Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 76840 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76840 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
“Mr. de Konigh,” she spoke firmly.
“Sere.” His tone, on the other hand, was lazy. And then he was bending down and covering her mouth with his. She gasped, and he kissed her harder, uncaring of the kind of attention they were drawing from the rest of his staff. This woman was his, now and forever, and anyone who couldn’t adjust to this particular reality was free to leave Willem’s employ.
“Your punishment,” he murmured huskily against her lips, “for being so stubborn.” When he pulled away, the consternation in blue eyes identical to his greeted him, and Willem chuckled.
“Y-you shouldn’t have done that,” Serenity muttered under her breath.
“No. I shouldn’t have.” But he had needed to, and the way the pressure was already easing off his chest as he gazed at her flustered expression was proof of it.
Something flickered in her eyes, and he blinked in surprise when she suddenly stood up and asked out loud, “Perhaps we could talk about this in your office, sir?”
This...being what?
Straightening, he inclined his head, murmuring, “Of course.” He waited until she reached his side, and only then did he start walking, his pace automatically adjusting to hers so she wouldn’t feel the need to limp.
He let her in first, and as he turned to close the door after her, Willem asked in a puzzled tone, “What is this—-”
Slender arms suddenly locked around his waist, and he stilled.
Ah.
It should no longer surprise him how well Serenity knew him, but it still did. Even at fourteen, she had been the only one to get past his walls and see the real him. And after all these years, it was only her he’d bare his soul to.
“How did it go?” Serenity whispered. Willem had told her from the start about Marcus’ involvement in DKE’s latest acquisition, and that it had been at the Italian billionaire’s instigation.
William breathed hard. “I’m worried.”
The harshly voiced admission had Serenity tightening her arms around Willem.
“I’m taking a huge risk, and I don’t think I can forgive myself if—-”
She pulled back. “Willem.” He automatically turned around, and her heart lurched as their eyes met. She loved this man so much, looked up to him so much that even now, she still felt more than a little awed he could trust her with his innermost secrets, his weaknesses – things he didn’t even dare show to his entire family.
Laying her hand on one bronze cheek, she said softly, “You did this because you love her. You did this because you believe they love each other.” And love always found a way to make things right.
Three
Marcus was in the middle of a stockholders’ meeting when a knock sounded on the door. He frowned, not liking the interruption, which his PA should have known better not to cause. He gestured for the younger man to come in, and Alberto stuttered, “I apologize for the disturbance, signor, but there is an important call for you.”
“Chi è?” Who is it?
“Your, err, wife, signor.” An inscrutable expression fell over his employer’s strikingly handsome features, and Alberto became even more nervous. Like everyone in the company, he knew that things were not so good between Marcus Ravelli and his Dutch heiress wife. Had he done the right thing to interrupt the meeting for—-
The assistant’s thoughts came to an abrupt halt as their CEO came to his feet, causing him to tower over everyone at a great height.
“Apologies, but I have to take this.” Marcus nodded at his VP, who immediately stood up to take over.
And then he was leaving the boardroom, walking swiftly back to his office as his heart picked up its pace.
Finalmente.
The last year had been hell, even worse than the year before it, which was saying a lot. Realizing he had so horribly misjudged things between them had literally given him nightmares, and the days he would wake up in a cold sweat, sick to his stomach, had returned with a vengeance.
He could not forget the look on her face when he asked her if she hated him.
Because beyond the anger, there had been pain.
So much pain—-
Pain that he should have given her time to get over, but he had not, because he had been too damn selfish and impatient.
He breathed hard. Never again. It was a vow to himself and to the only woman he would love in this lifetime.
Picking up the phone, he said levelly, “Hello.”
Anneke’s body slightly trembled at the dark, velvety note of Marcus Ravelli’s voice. For so long, this sound had haunted her, and she had always thought it was because his voice brought back painful memories.
But now, she realized shamefully it wasn’t just that.
This sound – this voice – was a sick addiction.
And the other reason it had been haunting her dreams was because she had missed hearing his voice.
The horrible truth had her eyelids sweeping closed for a moment.