Page 40 of Book Club Confidential

Peyton pulled his chin back, managing to appear baffled. “What day?”

She rolled her eyes and turned away. “You are the literal worst,” she muttered, moving swiftly into the hall.

“What day?” he repeated, matching her, step for fleeing step.

The command in his tone stopped her short, and he rammed into her back.

“What are you doing?” he barked.

“Do not speak to me that way,” she said, forcing restraint into her tone. “You ran into me, not the other way around. And it’s five o’clock. I’m going home.”

“You’re so mad about the promotion, you can’t stay after five now?” He scoffed.

“I’m no longer working overtime for free,” she said. “I work hard when I’m on the clock, arguably harder than I should, and now it’s time to go home, so I’m going. You, of all people, should understand that. You’re usually the first one out the door.”

“And now we have the opportunity to pitch for the Lilacs and Lace account,” he said. “This is the biggest prospective client we’ve ever had. We need all hands on deck until the contract is signed.”

Again, Tessa waited, mentally counting down from ten in her head. At one, she was getting on the elevator.

“I need you on this team,” Peyton said. His gaze rose to the wall above her shoulder, no longer meeting her eye. “Xavier told me to pick the team, and I want you. We need a strong female opinion.”

“You mean you want me to do the work, so you can claim it as your own,” she said. “Because you’re leading the team? Pass.”

“You can’t pass,” he said. “It’s not an option.”

Tessa started walking again.

“I’m meeting with Xavier on this in thirty minutes,” Peyton said. “You don’t want me to tell him we had this conversation and you walked out.”

Tessa’s phone rang, and she snatched it from her bag.

Grant Gaines’s name and number appeared on-screen, and a smile curved her lips. He was fast becoming her cell phone savior.

“Who is that?” Peyton asked. “A guy? Is that the reason you can’t be bothered to work an extra minute now? The reason you don’t roll in until exactly starting time in the morning? The reason for all the dresses?”

“Good night,” Tessa said, raising the phone to her ear and turning back toward the exit. “Hello?”

“Tessa?” Hearing her name on Grant’s tongue sent a wave of nonsensical excitement down her spine. “I’m getting unhealthily attached to one of these potential office locations. Have you had time to look into them?”

“I have.”

He released a long guttural sound of relief. “Thank God. Are you available to meet? It’s short notice, but I might not be able to stop myself from signing this lease.”

She laughed.

“If you’re that attached, I’m certain it’s the right location. Which one is it? I’ll head in that direction now.”

“Michels!” Peyton called again. This time, the sound came from a distance.

At least he’d stopped following her.

The elevator doors parted, and Tessa stepped in. She raised a hand to wave over her head.

As the doors closed, she saw Peyton in the distance, arms akimbo, looking as if he’d lost a battle.

And he had.

Chapter Twelve