ForePlay: A Checkmate Inc. Novel Book 1 (The Checkmate Inc. Series)

by Shelly Alexander

  I rub my eyes. “That was damn smart, Gerard. Good work.”

  This time when he sighs, I can hear the smile in it.

  Dex leans toward the phone. “We’ll be in touch with how we’re going to handle this.”

  Leticia presses the button to end the call.

  “Leticia, can you give us a minute?” Oz says.

  This won’t be pretty. No one ever asks Leticia to leave the room. She’s fully briefed on everything at Checkmate. Honestly, sometimes I think she knows more about the company than me, Dex, or Oz.

  “Sure,” she says and squeezes my arm as she passes behind me to leave. “Let me know if you need anything.”

  Dex and Oz both stare at me, waiting. At least they’re giving me an opportunity to speak.

  “I know how this looks. You have every right to be angry. I’m wrong.” Except I don’t really have many regrets. I’m falling in love with Chloe. She’s more important to me than this company. I just feel bad that I’ve let down two guys who trusted me with their lives up until today. “Don’t hold this against Chloe. I think she’s proven she’s capable of doing a great job. We just need to take this to the other partner, Zach Simmons, and get this all sorted out.”

  The more I talk, the more horrified Dex and Oz’s expressions become.

  “Are you crazy?” Oz says. “Zach Simmons might be in on it. Hell, your girlfriend might be in on it for all we know.”

  Blood thunders through my veins at Oz’s accusation. She may not want me anymore. She might think sleeping with me was a mistake. But I know beyond a shadow of a doubt she isn’t in on this.

  “We heard what she said,” Dex says, and I swear there’s sympathy in his voice. “It was pretty obvious from her reaction that she’s slept with him. It’s kind of suspicious that now she’s sleeping with you.”

  “What possible reason would she and her firm have to conspire against Checkmate?”

  Oz stands. “I don’t know. People do crazy shit. Sometimes for money, sometimes for revenge, sometimes for jealousy. Sometimes for no reason at all.” His voice is low and simmering. “That’s why we never ever let anyone behind the curtain. Chloe may not have anything at all to do with this, but the best way to neutralize the threat is to let her go.”

  “Okay, let’s calm down.” Dex stands up too. His voice is cool and composed, the mediator. “I guess what Oz and I need to know, Leo, is why did you do it? Why did you take her to the studio without our consent? And when you started sleeping with her, why didn’t you tell us, so we could find another PR firm? This is New York City, for God’s sake. It’s not like public relations firms are in short supply.” His expression turns brotherly. “This company was your baby before it was ours. How could you jeopardize it this way when we were already catching hell in the press?”

  I exhale sharply and heavily. “I don’t know,” I say, even though that’s total bullshit. I just can’t give them the real reason. The way my two buddies are looking at me says they’d absolutely put me in a straightjacket and deliver me to Sing-Sing.

  Worse yet, they’d think I betrayed their friendship for love.

  “You may not be certain of Chloe’s innocence, but I am. If I can bring you proof that she’s not involved, will you let her continue to work as our PR rep independently from Simmons & Richards?” No idea how I’m going to do this, but I’ll move heaven and earth trying because it might restore her credibility when searching for another job.

  “There’s still the issue of you two being involved. If her boss went to the lengths to film that video, then he’ll surely go public with your relationship with Chloe.” Dex sighs heavily. “Best-case scenario, a boss/subordinate relationship can make us look guilty of the things we’re being accused of. At worst, it opens us up to sexual harassment accusations.”

  I draw in a sharp breath to work up the nerve for the bomb I’m about to drop square on my partners’ shoulders. “Not if I resign as CEO of Checkmate Inc. If I’m gone, both of those possibilities go away.”

  “You’d do that?” Oz is shocked. “You’d leave the company you started and built from scratch? The company you believed in far more than we did in the beginning? You’d leave us?”

  I give my two buddies an honest look that bares my soul to them, and nod. “I would. I might’ve been the brainchild behind Checkmate, but we built it together. It’s yours just as much as it is mine. I love this company enough… I love you guys enough… and I care enough about Chloe that I’d gladly walk away if it’s the right thing to do.”

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  When I try to find Chloe to tell her she’s more important to me than anything else, she’s gone. Her team is boxing up their things and filing out with drooping shoulders like they’ve just lost a big game.

  I go to my office and try to call her. It goes to voicemail. I try to text. There’s no response.

  Shit.

  I need to figure out my next move so I can prove Chloe’s innocence. I stand in front of my desk and turn to look out the window, my hands in my pockets, but let my eyes close to block out the world. I’m suddenly so very tired. I’ve lost everything that matters to me—the girl I care about so very much, the trust and respect of my best friends, possibly my sister’s respect, my company’s security, and probably my position as CEO. But none of that matters to me as much as Chloe losing everything in the process too. All I had to do was keep it in my pants until this PR nightmare subsided. Chloe could’ve done a kick-ass job, she could’ve left her firm with a big win on her résumé, Dex and Oz would still trust me, and then I could’ve dated her. Or tried to.

  But she only wanted me during the PR campaign so she could learn more about Checkmate. She asked for one week with me. I agreed, but it wasn’t enough time for me so I crossed lines I shouldn’t have crossed.

  My selfishness to get between her legs egged her douchebag boss on even more. She warned me right from the beginning that Adam was itching for an excuse to fire her. When Adam sensed there was something going on between Chloe and me, his jealousy was about as subtle as a blinking neon sign.

  I couldn’t play it safe. The pull between us was too magnetic. I had to roll the dice, take a chance.

  And I lost. Lost big, and both of us are going to pay a hefty price. Unless I can figure out a way to fix this—if not for me, then for Chloe.

  “Hey.” Ava’s voice comes from the doorway. She closes my office door and takes a seat in front of me. “I was in the neighborhood and thought I’d stop in. How’s it going?” Her tone is affectionate. Compassionate.

  I narrow my eyes at her.

  She rolls her eyes back at me. “Oh, all right. I spoke to Dex.” For a moment Ava studies her nails like she always does when she’s guilty. “He told me what’s going on. But I really was in the neighborhood. Right down the street, actually. That’s how I got here so fast.”

  I realize she probably feels responsible for Chloe. I’ve messed up her friend’s life, and Ava’s the one that introduced Chloe and me.

  “I’m sorry,” I say, and lean against my desk, crossing my legs at the ankles. “You must be pissed at me.”

  Ava’s forehead wrinkles. “Why would I be pissed?”

  “Uh, well… I got involved with your friend. It’s causing her a lot of trouble, and you really just brought her around to help me. This could also blow back onto 5 Muse Designs. Adam is such a prick, he might drop you as his web designer.”

  Ava snorts. “You men are so dense.”

  She said men, as in not just me, and I wonder where she’s drawing this personal observation from.

  “First, Simmons & Richards signed a contract with 5 Muse. If they want out of it, I say good riddance after what Adam has done. Second, I brought Chloe around because I thought you two would be the perfect match,” Ava says.

  What? Wait… oh.

  “You wanted me to get together with Chloe?”

  This time she sighs while rolling her eyes so far back into her head the irises disappear
for a second. “Of course, stupid. She reminds me so much of Mom, and you’re so much like Dad. I figured you two would hit it off. And I was right, wasn’t I?”

  Not even. “Seeing as how I’ve just ruined my and Chloe’s careers, then no, I think you should’ve hooked her up with someone else. She could do much better than me.” I let my head fall forward to stare at the floor and wish I could close my eyes and sleep for a month. Then wake up and find that this was all a bad dream.

  “That doesn’t mean you can’t be together,” Ava says.

  I shake my head. “She gave me the brush-off right before all hell broke loose this morning. That makes it kind of hard to be together.”

  “What did she say?” My little sister doesn’t seem to mind rubbing salt in my gaping wound by asking me to reiterate the entire ugly mess.

  I give her the deets, because I’m in the mood to inflict more pain on my stupid self too. When I’m done explaining, I get another exasperated sigh the size of the Empire State Building and an eye roll just as big.

  “Okay, enough with the sighing and eye-rolling.” I can’t help it, even though we sound like bickering siblings. “What are you getting at?”

  “Let’s see.” Ava taps her chin to punctuate how obtuse she thinks I am. “Chloe gave you tickets you’d all but sell your soul for as a gift and doesn’t insist that you bring her, doesn’t put any demands on you at all because it’s a gift,” Ava says, and it’s not a question. “She states, unequivocally I might add, that she regrets getting involved with Adam Richards. She is totally upfront and honest about recognizing her boss in the video and that he’s a vindictive asshole. And to top all of that off, she takes full responsibility so your partners won’t come down on you.” Ava shakes her head. “Wow, Leo. All you gleaned from that is ‘piss off’? We should retest your IQ. I think there was a mistake when you were tested the first time.”

  I frown at my little sister, speechless. Finally I muster the most intelligent comeback. “What do you mean?”

  “Ughhhh.” Ava throws her head back and covers her face with both hands. Then she pushes herself out of the chair and stands in front of me. “She probably feels like a failure, Leo. Checkmate’s bad press is even worse than when she started working for you, and she thinks it’s her fault. She’s likely getting fired as we speak, and now you’re at odds with your partners.”

  I really must have a lower IQ than I’ve always been told, because I fail to see how any of this is Chloe’s fault. “I don’t blame her for any of this. It was my doing, my responsibility. I knew I was playing with fire, and I did it anyway.”

  “Because it’s obvious how much you care about her.” Ava’s voice has gone soft and filled with something akin to empathy.

  I do care about Chloe. So much.

  “Love hurts when you’re not sure if the other person feels the same about you,” my little sister says with a voice of experience. She picks up the phone and hands it to me. “So find out if she feels the same.”

  “I tried. She won’t answer my calls.” I rest my forehead against my palm.

  Ava draws in another long breath and I hear a matching eye roll coming on.

  “Don’t.” I hold up a hand to stop her, then I straighten. I take the phone and place it in the cradle. “I’m going to find Chloe. She may not want to take my calls, but if we’re face to face I think she’ll hear me out.”

  Ava slugs my shoulder. “Atta boy.”

  “I’m going to fix this,” I say.

  “What’s your game plan?” Ava asks.

  “No idea.” I try to laugh but it rings hollow. “But I’ll figure something out. I haven’t lost the game yet. When did you get so wise?” I ask her, pulling her in for a bear hug.

  She hugs me back. “I had a good example to learn from. He’s kind of thick-headed sometimes, but he has a really good heart.”

  “Yeah? Sounds like an all-right guy.” I kiss the top of my sister’s head.

  “He’s okay. I guess I’ll keep him.”

  I pull away and walk to the door with fast, long strides. “You can see yourself out?”

  Ava gives me another pissy eye roll. “I’m not sixteen anymore, Leo. Get out.” She shoos me with both hands.

  “Call for my driver,” I say to Leticia as I hurry past her desk. Then I don’t just walk to get to Chloe. I break into a run.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  When the elevator takes too long, I run for the stairwell and take the steps two at a time all the way down. I’m desperate to find Chloe. Desperate to set things right. Desperate to tell her how much I care about her.

  I guess I’m kind of pathetically desperate over Chloe, period. Then again, my parents were that way over each other, so I don’t give a damn if I’m pathetic.

  When I finally burst through the door on the ground level, I skid to a halt. Breathless, I scan the grand rotunda that I helped design. I love this building and everything it represents. It’s filled a void in my life ever since I lost my parents. Until now. I care about Chloe more than any of this.

  I pull my phone from my pocket and call Chloe’s office directly, because I figure she’s still dodging my calls to her cell.

  “Simmons and Richards.” A smooth-sounding receptionist answers.

  “I’m looking for Chloe Evers,” I say, and turn to the street exit to see what’s happening for myself.

  The receptionist hesitates. “I’m sorry. Miss Evers isn’t in, and we don’t know when she’ll be back.”

  Shit. Has she already been fired? Probably. I stop at the front glass doors of the building, where dozens of protestors have gathered. Some hold signs with the giant penis and balls circled with a line drawn through them. That piece of artwork spray painted on the wall during the launch last week has become the symbol for the Anti-Checkmate movement. “This is Leo Foxx. Put Zach Simmons on.” I harden my voice to lethal levels. “Now.”

  “Mr. Foxx,” Zach says when he picks up the call. Tension thickens his voice. “I was just about to call you. I apologize, but I’m not exactly sure what’s going on with my own firm. That’s on me, but I will definitely get to the bottom of this.”

  I’m still not sure if Zach Simmons has anything to do with setting Chloe up, so I play it close to the vest and don’t give up any information. “What’s happened with Chloe?” I demand without even trying to sound polite.

  “That’s just it. We can’t find her. She hasn’t been here, she’s not at your office, and she’s not answering her cell.”

  “Has she been fired?” I ask blatantly as I make my way to the rear exit and step into the parking garage where my car is waiting. I slide into the back seat and put my hand over the phone to tell my driver to hold up until I know for sure where I want to go.

  “Mr. Foxx, I can’t speak publicly about our firm’s employees until I get more details.” Zach’s words are guarded.

  “Make an exception,” I say. I’m not in the least guarded, because I want some goddamn answers, and I want them now.

  Zach sighs heavily into the phone. “She hasn’t, but that might change once we talk to her. I haven’t seen the latest video yet, but I understand from my partner it’s pretty damaging.”

  “That video isn’t Chloe’s fault.”

  “No, it’s not.” I hear a “but” coming. “But Adam is furious at how little progress has been made on your campaign. The video will cause us to lose even more ground, and that is unacceptable. It’s our job to take positive steps forward for your company, not negative steps backwards. I’ll be perfectly honest and tell you that I’ve been on the sidelines regarding your account. That is going to change. Adam wants to take over your account himself to turn this thing around for Checkmate as quickly as possible, and I’ll be involved too.”

  My gut tells me Zach is being straight up. I have a feeling he’s not involved with setting up Chloe, but I don’t know that for sure. “There’s more to that video than meets the eye. I want your word that Chloe won’t be let go until you h
ear all sides.” Even if Zach isn’t involved, he might still take his partner’s side. I don’t care. They will definitely hear all the facts from me whether I can prove Adam is the traitor in the video or not. But first I want to see Chloe, then I’ll deal with Simmons & Richards.

  “You have my word, Mr. Foxx,” Zach says.

  The tightness in my chest releases. Not completely, but enough that I’m not quite so batshit crazy, and I can actually breathe.

  “Good. We’ll talk by the end of the day,” I say.

  “I’ll call you with an update personally.”

  “Perfect. I’d rather not talk to Adam Richards.” I’m just about to click off, but I hesitate. “And Zach, you can call me Leo.”

  “You got it, Leo. Thanks for sticking with our firm.”

  I’m only sticking with them as long as Chloe is an employee there. It’s not quite time to play that card, though. I end the call, and rub my eyes.

  Forget my earlier assessment of my mental stability. I’m still just as batshit crazy now as I was when I first called Zach Simmons. And I will continue to be until I find Chloe and speak to her face-to-face.

  I give the driver Chloe’s address. “But stop at a flower shop on the way.”

  I guess it can’t hurt to show up with her favorite flowers. I’ve got nothing else to lose.

  It takes me four flower shops to accumulate the gigantic bouquet of Casa Blanca lilies I’ve got in my hands. The last shop said they were reserved for another order, but I turned on my charm.

  When that didn’t work, I agreed to pay triple and order from them for the rest of my natural-born life.

  I also doused myself with Checkmate’s newest supercharged pheromone cologne. The one Chloe likes so much. I figure I need all the help I can get.

  Either Chloe’s not home or she’s not answering the door. I rap again, and Toby yaps from the other side.

  “Hey, buddy,” I say through the door.

  He whines like he wants to see me. Aww. I can only hope his mistress wants the same thing. I bang louder on the door and listen. Nothing seems to be stirring inside except Toby. When I’m convinced she’s not home, I lay the flowers on the floor in front of her door and leave. I’m going to go back and forth between her work and her apartment until she finally turns up. I don’t care if she doesn’t show for a week; I’m not giving up until I see her.