“You’ve been painting.” My words come out slowly because I’m in awe of this creation.
A smirk crosses his face as he runs his fingers through his blond hair, making the waistband of his pants dip dangerously low. My teeth sink into my bottom lip, and before he can answer, I yell, “Stop!” Alarming him, I pull out my cell and take a snap of him in his finest. The women will go crazy over this image. It’s perfect. I mean I’m drooling over it, and I’m seeing him in the flesh.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” He looks mighty angry, so I bite my lip harder.
“Um… I just…” This is going to sound really bad now that I have to explain it to him. “I thought you looked so good standing there in next to nothing with paint all over…” my hands wave at him, “… your chest. And I thought it would be perfect for posting. Women will go crazy over this image, Louis.”
Those blue eyes widen in surprise, then turn from turquoise to an almost sapphire color. “You like what you see?” His voice is deep and low, sending thundering vibrations right through my body.
“I was looking at you aesthetically.”
“Like I’m a piece of art?” His brow quirks up, and he smirks.
“I told you… you have an ego the size of Everest,” I joke because the air in the studio has thickened.
He moves toward me, and I take a couple of steps away from him. “And like I told you, it’s not the only thing that’s big.” My eyes immediately look down at his crotch. His pants have tented a little, and my cheeks flush because I damn well know the size of his dick. I’m horny, and he’s damn well hot, and this is so, so wrong.
“You painted.”
Louis’ eyes look over my shoulder to the images behind me. “Yes.”
“I like them. What is it?” My heart is thundering in my chest as I remind myself he’s my boss, and that I need this job. He’s looking at me like he’s seconds away from ripping my clothes off, and the bad part about that equation is that I want him to. Toby never looked at me that way.
“It’s nothing,” he says curtly making me frown. Louis’ cell starts ringing on the counter, and we both look over at it, the sound echoing around the studio, cutting the tension between us. He picks it up and answers. I turn to leave and to give him some privacy.
“Stay.” The word is commanding. “Hold on, Daniel, she’s right here,” he says, then places the cell onto the counter and presses speaker.
“Morning, Emily,” Daniel says happily through the speakerphone.
“Hey,” I answer.
“Those photos you took yesterday… are simply amazing. The number of comments on them is huge. A couple of art bloggers have picked up the images and are talking about Louis again. So, thank you. Great job.”
Even though Daniel can’t see me, his praise makes me happy, and I smile.
“She’s already taken some more this morning,” Louis adds, his eyes never leaving mine.
“I look forward to seeing them. I hope you two can get out and explore more. I need more images like that,” Daniel tells us.
“Don’t worry, I have something planned,” Louis adds, which surprises me.
“Fantastic. I’m glad to hear you’re on board with this, Louis.”
“If it means getting me on top, a position I like to be in…” Louis looks at me hungrily, his meaning coming through loud and clear, “… then I’ll do whatever it takes to get me there.”
“I don’t know what you have done to this man, Emily, but keep it up,” Daniel tells me.
Honestly, I’m a little taken aback by Louis’ attention. He’s hated me since the moment I arrived, and now it feels like he can’t wait to take me to bed. Maybe he’s bored, and I’m just convenient.
“Anyway, the reason for my call… this weekend you have been invited to a charity gala in Monaco, and I think this will be the perfect place for you, Louis, to get back on the social scene. I have a number of women who will be happy to be seen on your arm. You need someone with a profile, someone who will show you’re on your way back. Someone with connections.”
“Are you pimping me out, Daniel?” Louis’ jaw tightens.
“Of course, I am. Elisabeth and Yves are on every social page in France and Europe. They attend every charity gala, movie premier, and they rub shoulders with the who’s who of European celebrities. They network their asses off, and it’s paying off. He’s becoming an art juggernaut, and if you don’t fight back, then you’re going to be left behind.”
I can see the anger bubbling under the surface when Daniel mentions Yves, but he’s right, all the research I have been doing on Yves shows that he’s very well connected. He wasn’t well connected four months ago, but once he and Elisabeth got together, he exploded onto the scene.
“Emily, I’ll need you to attend the gala as well.”
“Wait! What?”
“There’s a chance that… they might attend.” My eyes look at Louis who has stiffened beside me. “I want you there just in case.”
I totally understand.
Louis remains completely silent.
“In the top drawer of the desk in the office is a company credit card. I’m sure Louis won’t mind buying you something to wear.
“That’s very generous, but I can’t accept.”
“Yes, you can,” Louis comments. “It’s fine, Daniel. She’ll be dressed appropriately.”
“Good. Good. I’m emailing over a list of potential dates.”
“No. I don’t want one,” Louis tells Daniel.
There’s silence for a couple of moments.
“Louis… she might be—” Daniel starts to argue.
“No. I
