Page 50 of Thiago

With an embarrassed grimace, her assistant scurried away.

India closed the door and checked the card. They werenotfrom Thiago.

She blinked twice, as if hoping the sender’s name would change. Her shoulders sagged with disappointment as the excitement drained from her posture.

If the situation changes between you and your new man, let me know. - Simon

The bouquet was beautiful, but because the sender wasn’t who she had expected, the gesture seemed hollow and the colors not as vibrant.

She replaced the card in the holder with more care than necessary, as though afraid her disappointment would shatter the lovely vase and spill petals and stems across the surface of her desk.

Sitting down, she crafted a text to Simon:Thank you for the flowers.

He responded in less than a minute.

You’re welcome. I hope they brightened your day.

She was about to confirm they did but changed her mind. It was best not to go back and forth.

She didn’t want to encourage him.

Chapter Twenty

India paced her office restlessly. She hadn’t heard a peep out of Thiago except for an email he sent to all executives. She wasn’t accustomed to having one-on-one time with him during a typical day, but considering he’d had dinner with Blanca Garcia—a woman who made no effort to hide her attraction to him—India’s lack of interaction with him was particularly disconcerting today.

She couldn’t help but wonder what had happened during his dinner with Blanca last night.

“Only one way to find out.”

Squaring her shoulders as if preparing for battle, India left her office and started down the hall with purposeful steps. Half the floor was empty because most of the staff had left at a reasonable hour. She, however, was working late and knew Thiago would be too.

She swept past the empty desk where his executive assistant usually sat and marched up to the double doors of his office. She knocked twice and waited.

“Come in,” Thiago’s deep voice called from inside.

India entered and closed the door behind her.

He leaned back in his leather chair and looked at her with a curious expression. “This is a nice surprise.”

“Working late as usual, I see,” India remarked.

“So are you,” Thiago returned.

His face had turned expressionless, so she couldn’t tell what he was thinking.

“I heard you had a business dinner yesterday. How did it go?”

One of his eyebrows lifted higher, and he studied her in silence. “You are concerned about my dinner?”

“I was wondering if you had an enjoyable meal, that’s all. Who accompanied you? Where did you go to eat?”

Slowly, he rose from behind his desk and walked toward the bar. “I had a very interesting dinner with Blanca Garcia. The food was good, but the company was a bit… odd. Drink?” He gestured toward the options.

India declined the offer with a shake of her head. “What was odd about your dinner companion?”

“She is interested in me,” he said in his usual straightforward Thiago manner.

“Is she?” India asked innocently.