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Touching her, being near her, pinning my body to hers sent me into a full heat. It made me want more from her, but more I can’t give her, despite the fucking ring on her finger that she has yet to take off. I spent the week reminding myself that this is all for show. It’s all for Bill.
Her new color-coded system on my schedule has worked flawlessly, though. I will give her that. I wasn’t late to a single meeting and my employees actually asked me if I was feeling okay when I showed up.
My schedule also kept me away from the office more than I wanted to be.
However, we’re back to the same song and dance today. Let’s just say, my normal Wednesday drink night tonight with my brothers and Logan can’t come fast enough.
This morning Avery was late. Not by much, but it was enough that I could bust her balls for it. For the first time in as long as I can remember, she didn’t give me shit back. It was the weirdest thing in the world that had me tense all morning. She hasn’t left her office once today and kept herself busy replying to emails and getting my notes ready for a big meeting I have tomorrow. It’s with the owners of a high-rise luxury complex Thomas wants to invest in. He’s interested in buying and renovating it, upgrading it with more luxurious amenities, and flipping it for a profit.
I pull up the listing to get my personal notes together for it when the intercom on my work phone buzzes.
“Mr. Ford?” my secretary calls out.
“Yes?”
“I have Bill Jones on line two.”
“Thank you.” I take a deep breath and click through to the line. “Marc Ford.”
“Marc, it’s Bill,” he announces. “How's it going?”
“It’s going,” I laugh. “Typical Wednesday here.”
“That’s what I like to hear. Listen, I have a question to ask you.”
Every time he talks like this, I can’t help but feel a sinking feeling in my gut. I want this to go rightso badlythat it’s fucking with my head. The very last time I swore things were going right in my life, only to be shit on, was when I found Becky cheating on me. I know that sounds pathetic, but I saw my future with her. Ever since then, Prestige Horizons has been my life.
“Anything.” I clear my throat. “What can I do for you?”
“Are you and Avery free for dinner on Friday night?”
I pull the phone away from my ear to let out an audible sigh that’s mixed with pain. This will be it, our first official outing.
“I can double check with her to make sure we don’t have plans,” I reply in a much more uppity tone than intended. “What did you have in mind?”
“I was thinking of keeping it casual and having you two over to the house. Cathy is making ham and scalloped potatoes and has been dying to have you two over. She also wants to make her famous apple crisp for dessert.”
“My mouth is watering thinking about all of that,” I only partially lie. The food sounds great, the act we have to put on is what makes my mouth go as dry as the desert. “Let me call Avery and confirm we’re free and I will send you a text. Does that work?”
“Sounds perfect. We can shoot for dinner at 6:30.”
“Great. I will confirm with you shortly. Was that all you needed?”
“Yup,” he confirms. “You’re killing it in the Manhattan office, Marc. Proud of you.”
I swallow a lump in my throat. “Thank you, sir.”
After I hang up with him, I allow myself no time to sit with these nerves of having to ask her to go to dinner before I make my way to Avery's office.
I’m about to knock on the door frame when I find myself pausing to take her in. God, she’s so beautiful. She’s much more relaxed in her outfit choice today. She is wearing a pair of dress pants and a flowy blouse. It’s not her usual look of skirts and a button down. She is typing out an email, but she doesn’t have a smile on her face. Something is definitely bothering her today.
“Knock knock,” I announce with a smile. “Can I come in?”
“Sure.”
I take a seat in the chair across from her desk, feeling edgy because this isn’t the Avery I am used to. Normally, she would hit me with a smart-ass response back.
“Is everything okay?”
