Consumed by thoughts of Eli, she found it impossible to focus on her work. He was scheming something. But what? Was he trying to induce her to sleep with him again? Like ‘Hey, you’re pregnant already, so we may as well enjoy some more no-strings sex’. If so, then, no, thank you. They were linked together for life now, and no way was she making things more awkward by jumping right back into his bed.

That didn’t mean she would never return to his bed. The idea of having a relationship with him had taken hold. Yes, he was a powerful man, but surely having his baby meant she was safe from him, that he’d go out of his way to protect her from rumors and humiliation. In which case, her reason for avoiding a relationship with him was moot. But she needed to play the long game. If she wanted Eli in her life, she needed to lure him back. She couldn’t go to bed with him straight away, or he might lose interest.

Aria’s patience was waning when, as she was packing up at the end of the day, the third package arrived. These gifts were just so damn confusing.

“What is it?” she snapped when the delivery boy hovered over her. He froze with a possum-in-the-headlights expression.

“Package for you, ma’am,” he stammered.

“I’m sorry.” It wasn’t the boy’s fault she was in a bad mood.

“That’s all right, ma’am.” He held out the package and rushed away as soon as she’d taken it.

Aria counted to ten before she unwrapped the parcel. It was small, decorated in pink paper with a white ribbon. The paper shredded easily, revealing a velvet box. Inside nestled a perfect ruby with a fine silver chain pooled around it. Aria gasped. The necklace was absolutely gorgeous. She ran a finger over its cool surface. It was deep and bloody, a shade of red she was partial to. The chain felt like silk between her fingers. She’d always preferred silver to gold, although she didn’t know how Eli knew that. A lucky guess, perhaps.

But…what was she supposed to do with the necklace? She couldn’t keep it. She snatched up the phone and called him.

“Good evening,” he answered pleasantly.

“No,” Aria snapped. “It’s not. What do you think you’re doing, sending me all these gifts? I’m returning the necklace to you tomorrow. I can’t accept such an expensive present. Maybe you can get a refund.”

Eli chuckled, sounding far too amused for her liking. “I’m not interested in a refund.” His husky voice sent tingles up her spine.

“It’s too much, Eli.”

He ignored her. “I’d like you to wear the necklace to a charity ball my parents have invited me to on Saturday.”

“Is that your way of asking me on a date?”