Oh no.

The following twenty minutes appeared to final without end, and Heather shortly referred to as for a cabin boy as quickly as she noticed Poppy untie the barber cape layered over Valerian’s broad shoulders. “Might you escort Ms. Cortez to the saloon beneath?” She mustered a smile for Poppy, saying, “I am going to be part of you in a bit.”

Heather waited till she was alone with Valerian earlier than confronting him. “You understand. Do not you?”

Valerian’s face turned expressionless, however this did not idiot her in any respect.

“I noticed the look in your face. How lengthy have you ever—-“

“From the beginning.”

Heather’s jaw dropped. “And also you’re okay with it?” The Valerian she knew would’ve gotten rid of Poppy straight away, if solely to keep away from pointless issues.

“Do not look so stunned. You knew from the beginning as effectively, however you have additionally let her keep, and sure for a similar causes I’ve.”

“Then…” Heather wanted to spell this one out, for Poppy’s sake. “You additionally imagine she will not ever cross the road?”

“She’s too good to ever achieve this.”

The informal indifference in Valerian’s tone immediately made Heather really feel responsible. Whereas protecting Poppy on their payroll saved her from worrying about Valerian’s security, the identical factor seemingly made it harder for the opposite woman to recover from the billionaire.

Was it time to let Poppy go?

Chapter Six

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“REGARDE, MON AMOUR,” Camelia purred with vicious delight as she untangled herself from her boyfriend.

Valerian’s lips tightened when he noticed the place – or quite who – his lover was watching.

Fuck, he knew it.

Camelia had been so insistent that he stick along with his typical schedule for getting his hair trimmed. It had appeared a innocent factor to do, to not point out how his girlfriend’s argument had additionally made sense.

You at all times say you hate losing time, and it was my determination to host this occasion. I am going to reserve one of many poolside cabanas to your use. I am certain our company will not thoughts for those who’re gone for half an hour or much less.

However taking a look at Poppy now, he realized too late that he was unsuitable.

Why, dammit?

She had been working for him for over eight months now. He had taken care to not alternate various phrases along with her, and Heather herself had instructed him Poppy was very a lot conscious of his relationship with Camelia.

So why, dammit?

Why was she nonetheless not over her crush on him?

Camelia waved at Poppy with feigned heat. “Over right here, darling.” She watched the woman stroll towards them with a faux smile. So pathetic. Not solely was the fool unhealthy at hiding her infatuation, however the woman was additionally incapable of masking her ache.

“You may arrange over there.” Camelia pointed to the poolside cabana she had reserved for his or her use. She turned to Valerian and practically grimaced on the steely expression on his face. Ugh. He was clearly bothered by how the woman felt about him. She had such excessive hopes for Valerian when she first went to mattress with him. She had thought his conscience would ultimately die a fast loss of life, however even in spite of everything these years, he was nonetheless so tediously honorable.

Camelia cupped the billionaire’s chin and guided his gaze again to her. “We’ve work to do, keep in mind? Now isn’t the time to be bothered by your vilain petit canard.”

The phrases translated to ‘ugly little duckling’ in French, and Camelia rolled her eyes when she noticed how the time period had anger flashing within the billionaire’s eyes.

“Will you simply chill? You understand I used to be merely joking—-“

“I don’t take kindly to anybody disrespecting my workers,” Valerian snapped in French.

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