“Mr. Walker,” Amanda says shyly, “I actually have a small thank-you gift for you... for helping me last week.”
“That’s not necessary, Amanda,” he says, already sounding uncomfortable. “Can you give it to Emma? I have meetings all afternoon—including one with her at four.”
WHAT?I jerk my head toward my phone. Check my calendar. Yep. A new event magically appeared. ‘Catch up with Luca Walker’
Excuse. Me?
His hand rests on my shoulder, all calm and casual, like he didn’t just ghost me for three days after blowing up my world. I immediately shrug my shoulder away from his touch, but his stupid, firm, manly hand doesn’t budge.
I’m going to kill him.
“We have a meeting?” I ask coldly.
He leans in and whispers, like this is normal. “It’s on your calendar.” He turns, walks away like he didn’t just light my internal monologue on fire. “Guess I’m late. Enjoy your lunch.” And just like that, he’s gone.
I inhale. Count to ten.Don’t murder your ex in the break room.
Amanda looks at me with gentle pity. Karen’s shooting daggers at me like I stole her prom date. The rest of the team suddenly finds their sushi very, very interesting. And me? I’m mentally strapping on armor.
Because at four o’clock…
It’s war.
Four o’clock sharp. I take a deep breath.
All day, I’ve caught glimpses of Luca through the glass. Pacing. Gesturing wildly with his hands. He was definitely on the phone… or possibly he just lost his mind.
Normally, he looks over at me. A lot more than I’d like to admit. But ever since he added that phantom meeting to my calendar, not once. Not a glance.
Fine. If he wants to play it professionally, I’ll give himprofessional. I stand, smooth my blue blazer, and walk toward his office with my chin up.
“Good luck…” I hear someone whisper behind me.
“Thanks. I’ll need it,” I mutter, just before the door clicks shut behind me.
But before I can even knock, Brenda intercepts me like a human firewall. “Ms. Green?—”
“Emma,” I correct for what feels like the hundredth time.
“Right. Emma. Can I help you with something?”
“I have a meeting with Luca.”
“You mean Mr. Walker?” Her brows pull together as she starts tapping her tablet.
“Yes, Luca,” I say sweetly.Yes, darling, I’ve known him since before he could grow a beard.“He’s expecting me.”
I watch the exact moment she finds the meeting on the schedule.
With a smug little smile, I slide past her and head for the door.
I’m not into girl-on-girl competition, but if she thinks she’s going to intimidate me away from Luca Walker, she’s in for a long year. Being competitive with men issolast decade.
She follows behind me, probably still trying to process what just happened. I open Luca’s door without knocking—just to annoy her a little more.
“Ma’am!” she squeaks.
Luca turns, phone pressed to his ear, and gives me a look that could curdle milk.
