“I’m definitely working on it. That’s why we’re headed over to meet her now.”
“Hmm.”
“Did you need anything else? We should really get going.”
“Actually, I was curious about something. Is Sophia the only person you are talking to right now?”
I take a beat before I answer. I’m not sure where he’s headed with this question. He may want to know that I’m dedicating all my time to signing a big name, or he may think I should have several names almost ready to sign right now.
“It’s just Sophia, but I’m working on a few new projects for clients already on the roster.” I hope that settles any possible unease he may have.
“That’s fantastic. Exactly what I wanted to hear.”
“Oh.”
“Blair, don’t sound so surprised. You sign more women than anyone else at this agency and place them with fantastic projects, and you are still one of the highest performers. Some might think you need more testosterone on your roster, but it looks like you are doing just fine without it.” He rises off the couch and knocks on my desk twice.
That’s a backhanded compliment. I’m highly suspicious.
“Thanks.”
“Oh, can you have Stella send over any background info you have on Sophia? I want to make sure I’m fully briefed in case we run into each other here in the office or out in the wild.”
And there it is. He doesn’t think I can close the deal, so he wants to study up so he can jump in if he thinks it’s necessary.
“Of course. I’ll get it over to you today.”
“Great. What a stroke of luck that you and her brother go way back.” He grabs a mint out of the candy jar on my desk and gives me a wink as he pops it into his mouth.
My stomach drops as a wave of heat radiates up my body. What the fuck does that mean?
Stella interrupts with a time check before I can respond, and I shake off the twinge of suspicion that Lance is up to something. I would say he’s jealous that I have Sophia and is trying to rattle me, but it seems more calculated than that.
As soon as Lance walks out, I drag Stella to the car while I fill her in on our conversation, letting her know he’s peacocking around Sophia but made a weird Wyatt comment.
“Does he know about you two?” she asks.
“If anything was mentioned, it would have been an innocent comment from Wyatt about how we went to school together. Lance is a pig and is trying to make it sound like more.”
Even if it was more.
Even if I’m wondering if it could be more now.
“I have a confession to make. I may have, um, kissed Wyatt in my office yesterday.” I bite my lip and look over at her to see her reaction. She gives me the side eye.
“No, really? Shocker.”
My laugh echoes in the parking garage, and I’m sure she can see my face turning bright red.
“Fine. I didn’t think it was that obvious, though!” I try to hide my embarrassment as we buckle up and head out.
“Do you like him?” Stella asks.
“I’ve always liked him. That’s the problem. And now I have this false sense of hope that we could go right back to how we were back then, and I know that’s not possible.”
“Why not?”
“Because I always do this,” I tell her. “I get caught up in the moment of lust and the idea of what could be. But it’s never what really is.”
