Page 35 of Million Dollar High

She squeezed her eyes shut again as weakness engulfed her. Whatever happened tonight, she knew she was going to fuck Noah again. For the last time, she assured herself.

But she was going to fuck him.

Hard.

“That went well, don’t you think?”

Leia gathered the papers in front of her, placed them in the crook of her arm, and glanced at Warren. “Yes. Far better than I expected, although the rep from Saks was a little too snooty for my liking. I had to bite my tongue several times not to snap his head off when he kept asking me how old I was.”

A rare smile crossed Warren’s face as he stopped before her. Impeccably dressed as always, he adjusted his silver monogrammed cufflinks. Leia tried not to read anything into the fact that he was blocking her way to the door of the conference room.

Her meeting had gone on for an hour longer than she’d anticipated. With her schedule now crammed together tighter than she wanted, she’d be lucky to get out of the office by six to make it to Noah’s place in time.

Would her lateness mean punishment? A feverish shudder of anticipation raked through her. She tightened her grip on the folder to keep her shaking under control.

“Yes, I noticed,” Warren said. “But you held your own admirably. You sent them all away with the firm impression that your intelligence far eclipses your age when it comes to business savvy. I’m proud of you, my dear.” He reached up and traced his hand down her cheek, another caress in a growing number that he’d been initiating for the last few days.

Although the backhanded compliment irritated her and the caress made her feel uneasy, she didn’t react to either. But neither did she welcome it. The suspicion that Warren felt something for her beyond their former ward–guardian relationship had grown into a solid fact she couldn’t hide from. A fact that would need addressing sooner rather than later.

Aside from the times when she couldn’t read him properly,he’d been there for her at her lowest moments and seen her through the worst time of her life.

But…

Remembering Noah’s allegations, she stared back at him, trying to see beneath the unruffled exterior Warren always presented. But it was as if she was looking into a bottomless lake at midnight. She turned her head from his cool fingers. His hand dropped, but he didn’t step away from her. Instead, he joined her as she headed for the door.

Entering the elevator, he pressed the button for the floor above, where both their offices were located. “Are you all set for Saturday?”

She frowned for a moment, and then remembered. “Yes. My gowns arrived this morning. I’m not sure I went with the right couturier though. I might have to resort to plan B.”

“I’m having a tuxedo fitting this afternoon. I can pick something up from Oscar de la Renta’s collection, if you wish?”

The thought of Warren picking out a dress for her to wear sent a heavy bolt of discomfort down her spine. Smiling to take the sting out of her words, she replied, “No need. I have my favorite designer on speed dial. I wanted to try something different this time.” She laughed. “Goes to show that different doesn’t always mean better.”

He didn’t return her smile as they exited the elevator and headed down the corridor. “Not always. But a calculated leap of faith can reap rewards.”

“Isn’t that a contradiction in terms? How can a leap of faith be calc?—”

She stopped as her secretary, Celia, emerged from her office with a flustered look. “I’m sorry, Miss Michaels. I just returned from the copier room and she was here. Reception let her up without letting me know…”

About to ask her what she was talking about, Leia looked past Celia and froze.

Ashley was poised in the doorway to Leia’s office.

Her choice of ensemble today was just as impeccable as every single time Leia had seen her. Despite the Miami heat, she managed to look cool and composed, with a Hermès scarf around her neck and her straight black hair tied in a chic bun at her nape. For a hysterical second, Leia thought how perfect Ashley and Warren were for each other.

“It’s okay, Celia. I’ll deal with this.”

Celia nodded and darted back into her office. Leia caught the wary look Warren sent the other woman before he glanced at her. “Would you like me to stay, my dear?”

Ashley’s brows rose at the endearment. Leia bristled and shook her head. She would have to talk to Warren about that. The possessiveness in those two words was beginning to grate.

“No, thanks. I’ll see you later.”

He nodded and left.

Turning, Leia brushed past Ashley and her cloud of Chanel No.19 and entered her office, very much aware that the other woman was following closely behind.

Leia reached her desk and resisted tossing her folder across it. Showing Bitch Face that she was rattled wasn’t an option. Why the hell was she here? Had Noah sent her?

---