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I bite my lower lip. “Well, he’s certainly going out of his way for you.”
“I know.” Tracy’s voice is low, and she looks troubled.
And here I thought I was having problems.
The next day at work, I run into Elise who immediately starts asking me a dozen questions about the ball.
She looks heavily pregnant and concerned, I make her sit down. “You should be on maternity leave.”
“I know,” she says, grinning. “I just – the doctor says I’m coming along very nicely, and I do need the money.”
“It’s a paid maternity leave, Elise.”
“Two weeks,” she insists, laughing. “I’ve already talked to Lana.”
It seems to me that Elise doesn’t have many friends here. I find it odd considering what a cheerful person she is. But I have heard a few women discussing her in very unattractive terms. I don’t know what their problem is with her, but she’s been nothing but a good friend to me and in my book that deserves my loyalty.
“I saw your pictures,” Elise gushes, excitement making her eyes seem even more luminous. “You looked gorgeous, Kendall. I mean, that dress! It was the single most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. And you were looking like this dark faerie, you know, so beautiful and unapproachable and cool. I read like fifteen articles that mentioned you.”
I feel awkward at this news. “I’ve kept away from the articles or anything related to the ball. It was a lovely event, but I don’t want to read negativity about myself in the media. I read maybe one article by mistake. It kind of bummed me out. But thank you. I’m happy you liked the dress.”
Elise leans in. “Well, you and Caleb were certainly the topic for discussion on quite a few morning talk shows. Apparently, he got annoyed when someone tried to flirt with you.”
“He did?” I feign puzzlement. “That’s news to me.”
Elise shakes her head, disappointed. “I don’t believe you.” And then she smirks, showing me her phone. “Try explaining this then.”
It’s a picture of me and Caleb on the terrace with me sitting and looking up at him and he’s leaning down towards me. It looks like an intimate moment and it was in reality, but I’m not ready to expose my relationship with Caleb just yet. “We were discussing work.”
“Yeah.” Elise sniggers. “Sure you were.”
I see the cup of hot chocolate on her desk, a brand that is frequented by the company lawyer, and I smile innocently. “I see Lucas brought you hot chocolate again. Say hi to him for me.”
“Bitch.” Elise laughs as she lets me go.
I stroll towards the elevator with a grin.
The doors are about to close behind me when I hear a strong British accent call out, “Hold the elevator!”
Automatically, I press the button and Oliver Thornton rushes in.
“Thanks.”
I nod.
I realize that it’s been a while since I’ve seen the man. “Morning, Mr. Thornton. How are you?”
He’s shrugging out of his jacket, scowling. “Just call me Oliver now. Where’s Caleb? He was supposed to meet me somewhere outside.”
“I just got in myself,” I tell him. “But I don’t have you on the schedule.”
“Fuck the schedule,” he says.
I nod gravely. “Of course. I’ll make a note of that.”
He eyes me now, and then says after a few moments, “I heard you made peace with my wife.”
“She’s very persistent,” I reply. “Doesn’t like to take no for an answer.”
