Chapter Three

What. Had. She. Done?

The question had been eating at her all day, ever since she first opened her eyes this morning. Staring around her spacious office, there was no escaping the second thoughts gnawing at her. Had she really agreed to date Caleb last night? Had he really promised to help her win over Alec?

She shook her head, wincing at the memory. There were calculated risks and then there were idiotic decisions. She rather feared her choice was more of the latter.

“Maybe he was just joking,” she reasoned aloud. After all, his promised phone call hadn’t materialized yet, and it was well after lunch. Maybe Caleb had woken up this morning and realized what a mistake this all was.

She pushed away from her desk and paced over to the window that filled one wall of her office. Outside the glass lay the city, bustling away on a busy afternoon. No doubt the office buildings around theirs were also filled with employees counting down the clock, hoping to get off work in time for happy hour.

She could do the same, she mused. Call up a girlfriend or two and have a night on the town. Who knew, she might even meet someone who’d get her mind off Alec.

Not that it had happened in the last three years, but a woman could hope, right?

She sighed, thinking back to her first day in this office. Never before had she worked for such an impressive company, and she’d been worried she’d screw up some major deal right out of the gate.

Her new boss had noticed her nerves and called her into his office. She’d been sure she was about to get chewed out, but then he’d smiled.

She closed her eyes, recalling the exact way his lips had curved. He’d given her a pep talk instead of reprimand. His confidence in her had washed away the nagging voices in her head whispering that she’d moved up the ladder too fast and didn’t have the skills to excel where she’d landed. That had been the day she’d realized she never wanted to let this incredible man down. So she’d pushed herself. Developed a reputation she could be proud of. And slowly but surely as the months passed, her admiration for Alec had warped into something more. Because of those feelings, she’d stayed, even when better offers had come her way.

She rested her forehead against the window. Was she loyal or pathetic? The line was certainly blurring.

As if her morose thoughts had summoned him, her phone rang.

Though it could have been anyone, as she walked over to her phone she knew it wasn’t. She let it ring four times before snatching the receiver and putting it to her ear.

“Hailey.” Caleb’s voice, all velvet and sin, poured from the phone, sending a shiver down her spine.

“Hi,” she said, her voice sounding a little more breathless than it should have.

“Did you think I’d forgotten you?”

“Hoped.”

His chuckle floated through the phone. “Sorry for calling you at work, but I realized I don’t have your personal number. A mistake we can correct tonight.”

“What’s tonight?” she asked, slipping into her desk chair.

“Our first date. I’ve made reservations at eight o’clock. Does that work for you, or should I push it back?”

“That’s rather high-handed, don’t you think?”

“I only have a month to woo you, sweetheart. I like to think of it as being proactive.”

She sighed, tipping her head back to look up at the ceiling. “I’ll have to come straight from work. No time to change.”

“Not a problem. Your presence is more than enough.”

“Fine. I’ll be there.”

“Such enthusiasm. Be still my heart.”

Her lips twitched into a smile. “Just remember you have to keep your end of the bargain, too.”

“I never renege on a bet. And to show my good faith, I’ll give you a piece of advice free of charge. Before you leave tonight, make sure Alec knows you’re on your way to meet me.”

“How exactly do you recommend I do that? Walk into his office, announce we’re having dinner, and waltz out?”

“I’d suggest something a little more subtle, but it’s your call.”

She rolled her eyes. “I haven’t even seen him today.”

“Then make up an excuse and go talk to him. You’re a brilliant woman, Hailey. I’m sure you can think of something.”

Warmth washed through her at the light words. She rather liked him calling her brilliant.

“All right, I’ll see what I can do.”

“Excellent. I’ll send a car to pick you up at the office. I can’t wait to see you.”

“Well, at least one of us isn’t on the fence about all this.”

Instead of taking offense, his laugh tumbled from the receiver, wrapping itself around her. “I’ve got a month,” he told her. “Let’s see how you feel in a few weeks.”

Before she could reply, the line went dead.

Setting the phone back in its cradle, she shook her head. Caleb was nothing if not confident.

And he had been right about Alec’s reaction last night.

Which meant she needed to strike up a conversation with her boss about her plans tonight. Simple. Except they weren’t the sort of colleagues who gossiped by the watercooler.

“I’ll think of something,” she whispered.

Her phone rang a second time, and she snatched it off the hook before it got to its second ring.

“Hello?” she said, wincing at the slightly breathless tone her voice had adopted.

“Hailey, we’ve got a problem,” one of her team members said. “Do you have time to meet?”

“I’ll be right there,” she said as she hung up.

Looked like her personal life would have wait. In this building, business came before pleasure.

Hours later, she stood outside Alec’s door with a draft in her hand.

“We’ve got a problem,” she said, pushing into his office.

The man of her dreams glanced up from his desk. “Is it Germany?”

“They filed for their patent. If we can’t own that technology…”

“Dammit. What are our options?”

She crossed the floor to drop into the chair opposite his desk. “I can try to stall. Tie them up in a few legal knots. I just need your signature.”

He took the file and flipped through the pages, reading through her plan.

As he studied her work, she glanced around the office. A floor-to-ceiling bookshelf lined the wall behind his desk, filled with techno mumble-jumble she’d need a computer degree to understand. To the right of his desk was an informal sitting area with comfy chairs she’d curled up in more than once. Two potted plants framed the large windows. Plastic, of course, as Alec had no time to think about keeping his plants alive. His mind was always focused on investing in new technology or taking down his biggest competitors.

Which usually meant taking down Caleb.

“Solid work,” he complimented her, scrawling his signature in the few places she’d highlighted.

“I’ll file these immediately,” she replied.

“Do you think we’ll have a late night?” he asked, checking his watch. “I was going to head to the club, but I can rearrange my plans.”

She hesitated. Usually when that question was asked, she’d reply in one of two ways. Either she’d agree he should stay and they’d work into the night, or she’d tell him to go while she stayed late, tracking him down if she needed him.

Make sure Alec knows.

Caleb’s words floated through her head as she stared at her boss.

I wanted things to change. To do that I have to step up and play the game. Starting now.

“Actually,” she started, clearing her throat. “I can’t stay tonight.”

His head shot up, surprise in his eyes. “What?”

“I have plans.” She lifted her chin. “Dinner plans. But I’ll make sure these papers go through before I leave.”

“Dinner plans.”

“I’m allowed a life outside of work,” she pointed out. Lord knew he didn’t live as a monk when he left this building. It wasn’t fair that she did.

“Of course you are. It’s just…” His voice drifted off, but not before her lips twisted in a wry smile.

“It’s just I’ve never had one before.”

Alec held out his hands in peace. “I’m sorry. What you do outside of work hours isn’t my business.”

“No, it’s not,” she replied. “But as you pointed out, it’s about time I started living for more than just this job.”

“Which means dinner.”

“Yes.”

“With Caleb.”

She leaned back in her chair. The words hadn’t been a question, so she didn’t offer an answer, merely arched a brow in reply.

He sighed, tossing his pen onto the desk. “I told you he’s bad news.”

“That’s for me to decide.”

He shook his head. “I’m just trying to look out for you.”

“I’m a big girl,” she replied. “I’ve been looking out for myself for quite some time now.”

“So I’m not allowed to worry about a friend?”

Her heart skipped a beat, but she did her best to keep her face impassive. “I appreciate your care,” she said, meaning the words sincerely. “But I’m not canceling on Caleb.”

He rubbed a hand over his face. “What is it about him that attracts you?”

This time both brows rose. “Are you asking me to dissect what I find attractive in other men?”

“No, no,” he backtracked. “It’s just I’ve seen this play out a dozen times. We grew up together, you know. I might hate him, but it doesn’t mean I don’t understand how he operates.”

She leaned forward. “Relax. It’s just dinner. I’m trying to add a little fun to my life.”

“And Caleb is fun?”

She shrugged. “He’s exciting.” Though she meant the words to goad Alec a little bit, she had to admit, they weren’t exactly untrue.

Blue eyes captured hers even as he reached out and took her hand in his. “He is,” he agreed. “But keep in mind, you’re worth far more than he could ever offer.”

Her breath froze in her chest as she stared into his eyes. His fingers were warm as they wrapped around her own. This wasn’t the action of someone disinterested, was it? Or was she simply reading what she wanted to see?

“I’ll be careful,” she promised.

His fingers squeezed hers gently before he released her and leaned back. “I’m here if you need me, Hailey. Always.”

Heart thundering, she inclined her head and pushed to her feet. “Enjoy the club tonight,” she said, taking the papers from the desk. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

Forcing herself not to look back, she strode from the room and closed the door behind her. This devil’s bargain of hers was actually working. Two days into Caleb’s bet and Alec was starting to see her as more than just his excellent employee.

Which meant it was time for her to go and keep up her end of the bargain.

She headed for her office, telling herself her racing heart was all due to Alec and had nothing to do with the dinner she was about to have with his gorgeous nemesis.