“Why not?” Lucas repeated, studying my face. “Why are you so protective of Ina specifically? You let the marketing team do whatever they want with everyone else. You’ve never cared this much about employee privacy before.”
I grabbed his arm and pulled him into one of the empty offices on the floor.
“Is there something you want to get off your chest?” Lucas asked with a small hint of a smile.
“What are you implying?”
“I’m not implying anything. I’m asking directly. Is something going on with you and your fake girlfriend?”
“She’s my assistant.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“That’s the only answer that matters.” I ran a hand through my hair, pacing the small space. “This has gone too far. It should have been a simple marketing play that wouldn’t affect her actual life. But if Heidi gets her way, if we put Ina’s face and name out there for everyone to see and dissect and obsess over, she’ll never be able to use Cupid’s Arrow the way it’s meant to be used. She’ll never be able to actually find what she’s looking for.”
“And what is she looking for?”
“Love.” The word felt scratchy on my throat. “Real love. The magic, overwhelming, makes-you-do-stupid-things kind of love. That’s what she wants. That’s what she came to New York for.And I’m not going to ruin that for her just to boost our stock price.”
He looked confused. “Have you seen the company stock prices lately?” he asked finally.
My jaw clenched. “Yes.”
“Then you know we’re at an all-time high. The company is worth nearly double what it was worth a year ago. Isn’t this what you always wanted? Success? Recognition? Proof that you made it?”
“Not like this.”
“Not like what?”
“Not by throwing people under the bus. Not by using someone who can’t say no to me because I’m her boss.” I stopped pacing, facing him directly. “If you and Heidi are seriously going to put me in this situation, then pull the commercial with Ina and reshoot it with someone else. An actress, a model, someone who knows what they’re signing up for and can handle the public scrutiny. I’ll go along with whatever plans you have. But Ina cannot be involved anymore. Not beyond what we’ve already done.”
Lucas shook his head slowly. “Fine.” He moved toward the door, then paused with his hand on the handle. “Oh, and I figured out that you’re my Secret Cupid.”
I blinked at the change in subject. “What?”
“You took over from Keith.” He grinned slightly.
I shrugged, not confirming or denying.
“Keith wassupposedto be my cupid,” Lucas corrected. “And I’m grateful you took over, because as much as I theoretically like Keith—which isn’t much—I knew he’d be shit at presents. You, on the other hand, are surprisingly good at thoughtful gifts when you actually try.”
“You’re the Secret Cupid grandmaster,” I said. “You already know who was paired with who.”
“Well, yes, but I could tell it wasn’t Keith. I was wondering if there had been some trading.”
“And you’re my Secret Cupid,” I said. “The joke book, the hat. They’re very you.”
Lucas looked genuinely confused. “What joke book? What hat?”
“The three gifts I’ve gotten. The pompom box with the joke book. It’s your sense of humor.”
“Dane.” Lucas was staring at me like I was an idiot. “You haven’t figured it out yet?”
“Figured what out?”
“Ina is your Secret Cupid.” He said it slowly, like explaining something to a child. “The entire office is jealous because she’s the best at gifts and somehow you got lucky enough to have her again.”
I opened my mouth and then closed it.
