Read Online Five-star Seduction by Louise Make - Free Book Online

suggesting you cancel the appointment. Olivia here assures me that her diary is completely open. I’m sure she’d be happy to stand in for you.”
    Olivia’s eyes widened. “That’s not what I –”
    â€œPlease, Olivia.” Lazola smiled at her. “Langa is going to wear herself out if we don’t step in. And I regard it as my personal duty to take her out for the rest of the day and pamper her as much as I can. After all, I am the reason she’s been taxing herself these last six months. You do understand, don’t you?”
    He lifted Olivia’s hand from its hungry grip on his arm and patted it coolly before releasing it. She knew she’d been had; there was no way she could refuse McMann’s most important client. Her blue eyes turned icy as she turned to nod at Langa.
    â€œGood, you found her,” Robert said as he joined them. “If I know her as well as I think I do, she would’ve disappeared to eat a measly energy bar at her desk.”
    â€œYoghurt,” Langa grumbled.
    Robert frowned. “No offence, but you look like you need a break. Consider it a work lunch if that’ll ease your compulsive conscience. A long work lunch. See you Monday, Langa.” Robert’s cellphone rang and he left to answer it privately.
    Lazola stepped forward. “I hope you won’t make me beg, Langa.”
    She felt herself slowly melting in the warmth of his smile. “I suppose I can’t turn down a so-called work lunch with a valued client.”
    â€œMy car’s downstairs. We’ll start at your place, as you’ll need to pack an overnight bag. Thomas tells me you didn’t spend your full weekend at the hotel the last time I invited you.”
    Langa cringed visibly. Olivia and a couple of other assistants were still in the room and eavesdropping quite conspicuously. She was sure that Lazola’s words would have spread through most of the company by the end of the day, powered by the gossip airwaves. The only thing likely to save her reputation was her attachment to her desk. She’d been too busy to arrange clandestine meetings. Langa hoped that would be enough to stem any speculation about an affair between Lazola and herself.
    He seemed nowhere near as fazed as she by the possibility of being the topic of the latest office gossip. He helped her into her suit jacket and guided her from the room.
    â€œThat was terrible of you, playing poor Olivia like that.” Langa felt herself leaning into the hand he placed at the small of her back as they made their way to the lifts.
    Lazola’s full lips curled. “Olivia played herself. Is she always that . . . forward?”
    The lift doors opened and they stepped inside. Langa shot a small smile at him as the doors slid shut.
    â€œWhat? You’ve never struck me as the type of man to be intimidated by an assertive woman – Oh!”
    The vehemence with which he grabbed her was unexpected, and Langa’s breath left her body in a whoosh. His strong arms wrapped around her and one hand came up to undo her loose knot.
    â€œLazola?”
    â€œI’ve missed you, Langa. Just give me a moment.”
    Despite her bewilderment, Langa’s body rejoiced at being in the embrace of the one person who made her feel complete.
    â€œWhy did you leave the way you did?”
    Langa sighed. “How could I stay, Lazola? You left first, remember? I couldn’t wait around indefinitely. I have a life of my own and a career to tend to.”
    She didn’t want him to know how hurt she’d been. That was why she had avoided this very talk during their recent night-time phone calls. She was afraid he’d figure out how deep her feelings for him were, how she’d fallen madly in love, like a naïve girl. That was the last thing she wanted him to know.
    She leaned back in his arms and offered up what she hoped was a casual smile.
    â€œLook, Lazola, we’ve