What makes you think he’s here for you?
I start to look through a few documents on my computer.When I was putting the presentation deck together, some things didn’t add up and when I questioned Katherine about them, she told me to omit those slides ‘to make the presentation short and to the point’ she’d said.But an uneasiness settled over me and I’ve been mulling over her words ever since.Luckily I have access to most of the internal systems.I open a few dashboards I don’t usually need and start digging.Shipping first.Then vendor accounts.
My stomach tightens.
Several invoices are flagged as overdue.It’s not catastrophic, but there are more than there used to be.A couple of fabric suppliers have paused shipments pending payment.One major department store buyer has quietly reduced their order for the upcoming season.Another has canceled altogether, citing “restructuring reasons.”
I quickly scan through and find an internal note about revised budgets.Marketing spend trimmed.Travel approvals restricted.A hiring freeze I hadn’t been aware of.
No wonder they didn’t get a replacement for the PR person.
No wonder I’m doing two jobs.
I know now, without any doubt, that the promotion Katherine’s still dangling will never materialize.
My heart misses a beat.
This isn’t just a blip.All the little things that have gnawed away at me, are painting a picture I don’t want to see.The company isn’t doing as well as I thought.I should have mingled that night at the VIP event.I should have ignored Zach and done what I intended to do; mix with the big buyers.I should have stuck around instead of letting Katherine banish me to the office.By not doing so I missed out on an opportunity, and if Stella falls, I’m going to be on a sinking ship.
One of the secretaries comes over to me.“Uh, Maya, they’re having a meeting in the conference room and they have a few questions about the presentation deck.”She glances at Katherine’s empty office.“You worked on it, didn’t you?”
They have some questions about the deck?
Instinct tells me that Zach is up to something.He knows I created the deck, because I told him so.I suck in a breath, trying to stay calm.I wouldn’t put it past him to have orchestrated this meeting, he’s so transparent, he always was.Doesn’t mean I have to play along, but I have no idea why he’s doing this here, at my place of work.
I look around and my gaze settles on Rina, the new intern, sitting at a desk near me.She helped me put the slides together.I stand up, raising my voice a little.“Rina, would you mind going over to the—” I glance at the conference room only to find Zach staring right at me.
I hold my breath, the air lodges in my lungs as I watch that twisted smile on his face.Every thought I have flies right out of my head.
“To the what?”Rina asks nervously.
“Uh …” I manage to pull my gaze away and stare at Rina.“The ..uh … the …”
Gone.Poof, just like that.
I shake my head, mind still blank, hating that this man can unbalance me so easily even from across the room.
“To the conference room?”Rina asks, looking where my attention was.
“Uh … yes.They have a few questions about the presentation deck.”
She looks like I’ve just asked her to go to the moon.Her cheeks turn bright red.“You wantmeto go?”
“You helped me,” I say brightly.“Just go and see what they want.”
She reluctantly gets up and follows the secretary, and I try not to feel too guilty for throwing her into the dragon’s den.
What’s the worst that can happen?They likely just want to know where the data came from, or maybe how we created the slide deck.
I should go, but I don’t want to be within sneezing distance of Zach Knight.Instead, I pretend to focus my attention on the spreadsheets in front of me.Only, my mind is ablaze with crazy thoughts.I’ve opened a few ad hoc applications on my computer, pretending to be busy, but my mind is over there, in the conference room, wondering why Zach is really here.
Rina returns a few minutes later, looking relieved.“Cecil specifically asked for you to come in.”
I let out a groan.Gripping the desk hard, I slowly get up, feeling all hot and bothered, irritated.Is this what we’re doing now?Is this the game we’re playing?Clearing my throat, my head held high, I make my way to the conference room.
Zach sits there smiling, easy and unguarded.His eyes are warm and familiar, and the rough shadow along his jaw lends him a darker edge than I remember.
I’m reminded so sharply of the sweet and sexy sixteen-year-old who brightened my day.My heart melts.He’s not the villain.He didn’t do anything.I shouldn’t put my blame on him.
