Page 20 of Executive Decision

I stared past him, spotting Cal around the corner. He didn’t see me. Caught between two worlds, I panicked, pulling my hands back.

It was all a dream. I tried to shake it off. But as Chandler kept talking, it festered. Cal’s eyes met mine for only a second as he passed, then he ducked out of sight. He knew Chandler was here. I couldn’t let him think I used him.

“Oof, I need to use the ladies,” I lied. “Give me a second.”

“Of course, darling,” Chandler said patiently. “Are you alright?”

“Yep. My schedule is just all over the place.”

I raced to find Cal, hoping for what, I didn’t know. I just couldn’t leave it here. It was off.

* * *

Cal

I went down to the veranda’s cafe to play gopher for the groom. I had a spring in my step thinking about seeing Daphne. I ordered coffee at the bar to be sent to the room and took my time back to the elevators. Then, I spotted Daphne. She was busy talking to a tall guy about my age. My stomach sank and I saw her hold his hands across the table. I never met Daphne’s ex before. And right about now, I wasn’t sure hewasher ex.

She looked at me, then turned away out of embarrassment. I didn’t dare stop to chat. I made a beeline for the elevators. I needed to leave before I lost all of my pride.

The elevator doors opened and I prepared to take anything—up or down—but was stopped by David himself.

“Cal! How are you? I feel like I said barely two words to you last night,” he said.

That was because I ran off before the party got started to crawl into bed with your daughter.

I scratched my head, “Yeah. Wild time.”

“Where are you headed?”

“I am the coffee guy. I had to put in orders for everyone.”

“Great. Well, I was hoping to give you good news this morning, but?—”

He looked down at his phone. “That might be it. I will find you later. Fingers crossed!”

As if suffering whiplash, I went from low to high.

David patted my shoulder. “I’m going to take this.”

He left, answering the phone. And just as I thought the universe might have a plan for me, Daphne rushed from the other side of the hall in a panic.

“I swear it’s not what you think and?—”

Panicked that any words to leave her pretty little mouth would put my prospects in danger, I pulled her onto the next open elevator and mashed the door close button.

“I cannot talk about this right now, Daphne,” I said.

“Cal, my parents flew him in. Chandler?—”

“Daphne,” I said with a stern voice, “you should go back to him. If he came all this way?—”

“It’s the same story every time, Cal.” Her voice wavered with emotion and she grabbed my arm.

I pulled away, unwilling to admit my true feelings. “You and I aren’t anything.”

“Cal, there is something there. I know it is stupid and?—”

“It is a vacation fling. It was fucking idiotic, okay? I got caught up in you. You’re beautiful and fun and?—”

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