by Lisa Suzanne
I roll my eyes. “Her name’s Sylvie Baker and she’s the VP of operations at Baker Media.”
Courtney grins, but Carter looks at me in horror. “The Baker Dad pushed you into acquiring?”
I nod and give him a sarcastic smile. “One and the same.”
“Fuck,” he mutters.
“Yeah. This girl walks into the boardroom at King, interrupts a meeting I’m in with Dad and a bunch of our top guys after we just got off a China conference call to confront me, and I can’t stop thinking about her.”
Courtney’s eyes soften and then they mist over. Her and her pregnancy hormones, I swear. “Then go get her.”
“We’re eating dinner.”
“You know what I mean,” she says. “Go get her after dinner.”
“She has a boyfriend.”
Courtney glances over at her. “That guy with all the smarm that’s got his arm around her?”
“What the fuck is smarm?”
“Like, smug and creepy and slimy all rolled into one.” Courtney takes a bite of her salad.
“Yeah. That pretty much sums it up.”
“She doesn’t want to be here with him,” Courtney says matter-of-factly. “Look at the way she’s leaning away from him.”
Everyone turns to look at Sylvie, and she runs her fingertips along her neck as if she can feel eyes on it. Her fingers on her skin pull at something deep inside of me.
“Please stop,” I beg.
Courtney shrugs. “Once we help you get the girl, we’ll stop.”
“Oh God, please tell me you aren’t going to interfere.” I look to my brother for assistance, and he just shrugs. “I’m so fucked, aren’t I?”
“That’s sort of the plan, isn’t it?” Courtney says with a sweet smile.
CHAPTER 26
SYLVIE
Normally I love these events. There’s so much giving in the air, plus it’s a chance to network, see associates and business friends I haven’t seen in a year, dance, and have a great meal.
But tonight, I’m not enjoying myself. William’s hands are all over my back or my shoulder or resting comfortably on my thigh, and I’m realizing more and more how much I don’t want to be here with him. That feeling only intensified tenfold when I saw Carson walk into the room.
I keep feeling his eyes on me as I sit through dinner, but William chose our seats and we’re facing the stage rather than the rest of the room, which is probably a good thing. If I were facing Carson and our eyes kept meeting across the room, I can’t imagine how difficult that would be with William right beside me. At least I have my parents here to provide something of a distraction.
The act is getting more and more difficult. William’s arm has been slung around my shoulder for the majority of the meal. I’m not sure how he’s eating one-handed, but it feels like he’s staking a claim on me. I suddenly wonder what he knows. Does he know Carson is here tonight? Can he somehow read the feelings I keep denying I have for another man?
I’m not sure how much longer I can deny it—or should deny it. I want to talk to Carson. Is he really in town because of business, or did he come to see me? I fear he came to see me. He had no place to do that. I told him I had a boyfriend, and still he showed up. He can’t just take what’s not his.
Even as I have that thought, I shake my head in defeat.
That’s exactly what he’s doing. He’s swooping in to take over the company that has been in my family for generations. He’s taking what’s not his in the business world, so why not swoop in and get the girl while he’s at it?
Carson manages to bring out a diverse set of emotions in me. On the one hand, I’m incredibly flattered that someone like him is showing any interest in me. On the other hand, I’m angry that he’s here, angry that he’s stealing my family’s company, angry that he stepped foot into my life.
Despite all that anger, though, something keeps stopping me from hating him, and I’m pretty sure it’s that little thing we like to call passion. It’s something I never noticed was missing from my relationship with William, but once you have it with someone else, you can easily see where it never existed.
I excuse myself to the restroom sometime between the main course and dessert, mostly because I can’t take William’s hand on me for another second.
When I enter, I head for a stall, and I hear two ladies talking loudly to each other in the two stalls beside me. I try not to eavesdrop, but one name catches my attention.
“I’ve never seen Carson like this.”
“In the two years I’ve known him, I haven’t either, and Carter said he’s never seen him like this either.”
“Axel said something similar.”
“Those King boys. Have you seen the way he’s been looking at her all night?”
“I can practically see the hearts in his eyes.”
“It’s disturbing. I keep waiting for him to pull a Carson.”
“Like run off and screw some random girl by the pool?”
“Or a waitress in the kitchen.”
“Or Lindor’s wife up on that stage.”
They both giggle, and my heart drops. He hasn’t changed his ways, and he won’t—not for me, not for any girl.
“God, I’m so tired of having to pee every thirty seconds.”
“Seriously. We should just set up camp in here for the night.”
I’m finished with my business, but I’m not sure what to do. Should I go out there and face them, or should I hang in here like a coward?
I sigh and flush before I exit my stall. They’re both still in theirs. I hear a toilet flush, and my plan is to wash my hands really fast and bolt, but I’m not fast enough.
A blonde exits one of the stalls, tugging at the back of her dress and running a hand over her obviously pregnant stomach.
She looks up and sees me standing there, and she freezes.
“Oh, shit.”
The other stall opens and Courtney exits. She looks at the blonde. “What? Did you get some on your dress?” She laughs at her own bad joke, and then she follows the blonde’s gaze over to me.
I draw in a fortifying breath.
“Sylvie!” she exclaims. She rushes toward me to give me a hug. I really wish she would go wash her hands.
“You two know each other?” the blonde says.
Courtney nods. “Remember that bachelorette party I went to in Napa? Sylvie and I were roommates.”
I give Courtney a look, as if to ask whether she’s kept my secret all this time. She smiles reassuringly, and I let out a breath.
“Um, how much of that did you hear?” the blonde asks.
“I swear I was trying not to listen,” I say.
They both head for the sink to finally wash their hands. I turn to leave and say, “Well, have a good night.”
“No! Wait,” Courtney says.
I stop and turn back toward her.
“He would kill us if he knew we were talking to you,” Courtney says.
“I’m Emme, by the way,” the blonde says.
Courtney looks nervously at Emme, and Emme nods. “Neither of us has ever seen him like this.”
“Like what, exactly?”
“He only has eyes for you,” Courtney says. “Something’s different, Sylvie. He doesn’t focus his attention on one woman. He doesn’t do relationships, but he’s hung up on you.”
I feel a little disgusted by her words, but it’s nothing compared to the ache in my stomach. “He doesn’t focus his attention on one woman?” It’s not necessarily new information, but it hurts just the same.
“Well, you know,” Courtney says, backpedaling. “He just hasn’t been in a serious relationship.”
“Is what you said true—that you keep waiting for him to screw someone by the pool?”
Courtney and Emme exchange glances again. “It was just a joke,” Emme says.
“But there’s some truth to it.”
Courtney shrugs. “The point is that he’s not doing that. He’s been st
aring at the back of your head the entire meal. He’s been pushing his food around his plate instead of eating it.”
“I ate his chicken,” Emme says proudly.
Courtney giggles then turns back to me. “He’s been distracted. This isn’t the Carson we know. This one’s got it bad, and he’s got it bad for you.”
I shrug, suddenly seeing things very clearly. I’ve been wasting time and energy going back and forth, lusting after someone who only wants me because he can’t have me. These two ladies just admitted to me that he’s a womanizer. I remember William warning me of that once upon a time, too. He didn’t want me to have dinner alone with Carson because of his reputation. I must be the ultimate challenge—the girl who doesn’t just have a boyfriend, but is also a major player in the company he’s about to acquire. He can fuck my dad by stealing his hard work and then fuck his daughter as a parting gift.
My chest hurts with this new realization. I rub at it, but it doesn’t help the ache. “I’m just a challenge for him. He’ll get over it.”
I spin on my heel and run out of the restroom. I hear them calling after me, but I don’t turn around. It’s time for me to reclaim my spot at my table next to my boyfriend.
CHAPTER 27
CARSON
“Fuck,” I mutter. I throw my napkin on the table and follow her out of the room. The only reason she could possibly be leaving in the middle of dinner is to use the restroom, and Courtney and Emme just went there, too. I should never have admitted to them how I feel about Sylvie. That was my first mistake, and now there are two pregnant ladies on the loose with knowledge that could either help me or completely fuck me over.
I stand in the hotel lobby like a chump while I wait for someone to exit the ladies’ room.
“Mr. King,” a voice booms. I look over and see Rob Baker walking toward me. Rob Baker, as in the father of Sylvie Baker. “What are you doing here tonight?” He’s genial—surprising given what’s about to go down between our companies.
“King Contributions works closely with the Lindor-Hodge Foundation. I’m glad I happened to be in town to attend.”
“My receptionist mentioned you were in town. I apologize I was in a meeting when you came by. Were you able to get your question answered?”
I nod. I hadn’t really gone there with a question. I’m just thankful he was in a meeting and Sylvie wasn’t. “I did, thanks. Your daughter was able to help.”
“She’s pretty incredible,” he says.
God, he doesn’t even know the half of it. I glance toward the bathroom. I’m still nervous about what’s going on in there. “While I’ve got you here, sir, I just want to thank you for being so amenable to this takeover. I know it’s not your preference, and I know this hasn’t been easy.”
He shakes his head. “No, it hasn’t, but I always want what’s best for the company, and it was my daughter, actually, who helped me see that Baker hasn’t been thriving the way it used to. She showed me some research she did that proved King has our best interest at heart. I’m no longer in a position to reach the kind of numbers we used to. I’ll hand that off to you. I’m not happy about it, but some things in this life are more important than work, and I can’t stop you anyway. I’ve accepted my fate.”
I nod, feeling oddly choked up, maybe because he mentioned his daughter, and she defended me to him. Maybe it’s because I know the secret—he’s not healthy enough to continue running the company, but for some strange reason, he trusts me to do it. He shouldn’t—just like his daughter shouldn’t have trusted me with his health information—but maybe the knowledge that his future is uncertain is enough to push him into trusting someone else with his family business. He has bigger issues to deal with at the moment.
“I’m learning that, too, sir,” I say.
He reaches out his hand, and I shake it firmly. I respect the hell out of this guy, and I suddenly feel like the feeling might be mutual.
He nods and excuses himself as he heads back to the ballroom, and my attention focuses once again on the ladies’ room.
This is taking much longer than it should. They’re in there, the three of them together, and I’m panicking in the lobby. What the hell are they saying to her? There’s no way they’re going to let her in and out without a word.
This can’t be good.
I finally see Sylvie appear from the hallway leading to the restrooms. Her face is flushed and she’s holding a hand to her chest, and she looks more gorgeous than I’ve ever seen her. She doesn’t notice me in the middle of the lobby because her eyes are laser focused on the doorway to the ballroom. She rushes over toward it.
“Sylvie!” I call.
She hears me and stops, and I stride across the lobby toward her. She turns to look at me, and her eyes are hard. She looks angry, but even worse, she looks hurt. Her face isn’t just flushed; her eyes are red. She still holds a hand to her chest as she gives me one long look, and then she spins on her heel and rushes into the ballroom before I have the chance to say a word to her.
I was so close to getting her. I was so close to a breakthrough, and now… My heart drops into my stomach and everything aches.
I feel a hand on my shoulder. I turn around and see Courtney and Emme.
“What the fuck did you two do?” I hiss.
They both look nervous, but it’s Courtney who speaks first. “We were just talking. We didn’t know she was there.”
“What did you say?” I glare at both of them in horror.
“Just about how you’re different.”
“Different how?” My tone hardens.
Courtney clears her throat and looks at Emme before her head swings back to me. “Um…just how you’ve never really been interested in just one woman before.”
I close my eyes and rub my forehead with my fingertips, trying to get rid of the sudden headache that’s coming on. “Tell me exactly what you said.”
Courtney’s eyes flash with guilt. “There may have been some jokes about you hooking up with a random woman or a waitress.”
“Or Lindor’s wife,” Emme says.
“And she heard?”
They both nod.
“But we told her how you’ve got it bad for her,” Courtney says, her voice filled with desperation.
“Thanks, that’s real helpful.”
Courtney looks hurt at my sarcastic tone, but not nearly as hurt as Sylvie looked as she ran toward the ballroom. I’ve got to fix this…I just have no idea how to do that. I need to find a way to talk to her. I need to clear up whatever these two meddlers just said to her, and I need to do it before she decides she’s better off without me—better off with the lawyer.
I take a deep breath and walk away from Courtney and Emme. They stand rooted to the spot, both of them looking sorry for what they did. Sorry isn’t going to cut it, though. They might’ve just cost me the one thing I want most—maybe the one thing I need most but didn’t recognize until I watched it slip right through my fingers.
I find myself out by the hotel pool. Palm trees line the tropical oasis; it’s truly an elegant resort, and the night is warm with a hint of a cool breeze. I pace back and forth in front of the pool, wondering what the fuck my next move is supposed to be. When I saw her here with the lawyer, I knew I needed to find a way to talk to her tonight, but I didn’t feel as desperate about it as I do now.
I think through my options. I could text her, but I don’t know if she has her phone with her. I could wait it out and see if she leaves the room to use the restroom again. I could send someone over with a glass of wine and a note of apology.
None of those seem like quite the right solution. So, as I pace in front of the pool, I decide what to do. I’ll just walk right up to her and tell her I need to talk to her, lawyers be damned.
Just as I make my decision to head back inside, the door opens and my brother steps out. “What are you doing out here?” he asks.
“Getting some fresh air.”
He nods toward some chairs, and
we both sit.
“Court told me what happened.”
“Yeah. Thank your meddling wife for all her hard work today. I’m pretty sure she just fucked everything up for me.”
“Don’t blame her.”
I give him a pointed look, and he shoots one right back at me.
“Did she say anything that wasn’t true?” he asks.
I roll my eyes. “Is this where you lecture me for the sins of my past?”
“The sins of your past? As in last week?”
“Fuck off, Carter.”
“No, Carson, you fuck off. Court’s right, you know. She said she’s never seen you like this, and neither have I. You actually spent time with the kids today rather than running off to meet some woman. You went to your hotel last night alone. This is a different you—a better you—and if she means that much to you, you need to tell her before it’s too late.”
“It’s not that easy.”
“You remember how hard I had to fight for Courtney, don’t you?”
I shrug and let some silence sit between us, but the truth is that I do remember. He was a changed man from the minute she stepped into his life, and he’s only grown stronger because of her. He’s turned into a father and husband because of her, and he’s whole now.
“I get it,” I say. “Okay? I understand why people love love, but that doesn’t mean it’s meant for everyone.”
“I think it’s easy to say that when you’ve never experienced it.”
“You’re the expert on everything now?”
He shakes his head. “Most days I feel like I’m the expert on nothing, but I do know that the very second I met Courtney, my life changed. It was like I was sleeping my whole life until I met her, and I suddenly snapped awake.”
I think back to expressing the exact same sentiment to Sylvie the day I met her. When you whirled into my boardroom, it was like I woke up from a lifetime of sleeping.
Is this what my parents felt when they fell in love literally the day they met?
Is this what love is really like?
I was raised believing in love at first sight, but I never believed it for myself, not really. While I appreciate what my parents have, I never believed it would happen to me. I still don’t think it’s love, but what the fuck do I know?
