“It was effective,” I bragged. “She's showed up at my apartment several evenings this week.”
Belle sighed and sipped her drink.
“You can't date a contestant. You're a judge. As soon as you do something dumb and break her heart, she's going to turn around and sue the production company. Stay away from Holly.”
“But I have her working with me to help win theTechBizcontest,” I countered.
Belle was appalled. “Well then, seriously, don't start anything with her. You're on thin ice,” she warned. “This is a bad idea.”
I knew it was a bad idea. But I couldn't stay away from Holly.
35
Holly
Iwas giddy about seeing Owen the next day.
“What should I wear?” I asked Morticia. I was going to meet him in his office, so it wasn't like we were going to have some sort of torrid affair in the middle of the afternoon.
“Something that makes you look like you aren't there for a booty call.”
I chose a red-and-black pencil skirt, a flowy black top, and a chunky gold necklace with a snowflake pattern. I put my hair up in a bun. Black heels finished the look.
“Do I look like a professional woman?” I asked.
“You look more like Santa's little helper, but sure,” Morticia said, reaching down my shirt to tighten the bra straps and hike my boobs up.
*
I hadmy laptop and my Christmas-themed notebook. The pages were decorated with little Christmas scenes, and it came with several pages of stickers because secretly I'm a twelve-year-old girl. Still, I was nervous as I took the elevator down to the Quantum Cyber offices. I wasn't sure where Owen and I stood.
With all of Owen's complaining about not being at the top of theTechBizlist, when I stepped off the elevator to the company's office, it looked like the headquarters of a successful tech company to me. All the girls wore leggings, boots, and flowy tunic tops. The men were high-end casual in jeans and three-hundred-dollar T-shirts.
“I'm here for a meeting with Owen,” I said after greeting the receptionist. She was wearing a reindeer headband that jingled when she smiled at me.
“Just a moment,” she said.
While I waited, I looked around. The whole headquarters was white marble and glass with blue accents. It was like an abstract winter wonderland. There was a huge atrium that opened up to five stories. There were actual trees inside basking in the winter sun that streamed in from the huge expanse of glass.
“These towers are like another world,” I said.
“I know, right?” the receptionist said as she directed me to the elevator. “I hear you’re here to help us decorate. Can I request those big hanging snowflakes? I want a winter fairy-tale land!”
“Absolutely!”
Owen was seated behind a huge desk in his office. The wall of windows behind him framed him against the winter sky. He looked up at me and smiled imperceptibly.
“Come in, Holly,” he said, standing up. Was it going to be a professional greeting?
Owen wrapped me in his arms and kissed me, his tongue claiming my mouth. Okay, not professional.
“Aren't people going to see in?” I croaked.
“No. Walker's out. My secretary and her wife are taking their dog to a therapy appointment. I had my schedule cleared for you. We're alone.” He leaned down again, tipping my head back to kiss me as his hands roamed over my back and down to cup my ass.
“Though there is a bit too much glass to fuck you on my desk,” he whispered against my mouth.
This was a different Owen than the one I had been dealing with previously, the one who baked cookies and played with his puppy. This Owen Frost was all business. And it seemed that he had zeroed in on one purpose today—me.
