He nodded and squeezed inside. “Thank you.” It was tight, but at the next stop, several people exited. Two more stops, and the elevator was practically empty.

Zach turned around to see who else was riding farther up.

Rochelle stood in the corner. Their eyes met. When the elevator doors closed a moment later, they were alone.

“I didn’t see you there,” he started.

Her embarrassed smile confirmed that she’d hoped that it would remain that way. Clearly, she wasn’t prepared to talk to him.

“Hi, Zach.”

Her soft voice made him approach. “I missed you.”

Her tongue swept over her lips, moistening them. “You shouldn’t say that.”

“But it’s the truth.” He braced himself against the wall, one hand next to her head. “Don’t you have anything to say to me?”

Her eyes darted to the doors, as if she was expecting somebody to enter. “Zach, it’s not that easy.”

Slowly, he moved his head from side to side. “You have feelings for me. You can’t deny that.”

“It’s more complicated than you make it sound. You can’t imagine. My job, my brother—”

He leaned in. “We’ll be careful. We won’t be seen in public. My penthouse will grant us the privacy we need. The doorman is discretion personified. Nobody is ever going to find out that we’re in a relationship.”

“A relationship?” she croaked, visibly surprised.

“Yes, a relationship. Did you really think I only wanted sex?” He shook his head and roamed his eyes over her tempting body. “Not that I’m objecting to sex with you at all.”

Her chest rose on a deep breath. “People will notice.”

“If you come to my place tonight after work, I promise you I’ll treat you so cold and indifferent in public that everybody will think I can’t stand you.”

“I can’t just come to your place and—”

“Do you really want me to behave like a lovesick puppy in the office?”

“That’s not fair.”

“Rochelle, life isn’t fair. To deny each other what we really want isn’t fair.” He shoved a hand through his hair. “Come to me tonight. I want to hold you in my arms. I want to feel you. It’s going to be just you and I. Nobody will see you. Nobody will ever find out.” He brought his mouth close to her ear. “I want to make love to you. I want to feel you shudder in my arms.”

“Zach…”

“Say yes.” He pulled her earlobe between his lips and sucked on it.

A moan issued from her mouth. “Yes.”

19

She was probably in the process of making the biggest mistake in her life, but she couldn’t change that now. In front of her the elevator doors opened on the top floor, where Zach’s penthouse was located. It was already nine o’clock in the evening. She had hesitated for a long time, contemplating her decision, but in the end she’d called a taxi and headed for Zach’s place.

One thing had helped her make up her mind: during a long meeting with her colleagues, they’d come to the conclusion that they didn’t have any evidence supporting the allegation that Zach had committed insider trading. Therefore, they had no choice but to close the case. Continuing this futile undertaking would be a waste of time. Antonio had been the one who’d first made the suggestion, and he was normally somebody who didn’t give up easily. But even he had to admit that there was nothing to find. This had strengthened her resolve in believing Zach’s assertion that he was innocent. Closing the case now was only a formality.

Her boss wouldn’t be pleased, that was certain. She was already bracing herself for the consequences. But if her career was going down the drain, then didn’t she at least deserve something pleasant waiting for her on the horizon? At least that was how she’d justified her decision to come to see Zach tonight.

She took a deep breath of air and exited the elevator, stepping into the luxurious foyer. The door to the only apartment on this floor was already opening.

Zach appeared, a welcoming smile on his lips. “You came.” As if he couldn’t believe it, he ran his eyes over her.

The sound of her high heels echoed on the marble floor when she approached him. He reached for her, taking her hands and pulling her to him.

“You really came.”

His eyes beamed like beacons, and she knew then that she’d made the right decision.

“I want you,” she admitted.

“I want you, too.”