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As I’d told Hannah yesterday, I trusted no one but myself.
I presented the trial results to the board. They were ecstatic, as expected. I explained that I would be presenting my findings to the FDA, to continue our pre-market approval process, and that I would continue clinical trials to amass a strong foundation of successful tests. Finally, I’d meet with our investors to ask for additional funds to bring the technology to market. I had the board’s enthusiastic support.
I outlined the terms of Gabe’s offer to them. They believed it was a great international partnership opportunity. They voted to approve it once our legal team vetted and approved Dynamica’s offer and financials. I agreed that it was an opportunity for Paragon to reach a global market much more quickly than we could on our own.
The vote to partner with Dynamica was unanimous.
Gabe would be thrilled, but he didn’t know I planned to keep the relationship strictly business. I felt something for him, but I didn’t have room in my life for any more excitement.
What I had planned for Clive Warren would provide enough excitement to last me a lifetime.
I called Gabe to tell him about the board’s decision.
“That’s great news, Lauren,” he said.
I could hear the smile in his voice. I could picture his dimple. I tightly scrunched my eyes closed as if that could make the mental image disappear.
“Would you like to get dinner to celebrate?” he asked.
I felt a yearning to see him. It was real, and it almost hurt, like an ache. I pushed it aside viciously, steeling myself against him. “I can’t. I have to work late.”
“I have to work late too,” Gabe said.
“Sorry. Tonight’s not good. But I’ll be in touch soon.”
“Lauren, don’t hang up yet. What about the other items we discussed?”
I knew he meant his technology guy and his offer for additional security. He was being careful choosing his words because he was probably just as paranoid as me, which made me feel even more of a yearning for him. “I’m still thinking about it. I’ll let you know. Okay?”
“Okay.” But he didn’t sound as if it were really okay with him.
“And the other stuff we’ve been discussing…” My voice trailed off. I didn’t want to mention Clive by name.
“Yes?”
“That’s between you and me, okay? Let’s keep the circle small.”
“That at least sounds like a good idea. Not having dinner with me sounds like a tragic mistake.”
“Good—at least to the first part,” I said. “I’ll talk to you later, okay?”
It sounded as if he started to ask exactly when later was, but I hung up on him, still shutting my eyes tight.
I decided not to work late after all. I felt as though I were hungover or something, and I’d never been hungover in my life. It must have been an emotional hangover…from a week filled with two dates, a very gorgeous billionaire seeming to pursue me, another billionaire trying to break into my company and screw me, and the fact that I’d bald-faced lied to my board.
I planned to go home and put on my pajamas. I might even have a glass of wine and eat leftover Indian food.
You’re going rogue, Lauren. Gabe’s voice was in my head, and I smiled in spite of myself. I was leaving work at six o’clock on a Monday while it was still light outside. Going rogue, indeed.
I headed toward my car when Clive Warren hopped out of his luxury sedan and waved to me from the middle of the parking lot. My heart stopped, then started pounding.
Clive. Fucking. Warren.
“Lauren.” He had the audacity to smile and look as if everything were normal.
I stalked over to him, trying to keep a neutral look on my face. At this time of day, a lot of people were leaving the building, including some members of the board. I couldn’t let on that anything was wrong between Clive and me. I wondered if he somehow knew that.
“What’re you doing here, Clive? Leave something behind?”
