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“A good chunk of money. Money that I need.” I shrug. She mentioned her dad, so I’m hoping Adrian really does get it, even though I don’t know the story there.
She nods, her gaze clouding and brows knitting. “I just think you really need to be careful about this. For starters, you probably shouldn’t even be doing it.” I bite my lip guiltily as she continues, “But if you’re going to insist, then youdefinitelyshouldn’t be discussing the deal here at the office. Anyone could overhear you. It kind of makes sense, though.” She shrugs.
“Makes sense how?”
“You two. You just…make sense. I don’t know. You said you grew up together, so maybe that’s it. Jenson’s definitely been keeping an eye on you, and you seem very comfortable with him.”
She has no idea; I’m probablytoocomfortable.
“Anyway. Just be careful. Zach was nosing around, asking questions.”
“What? How? He was on the retreat with us…”
“He’s got a few moles in the office he keeps in contact with. He wants Dupont Analytics bad, Mel. Don’t worry, I’m Team Jenson. But if this gets out…that you two are faking the whole thing and lying to Roy…Roy will, without a doubt, hand the company over to Zach, and probably fire Jenson on the spot.”
Guilt and fear twist my gut into a knot and I wrap my arms around my waist. Adrian steps out of the alcove, tipping her head.
“Come on, we’ve got to get back to work. I emailed you the minutes from the last meeting so you’re caught up.”
I give her a tight smile and thank her, but as we head toward the elevators, I can’t keep the worry at bay. The hard part was supposed to be over.
We might have everyone convinced—even Roy seems less suspicious of us now.
But if what Adrian says is true, and Roy finds out…Jenson could lose everything.
Chapter18
Jenson
By 4:30 p.m., I’m feeling uncharacteristically frazzled. I glance up again at my empty office and grit my teeth. Out in the small reception area, Brett is sitting stiffly. He has a good sense for my moods and knows I’m not in a good one.
What’s the rush?I ask myself.You knew today would be a full schedule.
Still, I was hoping I’d get another few minutes with Mel.
I shouldn’t want this so badly. We just spent two weeks together and have a month and a half more to go.
But then what?
It’s a question I’ve been lingering on a lot lately. Will she stay in Boston? Stay here, with Dupont? A part of me can’t imagine she’ll want to be around once all this is over. Especially if we very publicly, and amicably, break this off.
She only wants your money, that little voice of betrayal whispers. I shake my head and groan; I just can’t picture it. Yes, Mel and Jodie might be in a tough spot financially right now. But for Mel, life was never about money.
I think of the countless times we skipped “normal” dates when we were kids and instead lay in a field somewhere stargazing. A few nights we even snuck out for meteor showers. With Mel, I was just as happy laughing in the back seat of my junky car as I was spending my whole paycheck on her at the local diner. We didn’t need money. Just each other.
The clock on the wall ticks down another minute. Four forty-five now.
“I can’t take this.” I mutter to myself and stand, slinging my bag over my shoulder, tapping the screen on my desktop, and leaving the office.
Brett startles. I’m rarely out before five thirty and always give him a heads-up if I’m planning it.
“Take an early day,” I say, passing him. “I’ll see you tomorrow. Thanks for all your work while I was gone.”
He stutters out a thanks as I jab at the elevator button, trying to fight back a slowly blossoming headache. I want to go home and have a drink—something dark and smokey—but what I really need is probably water and a good rest.
The elevator lights up and stops on the fifth floor. My heart starts pounding in my chest, and as the doors open, it’s almost as if fate intervenes. Mel is standing in the foyer. Our eyes meet and she blushes, but we’re not alone. Her assistant, Adrian Kenny, raises a brow.
“I’ll take the stairs, Mel. Have a good rest of your night.”
