Page 44 of Rival to the Billionaire

"Forde?" I call. She's the only other one who has the key to the room.

The silence speaks for itself, making me home in on the direction of the sounds. I can hear her walking over the threshold, her high heels clacking on the marble floor.

I lean back in the leather chair, looking up at her appearance in the doorway. She steps into the room, the column of her legs sending me straight into temporary paralysis.

"Yes?"

It's her voice that breaks me out of my uncharacteristic trance. It's ice. Cold, hard, and sharp.

I glance at the time. "It's late."

"That it is."

I look back up at her, my eyes dropping to her full lips. "I gather the rest of the cocktail hour was a success?"

She shrugs. "I don't know. I didn't go back."

"You didn't?"

"No. I took an Uber over to Carmina's hotel and we had drinks before she left for her flight to meet up with Quentin."

"Oh." I blink, feeling oddly disappointed. I frown. "You should have told me you were leaving the hotel. You shouldn't ride Ubers alone in this city."

She narrows her eyes. "Everything was fine. I'm fine."

That's the problem. She looks anything but fine.

Her straightened silky red locks are starting to frizz. Her mascara looks smudged around her hazel eyes. And though the only light in the entire hotel suite is from a small, office lamp on the desk, I can tell she's a bit more flushed than she was early today.

My eyes fall to her feet which are still in her red pumps but seem a little off balance. She catches me looking down at her feet and I quickly look up, only to catch her staring at the bulge in my pants.

I'd forgotten I'd unzipped my slacks earlier to get comfortable in the office seat. And by the way Jenny's eyes cut to mine, I'd say she noticed it as well.

"I've…been working," I say. "We need to make sure the app is ready by the presentation in two days. It can't crash or freeze. It needs to work through all scenarios."

She nods. Her eyes sweep the office desk, the couch, and then finally fall on the bed in the corner of the suite. A transparent blush colors her features. "I see. Well…I won't interrupt…"

She turns to leave, but I stop her with my voice. "Jenny."

At the sound of her name, her head jerks up.

Her eyes dart around the room and then back at me.

"It would be nice to have my team on the same page this week, right?"

"Right," she replies carefully.

"I was thinking…perhaps you and I should…talk. I’d like to run through my presentation and prepare. Thought it might be better if I reached a consensus of opinions."

She looks reluctant. But then, I can tell she's debating. I see the struggle in her expression before she finally nods.

"That sounds appropriate."

I feel a tad smug for the win. "Great. So, you'll be right back?"

She nods again. "Yes. I'm…taking a shower. It's been a long evening."

"Yes, it has," I agree, nodding. After a few moments, I look up and see her walking out of the small office area and into the master suite bathroom.

---