No Strings Attached

Chapter Twenty-Nine

"I would think it would be taking them off," I utter throatily, without any shame.

His charcoal eyes flicker to mine in the mirror, daring and lustful.

Oh yeah, I'm going to be late.

***

"We need to talk."

I look up from my messy planner, finding Carlos shutting the door behind him. "What's up? I have a meeting I'm already late for."

I walked in thirty minutes behind schedule, completely unprepared, but it was damn worth it. I'm practically floating on cloud nine.

"This was in my email this morning."

I grab the sheet that he's handing to me, taking one look at the enlarged picture in full color. My euphoria is instantly gone.

No.

No, no, no.

I look up slowly, trying to remain as calm as I can. "Who sent this?"

"I don't know. The account has been deleted. I didn't know whether you wanted me to take this to IT."

My heart is racing. I feel sick.

I stand up, dropping the fragile paper on my desk. My fingers tremble against my mouth as I stare out of the window, feeling horror seeping through my veins.

"You're sleeping with Martinelli?" he asks in disbelief.

I swallow deeply at his awed question. "Have you told anyone about this? Showed anyone else? Was anyone attached in the email?"

"No, I came straight here."

I turn, looking at him and then at the picture of Giovanni and I standing in his home in LA, in his living room... right in front of a goddamn window. I'm topless. My entire body is pressed to his, my arm wrapped around his broad shoulders. He's clearly already naked, holding my face between both of his hands, our mouths locked in desperation.

I remember the night well... the night he first asked to take my burdens, the night he asked me to put some faith in him.

That was the first night I really let him in.

Someone found a way to get into his yard. They found a way to get this picture. And I have no idea who they could be. No way to get to the source without alerting the entire company that I've jumped into bed with our biggest client.

My cheeks are red with embarrassment as I look back up at Carlos.

"You're sleeping with him?" he asks again, his eyes full of concern.

I can hardly speak. I remember our contract, which forbids me from telling anyone about our relations. But right now, I don't think Giovanni would give a shit.

"Can you please have Summer call me from IT? Just her. I don't trust anyone else over there."

"Scarlett."

"Isn't it apparent, Carlos?" I hiss hysterically, holding up the picture to him. "I'm goddamn topless. God, if this gets out, my entire life goes straight to hell!"

He comes around the desk, grabbing the photo, slamming it on the desk face-down. "This is not going to get out. We will fucking figure out who took this. We'll track the account name."

"And if that one was fake?"

"IT will find out who it is, Scarlett. They will. We will do whatever we have to."