place.
If she’d learned anything in the past few weeks, it was that you
have to look and own the part, even when you don’t feel like it. Her clients
and potential clients were some of the wealthiest men and women in the world.
And they smelled bullshit a mile away. So that’s exactly what she’d intended to
do walking into William’s office that day: play the part.
Addie was a bit surprised walking into William’s office. Of
course, it was gorgeous, but it was something more. There was something about
the way he sat behind his desk legs up, feet crossed, chewing on his pen,
staring at her intently. He was in his element, more himself. And goddammit if
that didn’t make him all the more attractive.
“So, you needed to see me,” William said, his voice deep
and sultry, lingering on the word needed a few seconds too long.
So, he’d decided to play a part too.
Addie sat down in the chair opposite his desk and crossed her
legs. Keep it professional, Addison.
“Yes. I needed to speak with you, actually. I . . . Uh . . . We .
. . This has to stop, William. I’m married to a wonderful man, and we have three children, but it seems you already knew that, seeing that you invited them to
Italy. While I appreciate your offer, I think we both know that this is wrong.
I’m sorry that I let it go on this long.”
William didn’t bat an eye. He leaned back in his chair, glaring
at her. “Are you really, Addison?”
“Am I really what? “
“Sorry? Married to a wonderful man? All of it. Because I’m not
buying it.”
Addie raised her voice slightly. “I beg your pardon? Yes, of
course, I am.”
“And just where is this wonderful man you’re married to?”
“Working.”
William stood and walked to the other side of the desk where
Addie sat. “He left you, Addison. He left you here to deal with everything. He chose
a promotion over his family. Over you.”
Addie balled her fists, certain that if she’d been standing she
would’ve slapped him.
Addie stood to leave. Keep it together. “Like I said, this
is over. As for my private life, I’m not sure that it’s any business of yours.”
William grabbed her chin, forcing her to look at him. “You made
it my business, Addison. I know you don’t mean what you’re saying. You’re
smarter than that. Maybe you’re buying your own bullshit, but don’t expect me
to. There’s something here, something between us. Deny it if you want to. Fuck,
if you’re not willing to be honest with me, do me a favor and quit lying to
yourself.”
She needed to go before she lost all resolve, before her knees
buckled beneath her. “I’m not lying, William. I can’t do this.”
“Suit yourself.” William leaned toward her, kissing her ever so
gently at the corner of her mouth, not a full on kiss, but not exactly an
innocent kiss on the cheek either. Addie put her hand to her face, feeling the
buzz where his lips had just been. Damn. This man knows what he’s doing.
Leave. Now.
William grabbed her hand, intertwining their fingers. Grabbing
her chin, he raised her gaze to meet his. “Addison, it’s ok to be a little bit
selfish every now and then. If you want to go, go. But if you want to stay, I
promise to do everything in my power to make you happy. I know this isn’t easy.
And I understand you have a lot at stake, but I promise to protect you as best
I can.”
Addison kissed him with all the passion she felt in that moment.
William kissed her back, matching her fervor. Soon they were entangled in a
heap on the floor, making love as though they were the only two people in the
world—as if what they were doing wasn’t one enormous mistake.
When they were finished, they lay there staring at each other for
a long while before William broke the silence by whispering in her ear. “It’ll
be the death of me, if our meetings keep ending like this.”
Addie laughed. “I’m sure.”
“Come to Italy with me, Addison. Please. I want you there.”
“You know I
If she’d learned anything in the past few weeks, it was that you
have to look and own the part, even when you don’t feel like it. Her clients
and potential clients were some of the wealthiest men and women in the world.
And they smelled bullshit a mile away. So that’s exactly what she’d intended to
do walking into William’s office that day: play the part.
Addie was a bit surprised walking into William’s office. Of
course, it was gorgeous, but it was something more. There was something about
the way he sat behind his desk legs up, feet crossed, chewing on his pen,
staring at her intently. He was in his element, more himself. And goddammit if
that didn’t make him all the more attractive.
“So, you needed to see me,” William said, his voice deep
and sultry, lingering on the word needed a few seconds too long.
So, he’d decided to play a part too.
Addie sat down in the chair opposite his desk and crossed her
legs. Keep it professional, Addison.
“Yes. I needed to speak with you, actually. I . . . Uh . . . We .
. . This has to stop, William. I’m married to a wonderful man, and we have three children, but it seems you already knew that, seeing that you invited them to
Italy. While I appreciate your offer, I think we both know that this is wrong.
I’m sorry that I let it go on this long.”
William didn’t bat an eye. He leaned back in his chair, glaring
at her. “Are you really, Addison?”
“Am I really what? “
“Sorry? Married to a wonderful man? All of it. Because I’m not
buying it.”
Addie raised her voice slightly. “I beg your pardon? Yes, of
course, I am.”
“And just where is this wonderful man you’re married to?”
“Working.”
William stood and walked to the other side of the desk where
Addie sat. “He left you, Addison. He left you here to deal with everything. He chose
a promotion over his family. Over you.”
Addie balled her fists, certain that if she’d been standing she
would’ve slapped him.
Addie stood to leave. Keep it together. “Like I said, this
is over. As for my private life, I’m not sure that it’s any business of yours.”
William grabbed her chin, forcing her to look at him. “You made
it my business, Addison. I know you don’t mean what you’re saying. You’re
smarter than that. Maybe you’re buying your own bullshit, but don’t expect me
to. There’s something here, something between us. Deny it if you want to. Fuck,
if you’re not willing to be honest with me, do me a favor and quit lying to
yourself.”
She needed to go before she lost all resolve, before her knees
buckled beneath her. “I’m not lying, William. I can’t do this.”
“Suit yourself.” William leaned toward her, kissing her ever so
gently at the corner of her mouth, not a full on kiss, but not exactly an
innocent kiss on the cheek either. Addie put her hand to her face, feeling the
buzz where his lips had just been. Damn. This man knows what he’s doing.
Leave. Now.
William grabbed her hand, intertwining their fingers. Grabbing
her chin, he raised her gaze to meet his. “Addison, it’s ok to be a little bit
selfish every now and then. If you want to go, go. But if you want to stay, I
promise to do everything in my power to make you happy. I know this isn’t easy.
And I understand you have a lot at stake, but I promise to protect you as best
I can.”
Addison kissed him with all the passion she felt in that moment.
William kissed her back, matching her fervor. Soon they were entangled in a
heap on the floor, making love as though they were the only two people in the
world—as if what they were doing wasn’t one enormous mistake.
When they were finished, they lay there staring at each other for
a long while before William broke the silence by whispering in her ear. “It’ll
be the death of me, if our meetings keep ending like this.”
Addie laughed. “I’m sure.”
“Come to Italy with me, Addison. Please. I want you there.”
“You know I
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