Page 69 of Modern Romance October 2025 5-8

At Gio’s nod he led the way to his office and straight to his computer. A few clicks of the mouse and he rose from his seat, indicating Gio should take his place.

‘Security alerted me to this.’

Gio focused on the screen. It showed footage from security cameras on several floors, time stamps showing the early hours of this morning. A figure emerged from the end of a corridor. As it approached the camera he recognised Stella in black yoga pants and a long-sleeved dark top, her hair caught up in a haphazard bun.

Something snared in Gio’s chest. Her clothes clung, revealing an alluring body. With her hair looking as if she’d hurriedly scooped it up while she took a bath, he felt decidedly like a voyeur.

If she’d come to his room looking like that last night he wouldn’t have stopped to think but would have hauled her through the doorway and into his arms.

The realisation made him frown as she disappeared from one screen and appeared climbing stairs in another. Then she appeared in another corridor, then another.

‘What’s she doing?’

Her pace was steady and while he had the impression she was interested in her surroundings, she didn’t pause to admire the furnishings or architectural details.

‘Just a second.’ His manager pointed over his shoulder to another screen. ‘Here.’

She emerged onto the fourth floor and Gio’s pulse quickened, for now he knew where she was going. A few paces down the corridor she slowed then stopped before double doors leading to the passage which became an enclosed bridge to the next building. The building that housed his new corporate headquarters.

Gio swore under his breath as she reached for the door and found it locked. She looked up as if expecting to spot a sign, then scanned the wall, discovering the security keypad. For a long time she stood there, finally turning slowly away.

He leaned forward. ‘Where’s she going?’

‘Just to the end of the corridor and back. Then the same on the next floor. Then to the gym.’

He scowled. She paced every corridor, going to all the public spaces, except those on the ground floor where reception staff would have seen her.

The manager pulled up another image. There was Stella on a treadmill, jogging steadily, expression unreadable.

Gio reached out and fast-forwarded the film. Forty minutes later she turned off the treadmill and stepped down, bending into a series of deep stretches.

That sense of voyeurism strengthened. Now he wasn’t watching her secretly explore his hotel. He was enjoying the intimate view of Stella. Her face was flushed and damp, strands of long hair sticking to her throat, breasts rising and falling rapidly from exertion.

When she bent her loose top gaped and he saw the swell of her breasts and the dark valley of her cleavage.

She was beautiful, even more attractive now, damp with sweat and devoid of make-up. He could almost smell her tantalising female scent. He watched her bend and twist, flexible and fit, and couldn’t help imagining her warm and rumpled, in a lover’s bed.

Disdain knotted his belly. Disdain for himself and his visceral attraction to this conniving woman. And for her with her underhand ways.

She might be a corporate spy yet he felt guilty, watching her like this, guilty for his response.

Gio shoved the chair back. ‘What did she do then?’ He didn’t want to watch any more.

‘Nothing. She went to her room and didn’t emerge until breakfast. She’s been in the restaurant since, eating, checking her phone, and talking to the staff.’

Despite his best intentions, Gio found his gaze straying towards the monitor, watching Stella stroll across the empty gym, hips swaying, as if she didn’t have a care in the world.

‘Good work. Excellent work, thank you.’ He rolled his shoulders, feeling their tight set. He could do with a workout himself. Or something else to get rid of this tension.

He issued instructions for increased security then got to his feet. Time to face Ms Barbieri.

As Gio approached her table Stella put down her phone. He surveyed the screen, hoping to see something useful, but it was blank. She was too careful to let anyone see what she’d been doing.

‘Good morning. Is this seat taken?’

Her head jerked around, eyes dilating. She smiled as if genuinely pleased to see him.

Of course she is. You’re her target.