AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Odessa sucked in a steadying breath, attempting not to be even more disarmed when they settled on three of her designs for the mega-penthouses along with two more from other designers. She struggled not to gape in wonder at the initial 3D projection of how her work would look when it was completed, in time for the official opening in four short weeks.
‘Mrs Zanelis?’ the team leader prompted hesitantly, clueing Odessa in that she’d been staring, agog.
Cringing, she offered an apologetic smile. ‘Forgive me. I was just marvelling at how efficiently you’ve all worked to produce this.’
Her praise did the trick, drawing pleased murmurs which carried through to the end of the meeting.
The moment she signed off, her hands flew to her mouth.
After a good five minutes of trying to absorb the news, trying not to let her heart soar at the connotations of it, she brought up a search engine on her laptop, her fingers tapping out frantic requests.
With each revelation her breath shortened further.
Every Zanelis project and iconic piece of real estate held a significant meaning to her.
Sapphire Island. Her favourite gem.
Gemini Place. Her star sign.
Occhi d’Argento. Silver Eyes.
Odessa Tower.
She stopped after the tenth one, her heart shedding the last of its protective barriers. Perhaps she was wildly over-exaggerating the importance of all of this. But if she wasn’t... If Ares had even a shred of feeling for her over and above her role as his long-term incubator...
Before she could change her mind she reached for her phone, her fingers aiming for the number at the top of her contact list.
‘Odessa.’
His voice was deep and resonant, rumbling through her being to settle in a place she was beginning to suspect would always be reserved for this man. The truth of that shook through her, forcing her to grip the phone tighter.
‘Is something wrong?’ he demanded, his voice sharper.
She started to shake her head, before she remembered he couldn’t see her. That the fact threatened to make her giggle took her by alarming surprise.
Grappling her wayward feelings under control, she responded. ‘No, there’s nothing wrong. But... You named your new tower after me?’
Even from thousands of miles away she sensed his wariness.
‘Ne,’ he said after an age. The silence stretched out before he added, ‘We’re trying to create an image, aren’t we? It made sense.’
Her heart plummeted, and then a wave of anger took over, thankfully shrouding the swell of hurt. ‘Made sense to who? Because if that’s the true reason—’
‘Why wouldn’t it be?’ he interjected, with what sounded like a touch of defensiveness.
Which—absurdly—made her feel fractionally better.
‘Because firstly, you didn’t consult me, and secondly, you’re forcing me into more pretence.’
Again, silence reigned. Then he sighed. ‘If you must know, it was the first name that entered my head.’ His tone had morphed into gruffness and clear reluctance. He hadn’t wanted to admit it. ‘Nothing else made sense after that.’
Her grip eased, her breathing turning shallow as elation bubbled once more beneath her skin. ‘I see.’
He cleared his throat. ‘But—’
‘It changes nothing. I’m aware,’ she slotted in, before he could.
But his protest was useless. He’d admitted the truth. And the vice around her heart was easing.
