by Kelsie Fann
It didn’t take Darcy long to decide. “No. We have a no-dating policy.” Just like his first one-word text, it felt like a bullet into Liz’s stomach.
“Fine,” she replied, wishing she could think of a better response.
She wanted to call him to yell at him, but he was still the president of her company, and his response was also the final nail in the coffin for anything between her and Darcy as well, not that they even had enough of a relationship to put a nail in.
Liz shoved her phone in her purse for the final time, walked out of the bathroom, and spotted Sam’s wide smile spreading across his face as he leaned on the bar. Then Liz knew exactly what a thirty-two-year-old professional woman would do in the face of rejection from her billionaire boss: keep dancing.
12.
Liz was exhausted on her flight home with Rose the next morning. She fell asleep, and by the time their plane landed in Savannah, Liz had fourteen missed calls and at least twenty emails, but none of them mattered. She knew it was time to tell Rose the truth: that Darcy didn’t budge on his no-dating policy, and James might still be interested.
“Rose,” Liz said.
Rose wasn’t listening; she was staring at the concrete runway.
“Rose.” Liz shook her friend’s shoulder.
She startled. “I’m sorry. I didn’t sleep last night.” The dark circles under Rose’s eyes made Liz rethink her decision to tell Rose the truth. What if James wasn’t interested anymore? Would she be putting Rose through more heartache for nothing?
“Did you need something?” Rose stood up to get her bag out of the overhead container.
“No,” Liz whispered.
After Liz got off the plane, she went straight to work. She was immediately bombarded with employee after employee, all having a request or question. They wanted answers too.
After what seemed like an eternity, it was finally 4:00, the line into her office had died down, and she needed a pick-me-up. She rubbed her sore legs. Who knew spinning around a dance floor could be such a workout? If only she could just rest her head on the desk; the silver metal looked so cool and so welcoming.
Her head drifted a few inches down until her forehead was just inches away from resting on her sleek desk top.
Bang! The door slammed, and the noise was so loud that Liz’s head automatically popped up. As she looked at the door, she couldn’t believe whom she was seeing. A tall, handsome man in a black suit was walking into the office, straight toward her.
Liz looked both directions; every employee she had turned to stare at the man. Before she had a chance to get a word out of her mouth, Darcy was already standing in front of her, and he didn’t look happy.
“Really?” Darcy said. “You’re dating the real estate agent?” The look on his face made it seem like Sam was a peasant, trying to get a job shining Darcy’s shoes.
Liz almost laughed. Why does Darcy think I am dating Sam? He was almost a decade younger than her. Surely Sam didn’t tell him. She looked through the glass wall. Rose looked as shocked to see Darcy as she was. Then, Liz realized who his informant must be, the only person with any reason to gossip about her: Caroline.
Before Liz could tell him that she was not dating Sam and that Sam reminded her of a baby brother she never had, he interrupted.
“Are you trying to make me jealous by dating the help?” Darcy demanded. Darcy swung his briefcase into his left hand and planted his feet in the middle of her office.
Did Darcy call Sam “the help”? Liz stood up, so he wasn’t towering over her. “The help?” Liz asked. “Are you seriously calling Sam ‘the help’? What is this, Downton Abbey?”
Darcy crossed his hands on his chest, like a father figure who’d just found out Liz snuck out of the house. Liz tried to compose herself, taking in a deep breath. She looked around, thankful no one else was in the executive office, and she took three deliberate steps toward him, close enough to smell just a hint of his cologne. Which reminded her of the day they kissed. The memory flooded back, and she could almost feel his hands on her waist.
Liz stared into his dark eyes, and her legs felt weak. She knew there was nothing between her and Sam, but she couldn’t believe Darcy cared enough to fly to Savannah to interrogate her. Pemberley Media had policy against office relationships, so why did he care about what she did on her own time?
“That’s none of your business. You can’t tell me whom I can and can’t date,” Liz whispered to him.
Darcy looked up at her. “I just can’t . . . ” he said. “Can’t stop thinking about you.” It was the most romantic thing anyone had ever said to her. Liz immediately softened and leaned against the front of her desk to steady herself.
“I think about you, too,” she whispered.
Darcy met her eyes; his anger disappeared. “I almost asked out a waitress.”
Liz smiled at him and tried to lighten the mood. “Really, Darcy? The help?”
He looked up slowly, fire again in his eyes. “Because . . . she looked like you,” he said.
A few seconds passed; neither of them said anything. Liz looked down at her desk, still feeling a little woozy. She exhaled deeply, then she heard him do the same. When Liz looked up, Darcy was standing and staring at her.
“Is this why you came here?” She couldn’t stop her voice from shaking a little.
Darcy didn’t respond. They both looked toward the door, which opened with a squeak.
Hilda, Liz’s protective office manager, walked in; the mood changed in an instant. “Everything okay?” she asked Liz, looking skeptically at Darcy.
Darcy inhaled and nodded, and he looked around the office, like he was realizing for the first time what he was doing. “Okay, I’m sorry. I’m leaving. I should never have come.”
The words crushed Liz, but she also knew it was the only option for them. “Before I go, is Georgia here?”
Liz’s heart started racing. She quickly debated telling Darcy the truth about Georgia: that his sister wasn’t in Savannah, but as she looked into his face, she knew he would be upset if he found out she’d lied to him. She didn’t want to disappoint him, so she covered for Georgia once more. “She’s out. Running an errand.”
Hilda shuffled her feet closer to Liz’s desk, and Darcy shook his head. “Tell her I said hi. I’ve got to get back to Chicago.”
Darcy walked out of her office. When he opened the building door, Savannah sunshine flooded the room but quickly disappeared.
Liz sat down at her desk, and her mind reeled. Hilda coughed, and Liz looked up. She realized everyone on the other side of the glass wall was staring.
She could feel all of their stares, and when she finally got up the courage to smile and wave at them, to communicate that everything was okay, she noticed the person closest to the door was Rose.
Rose turned around and walked down the glass hallway into the bathroom. After a few more seconds, when everyone started moving around the office again, Liz got up, pushed her chair into her desk, and followed Rose into the bathroom. It was time to tell her the truth.
“Hey.” Liz knocked on the only occupied stall.
“Hey,” Rose replied after a few seconds. “You can come in.”
Liz carefully pushed the door open. Her friend was sitting on the toilet, fully clothed, with her head resting against the side of the stall.
Rose lifted her head, and before Liz found the words to explain that Darcy had kept her from James, Rose spoke, “I just needed a minute.”
A tear ran down Rose’s face. She wiped it away quickly. “Sorry that I’m such a mess. Seeing Darcy made me think of James,” Rose said.
“Listen,” Liz pulled Rose off the toilet. “James . . . ” she trailed off.
Rose shook her head. “Please, don’t. I don’t want to hear his name. Ever again.” Rose stood up and smoothed her dress down.
“Rose.” Liz reached out as her friend walked by.
Rose didn’t stop as she walked toward the bathroom door. “Plea
se, I can’t talk about him ever again.”
Stunned, Liz slowly walked out of the bathroom. Rose was back at her desk, typing away. Liz leaned against the conference room wall, wondering what to do. On one hand, Rose deserved to know the truth that Darcy didn’t approve of her relationship. On the other, Liz wasn’t sure James had feelings for Rose anymore.
Eventually, she walked back to her desk and sat down, trying to forget about her dilemma.
At the end of the day, Hilda plopped down in front of Liz’s desk. “I heard Darcy ask about Georgia. That’s his sister, right? I’ve got all your contacts. Want me to get in touch with her for you?”
Liz groaned. She had completely forgotten about her lie to Darcy. “No, I’ll talk to her.” Liz picked up her phone as Hilda walked out of her office. “Your brother was here. He was looking for you,” she texted Georgia.
Georgia responded with one word: “Thanks.”
Liz furrowed her brow; her worry wrinkle emerged. Usually Georgia was a responsible, reliable person, but this was completely the opposite of that. “Where are you?” Liz asked.
“Still working on the surprise.”
Liz shook her head. That excuse wasn’t going to work anymore. If Georgia was in trouble, Liz needed to know. “I can’t cover for you any longer,” Liz texted Georgia.
“One week, please. Then I’ll tell you.”
Liz wasn’t waiting that long. “One day. That’s all.”
Georgia didn’t answer, but it didn’t matter. In twenty-four hours, Liz was going to find out where she was. Tomorrow. Liz tucked her phone in her purse, and she walked out of the office, wishing she would have stayed home.
13.
Darcy couldn’t get the thought of Liz dating a real estate agent in a hundred-dollar suit out of his mind.
As he wrestled with the idea, a lightbulb went off. “James,” Darcy called for his partner. After no response, he turned to write his friend an email.
Before his fingers reached the keyboard, Darcy heard footsteps walk into his office. He turned to look at the door, expecting to see James with a sloppy grin across his face, but the man standing in his office wasn’t his good-natured partner. It was Hamilton.
“Hey, old friend.” Hamilton grinned like he was meeting with a childhood friend instead of an adult enemy.
Darcy’s stomach lurched at the sight of the man who left his teenage sister’s heart in pieces. “Get out.”
Hamilton didn’t flinch; he didn’t even look toward the door. He walked slowly toward Darcy’s desk. Darcy’s fist clenched. “Do not sit.”
Hamilton ignored his command and sat down at the chair in front of his desk. Darcy wanted to knock Hamilton’s chair over and drag him from the office. That’s what he’s after, Darcy reminded himself and took a deep breath.
“Thought I’d pitch you a new company I’m starting.”
“Get out,” Darcy repeated, but Hamilton still didn’t move he took a step closer.
“C’mon, friend. Just hear me out.”
Darcy slammed his fist into his desk and leaned forward. “Let me try this again. I never want to invest in anything you’ve even thought about starting. Get out before I call security.”
Hamilton chuckled, but he walked toward the door. Before he left the office, he stopped a foot in front of Darcy. “Let me put it this way, you can invest, or . . . ”
Darcy’s heart twisted. What now? Darcy wondered, not for the first time, if he would ever truly be rid of Hamilton.
“I’m going to get full custody of Odette.”
Darcy felt his grip tighten on the door knob. He watched Hamilton look down at his white knuckles. “Why do I care what you do with your own kid?” Darcy growled.
Darcy’s tight upper lip twitched as he tried to conceal his true feelings. Which were that he couldn’t stand the thought of Hamilton taking Stella’s baby away. The thought of this manipulative man using an infant for his own gain made his skin crawl.
Hamilton leaned toward him. “Because you want to be the hero, Darcy.”
Darcy narrowed his eyes at Hamilton’s gaze. Hamilton was wrong; he didn’t want to be the hero of anything. He just wanted to do what was right. And what Hamilton was planning on doing, ripping a child away from its capable mother, was wrong.
“You have three weeks to decide,” Hamilton said as he disappeared into the hallway.
Darcy slammed the door behind him and sat down at his desk. Surely, Hamilton was bluffing. Surely. A sick thought entered Darcy’s mind. What if he wasn’t? Darcy knew he couldn’t live with himself if Hamilton got custody of his daughter.
Surely, Stella was capable. Surely, a judge wouldn’t give Hamilton custody. But he could still feel Hamilton’s blue eyes piercing into his. Hamilton was as manipulative as he was charming. Who knew what kind of case Hamilton would be able to bring against Stella? She was young, and Darcy had just fired her for stealing.
Darcy picked up the phone, ready to call someone; he just didn’t know who. A hit man maybe? Nothing would make him happier than never having to deal with Albert Hamilton again. He thought about Hamilton’s last words and put down his phone. Three weeks. He had time to figure out what to do, just not much.
14.
“I’m thinking Nashville.” Liz sat across from James, who had flown down to meet about their first expansion project. It was her biggest decision since Liz became vice president of Pemberley Media, but James didn’t seem interested. He tapped a pen on the side of the chair while looking back through the glass wall at Rose’s desk.
“I’m thinking Nashville,” Liz repeated.
James tapped his pen once more, then shot a quick glance over his shoulder at Rose, who looked extremely engrossed in whatever was on her computer screen. “Fine,” James said.
“Do you want me to run it by Darcy?” Liz ached for an excuse to talk to Darcy after his visit to Savannah.
James scribbled a note in the notebook on his lap. “He said he was good with whatever you decided.”
So that means he doesn’t want to talk to me, Liz thought.
After another quick glance over his shoulder, James looked up at Liz with a smirk on his face. “Why did you decide on Nashville? Did you like the people?”
The way James grinned told Liz that James knew she went dancing with Sam. “The town has good energy. Also, it’s closer to Chicago, and I like that too,” Liz answered his question, but she purposefully left out details about her night out with their real estate agent.
James ran his hand through his hair and pulled his notebook to his chest. “Nashville it is,” he said. “I’m confident you’ve made the right choice.”
“Thanks,” Liz said. “I’ll call Sam and get everything started.”
James shuffled in his seat, and Liz was nervous about what he was about to say. “Well . . . ”
“What?” Liz interrupted.
“Darcy wants me to handle all the real estate stuff from now on.” As James said the words, he stood up and pushed in his chair.
Liz couldn’t believe Darcy. This was too far, even for him. There wasn’t anything going on between her and Sam, and there would never be. Darcy didn’t have the right to take her off of a project, no matter what was happening in her personal life.
Liz took a deep breath and tried but failed to calm herself for a few seconds before responding to James. “That’s fine. Let me know if you need any help.”
“Anything else?” Liz asked James. Her blood pressure inched higher by the second. She was ready to be done with this meeting.
James shook his head. He turned to look at Rose again, and his smile disappeared. “How is she?”
Liz tilted her head toward the glass wall that separated her desk from Rose’s. “You should ask her.”
Liz still hadn’t told Rose that Darcy squashed their relationship. After the day in the bathroom, when she cried over James, Rose had returned to her normal, happy self, so Liz decided not to bring up the painful subject.
&nbs
p; James stared at Rose for a couple seconds. “I can’t.” He shook his head.
Liz looked down at her desk. “Well, she’s okay. She’ll be okay.” Liz tried to reassure James, but she was also trying to reassure herself that she made the right decision by not telling Rose the truth.
James glanced down at his shoes. “I guess it’s time for me to go. Just send me your top office choice, and I’ll get it to Sam.” He turned toward the door, but he quickly spun back in Liz’s direction. “Oh, is Georgia in today? Darcy wanted me to check on her.”
Liz emailed the listing to James as she inwardly cringed. She’d completely forgotten to follow up with Georgia. “Yeah, I saw her this morning. She may be out to lunch now.” Liz pretended to check her watch. “You can wait for her if you want.”
“No, that’s okay. I need to get home.”
15.
“Spill it. What are you up to?” Liz sent a text to Georgia as soon as James walked out of the office.
Instead of texting back, a few minutes later, Liz’s phone rang. It was Georgia. Liz picked up immediately. “Where are you?” Liz asked instead of saying hello.
Liz expected Georgia apologize for being so aloof. After a few seconds, Georgia spoke, “Can I get a loan?” Her voice sounded calm, nonchalant. “I’ll pay you back, with forty percent interest.”
A laugh burst from Liz’s throat. Only a rich girl would ask if she could get a loan and offer an outrageous interest rate. “You’re going to have to tell me what it’s for.”
“The surprise,” Georgia said slowly. Liz wanted to laugh again; only a rich girl would ask for a loan and not expect her lender to know what it’s for.
Liz pressed her forehead to her palm. “Georgia, do not say the word ‘surprise’ again. You don’t need money. What’s going on?”
“Darcy’s on all my accounts,” Georgia said.
Liz didn’t want to laugh anymore. Her stomach tightened. Darcy would give Georgia any amount of money with very little explanation needed. So, if Georgia was asking for a loan, she must be doing something Darcy wouldn’t approve of, something reckless.