I can hear him shifting in his chair behind me, checking his phone again.Perfect.He’s getting antsy.
“Actually,” I say, capping the marker, “I think I left my notes in my desk drawer.Let me just grab them real quick.”
“Eve, we don’t have time for?—”
But I’m already at the door, and before he can finish his protest, I slip out into the hallway and immediately grab the door handle from the outside.The conference room doors have exterior locks for security purposes, something I’d noticed during my two years of working here but never had occasion to use until now.
I turn the lock with a satisfying click.
“Eve?”Caleb’s confused voice comes through the door.“The door won’t open.”
“Oh, no!”I call back, already starting to walk away from the door, a smile spreading across my face.“That’s weird.It must be stuck.”
“Eve, this isn’t funny.We have a meeting in five minutes.”
“I know!”I say, moving further down the hallway so my voice sounds appropriately distant.“I’ll get maintenance to look at it right away.Don’t worry—I’ll handle the meeting with Marina myself!”
“Eve!”His voice is louder now, with an edge of panic.“Don’t you dare leave me in here!”I can hear him rattling the door handle frantically, the sound echoing through the hallway.
“I’m sure they’ll have you out soon,” I call cheerfully, now at a safe distance from the conference room.“I’ll give Marina your regards!”
“LOPEZ!”
The sound of his fist pounding on the door follows me as I make my way to the elevator, and I can’t help the little tune that escapes my lips.I’m actually humming as I wait for the elevator to arrive, feeling more satisfied than I have all day.
The elevator dings, and as the doors slide open, I can still hear the faint sound of Caleb banging on the conference room door.I step inside and press the button for the garage level, the tune turning into full-blown whistling as I descend.
“Have fun in your little timeout,” I murmur to the empty elevator, still whistling as the doors open to the parking garage.
This is what he gets for messing with my parking spot and sabotaging my chair.Sometimes karma needs a little help.
* * *
The yacht clubis everything I expected—polished wood, brass fittings, and the kind of understated luxury that screams class and wealth.Marina Delacroix is even more stunning in person than in her photo, all elegant lines and confident handshakes.
“Ms.Lopez,” she says warmly, leading me toward her office.“I was expecting your colleague as well.”
“Oh, Caleb got held up with an urgent matter,” I say smoothly, still feeling pleased with myself.“He sends his regrets.”
The meeting goes perfectly.Marina walks me through the event space, shows me the backup plans for weather contingencies, and confirms all our vendor coordination details.We’re just finishing up the final paperwork when I spot a familiar figure bursting through the yacht club’s main entrance.
Caleb looks like he just ran a marathon.His hair is disheveled, his shirt wrinkled and slightly damp with sweat, and he’s slightly out of breath as he scans the room frantically.When his eyes land on me sitting calmly at Marina’s desk, his expression shifts from panic to anger.
“Excuse me for just one moment,” I tell Marina with a sweet smile, getting up from my chair.
I meet Caleb halfway across the elegantly appointed lounge, and he immediately grabs my arm, his grip firm but not painful.
“Did you run all the way from the club’s parking lot?”
“You,” he says through gritted teeth, his chest still rising and falling rapidly.“Locked.Me.In.”
“Did I?”I blink innocently.“That’s terrible.How did you get out?”
“Jake had to come unlock the door,” he hisses, and I can see a vein throbbing in his temple.“I missed the entire fucking meeting.”
“Language,” I tsk, glancing around at the refined atmosphere of the yacht club.“We’re in a classy establishment.”
He looks like he wants to strangle me, but because we’re in public, he settles for leaning close enough that only I can hear him.“This isn’t over, Princess.”
