Igot into the elevator and inserted the special keycard into the slot on the wall. A panel opened, allowing me to enter the passcode that would take me to the hidden fifty-first floor. Apart from my security team and a handful of scientists, no one knew it existed.
Standing at my office door, I unlocked it by typing numbers into a digital keypad on the wall. I could never be too careful with The Lucaya Group breathing down my neck. My top priority was securing my office and the private lab that occupied the entire floor.
I stored Lovelace on servers at my corporate office and server farms around the country. It was the only way to keep Lovelace safe from my enemies. Without all the pieces, they could never make her work.
I walked over to the bar on my right and poured a scotch. After last night, I wanted to drown my sorrows. By pushing Olivia away, I made a horrible mistake. But what stung more was her rejection this morning.
Would she have gotten into the shower with me if I hadn’t been such a dick? I’d already seen her naked. And since I leveled the playing field, we had no layers between us.
I offered Olivia a drink.
She shook her head, frowning. “I’m not getting drunk on my first day. You really shouldn’t be drinking, Drake. What is going on with you lately?”
She watched my every movement, unable to take her eyes off me. I hated to see the sad expression tugging at her face and the disgust that followed.
“Are you okay?” Olivia put her palm on my cheek and inspected my face. “You look sick. Do you want me to call the doctor?”
“No, I’m fine.” I stepped out of her grasp. “I developed a new game. Just for you.”
Her eyes narrowed. “For me? But I don’t play video games.”
“Well, let’s just say you were my inspiration.”
Her sullen look quickly transformed into a bright smile. “Really?”
I nodded and extended my hand. “Come see.”
When our skin touched, my skin prickled with bumps. Electricity skated up my arm and went straight to my cock. She paused as if she felt it, too.
Gripping her wrist, I yanked her toward the couch. She fell into me, placing her hand on my chest to regain her balance.
“Drake,” she whispered in that deep, sexy tone that made my cock hard. “I’m your assistant.”
“Oh, I’m well aware.”
“We’re at work.”
“And alone,” I reminded her. “I don’t see anyone here. Do you?”
“Stop playing with my head.” Olivia shoved her palms into my chest, knocking me off balance. “You can’t keep doing this to me.”
I advanced toward her. “What am I doing?”
“Messing with my emotions. Making me think you want me, only to withdraw the second we get too close.”
“You left me,” I reminded her. “I didn’t force you to live on campus.”
“Because you keep too many secrets, Drake. Even now, I feel you pushing me away. But I don’t think you want to. What are you hiding from me?”
“You’re my best friend,” I challenged, determined to make her listen. “I care about you. I’m attracted to you. But there are things about me you don’t know.”
Olivia threw her hands in the air, frustrated. “Then tell me, you ignorant ass. You’re not protecting me by keeping me in the dark.”
She was right.
But I wasn’t ready.
Besides, it wasn’t my secret to tell. Until Tate decided he was ready, he wouldn’t be okay with Olivia and me being together. And the issues with The Lucaya Group didn’t help. Now that Olivia was fully back in my life, she had the same target on her head.
