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Aaliyah stared at me for a moment, and then her face broke into a brilliant smile, which was odd considering we were in quite a mess thanks to Jennifer’s untimely – yet welcomed – departure.

“You can do it,” she stated, sounding a little too confident. I looked at her as if she’d lost her mind. “You’re kidding right?”

“No. You’re more than capable, Kadence, and I don’t think Caleb will have a problem with it.”

Somehow, I highly doubted that.

“Isn’t there anyone else who can do it? Surely there’s someone more experienced.”

With a shake of her head, Aaliyah replied, “The only other person is Macy, and she’s not here, so that leaves you.”

“Caleb would never allow me take over such an important event, Liy. It’s far too important for Callahan Industries for someone with my lack of experience to take over. There has to be another option.”

“Unfortunately there isn’t, so right now you have to grow some lady balls, and do the launch. You have the entire event staff at your disposal, and more than enough money to put it together.”

“As much as I appreciate the vote of confidence, how the hell am I going to pull it off in three weeks?”

Aaliyah looked hopeful. “Is that a ‘yes’?”

“Do I have a choice?” I fired back.

“No, you don’t.”

I sighed, and pinched the bridge of my nose. I was not prepared to deal with this on a Monday morning.

“Listen,” I looked back up when Aaliyah touched my arm. “You can do this. I will help you where I can, and I have a feeling that Caleb will give you even more to work with than he wanted to give Jennifer. There is no way you can screw this up.”

I exhaled, resigned to the fact that I had two choices here. One, I could decline, and convince Caleb to outsource a more qualified event planner, or two, I could do it, and hope to God that I didn’t do irreparable damage. The first option was the easy way out, and my likeliest choice, but the second choice was an opportunity to prove myself, and earn a promotion by the end of the year. A promotion meant more money, and more money meant that I could get my own place sooner rather than later. The sooner I could get out of Caleb’s place, the better. The man was doing my head in. Hell, I was doing my own head in.

“Okay,” I acquiesced. “I’ll do it.”

“Yes!” Aaliyah’s pumped her fist. “You’re going to kill it!”

I lifted my hand. “Let’s not get carried away just yet. I don’t even know where to start.”

“Uh,” Aaliyah winced. “You’ll have to start with Caleb.”

“Great,” I threw my hands up, and started towards the door. “Just when I thought I could avoid him until tonight.”

I heard Aaliyah snicker behind me, and shot her a glare over my shoulder. “Hey, what happened to chicks before dicks?”

“Doesn’t apply to you and Caleb. I’m totally rooting for that asshole to win you over.” With a wink, Aaliyah headed back to her desk. I thought she was going to get to work, but instead she stood on her chair, and faced our colleagues.

“Okay, everyone needs to calm down. Jennifer is gone, and quite frankly, good riddance. Until I can get hold of Caleb, you can all get back to work. As soon as I have an update, I will let you all know.”

With a mixture of confusion and relief, people scattered, and went about their workdays as if nothing had happened. With an ungraceful flop, I fell into my chair, and started on my own tasks. I read and responded to all of Macy’s emails, not at all surprised that she was working from home. When I’d completed half of the items on my list, I stood up and went in search of some coffee. On the way out of the kitchen, the elevator doors opened, and Caleb stepped out.

He saw me, and hesitated before stopping a foot or so in front of me. He looked incredible, dressed in distressed jeans, a white button down shirt, and light brown Martin boots. A little too casual for the office, but he probably dropped Braelynn of at home with Henry, and came straight here.

“Hey.” I cleared my throat. “I mean good morning Mr. Callahan.”

Caleb looked around, and I noticed his face drawn into a frown. “Ms. Kavanagh, meet me in my office when you’re done.”

He turned, and all but stalked to his office.

What the hell?

I was the one who was supposed to be cold, and withdrawn, he didn’t get to do that.