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I take a peek at The New York Times, not even needing to read the words beneath it to know what will be on the front page tomorrow in the newspaper. It’s a picture of Ava and I lip-locked at my New Year’s Eve party.
With anything that mentions our company, we get a preview of the article, since we are lucky enough to have one of the directors for The Times as a family friend who gives us a heads up.
I’m silently cursing myself, but externally, I’m pasting the biggest smile I can manage. “That’s great, Dad. But, uh, how will this be helpful for me?”
He shrugs. “Being the unobtainable bachelor has become kinda old lately. This will make you look even better to the board once it goes through.”
Shit.
Now Ireallyneed Ava to agree to our fake arrangement. I’d hate to disappoint my dad when he’s so proud of me right now. Don’t get me wrong, he’s always proud of me and wishes me the best. But I highly doubt he expected his oldest child to be a player.
“Mind if I hold onto this? I want to show the article to Ava,” I say, hoping he doesn’t detect the nerves that have suddenly taken over my body.
He nods quickly, the big smile still plastered on his face, before lifting from my chair and walking to the door. “I only want what’s best for you, you know?”
“I know, dad. But don’t get ahead of yourself on Ava, this is new for us.”
He nods once before leaving me alone in the office, wondering what the hell I’m going to tell Ava when they publish the newspaper first thing tomorrow. I figured if they were going to have a story on the party they would’ve run it by now, wishful thinking on my part.
Selena pokes her head through my door an hour later, a frown etched on her face as she looks at a notecard in her hands. “Uh, she declined, sir.”
I stand immediately and grab the card from her hand where she wrote Ava’s message down for me. My nerves are so bad that I run a hand through my hair and curse softly on the way to my desk. Selena stands silently, glaring at me for my language, before taking my silence as a cue for her to leave.
As soon as I’m alone, I’m dialing Ava’s number in the customer service wing.
“Ava speaking… sir.”
I can’t help but chuckle at her hesitance, which means that she’s as affected by me as I’ve been by her. This might not be so hard after all. “I received a message that you declined lunch with me?”
“Yes, sir.”
The front of my pants is suddenly too tight at hearing her call me sir, causing me to adjust myself. “And why is that?”
“Uh… well, um…” She’s cute when frazzled, that much is true. After a deep breath she gets her words together. “I’m afraid that it would be unprofessional.”
I smirk at her, even though she can’t see the amusement dancing in my gaze. I feel like this is a good way to tease her. Maybe get her more comfortable with me. “And… more unprofessional than sharing two kisses with each other?”
“No, sir.”
As much as I like her calling me sir, I would much prefer it if she did it in the bedroom with me. “Ryan is fine.”
She clears her throat. “Of course, Ryan. Is that all you need from me?”
I glance at the clock on my desk and smile into the phone. “I’ll meet you on your floor in about two hours, Ava.”
Before she can deny it again, I hang up the phone and lean back in my chair, spinning it around to glance out the window. The view is a decent perk of my job, being able to see the city lights at night while I’m stuck here helps calm my stress levels. That’s something I’ll never admit to anyone though. I have to save at least part of my image.
“Sir, she called again and said she won’t be meeting you,” Selena says louder than usual from the door.
The last thing I need is Selena getting annoyed for the day, which is fairly difficult. She might seem like a hard ass when you meet her, but she’s a big softy unless provoked.
“Block her calls from coming through. If she wants to talk to me, she’ll have to call my line directly.”
Selena nods briefly before exiting the room with a stiff posture. She’s been working a lot lately, maybe I’ll bring up giving her another raise with my father. I’m sure he’d agree that she deserves one more than anyone else, then add extra vacation days to the ones she already has too.
I smirk the moment the phone starts ringing on my desk. “Ryan.”
Ava growls into the phone and I can practically imagine how red her face is right now. “Is the answer no a hard concept for you,Ryan?”
