Page 168 of Pure Recklessness

‘Good.’ I nodded, paused for effect then looked behind Calista. ‘You brought Eleanor to the meeting?’ I gave Calista a questioning look.

‘Oh!’ Calista shook her head. ‘No. Ellie’s not here with me. I just spotted her. I’ve no idea how someone on her salary can afford to come here. The only reason I got a table was because Valerie booked it for me months ago. I know it’s important to keep entertaining expenses to a minimum, so I’d never invite another employee to join me at a place like this unless it was absolutely necessary.’

‘Glad to hear it,’ I said solemnly. ‘I have to go. Enjoy the rest of your evening.’ I strode out of the restaurant without acknowledging Ellie.

It was for the best. She already looked flustered and the more disinterested I seemed towards her, the less Calista would think we were involved.

When Geoff saw me leave, he opened the door.

I slid onto the backseat.

‘Will Ellie be joining us?’ Geoff asked.

‘Yes. I need you to call and tell her to leave from the main entrance then we’ll meet her at the back.’

‘Right you are, sir.’

I hoped that Ellie had the sense to save my number under a pseudonym like I had. I couldn’t risk calling her and Calista seeing my name appear on the screen.

Once Geoff made the call, I asked him to get as close as possible to the restaurant on foot without being seen, to ensure Ellie got to the car safely.

Although it was a well-lit, exclusive area, I wasn’t taking any chances.

The passenger door opened and she got in.

‘Thank you, Geoff.’ I pressed the privacy screen button.

‘Jesus!’ Ellie clutched her chest. ‘That was close! When she saw you, I was terrified we were going to get caught!’

‘It was a close call.’

‘Sorry. I should’ve stayed in the private room or gone out the private exit.’ Her shoulders slumped. ‘I suppose you’ll want to end things now. It’s too risky.’

‘It is risky,’ I said. ‘But I don’t scare easily. When I want something, I don’t let anything disrupt my plans. And I want you, Ellie. One little incident won’t deter me. What happened tonight was just a reminder.’

‘Of what?’ She tilted her head.

‘That we need to be more careful.’

‘So we just stick to going to your place?’

‘No. We stayed in last weekend. I want to take you out. Introduce you to new places.’ I paused. For the past year it had never bothered me whether I spent my weekends at home. In fact, I’d welcomed it.

But since Ellie had burst into my life, I felt differently.

Last weekend was fun, but I wanted to be free to kiss Ellie in the street whenever I wanted to. Run my hands up her thighs without worrying about someone from the company seeing me, which was impossible to do in London.

It was hard enough not being able to invite Ellie to my office during the week. The last thing I wanted was restrictions on my weekends with her too.

Fuck it.

‘Have you got a passport?’ I asked.

‘Yes.’ Ellie frowned. ‘It was one of the first things I applied for when I got to London.’

‘Good.’

‘Why?’