Twenty Eight

When the SUV comes to a halt in front of the Burak building, I dont wait for Gerald to hop out from the driver's seat to open the door for me.

I have a sudden urge to call Ace and check up on Sandro. I walk through the lobby of the building, my heels clicking against the marble flooring with determination to get to my destination quickly.

I reach the bank of elevators, pressing the button and I step away, running my fingers through my loose curls. I start to gather it up into a ponytail and I feel him standing behind me.

"Lütfen (please), leave it down. I like the way it frames your face." He implores as he wraps his hand around mine and tugs it away from my hair.

The doors slide open and he glides me into the elevator car with his hand on the small of my back. I say a silent prayer to the Gods to keep my trembling legs from giving out beneath me. People start piling into the car with us. It quickly becomes overcrowded and we are forced to the back, crammed together like a tin of sardines.

Aydem's hand brushes across mine, transferring heat from his body to mine, and I close my eyes, concentrating on my breathing.

He's close.

Gods, he is too close and his cologne is driving me insane with desire.

I need to get out, I can not allow myself to start growing any feelings for him because when the time comes to royally screw him over, I won't be able to complete the mission.

As the doors begin to close, I push my way through the crowd and escape the elevator car. I exit the building, trying to reclaim my composure and elevate my breathing once more.

"Miss Cross."

Shit!

I touch the back of my hand to my head and I turn around to face him. He stands before me, gazing into my eyes with a look of curiosity and concern.

"Are you okay?" His brows pinch together.

I turn away from him, the intensity of his eyes make me dizzy with lust and as I stare out into the street, watching the mobs of people crossing the road, trying to beat the traffic lights; my gaze is drawn to a parked car across the road.

I can only hope that my eyes are betraying me. The car looks exactly like Trent's and when the window starts to slide down, I catch a glance of his face before he pulls out into the rush hour traffic.

Speeding away.

He was watching me.

I didn't imagine it when I felt eyes on me yesterday morning as I made my way here for work.

Paranoia starts to seep into my pores. It's fierce and it quickly begins to overwhelm me. I can't seem to catch my breath and I quickly begin to sway on my feet.

"Hey." Aydem catches my arm to steady me. "Are you okay?"

Around us, the city continues to thrive. Taxis and pedestrians scurrying through the sweltering heat that grows hotter by the minute. It just serves to increase my desire to relocate to the countryside.

Away from the chaos.

"Please, don't touch me." My voice trembles as I look at where his hand rests on my arm.

He takes a step back, his hand hovering in mid-air and his scowl etching fine lines into his formerly perfect complexion. "I didn't mean anything by touching you." His deep accent crashes into me like waves slamming into the shoreline.

"I know you didn't. But, he's watching me and -" I clamp my mouth shut as I suddenly realise I've rambled and said too much.

He looks out into the traffic, his eyes excessively scanning the streets. "Seni kim izliyor?" He speaks in his mother tongue.

"I'm sorry, I dont understand what you've just said to me." I gulp when his eyes narrow into thin slits.

"I said 'Who is watching you'?" He snaps.

I frantically shake my head. Perhaps a little too feverishly, as my curls sway side to side in time with the motion of my head.

"No, that's not what I mean." I lie. "What I really me-"

He takes hold of my wrist, steps out onto the curb and like magic. Gerald pulls up in the SUV. Aydem opens the backseat door and forces me inside. I move to the far end of the car and watch as he gets in after me and slams the door shut.

"Drive." He demands through gritted teeth.

I watch as he presses the button on his door panel and a glass window divides us from Gerald. He unbuttons his jacket and shifts in his seat to face me.

"Alright, Miss Cross. I'm going to ask you a few questions and I expect the truth from you. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes."

"I have a distinct feeling that we have met before." His eyes slowly glide over me.

"To be honest, Mr Burak. If we had met previously, I can tell you that you would be difficult to forget." I can feel my cheeks turning apple red as I speak the truth.

A lopsided smirk crosses his face. "Tamam." (Okay.) "You said he was following you. Who is he?"

I swallow, my gaze shifting to the side for a fraction of a second before returning to his. "Please don't ask me questions I can not answer."

He leans in closer towards me, "I asked who was following you." His voice is rough.

I don't answer him.

"Alright, if you can't tell me who is following you then that only leaves one question to ask." He holds my jaw in his hands, looking me in the eyes. "Who do you work for, Miss Cross."

My breathing becomes shallow and I begin to worry that I may pass out. I focus on the amber flecks in his emerald green eyes and again I am shocked at how much they reflect Sandros.

"I work for you, Mr Burak," I say breathlessly.

"Evet (yes), you do indeed. However, it is not what I am referring to."

"I was scared you would say that." My voice comes out in an emotionally painful tone.

As I lick my lips and my gaze is drawn to his, a deep growl vibrates from the back of his throat. A soft moan escapes my mouth as a delicious throb encircles my clit.

And before my mind catches up with my body. I lean forward and I crush my lips against his, stealing a forbidden kiss from a man I am well aware that I should avoid at all costs.