"The texture was really unsettling, wasn't it," Nick said, handing in his microphone.
After the filming ended, I waited around for a few minutes, hoping to talk to Chloe. I knew the contestants had a grueling schedule. Chloe was probably too busy doing post–bake-off interviews.
Gunnar saw me standing there.
"I just need to talk to Chloe about the new equipment," I said.
He gave me a look. "They aren't going to be out for a little bit. Maybe you can schedule a meeting with her tomorrow."
"Of course," I said, trying to ignore the part of me that did not want to talk to Chloe about business and instead wanted to do more than lick frosting off of her fingers.
* * *
The filming had ended earlythat day, so I was able to have another meeting with the Platinum Provisions marketing team.
"These are impressive," I said as they showed me the ads and packaging they had created for the Christmas baking sets.
One of the operations managers was in the meeting, and he said, "The factory thinks they are going to have the first shipment ready by next week if we send them the 3D model by tomorrow. We already have preorders on this stuff."
"Your girl, Chloe, has been Instagramming it," Liam added. "People are clamoring for these products. Platinum Provisions’ cooking line is going to be a hot Christmas item."
"The show just filmed a whole episode centering on our snow-maker attachment," I informed the team.
"At least that's a better name than fluffer," Liam said with a snicker. "It sounds like the holidays."
"We're prepping a handout for proper terminology for our products," the marketing director said. "We need the contestants onTheGreat Christmas Bake-Offto use the proper language when referring to our products."
"I'll make sure Dana and Gunnar are aware," I promised.
It was dark when I returned to Frost Tower. Hartleigh was waiting for me. I wouldn't have put it past her to have been waiting in the lobby all day for me to return. Frost Tower didn't have money in the budget to hire a full-time security guard or even a doorman. Of course people weren't renting space here—this tower was a complete disaster.
"I'm busy," I said, brushing past her. She tried to follow me into the elevator.
"Jack, please talk to me!" she said. "Your parents want us to be together."
The elevator doors closed on her. Hartleigh and my parents conspiring against me—that was a chilling thought.
My mind circled back to Chloe. When I was alone in my penthouse, I pulled up her Instagram. Yes, I was now following her on Instagram. I was stalking her like Hartleigh was stalking me.
Chloe was wearing some Christmas pajamas her fans had sent her. She posted a picture of herself wearing them on Instagram. She was in bed with a large mug of hot cocoa with marshmallows cut in the shape of snowflakes. I scrolled through the app back to the pictures of her in the tiny T-shirt and the sexy gingerbread girl costume. I felt my pants grow tight.
"Don't go down that road," I told myself. "She's a contestant." I whistled for Milo and went out for a run to let the cold give me clarity.
17
Chloe
Icould still feel Jack’s lips on my skin, the way he licked my finger.
"If that’s enough to send you into a tailspin," Nina said after I gave her the play-by-play, "then you really need to get laid."
"Yes, by Jack." I clapped a hand over my mouth.
"Hartleigh is going to have a real problem with that," Nina said with a snicker.
"Yeah, and they have some sort of previous relationship." I sagged. "I need to concentrate. I can't afford to be chasing after unattainable men. I need to fix my life; it's in shambles."
"You won the last challenge," she said.
