Page 79 of When Glitter Meets Gold

My chest rises and falls, and I focus on steadying my breath as I slide my panties back in place and tug down my dress. The seat begins to return to a neutral position and I’m level with Jack again.

“An orgasm and an invitation to a ball,” I say, waiting formy breathing to return to normal as I lazily look at my watch. “All before eight thirty.”

Jack smirks, taking my hand and squeezing it. “Just colleagues, and only if you don’t feel like it’s too much pressure?—”

“Pressure?” I squeal. “This is amazing.” Then I’m leaning over the divider, inhaling his delicious scent, and letting it pull me in deeper as I hold his face between my hands so I can kiss him. I feel him grin against my lips as he begins to work his mouth against mine. “Oh my god, I have to plan my outfit. This is going to be the hardest choice.” I pull away, deep in thought as Jack attempts to pull me back to him.

I kiss him again. “Maybe…we could be colleagues to everyone else, but…” I brush my fingertips lightly over his bottom lip as I look into his eyes which are soft and inviting despite his terrifying suit appearance. “Maybe it could be a bit of a date. Like, a secret date. But we’re the only ones who know.”

He chuckles. “Okay, I can work with that.” The car comes to a stop. “I’m in meetings all day, but I can drop the official invitation tonight?”

I nod, still stroking his face. “Inviting yourself to my apartment? Very smooth.”

He smirks, sliding his hand up my leg and gripping tight when he gets to my inner thigh. “I wasn’t trying to be subtle.”

32

SARA

Walter was ecstatic about the contracts and about my invite to the Hemmingvale ball. He made sure I knew that my attendance was a networking opportunity and not afashionopportunity. I listened to his patronizing instructions about the proper way to handle myself at such events since my behavior reflected directly on the company. I let him talk with little protest, because my only aim for the day was to get through it with zero confrontation so I could focus on getting back to my apartment to not only scrub the absolute crap out of it before Jack got there, but also to work on how I planned to actually do the job Jack had signed the contracts for in the first place.

Pitching my idea to Walter was one thing, following through and delivering was another. I knew the reason Jack enlisted my help in the first place was to get to know me better, he’d been transparent about it the day he walked into the boardroom.

Regardless, it didn’t mean I wouldn’t take the wholething seriously. Especially now that all eyes were on me in the office to make sure I delivered.

Above all, I wanted to help Jack. Since he mentioned the foundation, I couldn’t stop thinking about what other good things he was doing from within his company. The fact that I was a part of those good things made me want to deliver even more.

The thing is, Jack was starting to feel…familiar. In a way I never could have imagined. It’s crazy how I once regarded him as the last person who could tease me from the hard shell I’ve hidden behind for so long.

The person I’d come to know over the last few days felt like someone you kept close, someone you go back to time and again because that’s where you find peace. I didn’t realize it until I spent the whole day looking forward to getting out of the office, but I can’t wait to have him wrapped around me again. Not to mention, he’s the most generous sexual partner I’ve ever had, how could I not be drawn in by that?

The day passed quickly, and now I’m putting the final sparkling touches on my apartment. My body is showered and moisturized, and I’m in the middle of selecting the most scandalous underwear I own.

Everything is ready for Jack’s arrival, when Amber shows up at my door instead.

She enters my apartment in her usual way; stepping out of her shoes in the middle of the hallway, tossing her coat over the top of the bathroom door, leaving it on the floor when it slides off, then striding to the fridge to see if there’s any leftover wine.

I follow her into the kitchen in my silk dressing gown. “You do realize turning up at someone’s house without texting first is the most grotesque thing a person can do.”

Amber makes a disappointed sigh when she doesn’t find any wine in the fridge. “You would’ve ignored me. I had no choice but to resort to the filthiest of tactics. Besides, you left work on time the last couple nights. What the hell is up with that?” She shrugs before eyeing me suspiciously and sniffing the air. “Wait, did you just spray perfume? And why is your makeup going out makeup and not regular house makeup?”

“I would never ignore you.” I pull the dressing gown tighter around my body. “And if you must know, it’s because I’m waiting for someone to…arrive. Which means you have to leave.” I point to the door.

She folds her arms over her chest, grinning deviously. “Precisely why I’m here. What’s going on with you and the Vandenberg dude? You guys fucking?”

I groan. Then crouch into a cupboard, and when I emerge, I do so with two very large wine glasses.

Amber claps her fingers together, smiling approvingly as I open a new bottle of wine from the rack. “Okay, spill. I want to know everything about the elusive J Vandenberg.”

Thank God for the wine.

“That’s the thing, Amber. To me, he’s not…J Vandenberg.” I pour two large glasses as I remember how Amber has no idea of the connection between the guy I met on the trails andJ Vandenberg.

“Remember Midas, when you pointed him out to me, and I had no idea who he was?” I say, taking a seat before realizing she probably has no recollection due to the half dozen shots situation.

“Vaguely.”

“Well, I didn’t know who he was because he changed his name,” I continue, but she’s staring at me like I’ve presented her with an impossible calculus equation. “Never mind. Thepoint is, he’s Jack. As in Jack from my childhood. As in swamp Jack.He’sthe one I met on the trails.”

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