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I'd just have to suffer the consequences, I supposed.
The bus ride over to his office felt like it took forever, but once I was standing in front of the building again, I felt a nervous flutter batter my insides. I considered turning around and going back to Raya's.
“No, Casey. You got this,” I whispered to myself.
Asking for money had never been my strong suit. I hated asking for help. Loathed it. This was different, though. I just needed an advance on what he was going to pay me anyway, once I had his child. I'd need money while I was pregnant and carrying his baby, right? It seemed perfectly normal, and besides, it wasn't like I was asking for everything up front.
Still, I hated having to ask at all.
When I walked into Crane Enterprises this time, there was a receptionist at the front desk, rather than a bored security guard. She smiled pleasantly up at me when I stood in front of her.
“Welcome to Crane Enterprises,” she said cheerfully.
“Thank you,” I said.
Since it was during business hours, there were no questions about why I was there. The receptionist looked me over, but otherwise, she let me be. Which was nice. Maybe the outfit was working for me after all.
I walked past her and pressed the button for the elevator. When the doors opened, a crowd of people stepped off, chatting wildly and ignoring me completely. I blended in so well they didn't even realize I didn't belong there. Brownie points for me.
I slipped into the elevator and pressed the button for the fifteenth floor, straight to the top. This time, we wouldn't be meeting in a conference room, but rather his office. I'd get to see where Malcolm Crane worked and controlled the empire. When the doors chimed and slid open, I stepped into the hallway beyond and found myself looking at another desk with a pretty brunette behind it. The name plate said her name was Alyssa Matthews, and she was the Executive Assistant. I assumed that meant she was Malcolm's assistant, so I stepped up to the desk.
“Hi there,” I said. “Malcolm Crane is expecting me.”
“Sure thing,” she said with a smile. “What's your name?”
“Casey Melville,” I said.
“One second, Miss Melville,” she said.
This was so much easier than the first time I'd stopped by. What a difference being there during business hours made. Alyssa got on the phone, and I heard her talking in a low voice. When she'd hung up, she looked at me and smiled.
“Mr. Crane will see you know,” she said. “Here, follow me,” she said.
She stood up and guided me down a hallway and to a corner office. Of course Malcolm would have a nice, corner office on the top floor. I'd have been surprised by anything less. Alyssa knocked on the door, and Malcolm's voice called out from behind it.
“Come in.”
She opened the door for me and motioned for me to go inside. It felt so formal and businesslike – which made me sure I stood out like a sore thumb. Alyssa closed the door behind me, and I stared at Malcolm Crane, future CEO of Crane Enterprises, behind his large wooden desk. He was a gorgeous man in a business suit that hugged his sculpted body in all the right places.
Malcolm stood up and walked across the room toward me, his blue eyes full of concern.
“Casey, is everything okay?”
He took my hands in his, which was disappointing since part of me had hoped for a kiss or even a hug. But, I guessed that a handshake would have to do. We were at his office, during business hours after all, and he had a reputation to uphold.
“Yes, everything is fine,” I said. “I was actually just hoping I could ask you a favor?”
/> “Of course,” he said, leaning up against his desk.
There were two chairs in front of him, and he motioned for me to have a seat. I sat down, crossing my legs at the ankles and smoothed the dress down, my heart fluttering wildly as I tried to work up the nerve to ask my favor of him.
“Are you sure you're okay, Casey?” he asked.
I looked up, and there was concern etched upon his face. His eyes studied me carefully, and I felt a flutter of hope in my chest. Maybe he really did care. The windows behind him overlooked Los Angeles, and I found myself staring out that way as opposed to looking at him.
Because looking at him was dangerous. Confusing. When I looked at him, my body reacted strangely. I remembered the way he'd made me feel when we'd had sex and I'd turned into a quivering pile of goo, amazing sensations I'd never felt before coursing through my body.
“Yes, I swear, I'm fine, Malcolm,” I said.
