Sam felt Ryan's grip on her arm go slack and he let her go a second later. The breath she hadn't been conscious of holding all this while slipped past her lips and nostrils in a rush and she took a step back, then another, needing to put space between herself and this disconcerting man.

Sam silently gave thanks to Lola for the distraction that had brought the conversation that had been rapidly spiraling into unwanted territory to a halt. The thought of her fiance had nearly brought the dam she'd put in place to hold back painful memories crashing down around her ears, and goodness only knew what would have happened if Ryan had pried that information from her.

"I should go," her voice sliced the silence in half. "I need to get some things sorted before the day ends."

What things, she had no idea. All Sam knew was she had to get away from the room.

Ryan had been looking in Lola's direction, a frown on his face, but at Sam's words, he turned his attention back to her. His gaze flicked to her hands and back, and his mouth twisted, expression as shuttered as hers had been a few minutes ago.

Taking his silence as assent, Sam turned to leave, edging past Lola who had recovered enough to aim a frosty glare her way. Sam ignored the looks and let her legs carry her past the doors and all the way to her own office.

She shut her door and leaned against it, resting her head on the wood surface. Her pulse, which had been racing from the moment Ryan had stepped out his bathroom, finally began to calm down, leaving her emotionally winded.

This insanity seriously needed to stop. Sam chided silently. Yes, insanity. What else was she supposed to call this irrational need to do things with him that fired up her imagination into overdrive? What else could she call this crazy urge to throw caution and resolution to the wind, grab Ryan by that silk tie, and kiss him before letting him do all sorts of wild things to her.

Things I never did with Zahir.

The thought of her ex, brought its usual onslaught of guilt, pain and grief, killing every lustful thoughts. Feelings that hadn't faded with the passing of time, now intensified as her conscience judged her for lusting after another man, for being so unfaithful to the memory of the man she'd loved and lost.

Her eyes smarted with the sting of tears as Zahir's face swam in her mind's eye, with same expression he'd been wearing the last time she'd laid eyes on him – hurt, anger as he reacted to the harsh words she'd flung at him, the last words she would ever say to him.

Words he hadn't deserved. Those same words now echoed in her brain, each syllable peeling away healing scabs until the wound was as fresh as that horrible day.

Her phone buzzed, pulling Sam from the black hole she'd plunged into. She forced her eyes open, mouth falling open in a gasp, sucking in a lungful of air. Straightening, she crossed to her desk, where her phone danced across the polished surface, an email notification lighting up the screen.

A peremptory knock sounded on her door and Jane bustled in, a look of relief on her face as she caught sight of Sam.

"There you are! I checked in earlier, but you weren't here." She didn't give Sam enough time to reply, but soldiered on. "The meeting's about to start and Ryan hates it when someone comes in after he does."

Grateful for the distraction, Sam took a moment to put her thoughts together, shoving unwanted memories back where they belonged and tried to make sense of her assistant's words.

"What meeting?" She followed Jane, quickening her steps to match the other woman. They passed Ryan's door, which was mercifully shut and entered the work floor. The bustle of earlier was gone, not a soul to be seen save for the two women.

"I don't suppose you got the notice, being new here and all," Jane spared a glance over her shoulder. "But Ryan called a staff meeting and I think it'll be a good opportunity for you to meet everyone."

Ryan hadn't mentioned anything about a meeting when she'd been in his office, and Sam had the sneaking suspicion he didn't want her there. She silently blessed Jane and made a mental note to thank her later.

They arrived at a set of glass doors, the murmur of voices filtering from within. Jane paused long enough to hand her an iPad and explain to Sam how to pull up employee information before pushing open the doors.

Like before, she pasted a smile on her face, while scanning for an available seat. The room had fallen silent, all eyes fixed on her as she made her way to the nearest seat, which was at the other end of the room.

****

Engaged!

Ryan watched Sam scurry out his office and resisted the urge to call out, to demand she answer his question. Instead, he turned away to pick up the jacket of his suit, his mind a cesspit of conflicting thoughts.

He should feel relief, knowing she was most likely unavailable would put to rest his body's lascivious thoughts. He had made it a rule to never get involved with a woman already in a relationship.

Still, he couldn't help but feel a tinge of regret.

"What was that about?" Lola spoke behind him, her voice brimming with curiosity.

He paused in the act of doing his cuffs to look at her. She still stood on the same spot, eyes trained away from him and focused on the door. He could have sworn he heard a tremor in her voice, but then she looked at him, eyebrow cocked in amusement as she awaited his answer.

"What was what about?" He asked, though he knew full well what she meant.

"Seems I interrupted a cozy moment between the two of you," She replied, moving to perch on the edge of his desk, her gaze taking him in from head to toe, finally coming to linger on his tie. "Is your hand better?"

"No, and make an appointment with Doctor Lawson for next month." He'd have preferred to have the surgery done sooner, but unfortunately, it would have to wait until after he'd sorted out the crazy mess his father had thrown on his lap.

And hopefully by then, he would have found a way to show Ms. Bhatt the door and bid her good riddance.

"And, there was no cozy moment. She just helped with my tie." And nearly drove him insane. He caught himself absently touching the knot at his neck, mind wandering into forbidden territory and clamped down hard on that. He sank down on the sofa to pull on black socks, and changed the subject. "Is everything set for the meeting?"

"Yes." she straightened and tugged down the jacket of her snug suit, her expression sympathetic. "I heard about your father's decision, and I'm so sorry."

He shrugged, feeling bitterness re surge. "It won't be the first time the old man has tried to undermine my efforts, and I doubt this would be the last. I just need to show him he's wrong about this."

"What are you going to do about her?" A nod in the direction of Sam's office indicated who 'her' was.

"Everyone is worried she's going to give them the boot."

"Not if I can help it." Ryan muttered under his breath, mind working on ways to distract the woman long enough to pull of his plans.

Right. He needed to stop thinking with his dick and make plans. The first thing to do was address his staff, and look into improving productivity.

"Get Sam's email from her assistant and send her the projects," he stood and shrugged on the tailored jacket. "She's not aware of this meeting, is she?"

Lola's lips curved in a smug smile. "I didn't tell her."

"Good. The last thing I need is her looking over my shoulder while I sort out this mess." He also didn't need her distracting presence sending his mind haywire.

Ryan grabbed his laptop and headed for the conference room, whilst reeling off a list of instructions for Lola.

The sight of Sam sitting close to his designated seat at the head of the table brought him to a halt, his gaze narrowing. What the hell was she doing here? He could feel what was left of his good mood rapidly evaporating into thin air as he took in the smug smile she had the audacity to throw his way. How had she found out about this meeting?

He scanned the sea of faces, until he locked eyes with Jane Wilton. The assistant had the good grace to flush and lower her head, much like a child who'd just been reprimanded. He wondered what Sam had done to incur loyalty in a woman she'd only just met.

A shudder passed through Ryan as a thought occurred to him. Had that been her intention when she'd invited herself into his office earlier? A beautiful woman like Sam, had to know the effect she had on men, and she was obviously smart enough to know how to turn that effect to great advantage.

Had she been playing him? He recalled the way her eyes had greedily taken him in, the way she'd reacted to his body, even while engaged to another man.

The thought left a sour taste in his mouth.

He met her cool gaze, noting how she cocked her head to the side and the raised eyebrows, as though silently challenging him to make a big deal of her being here.

You'd like that, wouldn't you Princess?

He took a seat next to her, resolving to ignore her presence, to act normal and conduct this damn meeting. He tried not to notice her elegant fingers as they played with a pencil, tried not to imagine those fingers tracing a line down his chest, lips swollen from his kisses.

Christ! He needed to get laid before he made a fool out of himself.