Page 8 of Checkmate
It was Alex’s number one rule and Sophie hated him for it. She hated herself for going along with it. She should tell him to fuck off. Instead, she nodded in agreement.
“I’ll see you in my office for lunch. Why leave if we won’t eat much?” He winked at her before turning towards his office before she could reply.
If she was a smart woman, she’d leave him waiting in his office with blue balls. But she wasn’t a smart woman. She desperately wanted his attention, and she’d be there in his office as soon as the clock struck twelve, demanding he buy her the lunch he promised her.
If she couldn’t have her fantasies, this was the next best thing. Even if it hurt her ego, she’d run to him whenever he called.
Unfortunately for her, she was already too far into their affair to stop herself.
Chapter 3
Alex
Alex was in an excellent mood.
Today, he had done what he thought was impossible and secured the most lucrative deal for his company.
They still had to iron out the details, but that wasn’t a big deal. This contract was in the bag as far as he was concerned.
He’d been wooing the Morgan company for months, trying everything in his repertoire to convince them he was the right fit for them, and for months they sat on the fence unsure whether to take the leap.
After exhausting all his tricks, he was ready to throw in the towel until a conversation with Erica reignited the fire inside him.
“Your success has inflated your ego,” she had told him. “Yes, you’re making good money, and you’re growing as a company all the time. But you’re still a fledgling in the grand scheme of things. You expect these people to fall at your feet, thanking you for your service without giving them a reason to.”
“That’s unfair,” he’d replied, swirling his drink in the glass. “I’ve given them no reason not to trust me, and my work speaks for itself.”
“But you haven’t given them a reason to trust you either. Look, in a society where an unpopular opinion can destroy your career, people need to know how and why you have their back. Why are you different from any other PR company offering the same promises? Make your weaknesses your strength.”
She was right.
As soon as Alex arrived this morning, he had drafted an email to the CEO of the Morgan company and used Erica’s words to sell himself and his work.
Yes, he was a newcomer onto the scene and, yes, there were more established companies out there. But just as reputation was important to his client, it was equally important to him.
He was the perfect person to represent their company because they would grow together. They wouldn’t find someone more meticulous than him, because he couldn’t afford to be anything but exemplary.
They had replied within the hour, agreeing to one last meeting to see if they could work out a deal that benefited them both.
Grinning to himself, Alex leaned back in his chair, staring at the confirmation email. He’d fucking done it.
Erica had fucking done it!
Once again, she reminded him how valuable she was to his success. His good luck charm. Since the day they had met, she was his driving force, his reason to be better. He wanted to give her the entire world and everything her heart desired. She deserved it, and more.
And here she was, once again, his inspiration and reason for his success.
He grabbed his phone, his fingers tapping on the screen as he wrote her a message.
Always my muse. Forever my cheerleader. Think I’ve secured that contract, and it’s thanks to you. Gonna buy you something pretty. Love you.
Pocketing his phone, he stretched out, ready to grab his coat and spend his lunch finding something for Erica.
Until a knock at the door halted him in his tracks.
“Come.”
Sophie opened the door, already in her jacket, offering him a tentative smile. Dammit, this was the second time today he had forgotten his promised lunch with her.
