Chapter Twenty-Five
Trace
There was aknock at my door and I lifted my head, grateful for the distraction.
“Come in.” Lena ducked inside. As soon as I saw her expression, I knew something was up. “What’s wrong?”
“There’s a woman here to see you. She’s waiting in reception and making quite a scene.”
“What the fuck?” I muttered to myself, getting to my feet with concern. “Did she say who she is?”
“No. She said she’s your girlfriend. I’ve seen her before but just can’t place where.”
Kelsey immediately popped in my head. Was she that crazy to come to my office disrupting everything? I sighed.Yeah.Panic set in. The last thing I needed was her making a scene.
“Bring her in,” I ordered. After our phone conversation, I hadn’t heard from her, so I figured she’d shelved the idea of reuniting and moved on. I’d been so busy at work and spending time with Cierra that I didn’t think anything about it.
I smiled when Cierra flitted through my mind. She was so amazing, and I loved spending time with her. Another shocker for me since I’d never done that with other women. But then she wasn’t “another woman” she was Cierra.
“Will do,” Lena said as she stepped out of the room.
I collapsed back into my chair.Shit. How did she get in here in the first place?Didn’t we have some kind of sensors on the door that kept out all desperate exes? If not, then that would be the next kind of technology we poured our time and money into. I knew a hell of a lot of people who would pay for that. I’d buy twenty just for myself.
A few minutes later, the door to my office burst open and Kelsey stood there looking at me with a tear-streaked face and wobbling lip. I got to my feet and ushered her in, closing the door behind her and hating that she’d exposed me to the inevitable office gossip that I was sure Lena was chomping at the bit to start spreading. If this got back to my grandfather, I’d never hear the end of it. Thomas Lindernevermixed business with personal things, and having a weeping ex causing a scene at Velocity would justify a hanging at the gallows.
“Kelsey, what the fuck are you doing here?”
She rolled her eyes and brushed away the tears from her face. “I deserved to see you in person, don’t you think? Especially after everything you put me through.” She lifted her chin, acting like she was on some kind of noble crusade.
Glancing at my desk, the stack of files reminded me how much work I had. Irritation pricked my skin. “What the fuck are you talking about? You’re the one who fucked my best friend, remember?”
“It wasn’t like that,” she whined, her voice taking on a childlike edge that just served to irritate me more.How in the hell did I ever actually date this woman? What was I thinking?Had I been that desperate to get laid that I had overlooked the obviousness of the fact that she was… well, kind of a nightmare?
I held up my hand. “I don’t want to rehash all this. It’s done and we’re finished. You need to move on. I’ve already given you enough of my time. I want you to get out of here and never come back, or I’m going to call security and get a restraining order so you can’t burst into this place again. Do you understand that?”
Her eyes narrowed to slits. “What’s going on with you and Cierra?”
It was as though she’d doused me in cold water. “I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about,” I replied, waving my hand to dismiss her, but she took a step toward me, a cruel grin cracking out over her face. She knew she’d found some ammunition that, in her twisted mind, she could use to manipulate me. But she was wrong.No one manipulates me. Ever.
She cocked her head at me. “Yes, you do. She was asking about you, you know. Asking what you were like. I know she likes you and I know you can’t resist a woman, no matter if they’re your type or not. I know you’re fucking her. I wonder what your grandfather or the board of directors would think about their CEO opening them up to a sexual harassment suit.”
I kept my face impassive. “Did you tell Cierra the truth about our breakup?”
She gripped the edge of the desk. “So it’s ‘Cierra’ and not ‘Ms. Duncan’ anymore?” A dry cackle burst through her lips.
“I’m going to take that as a no.”
“Actually, I told her you were a womanizing asshole. Did you really think I’m going to tell her the truth? Why would I dothat? It’s not like you’re going to think about getting back together with me if I do.”
“You’re damn right about that, so your plan for us to get back together is nothing more than a pathetic pipedream. I have work to do.”
“Whoever told you I wanted to get back together with you is full of shit. I have plenty of men interested in me. I don’t need or want you.”
“Then why are you here? Did you think you’d try for a second chance at the family fortune? You’re so damn transparent.”
“It’s not like that, Trace. Give me some credit—”
“For what? For cheating on me and then coming back to me after Jason dumped you? Do you want credit for lying to Cierra about why we broke up and making me the bad guy?”
