by Lisa Suzanne
“What will happen with our executive team?”
“Why don’t we talk about it over dinner?”
“You’re ridiculously impossible.”
I flash her my grin again. “I know.”
She glances at her phone. “Shoot. I have a meeting I need to get to in a few minutes.”
Good—that opens the door to a dinner with me, then. I don’t say that, though. Instead, I give her a preview of what she wants to know to hook her in for dinner. “I’ve thought a lot about how to reorganize but still allow your team to keep their jobs. I’d be happy to sit down with you and go over that plan while I’m here, or we can schedule a meeting in my New York office sometime in the next couple of weeks.”
She sighs. “Fine. Dinner. But it’s strictly business.”
“Of course, a business dinner—what else would it be?”
We both laugh—it’s the exact same line I used on her before our first business dinner.
“Fine. Tonight at seven. I’ll text you the place.”
“A woman who takes charge…I like it.”
“Get out of my office.” She says it with smiling eyes, and I grin back at her as I stand.
“See you tonight.”
CHAPTER 20
SYLVIE
“I can’t wait,” I say, but I wait until he’s out of the room and out of earshot before the whispered words escape my lips.
I’m playing with fire.
I’m trying to get my shit together with William, I really am…but I can’t stop thinking about Carson. And when Carson mentioned that his legal team is working with mine, I got the overwhelming feeling that William is at the helm of this takeover.
I know what his sister-in-law said about him. I know that should send me screaming for the hills, and it does. Dinner with Carson King is a terrible idea, but the second I spotted him in our reception area, I knew I needed more time with him.
William and I “made love” three nights ago, and it was fair at best. I don’t feel for him what I once did. And then Carson…well, I’m feeling things I have no business feeling for someone I hardly know.
I was shocked to see him. When Ingrid called me up to meet with someone, I had no idea who it would be. When I saw who it was, my traitorous body had an intense physical reaction. My heart raced and my face heated and my legs turned to jelly. And the ache…oh, God, the ache between my legs…
I can’t believe he’s here in town, and so soon again. It was a mirage seeing him there; I’d been thirsty in the desert, and he was my drink. I suddenly felt like my world tilted a few degrees back to where it was supposed to be.
I don’t even know this man, this person who’s supposed to be my bitter enemy, but he’s played in my mind constantly in the days since I first met him in New York. He looms painfully in my head, shadowing everything I do with his presence.
He was so excruciatingly handsome sitting in the chair by reception that he actually took my breath away.
He’s persistent, and he has this way of drawing me in that I can’t explain. Of course I want to have dinner with him, but I’m still in a relationship with another man. I had to object, had to protest. It’s the right thing to do. But, just as I knew he’d keep asking, I also knew I’d eventually give in. I’m a strong woman, and I don’t understand the weakness Carson brings out in me. It’s mystifying and terrifying, but at the same time, it’s also exhilarating and satisfying.
He confuses every rational thought I have.
But this is just a business dinner, nothing more. I’ve made that clear with my words, but it’s the feelings gnawing at my gut that tell me this is much, much more than a business dinner.
I should be with William. He’s the right choice. He’s secure, solid. He’ll give me a good future. My parents love him.
But I’m still so pissed off at him for keeping secrets from me, even after trying to get over it. I’m still trying to determine whether I’m holding a grudge because what he did was wrong or if I’m holding a grudge because I’m looking for an out.
I want it to be the first one. I want him to be wrong, and I want to find a way to get over it and get our lives back to normal. I want that because it seems like it should be the right answer.
But then Carson King walked into my office—into my life—and I’m starting to wonder if I’ve been phoning it in with William all this time. Whether or not anything happens with Carson—I mean, nothing is going to happen, because I’m with William—but regardless, meeting someone who sets my passions on fire the way Carson does has thrown me for a loop. Even though I spend nearly all my time in Carson’s presence wanting to nut-kick him, I know passion when I feel it. What I’ve felt for Carson in the short span of time we’ve spent together seems somehow stronger than what I’ve felt for William for the past two years.
If I can feel something this explosive in just a week, I can’t imagine what sort of feelings could grow over time.
My office phone rings, and the little screen on my phone tells me it’s Ingrid. “Yes?”
“Sylvie, Davis Huckabee is here for your four o’clock meeting.”
“Send him back. And can you tell Amber to make a reservation for two at Pink Agave tonight at seven?”
“I’ll have her confirm with you when it’s done.”
“Thanks Ingrid.”
I text Carson while I wait for Davis to walk back to my office.
Me: Pink Agave tonight at 7:00. Business dinner.
Carson: Of course, a business dinner—what else would it be?
I hate that I can’t wipe this silly smile off my face.
*
William is home earlier than normal from the gym. I hear the garage door open as I stand in my closet, giving myself a final onceover. My heart thuds in my chest as I listen to that door. It’s not a happy thud, and it’s certainly not the thud I felt when I spotted Carson in reception earlier today. This one is a little annoyed, a little fearful. I was hoping to get out the door before William came in it.
Pink Agave isn’t super formal, and tonight I want comfort. I pulled on my favorite pair of jeans, a black top with white polka dots that carefully hugs my curves, and black boots with heels. I hate heels, to be honest, but I have to wear them, tonight especially. Without them, I only stand about five feet, four inches. With heels, though, I feel taller, and that gives me confidence. Plus, heels make me feel powerful and sexy. I’d prefer my Nikes for added comfort, but I need something to at least make me feel like I’m in a power position. Carson tends to strip that from me.
I grab my handbag and make my way downstairs. William is in the kitchen chugging water from his sports bottle.
He narrows his eyes at me. “Where are you going?”
“Out.”
“Can we talk?”
I glance at the clock on our oven. “I’m running late.”
“For what?”
“A business dinner.”
“With who?”
“None of your business.”
He sighs. “I thought we moved past the anger thing. Are you mad at me again?”
“Still.”
“Sylvie, we can’t keep on like this.”
I shrug. “Should have thought of that before you lied to me.”
“I didn’t lie. I never lied. I was trying to protect you.”
“Bullshit.”
He flinches backward like I physically slapped him, and I want to roll my eyes at his dramatics.
“Are we over?” he asks. His voice is hard—harder than I’ve ever heard from him.
“I honestly don’t know, William. I’m angry, and even though I’ve really tried, the anger hasn’t diminished at all.”
“Even after we made love the other day?”
I almost roll my eyes. “Yeah, even after that.”
“What can I do? I can’t live in limbo like this.”
“I don’t know.”
“That can’t be your answer.”
“But it is. I don’t kno
w how you can fix this, and I don’t know if we belong together. I don’t know if I can marry someone who keeps important things from me.”
He nods. He looks like a wounded puppy dog, and I feel like a royal bitch. “I understand.”
“Do you?” I ask.
“Yes. I’m so, so sorry, Sylvie. I handled everything wrong, but I love you, and I want to work this out with you. I can’t keep living in fear that you might end things with me at any second.”
I sigh. He’s right. I haven’t been fair to him, and we both deserve to either move forward together or move on.
It’s not that simple, though. We’ve merged our lives together. The thought of leaving him terrifies me, but the thought of staying with him is equally scary.
I don’t know what to do, and I don’t even know who to talk to about it. I usually confide in Raquel. We could Skype, I guess, but our schedules are opposite, and while I know she would always, always side with me, she loves William. I don’t know that she could remain impartial, and I’m not ready to confess to her what’s going on with my dad.
I can’t believe I told Carson. It just sort of slipped out. I don’t know why I trust him. I shouldn’t.
But I do.
He’s a magnet and I’m a piece of metal. I’m drawn to him, and I have no idea how to fight against it.
William is still waiting for a response, but before I can give him one, he presses forward. “Are we still attending the Lindor-Hodge Ball tomorrow together?” It’s a black-tie charity event for a company we work closely with. “Say yes, and I promise I will continue to try to make it up to you.”
I don’t have a good reason to tell him no, even though that’s my first inclination. I just want to get out the door. “Fine.”
“Really?” he asks.
I shrug. “Sure. I have to get to dinner.”
I rush out the door before he can stop me with a kiss, because I don’t want William’s breath mingling with mine during my business dinner with Carson.
CHAPTER 21
CARSON
I arrive at the restaurant first, which is really more of a power play than anything else. Sylvie wants to think she’s running this meeting because we’re on her home turf at the restaurant she chose, but that’s not the case.
Of course I’m familiar with Pink Agave. It’s my sister-in-law’s favorite restaurant, and I’ve been here with her and my brother countless times.
I’m already seated at the table when she arrives, and I watch as she steps through the door. She’s wearing jeans and another shirt that stretches unforgivingly across those luscious tits. She wears these black-heeled boots that give her a boost in height and simultaneously make her look like a wicked minx.
Does she have any idea what the fuck she’s doing to me?
My dick hardens immediately in my pants.
A woman in jeans is a bit of a weakness for me, and paired with those sky-high heels…Jesus.
I’m still in the suit I wore to her office earlier. After I met with her, I went to my hotel to check in, and then I got stuck working on my laptop until it was time to leave. I barely had time to take a piss, let alone change my clothes.
She glances around and spots me, and I watch as her cheeks flush. She gives me a little wave before she makes her way to the table.
“Hey,” she says.
“Awfully casual for a business dinner,” I say, standing in greeting.
She pulls out the chair to sit. “Don’t care. I wanted to be comfortable.”
“Because you’re comfortable with me?”
She shrugs. “Strangely, I suppose I am. I haven’t slipped a word to a single soul about my father, and you waltz into my office and it spills right out of me.”
I shrug. “Guess the feeling’s mutual.”
I reach for my tie to loosen it, and her eyes go immediately to my throat. She watches my movements carefully, and her lips part when I pull on the knot. She swallows hard and then picks up her menu, trying to appear lost in the selection, but her reaction was exactly what I was looking for.
The waitress comes to take our drink order, and I opt for Dos Equis. I nearly keel over in shock when Sylvie orders a margarita on the rocks.
“What?” she asks when the waitress walks away.
“Tequila? You didn’t even want red wine at our last business dinner.”
“The margaritas here are to die for.”
I chuckle. “Do you come here a lot?”
“Not a lot. William doesn’t like Mexican food.”
“What the fuck is wrong with this guy?”
She presses her lips together and looks down at the table, and I think I’ve struck a chord. I feel a jolt of guilt.
I want her to break up with William, but I don’t want her to be upset.
“Hey, Sylvie, it was a joke.” I gentle my tone.
“I know,” she says, nodding. “I’ve just got a lot going on right now.” She clears her throat. “Tell me about this new structure you mentioned earlier.”
“Before we even place our orders? Before our drinks even arrive? Before I can even thank you for that magic pill that made my last flight home to New York actually bearable?”
“It was Ativan, and especially before our drinks arrive. Once I get a margarita in me, who knows what I’ll remember.”
I chuckle. “That bodes well for me.”
“In your dreams.” She winks at me, and I like this playful side to her. Maybe she feels comfortable on her own home base. “Now talk to me about your reorganization plan.”
“Someone from King will transfer out here to oversee the acquisition and then run the office under new management. Whoever does that will obviously look to your current team for assistance, so I really don’t foresee a lot changing with the exception of titles in the immediate future.”
“In the immediate future—what does that mean?”
“It means we may eventually need to cut or trim, but we’re not going to come in and burn the place down.”
“And my dad?”
“Will still essentially be running the office for as long as he wants, just in conjunction with someone from King and provided he doesn’t start shitting on us because he didn’t want this—but that holds true for anyone in an acquisition.”
“What about salaries and benefits?”
“Our HR department will work with your current department to merge. I’ve studied your financials extensively, and salaries seem comparable and fair. Benefits will remain the same until the end of the fiscal year, and then we’ll reevaluate.”
The waitress drops off our drinks and a basket of tortilla chips. We place our dinner orders.
Sylvie holds up her margarita, and I hold up my beer. “To this merger I don’t want and can’t stop.”
I touch my glass to hers, and we both drink. “I really am sorry about this, Sylvie.”
“I don’t blame you. I should, though.”
“Does William work for Baker?” I ask.
She looks surprised by my question. “He’s our corporate attorney.”
“William Rutherford?”
She nods. “Yeah, that’s him.”
“That’s what I thought. I’ve actually spoken to him before.”
She furrows her brows. “You have?”
I nod. “Months ago, when this whole acquisition started.”
“What did he say?”
“I’d probably be better off keeping that to myself.”
“And letting my imagination run wild?”
I chuckle. “Ask him.”
“I’m asking you.” Her voice is quiet and direct, and it’s honestly just a tad scary.
“He was professional, but I never got the impression he was against the idea of a merger.”
She shakes her head. “I was afraid of that.”
“Of what?”
“Can I ask you a question?”
I nod.
“Where did you first hear the rumors about my father?”
&nb
sp; “From my CFO, Paul.”
“And where did he hear it?”
I think to my earlier conversation with Paul. Between us, it came from their legal team. I clear my throat. As much as I want Sylvie to dump the clown and get with me, I don’t want it to happen because I’m throwing the other guy under the bus. I want her to realize it on her own.
“Why do you ask?”
“Because I have this gut feeling that William isn’t who I thought he was. Was it him?”
I shrug. “I can’t say for sure, but Paul did mention something about the legal team.”
“That motherfucker,” she mutters so quietly that I almost miss it.
“What?” I ask.
“He’s been working with the enemy all along.”
“I don’t know that I’d say that, exactly. It might not have even been him. I don’t know who Paul’s been working with.”
“Why are you defending him?”
“I’m not, I just don’t want you to jump to conclusions.”
“Why do you care?”
Isn’t that the goddamn question of the hour. “I don’t know,” I admit honestly. “I guess because I care about you. I don’t want you getting hurt.”
“It’s well beyond too late for that.”
“What did he do?” I ask through gritted teeth. I want to fucking murder this guy and I don’t even know why. These feelings are so damn strong and puzzling.
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Talk to him before you assume the worst.”
I still don’t get why, exactly, I’m sticking up for William. I should be pumping my fist in the air in victory. Instead, I’m acting like a fucking chump.
“You’re right. You know something? You’re kind of a good guy.”
“I don’t know if I’d go that far, cupcake.”
“Why do you have to ruin these nice moments between us?”
I grin, and her cheeks flush again.
“Go to dinner with me tomorrow—not a business dinner.”
“I can’t. I’ve got the Lindor-Hodge Ball. Oh, and I’ve got a boyfriend.”
I have no idea what she’s talking about, but I make a mental note of the names. I’ll figure out the details later, but now that I know where she’ll be tomorrow night, I’ll sure as hell be there, too.
