Page 38 of His Stolen Queen
His deep blue eyes took their time roaming slowly down my body, unashamedly zeroing in on my bare thighs. His jaw pulsed as my skin heated under his lingering stare.
But the worst part was? It thrilled me. One salacious look from him—something that would've made me slap any other male down—sent a stab of pleasure surging through me. My back straightened, and my shoulders folded back with feminine pride.
My eyes collided with the woman next to him, and from her pinched mouth and narrowed glare, it was clear she was not impressed.
“Von is tied up at the moment," Acheron explained, "so my other…personal secretary will take over.”
My gut clenched as a sour taste crawled up my throat. I glanced at her, my wounded gaze clashing with her smug, bright brown eyes. It was clear by the way her body leaned in toward him that they may have taken the term “personal” a little too far.
“Hello, Anna," she cooly greeted. "I am Tatiana.”
“My name is Alice," I gritted out. "Alice Harper.”
Her lips curved in a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Yes, I apologize, Alice.”
“Tatiana has some notes to go over with you." He turned to the woman at his side, his gaze softening. "I shall see you later?”
My breath sucked in, and I glanced away. I gathered my tablet tight against my chest, as if it could hold in the mix of distress and insecurity that threatened to seep out.
“I’m looking forward to it,” she purred.
My stare narrowed in on her hand on his arm. The level of fury and violence that assaulted me at the mere sight of her body touching him frightened me. This wasn't normal. I'd literally seen a woman slip David her number at a bar, and I hadn't responded with this amount of visceral emotion. I closed my eyes and took several fortifying breaths.
Black eyes greeted me when I finally opened mine, startling me.
"Alice," Acheron addressed me, his eyes showing blue once more. "I shall leave you in Tatiana's very capable hands."
With one last lingering look, he turned swiftly and exited the room. I watched his retreating back until it disappeared around the corner, my heart still pumping at an erratic speed.
“Shall we?” Tatiana's sharp tone interrupted my tortured thoughts. She glared at me, her mouth curled in clear annoyance.
I schooled my features and indicated for her to proceed. "After you."
I caught an eye roll before she turned on her heel and stormed off, not bothering to check that I was following.
Begrudgingly, Tatiana was rather knowledgeable about the project. She seemed to know each room of the apartment, its use, and how it should be furnished. All my questions were answered promptly, and any issues that arose, we troubleshooted or she simply flipped her hair and confidently stated, "I will ask Acheron tonight when I see him."
By the time we started to wind down our meeting, my jaw ached from grinding my teeth, and a dull ache was building behind my eyes. Every time she insinuated an intimacy with Acheron, I bit my tongue and envisioned all her teeth falling out.
"Okay, well, we are done," Tatiana dismissed me. She turned on her tablet and started tapping away.
It was my cue to leave, but curiosity made me hesitate. I used the excuse of packing my things neatly away to stay a while longer, despite the less-than-pleasant company.
I cleared my throat. “How long have you worked for Mr. Angelou?” The question was out of my mouth before I could stop it.
Watching this tall, otherworldly beautiful woman made me feel several types of ways.Thiswas the kind of woman I pictured Acheron with. Not me with my flat hair, short stature, and dimpled ass.
Tatiana glanced up at me, appearing startled for a moment at my question. Her cool eyes assessed me carefully. "Many years. He and I share a long history. Both personally and professionally.”
“I…see.” I'd already surmised that their relationship went deeper than work, but it still hurt to have it confirmed.
She sighed impatiently before clicking her tablet off. “A word of warning—Acheron likes variety. A lot of it. You are not the first person to be infatuated with him, or to turn his head. And you will not be the last," she promised.
I bristled at the insinuation. “I’m a married woman.”
Now you remember, Alice.
I pushed the shame aside—the realization that I hadn't spared David a second thought while I was seething at Tatiana's connection with Acheron.
