Castellano's Mistress of Revenge. Melanie Milburne
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Название: Castellano's Mistress of Revenge
Автор: Melanie Milburne
Издательство: HarperCollins
Жанр: Современные любовные романы
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But he was five years older now, five years wiser and five years more successful and powerful. This time things would be different. Ava McGuire had humiliated him before, but this time around he was going to have her right where he wanted her.
Not with his ring on her finger, not even in the palm of his hand, but in his bed for as long as he wanted her.
Chapter Three
ONCE their meals arrived, Ava picked at her salad, her stomach recoiling from every mouthful she tried to swallow. She was intensely aware of Marc’s brooding gaze, the ruthless set to his mouth at times unnerved her far more than the sexual tension she could feel pulsing between them.
They had moved to the coffee stage when Ava became aware of a slight commotion behind her. She turned in her seat to see a photographer with his lens aimed at her sitting with Marc.
‘Act as naturally as possible,’ Marc said in an undertone as he reached for her hand across the table.
Ava felt the blood rush to her fingertips where his fingers touched hers, but she forced her stiff posture to relax, reminding herself all of this was for Serena’s sake.
Several photos were taken and the young female journalist who had come in with the photographer asked Marc about his decision to reunite with his exmistress.
‘Signor Castellano, earlier this evening you released a Press statement citing your intention to resume your relationship with Ava McGuire, the woman who left you for the late property tycoon Douglas Cole five years ago. Do you have anything further to add to that statement?’
Marc gave his white slash of a smile. ‘As you can see, we are back together and very happy,’ he said. ‘That is all I am prepared to say.’
The journalist scribbled madly before asking with a provocative smile, ‘Is there any chance of wedding bells in the not too distant future?’
Marc’s polite smile was still in place, but Ava could see the flint-like momentary flash in his gaze as it briefly met hers before returning to the journalist’s. ‘My stance on this subject has not changed. I have no intention of marrying anyone.’
The journalist turned to Ava. ‘Mrs Cole, you have developed quite a reputation throughout Europe as a trophy wife. After all, your late husband was thirtyeight years older than you. Do you have any comment to make on that?’
Ava felt Marc’s fingers subtly tighten around hers. ‘Um…I am not prepared to comment on my private life,’ she said, feeling her cheeks flame at the condescending look the journalist was giving her. ‘It has always been, and will always remain, off limits.’
The journalist was undaunted. ‘Do you have any intention of working for a living other than as Signor Castellano’s mistress?’
Ava squared her shoulders. ‘I am his…’ she paused as she hunted for a word ‘…his—er—partner, not his mistress.’
The journalist lifted one finely plucked eyebrow. ‘His lover, don’t you mean?’
Ava felt another warning squeeze from Marc’s strong fingers. ‘I have already told you I am not prepared to discuss my private life,’ she said.
Still with her hand encased in his, Marc rose to his feet, signalling to the journalist that the impromptu interview was now at an end. ‘If you will excuse us,’ he gave the young woman another smile, ‘Miss McGuire and I have a lot of time to catch up on.’
‘One last question, Signor Castellano,’ the young woman said as she strategically blocked their exit. ‘Does your reunion with Mrs…I mean, Miss McGuire mean you have forgiven her for marrying the man who won the bid for the Dubai hotel over yours? Word has it the contract was as good as yours until she shifted camps, so to speak.’
There was a stiff silence broken only by the clatter of plates and cutlery being cleared from the other tables in the restaurant.
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