the Billionaire’s Secret Desire(40)

him that commanded respect and she couldn‘t help but let it

affect her too. He was so handsome and tall enough to tower

over everyone else there. It was no wonder she felt so

insignificant and small around him. Well, she did now. Before

Greece she always thought he favoured her somehow, but now it

seemed as if she was less important to him than the rest of the

women in the office. She had only just realized that. At the time

it didn‘t seem as if he paid any special attention to her, but the

comparison from then to now was obvious. She even started

calling him Mr. King around everyone else except when they

were alone. Funny thing was, he gave her an odd look the first

time she said that but never said anything.

Then if things couldn‘t get any worse Cybil showed up one

Friday afternoon claiming to have a dinner date with Max. Her

eyes raked over Lily in obvious contempt before she released a

cool smile that seemed to say that she was no challenge after all.

―today little girl.‖ Cybil repeated with a snap of her fingers. Lily

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Lietha Wards

saw Nancy come to her feet behind the model glaring at the back

of her head. Lily shot her a look that told her not to bother

saying anything.

―Right this way,‖ she said forcing a smile.

Max was seated behind his desk when Lily opened the

door and told him that Cybil was here for their dinner date. He

stood up as the other woman sashayed into the room with an

exaggerated sway of her hips.

―Cybil?‖ he said looking at her in question.

―I know I was supposed to show up later this evening, but

I just couldn‘t wait to see you again darling. I hope you don‘t

mind, I had your diver take my bag to your penthouse.‖ She

reached up and managed to kiss him on the mouth while Lily

pinched her eyes shut and left the office shutting the door behind

her.

Nancy saw the younger woman make a bee line for the

ladies room with her head held high, but she had also seen the

quiver of her chin while her lips were pursed tightly to hold her

emotions in.

She didn‘t know what had happened between her boss

and the young woman to sever their engagement, but for him to

parade one of his mistresses through here to rub salt in the poor

girl‘s broken heart.

She would like to have said something but the reality of it

was, he was her boss and like Lily she was an employee.

After Cybil left Max already knew the damage she caused

and meant to cause. Yes, he did reluctantly agree to dinner after

she harassed him over the phone to see him. He‘d already told

her that it was over that night she insulted Lily. However, it was

obvious to him that Melissa had told Cybil that she‘d seen him

and Lily on Demetrius‘ yacht and she called him the next evening

to apologize for her behaviour. She had literally begged him to

get together so she could apologize in person. Now he realized

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The Billionaire‘s Secret Desire



that was a mistake. He should have known how devious she‘d

get. The look on Lily‘s face crushed him. Cybil made it seem as if

they were together and it was the furthest from the truth.

After Lily left he bluntly told her to get out of his office

and that the chance of them even remaining friends was not

happening.

―How does it feel Max?‖ she asked with a cool smile, ―To

have your heart broken.‖

―I understand you think you know.‖ Max answered with

his expression unreadable, ―But you‘d have to have a heart in

that cold blooded body to experience such a thing.‖

She released and indignant huff and stormed out of his

office only to storm by an older woman who told her not to let

the door hit her one the way out. At least she got her digs in to

the younger beautiful woman that Max had set his sights on.

She‘d seen the devastation cross her expression when she kissed

Max. He‘d shoved her away from him, but she‘d already gone.

Now let him try and repair that damage.

Max pretended not to let on how he felt, but he could see

that the light went out of her when they returned to Chicago. She

tried her best to act professional, but he was certain on more

than one occasion that her eyes were more moist than usual

before she turned away from him. Then Cybil showed up and

pulled that little stunt, and he knew he needed to straighten that

out too. He ached to tell her the truth but every time he tried to

broach the subject she would shut him down or leave. It tortured

him to see her so hurt and he neglected to talk to Luke about

what had happened, but Lily had asked him not to and he

couldn‘t bring himself to hurt her anymore by letting Luke know.

However, he was going to talk to Luke about moving his proposal

up.

After he dismissed his team he turned to her and told her