Olivia thumped the phone on the table, face down. “It’s nothing.”
Meera’s laugh was almost a cackle. “Oh, no, my friend, you do not get off that lightly.” She narrowed her eyes. “It was from Connor, wasn’t it? The holiday fling you weren’t going to see again but somehow ended up spending a weekend with and who you now tell all your secrets to when you used to reserve them for me?”
“I didn’t spend the weekend with him,” Olivia said defensively. “Mia and I met up with him andhis daughter.”But now we have phone sex.Lots and lots ofphone sex.
“You’re doing it again.” Meera waved at her. “You’re thinking about sex, aren’t you?”
Bloody hell. She was far better at hiding her feelings than this. With a resigned sigh, she let Meera see Connor’s message.
“Holy shit, is he as hot as his message?” Meera pretended to fan herself. “Nope, don’t want to see you lie your way out of that one, not when your expression says it all. You’re going to say yes to him, right? Even you aren’t pigheaded enough to turn down a night of hot sex.”
Before she could reply, her phone buzzed again.
I can see you read my last message. Come on, Livvy, live a little.
“Was that him again?”
Olivia sighed. “Yes.”
“Impatient.” Meera quirked her lips. “Or really, really keen.”
“Both.”
“Well, go on, put him out of his misery.”
She knew she should reply, but with what?
“That hesitation had better be because you’re not sure whether to sayHell yes,Yes, please,orCan’t wait to see you.” Meera smirked. “Or even better,Can’twait to f—”
“I’ve got it from here,” Olivia interrupted, feeling another burst of warmth rush to her cheeks.
She messaged back with her address and a time. And told herself it would be like having their usual phone call, only in person.
That afternoon she forgot to upload the presentation she’d prepared for Simon’s direct report meeting, then got caught daydreaming when Simon asked her a question.
“Is everything okay?” he asked her as the meeting came to an end.
Ignoring the heat creeping up her neck, she forced herself to look him in the eye. “Everything is fine. I apologize for not being on top of my game this afternoon.”
Over Simon’s shoulder she could see Stuart smirking.
“I trust it’s a one-off.” Simon inclined his head at her and started toward the door. He stopped when he saw Stuart. “Thanks for the analysis of Vortek Technologies. Very astute.”
“What analysis?” Olivia looked from one to the other. “Vortek is in my portfolio.”
“You weren’t there when Simon asked,” Stuart countered smoothly. “Thought I’d do you a favor. One less thing on your to-do list.”
He gave her the sort of placating smile men give women they think are being unreasonable. “How thoughtful,” she gritted out. “But I’m on top of my to-do list, as you’re well aware, having worked with me for so long.” She turned to Simon. “I’d be happy to take a read through Stuart’s analysis, just in case he missed something.”
Simon shrugged. “Fine.” He nodded to Stuart. “I meant to ask, are we still on for golf on Sunday?”
And just like that, she was dismissed.
Olivia seethed quietly as she gathered her things.
“So, Liv, what was up with you today?” His golf plans with the boss settled, Stuart leaned nonchalantly against the door frame. “I’d ask if it was that time of the month, but I’d probably get sacked, and besides, you’re not usually so... absent.”
“My name is Olivia.”
