Da Silva's Mistress. Tina Duncan

mouth. ‘You know why. It’s about one of those risks I just mentioned.’ His eyes narrowed to dark slits in a face carved from granite. ‘How dare you call Joseph when I expressly ordered you not to?’

      ‘Who said I called him?’ she asked, stalling for time.

      ‘I do. You called. I answered.’ He raised a brow. ’Remember?’

      She angled her chin into the air. ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’

      ‘Really? Why don’t we test that theory?’

      She frowned, and then paled when he fished a mobile phone out of his coat pocket. He stared at her, a glint of challenge in his eyes as he pressed a button.

      ‘Don’t,’ she choked.

      It was too late. The mobile phone sitting on her kitchen bench began ringing.

      Luca pulled the phone away from his ear. ‘Aren’t you going to answer that?’

      She shook her head and closed her eyes. ‘No.’ How was she to know that Joseph had left his phone with Luca? How was she to know that Luca would guess it was her calling? ‘Oh, for goodness’ sake—hang up, will you?’

      Luca depressed the button and the apartment fell silent.

      She angled her chin into the air. ‘I’ll call who I like. You can’t tell me what to do.’

      He stared back. ‘Then you’ll suffer the consequences.’

      Slamming her hands on to her hips, she glared at him. ‘Stop threatening me, Luca! It isn’t going to work.’

      She could tell by the look on his face that her answer had surprised him. He remained silent for a long time, eyes fixed on her face.

      Morgan stared straight back.

      Finally, he asked, ‘Why did you call him, Morgan?’

      ‘Why do you think? I wanted to tell him you’d had me fired!’

      He crossed the room until he was standing right in front of her, so close she could smell wine on his breath. ’Why? Were you hoping he’d get you your job back?’

      She nodded. ‘I love my job. Working on the Da Silva Chocolate account is the opportunity of a lifetime. I know it. And so do you. I worked hard to get my position and I’ve worked hard to keep it. It’s not fair that you’re taking it away from me.’

      ‘You should have thought of that before you started sleeping with Joseph!’

      She flung her hands into the air, then quickly gathered the sides of her robe together when she realised the action had pulled the neckline apart. ‘For heaven’s sake! How many times do I have to tell you? I’m not sleeping with him. And even if I was it’s not a justifiable reason for having me fired!’

      ‘I’m making it a reason.’

      Morgan gritted her teeth. ‘You are so arrogant it makes me sick. I could lose my apartment. Have you thought about that? I have a mortgage. How am I meant to make the repayments without a job?’

      Luca frowned, as if the thought had never occurred to him. ‘I’m sure your family will be happy to help you out until you find something else.’

      ‘Not everyone is as rich as you, Luca,’ she said, deliberately avoiding making any direct comment about her family.

      Joseph would loan her the money if she asked him. But she wouldn’t ask. Not only would it be another thing he’d have to hide from his wife, but she didn’t want Joseph to think she’d contacted him because of what she could get out of him financially.