urgently need to go shopping to attend this ball, which will be a difficult task since I will probably have to max out my poor credit card with some beautiful dresses.

After lunch, James presents the contract in detail to Albert, who agrees and enthusiastically signs to be part of and contribute to the Colucci Company.

I still don't know where they know each other from, but they seem to be long time friends.

"Since we have bored the beautiful Chloe with tedious matters, how would you like to join me for dinner at the weekend?", I almost choke on my water when Albert says, staring at me.

Before I answer any nonsense, my eyes fix on his hands where no wedding ring or ring mark can be found.

Although he is in good shape and handsome, I think Albert is in his forties, which I think is too old for...

James' serious throaty intake of breath brings me out of my thoughts and makes me face him meeting a grimace of displeasure, but this reminds me that he is meeting that woman tomorrow night.

He may be my boss, but he has no fucking right not to like who I date, we have absolutely nothing going on and that makes me unfettered.

“Oh, do you have a boyfriend? Forgive my rudeness of...", Albert apologizes with a guilty expression as he notices my silence and delays in answering.

“Actually, she...", James tries to stop me, but I don't let that happen as I quickly speak up:

“I'm not dating, and it will be a pleasure to have dinner with you, Albert!", I accept with a ready smile on my lips.

Still smiling, I venture a glance at James, who has frowning eyes and seems to let fire out of his nostrils as he stares at me, but this only adds to my victorious smile.

“What's wrong? Was your food too spicy, Mr. Colucci?", I tease him with an innocent expression, making him more irritated.

I know I'm playing with fire, but my problem is that I'm not afraid to get burned by it.

“No, but thank you for your concern, Miss Duarte!", I control myself not to laugh when he makes the effort to say this.

I know he means a lot of other things, but I can see how he is controlling himself as much as possible.

“Great, I'll take you to one of my favorite places and I'm sure you'll like it, Chloe."

“I'm sure I will, Albert!"

For the rest of the conversation we order dessert and Albert tells me about how he founded his company, my attention to the subject seems to anger James who remains quiet.

What I don't understand is why he should care about this, since he said that there can be absolutely nothing between us.

“If you'll excuse me, I'm going to the bathroom!", they nod their heads as I grab my bag and look for the ladies' room.

As soon as I open the door, I run to the sink and splash cold water on my face that seems to burn every time I am near that man and the situation seems to get worse and worse.

I dry my face and adjust my appearance in the reflection of the mirror, I am almost reaching into my purse for my lipstick when the bathroom door is opened quickly.

By none other than James Colucci himself...

“It's the ladies' room! What are you doing here?", the answer to my question doesn't come.

Through the mirror I see James come up to me quickly and the next second I am sitting on the cold sink while his mouth is on mine.

I close my eyes getting lost in the crazy sensations, his hands cupping me so that he is between my legs as he continues kissing me non”stop.

“What are you doing?", I have little time to ask as I catch my breath.

“Doing what I should have done a long time ago..."

On the way to doom, I manage to regain a bit of my wits and use all my self”control to push James by the shoulders who walks away with a frown on his brow.

“What do you think you're doing?", I jump up from the sink, fixing my hair in the mirror behind me.

“I said..."

“Why are you doing this? You say we can't have anything and the next second you walk into the lady's room and grab me like that, what is your problem?", I control my tone of voice.

“Sorry about that, I shouldn't have done that, but I can't control it when I'm around you, Chloe!", he says, upset with himself as he messes up his hair in a nervous motion.

“Did you have this sudden attack of stupid jealousy because of my dinner with Albert?", I ask, and when I realize that he doesn't know what to say, it's because he cared.

“You and I have absolutely nothing, so I can freely go out with whoever I want, just as you are going to meet Miss Krinks."

He narrows his eyes as he hears my last sentence, I unwittingly admit that their meeting makes me too uncomfortable.

I have practically just assumed how fucking jealous I am.

“Don't you think he's too old for you?", he arches a dark eyebrow, moving dangerously close again.

“Age to me is just a number, what matters is the character of the person.", I say, raising my head to face his blue eyes due to our height difference.

“Are you attracted to him?", he asks seriously and with a provocative smile, I approach him, totally breaking the distance between us.

“And if I say yes?", my smile widens when his nostrils flare as if he needs to restrain himself after hearing my answer.

“Why do I feel that this is a lie? If you are attracted to him, then why does your body react like this when I am around?", I control the urge to pull away again when his chest brushes against my body.

“Like this, how?", I ask lost in the blue immensity of the irises of his eyes that seem capable of undressing me with just intense glances.

My God, who am I kidding?

If even he has noticed the way I behave when I am with him, this only confirms that I am completely lost.

He is right, despite Albert's preserved good looks, I am not attracted to him the way I am to James.

I have never felt a carnal desire so strong as to make me commit madness without explanation, it's a mystery that I need the solution to as soon as possible.

“Your face is flushed, showing how nervous you are about me being so close, I may not have known you all my life, but I have noticed that you often bite your lower lip when you are excited.", I shiver when he brings his hand up to my neck covered by the scarf.

“You could be wrong, you know.", I try to show resistance again, but he knows he's won this battle.

“But I'm not, and knowing that I know those little details makes you more tempted to give in to temptation, doesn't it?"

I don't answer, I just close my eyes when I feel his fingertips tracing the outline of my mouth slowly, my hands find the edge of the sink and grip it behind me as I try to keep my body balanced.

“You don't have to be afraid to admit it, because I feel the same way and I know how you feel, Chloe..."

“It's fucking torture to see you and not be able to touch you the way I dream of touching you...", a small, audible sigh escapes my lips as his fingers trace my bust through my top.

“Do you want me, Chloe? And there's no point in denying it, because the signs of your body begging for more are very clear to me, little seductress."

I open my eyes and start to bite my lower lip to keep from answering that question, but fail when he quickly makes me sit on the sink again, but this time I don't complain or try to stop him.

“I like it here!", he says referring to the mark on my skin after ripping the scarf from my neck in one swift movement.