Page 20 of Devil's Azalea

He quickly takes advantage of my proximity, slipping a hand to the small of my back, pulling me closer. My skin crawls beneath his touch, but I keep my seductive façade, lips curved in invitation. When he leans in to claim my mouth, I press a restraining hand against his chest.

“Councilor, please,” I murmur. “Everyone can see us.”

His lips twist into a smirk of masculine triumph. “Of course. We can go somewhere private after my speech.” He winks, and I giggle again, like a fucking airhead.

I’ve got him on the hook, so I have to keep playing along. But with the lipstick stain now marking his cheek—right above his jawline—he won’t have the chance to try anything with me. It’s only a matter of time before the azalea toxins kick in. I just need to get away from him before that happens.

I back towards the door, keeping my gaze fixed on Jason, ignoring the two guards still in the box with us. “That sounds scandalous, Councilor. I'm in.” I wink and reach behind me for the handle.

As I step into the corridor with Jason right on my heels, the door next to us slides open—and my entire world narrows to a single point of focus.

Rafael.

A jolt of heat mixed with dread rockets through me,flooding my veins. And the people spilling out of the other box seats blur into background noise.

My ears pop, and silence descends so completely I can hear my heart hammering against my ribs as those beautiful silver eyes arrest mine.

He stands motionless, studying me with undisguised interest, clad in a perfectly tailored gray suit and plain black tie that somehow makes his eyes stand out even more. His midnight hair is slicked back from his face, not a strand out of place.

Handsome as sin.

He isn’t supposed to be here. Gregpromised.

He can’t recognize me. Right?

But then he tilts his head, eyes twinkling like we’re sharing some secret.Fuck, that looks a hell of a lot like recognition.

Instinctively, I retreat a step—straight into Jason’s chest. He takes it as an invitation and eagerly wraps his arms around my waist. Perfect. Just what I needed.

Then I see her.

A blonde head pops up over Rafael’s shoulder as some woman clings to his arm and leans in to whisper something.

The second her lips start moving, the room snaps back into focus, and all the sounds slam into me at once—chatter, music, footsteps.Too much noise.Yet Rafael’s gaze doesn’t waver. It’s magnetic, pulling at me, and I can’t look away. I can’t.

“Hey, what is it, my pretty?” Jason’s voice intrudes.

Right. The mission.Focus on the goddamn mission, Emilia.I can’t allow Rafael’s unexpected presence to ruin everything. Not when I’m so close to my goal.

“Nothing, I’m fine.” I clear my throat and finally tear my gaze away from the magnetic man.

Jason looks up and greets my nemesis like an old friend. “Rafael! I hope you enjoyed the show?” His voice grates against my eardrums, but at least the question does its job—Rafael’s attention shifts away from me, just long enough forme to discreetly exhale and try to calm the thundering in my chest.

“It was certainly… interesting,” Rafael answers, voice deep and dry. Then his laser-focused gaze snaps right back to me. “Who’s your date?”

Jason beams like an idiot and nudges me forward. “This is the well-accomplished Carol Walker. Art collector and writer.”

“Carol Walker.” Rafael rolls the name on his tongue, his face blank. But I fucking know the asshole recognizes me.

Still, I can’t afford to break character. Rafael might recognize me, but that’s no reason to blow my cover with Jason. So I lift my chin haughtily and stare down my nose at him. “And you are?” I ask with the kind of posh arrogance that makes people apologize for breathing too loudly.

The collective gasp from Jason and the blonde woman tells me I’ve just committed the social equivalent of blasphemy. Perfect.

The corner of Rafael’s mouth twitches. Oh, the bastard is enjoying this.

“Rafael Moretti, at your service, Miss Walker.” He extends his hand, and I realize with dread that I’ve maneuvered myself into an impossible position—I have to touch him.

Fuck.