‘Saffie,’ he breathed. ‘What are you doing here?’
‘My job, Joao. And, yes, before you ask, my power nap did wonders for me. Your people are waiting. Would you like to start?’
His jaw clenched but while his thunderous gaze suggested he was considering throwing everyone out, after a charged minute he swivelled his chair away and addressed his COO.
The meeting finished two hours later. Knowing he was going straight into another videoconference and would be tied up for most of the afternoon, she typed up the meeting notes, then caught up her bag.
Outside, she dismissed her driver, hoping that a walk would provide enlightenment about what carrying Joao’s babies meant now he’d vowed to claim them.
She crossed over from Pudong to Old City Shanghai, trailed her way through the stunning temples in Yu Garden and arrived at her destination with one clear thought.
She wouldn’t give up her desire to form a unit with her babies. Not for Joao. Or anyone.
The members-only Xinqu Tea House was situated in a tastefully converted temple, complete with stunning Chinese screens and miniature tinkling waterfall over smooth stones.
Every aspect of the tea house was designed to soothe the senses.
Joao’s arrival barely five minutes after her exquisite tea was served put paid to her desire for calm.
The sight of him striding towards her minus his tie, with the top buttons of his shirt undone, sparked naked flames of lust through her.
Without invitation, he seated himself across from her, his eyes pinning her in place.
‘You left without telling me. Or telling your driver where you were going.’
‘Which begs the question, how did you find me?’
His jaw rippled. ‘What exactly are you trying to prove, Saffie?’
‘I just wanted to clear my head. And have some tea.’
‘Clear your head of what?’
She pressed her lips together. She couldn’t tell him what she hadn’t worked out for herself. And even if she did, what were the chances he would accommodate her wish to keep her children? Exclusively?
‘Saffie?’ His voice throbbed with warning. ‘I hope the fact that your current circumstance doesn’t strictly fall in with your original plans doesn’t mean you intend to do anything foolish.’
She frowned. ‘Foolish? Like what?’
His eyes darkened and he pursed his lips as if he didn’t want to voice the words.
Several seconds ticked by before Saffie grasped his meaning. She gasped, her hand flying to her stomach. ‘You think... I would never!’
Tension eased out of him. The fisted hand on the table loosened. ‘Bom.’ The single word throbbed with feeling. ‘As long as we’re on the same page.’
But her senses were flailing at the very thought of even considering what he’d thinly accused her of.
‘Of course we are. This is all I’ve...’ She stopped and took a breath. ‘I intend to cherish my children, Joao. Make no mistake about that,’ she vowed with a voice that trembled with the depth of her emotion.
Something shifted in his eyes and he stared at her long and hard before he nodded. ‘Your point is well made, Saffie. As is the other point you made in my boardroom.’
‘Good, then I too am glad we’re on the same page.’
They weren’t. Not completely. She didn’t know exactly what he intended to do with regard to the babies she carried.
But Saffie had had enough emotional shocks for one day.
Tomorrow was soon enough to slay the next dragon.