Chapter 7

YVONNE'S P. O. V

It felt like a dream.

Not only had I become the CEO’s Executive Personal Officer overnight, but I was also on an all-expenses-paid trip to Italy. And he had made it happen in a flash.

Granted a lot was going on in my life right now. I had called Edgar, texted him, but I wasn't getting any response, and I was...worried.

This wasn't Edgar, and I had a funny feeling about his sudden disappearance, but what conflicted me more, was him.

Mr Voss.

What did he mean by two weeks for us? And why did my body react in strange ways? I shoved my questions aside as the jet touched ground.

I had gone back to working during the flight, all the while painfully aware of the man sitting beside me. His scent of something woody and husky and luxurious, the way his body filled the seat with dominance, and the memory of how safe I was in his arms.

It was difficult to think clearly with Mr Voss in my space. Thankfully, he didn't discuss that night or Edgar, and I didn't ask why he had Edgar arrested. There was too much I was embarrassed about.

So much for being a good wife.

“We're here,” the captain's voice boomed through the speaker, “Touchdown time, seven fifty, weather is humid...”

Mr Voss stood up sliding the phone into his back pocket. I tried not to stare at him as he rolled his broad shoulders to ease the stiffness from sitting down for too long.

I closed my laptop shut and slid it into my bag, undoing my seat belt to stand up when a large hand appeared in front of my face.

I blinked up at Mr Voss.

His eyes met mine—Navy, rare and beautiful. My stomach flipped.

I glanced at his hand “Sir?”

The moment the word left my mouth, I pinched myself. Why couldn't I stop it with the ‘sir’ now and then?

The corner of Mr Voss's lips twitched, That was when I realized that he was stretching out a hand to hold me up, probably because I was wearing heels

Yes, it was just an act of kindness, nothing more.

But as I told myself that, my throat dried up the moment I placed my hand in his big one. A burst of current zapped through me like a lightning bolt, making my heart stretch in my chest.

Why was I feeling this? And more importantly, why did I like this feeling?

Once we climbed down the steps, I tried to gently pull my hand away from Mr Voss.

He didn't let go.

My heart skipped a beat

Umm... What?

My breath caught in my throat. This was my boss, and he was holding hands with me like I was his...

Like I was his.

Nope, Yvonne. Don't even think that. You are a married woman, Edgar may have asked for a divorce, but you are still a married woman, and married women don't let themselves have such thoughts

Mr Voss silently led us to the car, where he opened the door for me. The warnings I was inwardly giving myself faded.

Something warm and sweet glided over my insides, making me feel...cared for.

Edgar never opened the car door for me. I know it's nothing big or significant, but such small acts of service were the things that made my heart flutter in my chest, and it seemed like Mr Voss had a habit of them.

I slid into the passenger's seat and Mr Voss turned round to get in the other side. The driver immediately started the engine and hit the road.

The drive was quiet, and I wondered if he could hear my frantic heartbeat over the soft murmur of Italy's night

Sitting beside this man that I barely knew, the CEO of SilverThorn group, the man who had given me a position I wasn't sure I deserved, it was doing something to my senses.

Something dirty.

The car turned off the main road, slowing, winding up a stone-paved path lit with lanterns of flickering gold.

My eyes widened in surprise. I had thought Mr Voss would get a hotel suite for our accommodations until the deal was finalized, but this wasn't a hotel, it was ... more.

A breathtaking nature resort.

Olive trees lined the way, their silver leaves rustling in the cold night breeze like a calming song. Ahead on the hillside was the villa.

Tonight, this place looked like something out of a wonder dream, honey colored stone, golden lights, climbing vines, artistic fountains....

It was out of this world, I couldn't help but watch as we approached the villa

“Oh my” my words slipped out, caked in an awed whisper

“You like it?” Mr Voss asked. I turned to see him watching me with a gleam in his eyes and a smile ghosting his lips

“This is a beautiful resort, sir” I answered, trying to sound professional and not let my over excitement show in my tone. “I'm certain our time here will be memorable”

Something thick and dark flickered on his face, even in the dim car interior with dull amber lighting, I could see the way his eyes changed. Darkened.

“I'm sure it will” Mr Voss answered, his voice more velvety than it had been before.

A shiver ran down my body, for one frozen moment, we just stared at each other until I swallowed and tore my gaze away.

No. No. No

This wasn't good, this wasn't good at all. I shouldn't be feeling this way with a man who wasn't my pain-in-the-ass-husband

A tap on my window made me jump. The car had stopped. A man in a cream linen suit opened the door for me, he smiled politely “Buonasera,”

I didn't understand what he said, but I was sure it was some form of greeting so I smiled back at him and dipped my chin.

Mr Voss, who had already stepped out replied to him in fluent Italian.

The man in a cream suit left to help with our luggage,

“You can speak Italian?” I asked

He walked over to my side, even in my heels, I tilted my chin to meet his gaze.

“Yes,” He answered softly, his gaze lingering for far too long than was comfortable. “Welcome to Italy, Yvonne”

Him calling me by my name, and in that voice, wasn't doing good things to me.

I could feel my cheeks turn crimson, and the thought of blushing in front of my voice only made the blush deepen.

I bit the inside of my cheeks, not knowing what else to say. What would Mr Voss think of me, a married woman, blushing over the sound of his voice, reacting to his scent

What would he think of me if he found out that I can't stop thinking about that single graze of his hand on mine or how he had held me tight like no man ever did?

He'd probably scrunch up his nose in disgust and regret his decision to make me Executive Personal Officer, that's what.

I had to put a stop to these wayward feelings before I made a fool of myself.

I feigned a yawn, looking towards the villa in front of us

“It's been a long and exhausting flight.” I said to Mr Voss who tilted his head slightly, “We should turn in for the night”

His lips twitched. “We?”

My eyes widened at the misconception. “No, I don't mean like We we. Not like we should go to bed together, that would be so odd, considering I'm married and you're single and we have no business sleeping together”

I slapped my forehead. “What is wrong with me? I didn't mean we should sleep together, sir. No, not at all. I just mean like we should...”

Mr Voss's velvety laugh put a stop to my rambling. “It's okay. You can turn in for the night, I'm right behind you”

I didn't need to hear him say it twice, or stay outside and embarrass myself further, I scurried in through the villa doors, all the while feeling his eyes behind me.