by Misti Murphy
Not feeling at all like a tiger or any sort of vicious, goal-driven beast, I head down the hall to my office, where I touch up my lipstick and grab my leather-enclosed notebook, and then I take the elevator down to the lobby.
The main boardroom is overkill for a meeting between only two people, but James made his choice deliberately, I’m sure. It’s a large, cherry-wood panelled room with a long, glass table surrounded by twenty-eight luxury leather desk chairs, and the latest in top-of-the-line presentation equipment. Depending on the nature of the business, there are hidden panels that will reveal a fully stocked bar or an espresso machine. One time, James had a popcorn maker brought in and popped the popcorn ahead of time so that the room smelled enticingly like a movie theater, which was precisely the type of real estate he was attempting to sell that day.
I nod at Phil the security guard as I exit the elevator and round the corner, heading toward the room at the end of the hall. As I stalk past the public restrooms, a man steps out and I come to a stuttering halt.
“Paynt.”
He grins while he straightens the glasses that do not at all detract from his gorgeous, glassy blue eyes. “Hey, Chloe. I was hoping I’d see you while I’m here.”
“What are you doing here?” I glance around, checking to ensure no one is around, even though we aren’t doing anything that would make our relationship status obvious. Or non-relationship status. Whatever. I don’t want anyone in this building to be aware I have slept with this man and desperately want to again.
“James has been bugging me to take a look at one of his programs, see if I can come up with something more efficient.”
I grab his arm, which, for once, is not covered with a wrinkled flannel shirt but instead a basic, black, men’s walking coat, open to reveal a striped button-down shirt that’s actually tucked into his slacks. He’s discovered how to use an iron; he looks dapper and practically edible.
“Remember, you promised not to tell him about us,” I say.
“Him? Who? What?”
That ridiculous Who’s on First Abbot and Costello skit pops into my head.
“James,” I say through clenched teeth. “About us. You said you wouldn’t tell him.”
“I did?” I hate the way his brow scrunched together and there’s a frown on his lips, like he has no idea what I’m talking about.
“Yes.”
“When?”
I don’t just roll my eyes, I lift my face to the heavens, seeking … something. Anything to get me through this conversation. If he told his brother we’re sleeping together…
“We were out on your deck. Er, you know, making out. Spot was there.”
“If we were making out, I’m pretty sure the only words I heard were you telling me to go faster or harder, Chloe. I sure as hell don’t remember having a conversation about my brother. In fact, that sounds like a boner killer to me.”
I clutch his coat sleeve. “You responded. You said uh-huh.”
“Yeah, in my head you probably said, Let’s get naked. Seriously, I don’t recall talking about James, except for that day you got pissed at me when you found out he was my brother.”
Does that mean he told him? Shit. Before I can open my mouth to ask the question, his phone blares “Like a Virgin” by Madonna. He chuckles as he silences it and reads the text that popped onto the screen.
“James,” he explains. “He hates that ringtone.”
“I can’t imagine why.”
“I gotta get upstairs.”
“Please don’t tell him.”
A dark cloud passes over his face and I almost recoil at how angry he looks, but then he shakes his head and says, “Unless you work in IT, I doubt your name will come up.”
“Thank you.” I try really hard not to let him see how relieved I am, as I point at the closed door to the boardroom. “I have an appointment, too. I’ll see you later.”
He strides away, and I watch, mesmerized, until he rounds the corner and disappears from my sight. I hear Phil call out to him by name, but then again, Paynter’s probably been here numerous times before if his brother owns the place. I’d say it’s amazing I’ve never run into him, but it’s really not. I’m always heads down when I’m here, always working. I don’t even socialize at the water cooler, and I never sit in the break room to eat lunch.
Yet more proof I am the woman I thought I wanted to be. The one I’m not sure I like anymore. Shaking my head, I reach for the door to the boardroom, twist the knob, and step inside.
“Chloe. What a pleasant surprise.”
I pause in the act of closing the door to stare at my worst nightmare, haloed by a brief flash of sunlight streaming in through the window, before a bank of clouds drowns everything in shadows. I can clearly see the blond hair, slightly wavy, perfectly groomed, coated with enough gel to keep the strands in place in anything less than a category four hurricane. Brown eyes, framed by lashes a few shades darker than his hair. They used to remind me of dark chocolate.
His face is probably as smooth as a baby’s butt and has an olive tone that hasn’t faded with summer. His navy suit is as impeccable as James’s and no doubt equally as expensive. Hell, they probably use the same tailor. He extends his hand as he walks toward me, and I see the flash of an overlarge gold ring, encrusted with a shining ruby. He won some contest when he was in college and the ring was the prize. It sparkles as if it’s new, even though he’s been out of college as long as I have.
“I didn’t realize you’d landed here.” My ex-boyfriend, Marcus, the snake who stole my promotion, glances around at the elegant, formal boardroom. I recognize that sharp look in his eye. He wants something, but I have no idea what it is. “This is the number one company in our industry.”
“I’m fully aware of that statistic.”
“Of course you would be. I suppose what I meant was, I didn’t expect to be meeting with you today. I requested a meet with one of the partners.”
“And here I am.” I spread my arms and give him my best fake smile, and I hope James backs me up if he and Marcus ever come face to face. Hell, maybe I will be partner before that ever happens.
His dark blond brows shoot up his forehead. Surprise isn’t a good look on him. “Partner? Already? Really? Have you even been here a year?”
“Yes, well, when there aren’t asshole boyfriends around to steal my promotions, I somehow manage to achieve them.”
“Ouch,” he says, slapping a hand against his chest as if I’ve shot him. If only.
“What do you want, Marcus? I have real meetings to prepare for.”
“You are as cold-blooded as I remember, aren’t you?”
“Colder,” I assure him, despite my earlier self-revelation. But he doesn’t need to know that I might be going soft. After all, maybe I’m not. Maybe this visit is all I needed to remind me of what’s important in my life. My plan. My goals. My career.
He gives my boots a disdainful look. “Your taste in footwear has certainly changed in the short time since we parted ways.”
I want to punch him. Only the fact that I am aware there are security cameras hidden in this room keeps me from doing so. Marcus is the type who would sue for something like that, and he’d hire lawyers who would demand to see the footage of our interaction.
Damn it.
“You could say my perspective has changed.” Quite recently, as a matter of fact. “So are we done here? Did you just want to see for yourself that I managed to achieve what you stole from me last year?”
“Slow down. I didn’t steal anything. I earned that promotion fair and square.”
The laugh that bursts from me echoes and bounces off the walls. When it ends on a snort, I slap my hand over my mouth and snicker. Marcus, on the other hand, purses his lips and crosses his arms over his chest while he waits for me to pull myself under control.
“Sorry,” I say. “That was possibly the best joke you’ve ever told in your life.”
“You really have changed, haven’t you
?”
Sobering, I nod. “Actually, yes. Trust me, you wouldn’t like the person I may be morphing into. Which is a good thing, actually. Means I’m doing it right. Now why don’t I show you the door?”
“I’m not done with you yet.”
I pause in the act of turning toward the door. “I’m done with you. Have been. For roughly a year, as a matter of fact.”
“Is it weird that this is turning me on?”
“Yes. Now get out.”
“Not quite yet. I have news. Must be why the owner sent you to speak to me. He wanted you to know first.”
Suspicion blooms in my mind. No, it doesn’t bloom; it explodes. Like that giant mushroom cloud over Japan when the United States exacted revenge for the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
“I’m coming to work here, Chloe. We’re going to be business associates again. Isn’t that great?”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
PAYNTER
I take the elevator to my brother’s floor and stride past his assistant. “Morning, Myra.”
“Good morning, Paynter,” Myra singsongs from her desk outside James’s office. She’s been an amiable face since James founded his company, even when his offices were half the size of the building they currently inhabit, but she glances icily at his door as she shoos me through. “He’s expecting you.”
“Thanks.” Hurrying past her, I step inside James’s domain and automatically drift toward the coffeemaker. There’s already a cup perched on a coaster on his desk where he’s clicking the button on his mouse, a grim twist to his lips. Fixing a cup of joe in a mug beside the machine, I take it with me and drop into one of the chairs on the opposite side of his desk. “One of those mornings, huh?”
“What?” James lifts his head, giving me his partial attention, though his gaze strews to the computer screen. “Oh, not really, no more than usual.”
“But something’s up.” I sip the dark brew.
“There’s a meeting going on downstairs.” He pushes away from his computer and gives me his full attention. “But that’s not what you’re here for.”
“No,” I agree. Although my mind is currently in the same boardroom as his. “I’ll run the updates this morning and make sure there aren’t any glitches in the system. Once it’s looking good, you’ll just have to let me know if you need it tweaked at all.”
“Right. I’ll let you get on with it.” His attention is drawn back to the screen and he leans forward.
“What on earth are you watching over there? Porn?” I’m half-tempted to circle his desk and take a peek.
“Of course not.” He flicks a quick glare my way then drums his fingers on the edge of his desk. “What do you know about security systems and audio?”
“That’s not really my wheelhouse.” I go to set my cup down then realize I don’t have a coaster and don’t want to be harangued for it. “Some, maybe. Enough. Why?”
“We’ve been having some difficulty with the audio from downstairs. I’d wait for the security firm to deal with it, but they’re not available until mid-week.”
“And you want it now?” Chloe is downstairs in a meeting right now. Is that who he wants to spy on? Is he worried her performance is slipping because of me? He’s the one who thought I’d be good for her. “Tell me you aren’t snooping on that conference downstairs. I never thought you’d turn into that boss. We both know Chloe is dedicated to you.”
A little too much.
“Can you fix it or not?” He huffs.
“It won’t be a problem with the program because it was working before. Someone probably just fooled around with something they shouldn’t. And as long as it hasn’t been manually turned off downstairs, it should be an easy fix.” Circling the desk, I reach over his shoulder to click through to the security program. I may have to retrace his steps if he’s fiddled with the program. My brother is brilliant in his field but almost mind-bendingly lacking in any kind of tech skills. “Have you tried anything to fix it?”
“If you’re about to tell me to turn it off and then on again…” he grumbles in warning.
“I would never.” I click my tongue to avoid snickering. If he hasn’t learned yet, he certainly isn’t going to. Scanning the pages as I bring them up, I click through to the advanced controls section.
The guy in the room with Chloe is a slick piece of work. Facing her in his expensive tailored suit and gelled hair, he exposes a row of perfectly white teeth. My hackles rise as he smoothly shifts into her personal space. James threw her in to swim with a shark. Though clearly it doesn’t faze her if the way she converses with him is anything to go by. Actually, she looks to be in her element.
“She can handle herself,” James says, eerily reading my mind. “I’m more interested in why one of our competitors would request a meeting.”
One push of a button later and audio bursts through the speakers of his computer.
“Clearly, you’re mistaken. Now should I ask security to escort you out of the building, or can you find your own way out?”
“That’s all you have to say?” The guy adjusts the knot in his tie. “I thought—”
“I really do have to cut this meeting short.” Chloe strides to the door and holds it open for him. “Next time you want to waste our company’s valuable time, don’t.”
When he gets to her side, he hesitates, reaching out to touch her elbow in an overly friendly manner. “Chloe, do you think we could forget about this meeting? I’d prefer if we could keep it between us.”
And then she gives him this withering look, glancing at his hand and up to his face. “It’s Ms. Green to you, and trust me, this conference has been recorded. Now if you don’t mind...”
My face mirrors his as he cringes. This is why James said she could handle herself, but damn she’s ruthless.
Then he’s no longer in the visual, and a few short seconds later neither is Chloe. James turns off the audio and rises to his feet. “Join me for golf on Saturday? We’ll have lunch at the club.”
“Sure.” I want to tell him that I’d rather spend naked Saturday with Chloe, but I’m not sure she’ll be willing to go for that after I confess James has known about us for a while. And with the frosty display we just witnessed, I’m not thrilled at the idea of her turning that same cold attitude toward me. Though he was a competitor and I’m not, so I’m uncertain of why I get this nervous feeling about my next conversation with her.
“I have a lunch meeting at eleven-thirty,” he says, coming around his desk and ushering me toward the open door to his office. “And I should probably speak to Chloe before I leave. Text me if you need. Otherwise I’ll see you Saturday.”
“James, did you really consider hiring Marcus Newal?” Chloe rushes past Myra, not taking a breath between words. “The man has no ethics, no morals. He’s a thief and a liar. I’ve worked with him before so I know he’s not the kind of person you would want to represent you.” She halts abruptly as she comes close enough to notice me. “Oh, you have company.”
Company? Seriously?
James gives us both a confused look. “Chloe, you know my brother, Paynter.”
Of course she does. Intimately, some might say.
“Oh yes, actually, we’re neighbors, aren’t we?” She smiles overly brightly, while her gaze doesn’t quite meet mine before going back to James.
“Neighbors?” Well it isn’t a lie exactly. Her trying to hide the truth might be funny if it weren’t for the fact that she’d rather deny having any kind of relationship with me than drop her heavy hitting corporate act for one second. “Is that all?”
“We’re acquainted.”
“Oh, come on, is this some strange foreplay between the two of you?” James asks. “Why are you acting like you don’t know him?”
“I asked you not to tell your brother,” Chloe exclaims.
I hold my hands up in surrender as she glares at me. “He already knew. I was going to tell you the next time we had a chance to talk.”
“So yo
u told him, but you didn’t think it was pertinent information to tell me? Your brother’s my boss, and my career is in his hands.”
“Look, Chloe, it’s not that cut-and-dried,” James offers. “You’ve met Garrett and his big mouth.”
“Garrett filled him in after that night you came over when we were drunk.” I duck between James and the door to get to Chloe.
“But James didn’t know who I was.” Holding her ground, she touches her hair. “You lied to me. You knew he already knew and you told me you would keep it our secret. I’m sleeping with my boss’s brother. In what office is that a good idea?”
“I shouldn’t have gotten distracted and told you I wouldn’t tell him. I’m sorry for that.” I try to take her hand, but she pushes it away.
“It’s really not an issue,” James says. “If that’s your main concern then I have to tell you, you’ve been on the short list for promotion for a while now.”
“A promotion that’s well deserved after that display we just witnessed,” I agree sarcastically. She certainly deserves her spot at the top of the corporate shark tank.
James groans.
Chloe ignores him. “What display? I came from the conference room. Where there are security cameras.” Cluing in, she raises an eyebrow at James. “You were watching?”
“Paynter was taking a look at a bug in the program,” James admits.
She taps the toe of her boot on the carpet as she stares me down. “So on top of telling your brother all about us, you just decided it would be a good idea to watch me in action while I dealt with our competitor?”
“Yes, but it’s not like I wanted to watch you rip shreds off that guy. James wanted me to check the audio because it wasn’t coming through with the picture. And why the hell am I explaining myself like I’ve done something wrong? I know you didn’t want James to know, and no doubt you would have preferred to have control over how he found out, but it’s not that big a deal.”
“Yes, it is. There’s an unwritten rule when it comes to dating colleagues and members of the boss’s family. I learned my lesson the last time, when my career plan was completely derailed. That guy who was here earlier? The competition? Yeah, I dated him. And he stole my promotion. I had to start from the bottom again, and I’m not going to jeopardize my career again. Not for—” Her eyes widen as she stumbles over the last couple of words.