Chapter 7 #4
“Because they probably do,” she replied, guiding me into the waiting elevator. “But at least you made an entrance they’ll never forget.”
The doors closed with a soft ding, and I leaned against the wall, my heart pounding. “Well, that could have gone worse.”
Sam gave me a look that suggested I shouldn’t tempt fate.
“Right.” I straightened up, adjusting my sunglasses. “Top floor. How bad could it be?”
The executive floor doors opened to reveal three women who practically vibrated with excitement. The one in the middle—Madison, I presumed—actually bounced on her heels.
“Mrs. Everett!” they chorused like a well-rehearsed choir of corporate fangirls.
“Ladies,” I managed, taking an instinctive step back. Sam’s steady presence behind me prevented my escape. “Could you perhaps… dial down the enthusiasm about twenty notches?”
They did not dial down the enthusiasm.
“Your outfit is amazing!”
“The whole building’s talking about your entrance!”
“We can’t believe you’re here to?—”
“Yes, yes,” I cut in quickly before they could finish that sentence with whatever they thought I was here to do. “Could you just… direct me to where I need to be?” Like where a certain future heroine might be presenting her morning reports.
Madison’s eyes sparkled with delight. “Of course! The main conference room. Right this way.”
They led us through the executive floor, which was all sleek wood panels and floor-to-ceiling windows. Every head turned as we passed. Phones appeared like magic. I heard whispers, giggles, and what sounded suspiciously like a suppressed squeal.
“Just smile and wave,” Sam murmured behind me. “You’re drawing more attention by trying to be subtle.”
Right. I was the CEO’s wife. Technically. For now. I managed a small wave at a cluster of wide-eyed assistants, which set off another round of excited whispers.
“Having fun yet?” Sam whispered.
“Oh, absolutely,” I whispered back. “This is exactly how I planned my morning. Nothing says subtle reconnaissance like parading through the executive floor like a spy movie premiere.”
We approached a set of imposing double doors.
Through the glass walls, I could see a large conference room where several people sat around a massive table.
Jason stood at the head, and oh sweet mercy, he looked illegally handsome in full CEO mode.
His bespoke suit fit him like it had been painted on by artists who specialized in torturing unsuspecting women.
The way he commanded the room, gesturing to the presentation screen with confident authority, made my knees want to write formal letters of resignation.
And there, to his right, looking exactly like she’d stepped out of the pages of my favorite romance novel—because she had—stood Sophia Reeves.
My heart did a little flutter of fangirl excitement.
Long auburn hair falling in perfect waves, large emerald eyes bright with intelligence, natural beauty shining even in simple office attire.
She was everything the book described and more: sweet, earnest, competent.
Currently pointing out something on the screen with delicate grace while I tried not to vibrate out of Victoria’s expensive heels with excitement.
“Mrs. Everett?” Sam’s voice held a note of concern. “Are you… bouncing?”
I was, in fact, bouncing slightly on my toes. I forced myself to stop, though my internal fangirl was doing cartwheels. Here she was—the woman destined to melt Jason’s cold exterior, heal his trust issues, and get that happily ever after. I was literally watching chapter three unfold in real time.
Speaking of Jason… my eyes drifted back to him of their own accord.
He’d taken off his suit jacket and rolled up his sleeves at some point, which should be illegal during business hours.
Between Sophia’s perfect heroine energy and Jason’s devastating CEO presence, I was having trouble remembering how to breathe like a normal person.
“The quarterly board meeting,” Madison announced proudly, reaching for the door handle. “Mr. Everett is just starting his presentation.”
“The what?” I squeaked, but it was too late. Madison had already pulled open the door with a flourish worthy of a game show host.
Every head in the room turned. Including Jason’s. Including Sophia’s.
“Mrs. Everett.” Jason’s voice carried that dangerous mix of surprise and something else I couldn’t quite read.
His blue eyes darkened as they swept over me, lingering on the trench coat, the heels, the carefully styled hair.
The corner of his mouth twitched upward, and for a moment, I saw the same heat I’d glimpsed during our coffee cup encounter this morning. “What an unexpected pleasure.”
The way he said pleasure should be illegal. Several board members exchanged knowing looks, and I caught more than one suppressed smile. Great. Apparently, the whole room could read whatever was happening between us better than I could.
“I hope I’m not interrupting,” I managed, trying to sound like Victoria Everett and not like a woman whose heart was racing under her husband’s intense stare.