Chapter 11

YVONNE’S P O V

“A healing spa?” I asked, cautiously.

Mr Voss undid his seatbelt as the driver parked in front of the spa. I undid mine as well, not quite believing this was where he meant us to be

We both stepped out of the car

My brow pinched, the late morning sun warm on my skin. ”Is this where we're meant to be, sir?”

My eyes darted to the wooden sign that read the place's name. Terme d’Argento – Home of Exclusive Holistic Retreat.

Mr Voss came over to my side, I could feel his eyes on me, looking at me the same way he was doing at the gazebo.

My throat dried up. The way he looked at me sometimes...I know I shouldn't feel this way; he probably doesn't even see me past a timid employee, but still, I couldn't help the way my toes curled or the way my breathing stalled whenever he glanced my way.

That moment at the gazebo was the best and worst, because for one moment, I had thought the look in his eyes was admiration, or maybe even more—Desire?

But during our drive here, I just realized how pitiful that was.

Mr Voss was the CEO of SilverThorn Group, the largest luxury group in the US. He was insanely wealthy, and according to the research I had made, he was also one of America's most eligible bachelors.

There was no way in hell he could have even a flicker of likeness toward me. A half-broken, helpless, intimacy-starved, sex deprived woman in a sham marriage who can't fight to save her own self.

He was somebody the world sees. Somebody the world's admirers. Me? I'm a nobody, doomed to live in the shadows forever

“Are you ready?” Mr Voss asked, tilting his chin towards the entrance.

My brows furrowed in confusion. When he said we have a change of plans, I had thought it'd be something like a formal brunch to get acquainted with my role as his Executive personal officer, never in a million years did I expect anyone to bring me to a healing spa

Not my father, not Edgar, and certainly not my Boss. The last man on earth who should.

This felt too... intimate, and it terrified me because somewhere deep inside, that part of me that refused to die, that believed she deserved more than what I'd gotten from the men in my life, that part of me loved it.

Mr Voss didn't wait for my answer, he strode forward and walked in through the doors. I stood frozen for a second, then I rushed after him, my heels clicking on the stone floor as I did. “Sir… I’m not sure I understand.”

He kept on walking, not glancing at me, but I caught the small tilt of his lips

“What don't you understand, Yvonne?”

Again, my stomach fluttered when he called my name like that— deep and husky like a lover's song.

The next words I was about to say died on my tongue as I took in the spa.

“Wow...” My eyes widened, and my steps faltered. This might just be the most beautiful place I have ever been in person.

The walls were of stone and there was a fragrance of scented oils and lavender in the air, soft music played from somewhere I couldn't see

But that wasn't what stole my breath away. It was those

Pools.

Glistening thermal pools in carved rock formations, surrounded by coloured candles. In the pools were plenty rose petals while steam rose up in threads.

I heard the soft voice of a woman, and it tore my gaze away from the pools.

“Benvenuti!” The lady greeted with a big smile, from her white shirt and black pants uniform, she appeared to be working there. Since I didn't speak Italian, I replied with a small smile.

Mr Voss and the lady spoke a little Italian, my stomach twisted in knots when she smiled at him with that look of feminine appreciation.

I tore my eyes away. I didn't like the way my insides turned sour because she smiled at him. It wasn't like she did anything inappropriate, and even if she did, I had no right to feel this way.

Mr Voss gestured toward me, and the lady's smile wobbled, but she quickly masked her face into professionalism.

The lady left and within moments, another spa attendant appeared with a robe in her hand, motioning gently for me to follow her.

I turned to him, Mr Voss, in confusion. “Sir?”

He gave a small nod, “Go on. Your treatments are ready. I'll be waiting once they're done”

“We could begin with the hydrotherapy float or the aromatherapy massage. Which ever you prefer?” The attendant said.

I glanced at the woman holding out the robe, and back at Mr Voss.

This doesn't seem normal. My CEO bringing me to a healing spa not for himself but for me?

Something inside my chest cracked, and tears rushed into the back of my eyes. Why?

Mr Voss must have picked up on my hesitation because he lowered his voice for my hearing only.

“You’ve had a hard week,” he said softly, a shadow fell on his face. “With the former regional manager, this impromptu trip, and what happened an hour ago, you need to relax.”

This was the first time Mr Voss had mentioned Edgar, but I didn't even care about that; there were bigger things to deal with.

I searched his face for a hint of sarcasm, for him to laugh at me and call me a fool for expecting too much, but there was none. Only that quiet intensity he always looked at me with, like he was seeing more than I was.

The thought made my throat tighten, and I took a step back and shook my head.

“Mr Voss. I am nothing but your executive assistant, this is too much...”

“I know exactly who you are, Yvonne,” He said in a rough command that had my toes curling and my breath catching.

“And do not ever say that about yourself. You are so much more than my executive officer, you're....” He stalled, like there was more he wanted to say but couldn't

Then, with that tone of finality, Mr Voss added, “Let the staff show you to the robe room.”

His gaze slid down my eyes to my lips and then my neck. The intensity in his eyes and the way the deep blue or the darkness in them did something to me. Something I wasn't sure I had ever felt with Edgar.

Something I desperately, madly craved for.

His gaze didn’t flinch, not even when the attendant cleared her throat, not even when I took another step back.

“I'll be here, waiting for you,” he said in a rough whisper, and a strange voice told me he meant something else with those words

With that, Mr Voss—My boss, Edgar's Boss, the CEO of SilverThorn group, turned and walked toward a different corridor.

Leaving me stunned, confused, and out of breath.

And for some reason, deeply seen too