They had taken far too many chances in the last two weeks, making love almost every lunch time in the luxurious three-bedroom penthouse flat Dominic had rented, a few minutes walk from the office, and occasionally ending up there after work when Dominic couldn’t get enough of her in the measly lunch hour. The man was insatiable! To be fair, she was only a little better. Sex was a drug she had discovered and she couldn’t get enough of it.
Dominic often worked from home, so thankfully his absences weren’t noticed. She was entitled to a lunch break and although there were times she must have come back to the office looking well and truly pleasured, no one could suspect it had anything to do with Dominic.
What was far more telling was the hungry look in his eyes whenever he saw her. Sooner or later someone at the office would notice it and the secret would be out. They argued constantly about her desire to keep the relationship a secret.
“We’re both mature adults. What’s the damned problem?” he’d asked impatiently when she’d told him that she planned to walk several corners away from his house—to where one had dropped off earlier—to hail a taxi home.
They had just collapsed exhausted onto the mammoth bed in his home after three hours of mind-blowing sex, the week after their tryst in his office. When she’d realized that he had full-streaming movies and music services, she’d excitedly chosen to watch Sparkle. The movie had played on in the background without her seeing any of it until much later that evening. Refusing his offer of a lift home, she’d left an exhausted-looking but annoyed Dominic who had ordered her to call him as soon as she’d arrived safely home.
Many women would jump at the chance to be seen on his arm, Chantelle knew, but their relationship wouldn’t last for long if his previous relationships were anything to go by. Men like Dominic got bored easily and moved on. She didn’t want to forever be known as the ‘ex-girlfriend of billionaire playboy Dominic O’Brien’.
Winning the Institute of Architecture’s Most-Promising Designer Award could propel her, head and shoulders, above the year’s other graduates. Her name would be known in the right places and she could expect job offers from several companies. She would stay with O’Brien’s—they had after all given her the break she’d desperately needed—and complete at least one project successfully, but afterwards she would move on and forge a successful career for herself.
By then, she and Dominic would have long been history.
Chapter Nine
“Lastly, I’ve decided that Chantelle will project manage the Thamesview Project with me until my father’s return next month,” Dominic informed the assembled management team.
Chantelle, sitting towards the end of the long table and feasting on her first sight of Dominic in five days, thought she’d misheard him.
He wanted her to work on the biggest project the company had ever handled!
For a moment there was stunned silence in the room. Then Preston jumped up and said, “What did the hell did you say?”
“You heard me correctly, so sit down, Preston!” Dominic commanded curtly. “My father’s keen to have a different approach on this project. Chantelle’s ideal with her fresh ideas and younger perspective.”
“I’m sure her youth is the reason you chose her for the job!” the older man retorted scornfully. “Just don’t pretend that you’re doing it for your father’s benefit!”
“This is still my father’s company, so naturally I include him in all major decisions. I have his approval on this.” Dominic’s voice was so cold, it sent a shiver down Chantelle’s spine. “Since Chantelle has been with the company she’s taken a keen interest in the project without being prompted. She sent me a list of suggestions for the project which I forwarded to my father yesterday. He’s excited by her ideas. I had a tough time convincing him to have another month’s recuperation.”
“I’m sure your father’s not aware that you hired your bit of fluff. But if you think—”
“Preston, I will not have any member of my management team referred to in such a derogatory way!” Dominic forcibly cut the man’s tirade short. “You have exactly one minute to apologize to Ms Payne, or leave this room, clear your desk and leave the company.”
“I don’t have to apol…” Something in Dominic’s stony, determined face made the older man falter. “Chantelle…Ms Payne, I apologize for my comment.”
“Apology accepted.” Chantelle inclined her head graciously but felt like she was bleeding inside.