The images filled the screen, just as morbid as he remembered. Torn flesh. Dark red blood. Exposed bones. Bodies contorted in inhumane angles.
Her lifeless eyes, wide open with shock.
Unable to bear it anymore, Max slammed the laptop lid shut and sat in his chair, breathing heavily. His heart furiously pounded in his chest.
This is why you need to hold on to Denora.
He stood up and walked over to the bar cabinet in the corner. They’d thankfully stocked it just as he’d requested. He grabbed a brand new bottle of whiskey and poured himself a shot which he quickly tossed back to calm his nerves.
He had to get her back and he had to do it fast.
Chapter 5
“Are you sure you don’t want to go out?” Grace asked as they walked out of the building later that afternoon. “We could go for a movie or something. That’s bound to cheer you up.”
“Thanks, Grace, but I’m really too annoyed to go out today. I’d rather stay home. See you tomorrow, sweetie.” Denora gave her best friend a kiss and climbed into a cab before she could protest.
She could feel a headache coming on and as soon as she reached home, she went into the kitchen and grabbed two aspirins. She opened the fridge and peered inside, her heart sinking as she realized that Max’s leftover tiramisu was still in there.
Denora slammed the fridge door shut with a curse and walked over to the sink for another glass of water. At that moment, the doorbell rang. She scowled. It was probably Grace to check up on her. As much as she loved her best friend, she could be pretty insistent sometimes.
But it wasn’t Grace.
Max stood on her doorstep, looking positively ridiculous with a giant plush panda under one arm, and a box of chocolate under the other.
“Max, just go away.”
“I will in a minute.” He sounded as calm as ever. “I just need to tell you something first.”
Denora crossed her arms across her chest and glared at him. He held up the giant panda with a hesitant smile. He felt the chocolate box slipping and pressed his elbow tighter to his side. In spite of her anger, she felt her lips pull in a grin and quickly suppressed it.
“Denora, I would like to apologize,” Max said. “You were right. I shouldn’t have kept this from you. But for what it’s worth, I really did not use you to know more about the company. I do like you, Denora. I like you a lot.”
She pressed her lips together and did not reply.
“You can take the bear, you know,” he said mildly.
Denora hesitated for a split second and then took the panda. It was taller than her and she had to lock her arms tighter around the bear to keep it from slipping.
“And that’s for you too,” he said, setting the box on top of her interlocked arms.
“Is that it?” she snapped, her voice muffled by the bear. “I’ll see you at the office on Monday, Max.” Denora started to kick the door shut with her foot but he held the door.
“Not exactly,” he said. “I’m picking you up at seven tonight.”
Denora sighed and placed the panda on the floor. Her eyes were sad and serious as she looked at him. “Max, thank you for the bear. And the chocolates.” She held up the box. “And I do accept your apology. But I meant what I said. I don’t like to mingle business with my personal life.”
Max cupped her face, willing her to look at him. “Have dinner with me, Denora. One last date.”
As she looked into his exceptionally handsome face, it was hard for Denora to remember her resolve not to allow her personal life to interfere with her job. His lips tugged in that slow, delectable smile that left her weak at the knees.
“C’mon, Denora,” he said in a low voice. “It’s just dinner.”
“Fine,” she said finally. “I’ll see you tonight.”
He gave her a small wink. “See you then.”
She couldn’t help but smile as she closed the door and picked up the giant panda again. Denora knew she was supposed to be mad at him. Having grown up in a family where each person had to look out for themselves, Denora was as practical as one could be. But there was something about Max that made her want to throw all her inhibitions away. He was her boss, and on a certain level, she knew it would be far more prudent to keep her distance. Especially given how insanely attracted she was to him.
And yet, she found herself carefully going through her wardrobe later that night to pick out the outfit for her date with Max. She had no idea where he was taking her; heck, knowing Max, there was a chance he would cook her dinner at home again.
She took a long bath and then headed over to her room to get ready. Denora hummed under her breath as she went through her closet and picked out the short, strapless dress she’d chosen earlier. She just about to slip it on when she suddenly tossed it back on the bed.
“He’s your boss,” she furiously reminded herself as she reached into her closet again. “Your freaking boss. You don’t have to dress sexy.”
If Max wanted to take her out for dinner, she would go—mostly because she wasn’t exactly able to stay away from him. But she also wanted to send a clear message about what their relationship would be like from now on. Instead of an evening dress, she pulled out a pair of beige linen pants, a long-sleeved red blouse and threw on a matching blazer for added measure.
You look like some stuffy headmistress, she thought as she sourly looked at her reflection.
Denora checked the time as she shrugged out of the red blouse and slipped into a thin, sleeveless black top instead. It was transparent so she removed it, threw on a short white tank top and pulled the blouse back on again. She grinned at the mirror as she surveyed her outfit. It was formal and business-like, without being too stuffy. For good measure, she reached into the bottom drawer of her dresser and retrieved her mother’s pearl necklace. She tied her hair in a severe bun and pulled on her trusty espadrilles.
Max was exactly on time. She opened the front door and looked almost defiantly at him as he ran his eyes down her businesslike outfit. But all he said was, “You look gorgeous, Denora,” and gave her a chaste kiss on the cheek.
“Where are we going?” she asked as she followed him into his car.
He held the passenger door open for her. “It’s a surprise.”
Denora looked at him from the corner of her eye as he slipped behind the wheel. The now-familiar warmth spread across her solar plexus as she internally relished in the close proximity of their bodies.
“What kind of music do you like?” he asked, reaching for the player.
“Whatever you’ve got,” she said. His USB was plugged in and she quickly punched in the button before he could remove it. “Let’s see what you’ve been listening to.” Denora gave him a mischievous smile.
Max stared fixedly ahead as the soft strums of pianos and violins filled the interior of the car.
“I wouldn’t have pegged you as a guy who listens to classical music,” Denora commented.
“Yeah, well, there’s a lot you don’t know about me.” The back of his neck was red.
“I realized that today,” Denora said dryly. “Why didn’t you tell me you were buying the company?”
“I wanted to avoid this exact situation.” He briefly glanced at her. “I had you pegged as the kind of woman who wouldn’t date the boss.”