Page 93 of My Office Rival

My throat started to close, panic clawing at me. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. What if they find out?”

He leaned forward, forearms on the table, eyes fixed on mine. “Jason. Man. Be real. You told me these people are hillbillies. They make meth in their basement, for fuck’s sake. You think they have some sort of advanced technology? Resources? No fucking way.” He shook his head. “We’ll have our private security investigate them. They’ll never know, okay?”

“Okay.” I sipped the liquor more slowly this time. “Okay.”

My life is so fucked.And no place for a woman. No place forher. She wouldn’t stay and I wouldn’t leave. I signaled for another drink.

57

CYNTHIA

Oh no. No, no, no. I read the email again.

To: Kade, Cynthia

From: Reed, Gerald

Subject: Meeting today

The Covingly team will be coming in person today. Conference room 2A at 11:30.

Even after giving my two weeks’notice, I still needed to finish out the matter with Argan. My stomach dipped and rolled. I thought I’d only have to see Jason over video, which would have been bad enough. He’d always looked so cold and starched over the years, but now I knew what lay beneath that perfectly pressed exterior. His tight control was near complete.But not with you. Or at least it hadn’t been. Would he show even a flicker of recognition? Or would his personality be hidden beneath that mask?

I dug my nails into my palm for a moment.Relax.You’ll be fine. You’ve slain dragons before. Jason wasn’t the first asshole male lawyer I’d gone up against, and he wouldn’t be the last. In fact, it would be good practice for all those Texas good ol’ boys. I had only ten more days working for TJR, but next week I would be off to find an apartment, or maybe an entire house, and move on with my life.Focus on that. Even though sometimes the thought of leaving New York made me feel sick, the thought of never seeing Jason again made want to scream.

By the time 11:30 rolled around, my palms sweated and my heart raced like I was coming down with something. Or like I was about to meet my mortal enemy on the field of battle.Not too far from the truth.

Security notified us that our guests were in the conference room, and I checked my hair one last time. I was flushed, a little sweaty, and wearing my third least favorite suit. The perfect day to run in to my formerwhatever he was.

When I pushed open the door to the conference room, I couldn’t help sucking in a breath. He was facing the door, jaw set, eyes hard. He lookedthroughme and I wanted to run from the room. Instead, I threw my shoulders back and greeted Mitchell and Nisha, the partners from his firm, and then gave him a cool nod. He dipped his head the barest amount in return. Had I wondered whether he would be cold to me? I shouldn’t have, should have prepared myself for the throb in my chest when he ignored me. I wanted to howl with pain. I settled for clenching my fist around my notebook.

Jason’s firm had already filed a report with the government. All that was left to do was clean up the pieces. Argan had pulled out of the deal and was grateful to us for saving them from a criminal investigation down the line. Gerald hashed out the details with Nisha, with the occasional comment from Mitchell, and I stared at Jason when I thought he wasn’t looking. I hated how drawn to him I was. His suit was dove gray today, and it made his eyes even sharper than usual. The bluish tint under his eyes was strong, and his stubble slightly too long, like he had forgotten to shave this morning. Those were the only signs of something amiss. He leaned back in his chair, looking lean and powerful and totally unbothered by my presence. He didn’tso much as flick his eyes my way while I perused him.Look at me. My eyes drilled into his perfect face.React to me. Nothing. My eyes burned.

I finally turned away and listened to what the partners were saying, even though my throat was tight and tears threatened to fall. Cooperation, blah blah, some grandstanding by Gerald, and then Gerald saying, “Well, Jason and Cynthia can take it from here.”

I started. Surely they would stay? Oh no, Mitchell and Nisha were getting up, shaking our hands, saying goodbye. And then it was just Jason and me across the conference table.

58

JASON

The door thumped shut, and I finally turned to look at Cynthia. The little glances out of the corners of my eyes hadn’t been enough. She was radiant, but a little less put together than usual, and I loved it. Her hair was wild, unbound, and her cheeks were pink.That just-fucked look really works for her.

Sitting across the table from her, pretending that I didn’t know what she looked like naked, had been torment. But now, I met her eyes and her expression shifted to outright distaste.This is so much worse.Had I thought we were going to have a heartfelt reunion in this conference room?Idiot.

She opened her mouth, and I tensed.

“How are you, Jason?” Her throaty voice rolled over me, and it was everything I could do to not close my eyes in pleasure. Mild words when I thought she might want to throw things at my head.

“Good, I’m good,” I responded inanely. I stared at her for a beat. Plush lips, wild curls, flashing eyes.Everything I want. “So, shall we get to it?” Anything to avoid this crushing need.

“Sure, let’s talk business,” she responded acidly, before folding her hands on the table.

I fumbled for words. “So, if I go through my checklist, did yousend a preservation notice to the client and the firm?”Do you miss me? Do you crave me the way I crave you?

“Yes, I sent one on the day we flew out from Booth.”

The day she’d left me. The day before I’d had woken to my empty bed and shouted my frustration to the rafters. I clenched my hand under the table.

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