Page 28 of Lying Lainey

“Then I shall leave you to it,” he said, reaching for the door handle. “Please be ready to leave by four-thirty. Our meeting is at five.”

“I’ll be ready and waiting,” I assured him. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience not only to be at the restaurant but to prove my worth to you.”

He gave me a lingering look, his gaze softening as I earned a genuine smile from him. “I’m looking forward to it.”

Taking a deep breath, I walked back to my desk and sat. “Let’s get down to business.”

twelve

Lainey

Halstead had thought of everything for his employees down to a locker room on the lower level next to the company gym. Taking a peek at the gym, it wasn’t anything extravagant, but it covered everything someone would need if they wanted to use it during their lunch break or even after work. The locker room was well maintained and had most things you could need from lockers, changing rooms, showers, and even a steam sauna I would need to try out another day.

Taking one last look in the full-length mirror, I pinned back an unruly strand of hair into the chignon hairstyle I’d thrown together. The dress demanded a classic look, and that’s what I was giving it—a soft, smoky eye made the green in my hazel eyes pop, bold red lipstick, and subtle blush. Since the dress was a champagne-color gold, I went with rose gold for the earrings that dangled but not adding anything else accessory-wise. This was dinner after all, not a gala like a few nights ago. In fact, I felt like this might be a tad too much, but none of the other dresses would have worked.

It didn’t matter now. There was no time to make any changes. It wouldn’t be the first time I’d drawn attention for going a bit overboard or the last. Of course, those had been a character I was playing, but so was this if I were being honest. Yes, Elaine might be the closest to who I think of myself to be, but I hadn’t been Lainey Caddel since I was eighteen. If someone asked me what I truly liked, not what I thought I should or needed to like, I don’t know if I could answer that.

With a glance at my watch, I hurried to collect my things to head back upstairs. When I stepped out of the elevator, Kerian was coming out of his office wearing a sharp, light gray three-piece suit that had a slight sheen to it. We spotted each other at the same time and froze in the middle of the hallway.

“You look stunning,” he said at the same time I spoke. “That suit looks amazing on you.”

He laughed and did a little twirl. “This old thing? I have to be honest… when it comes to suits, they are not my area of expertise. You’ll have to thank Quintin for this ensemble.”

“What am I being thanked for?” Quintin asked, preoccupied with fixing a cufflink to his shirt with his tux jacket slung over the other arm.

Stepping forward, I stilled his hand. “Here, let me. It’s kind of an awkward angle, isn’t it?”

Quintin froze under my touch, and I was worried that I’d done something to upset him. Yet when I met his gaze, I only saw surprise and appreciation as he took me in.

“Thank you…” he said absently, holding out his wrist.

The cufflinks were of a tree, not the typical Tree of Life symbol, but something else. “Do these mean something or just a show of appreciation for nature?” I asked as I got the branch that had been stuck in the buttonhole free.

“They’re oak trees that represent strength, stability, and endurance. All things I feel I’m rather lacking in, so Kerian got me these to remind me that isn’t true,” Quintin answered, far more honestly than I ever expected.

Giving his wrist a gentle squeeze before releasing him and stepping back, I smiled. “I know we’ve only just met, but it’s rather obvious to me that he’s right. No one can handle the work you do without those qualities. Not to mention, from what I hear, Enigma wouldn’t be what it is today without your skills.”

“That is very kind, Elaine, and I’m glad you believe that. Sometimes it’s hard to trust what someone says when they love you and want to see you happy. You have no need to cater to my emotional well-being, so I find it easier to hear and accept if that makes any sense,” Quintin shared as he pulled on his jacket.

“I understand that logic completely,” I admitted.

“Then please accept the truth of my words when I say you look ravishing in that dress. Not to say you don’t always have impeccable style, but this look you’ve pulled off is just beautiful,” Quintin whispered, holding my gaze with his deep green eyes, revealing the sincerity behind his words.

A reaction I never expected occurred as my cheeks burned with a blush, and I dropped my eyes. Combining his sweet words with his bright green tea and ginger scent had me all kinds of flustered, to the point I thought I would have to fan myself.

“Thank you,” I murmured, pressing the back of my hand to my cheek to cool off the reaction.

“Oh good, you’re all her—” Halstead started to say but stopped when his attention landed on me. “I think we need to cancel this meeting,” he decided abruptly.

Frowning, I turned to face him. “Why on earth would we do that? I know I forwarded the information I found on them, but every company has a few skeletons in its closet. None of them were bad enough to warrant not speaking with them,” I reasoned.

“I don’t think that has anything to do with why he wants to cancel,” Kerian commented.

“Oh,” Quintin blurted. “I didn’t see the back of this dress yet, but now I understand.”

Glancing over my shoulder at him, I cocked a brow. “Care to enlighten me because I have no idea what the back of my dress has anything to do with this matter?”

“It has everything to do with this matter,” Halstead practically growled. “The owners of Solarbyte are young men in their late twenties. They will have no idea how to act around a woman of your caliber, not to mention I don’t want them gawking and drooling over my assistant.”