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I held my breath as my boss and the pain-in-the-ass viscount silently challenged each other.
With a sigh, Linda passed the clipboard to Augustus. “So, are you two fucking one another or something?”
“What? No, I have a boyfriend,” I snapped.
I thought I saw Augustus pause for one second, but perhaps I imagined it because he went right back to writing on the form. After a few moments, he passed the clipboard back to Linda.
“Right, then…” Linda tucked the clipboard under her arm, “… you two best get a move on. We have a photo shoot to do, and precious little time left to do it. Call an Uber and get to the studio right now.”
“An Uber?” Augustus turned his nose up.
“On it.” I didn’t mean to mumble like a child who was in deep shit. But that’s what I was in, right? Only, the model had just blackmailed the boss. So, where did this leave me?
Tugging my coat tighter around me, I stepped out of the auto shop and ordered the Uber. This was how I should’ve gone to get Augustus in the first place. I should have trusted my instincts and not let myself get pushed around.
I felt Augustus’ presence as he stood beside me. “You’ve got a boyfriend, have you?”
I cringed. “Yeah.”
“Right. Of course, you have. Because why wouldn’t you, hotness? Look at you.”
I cautiously looked at him out of the corner of my eye.
Augustus buttoned up his coat. “Is he here in London with you?”
“No. He’s back in Wayborough Shores until New Year's Eve.”
“Hmm… I think this is us.” Augustus motioned to the car pulling up to the curb. He opened the back door but stopped me before I could lower myself in. “He’s one lucky bastard.”
I released a soft sigh as I stared at the beautiful nobleman in front of me. His usual flirtatious personality was painfully absent.
Why did I feel a little sad about that?
After everything which occurred earlier in the morning, I was so happy to finish my workday. Augustus behaved for once, and the shoot went off without a hitch.
With all the costume changes, examining the raw footage, and everything else needed for a shoot, I was exhausted.But I didn’t particularly want to go home. Instead, I found myself wandering along the South Bank, taking in the sights and sounds of Central London.
My phone pinged, and when I opened it, I found a picture of Ruben smiling from ear to ear while holding up a Rubix Cube.
Ruben:Fantastic gift, Sienna-Belle!
The caption read,“I’m going to start it immediately.”
Sienna-Belle.The nickname he’d saddled me with was so sweet. He said it suited me because I was as beautiful as a princess and deserved everything wonderful that came my way.
My heart swelled at his dorky, handsome face. Ruben lit up my life. He was my best friend and my lover, and he was so far away. After the day I’d had, I needed to talk to my man, so I dialed his number.
“It’s lucky we got you a great global roaming deal, or you’d be lobbed with a huge cost right now.”
I laughed at Ruben’s sensible side but ignored the comment. “Ruben, the Rubix Cube was supposed to be your Christmas present. As in, to be openedonChristmas Day.”
“I’m supposed to leave a package from you unopened for another month? Not happening, sweetie.” His English voice was husky with adoration. “Did you know the wrapping paper you used smells like your perfume?”
“It does?”
“It reminded me of how much I miss you. How much I love you. How much I want to be there in my home country with you. God, I should be there taking goofy pictures with you at Buckingham Palace and rowing you in a boat around the Serpentine. Instead, I’m stuck here at Rawlins Industries until two days after Christmas because my mum wants me home for Christmas Day, and one of the scientists needs me to assist him in some of his bloody experiments.”
“Who are you kidding? You’re loving every minute.”
