Page 42 of Everything She Wanted

“You’re making excuses,” he says, challenging me.

“Am not,” I say childishly.

“You are.” He matches my tone.

He settles himself on one of the chairs across from the desk. “I’m going to sit here until you send them.” He gives me one of his smirks.

“I’m sure you have more important things to do than sit in my office all day.”

“I can clear the afternoon,” he says, leaning back and resting his hands behind his head. My stomach flips and it’s a struggle not to smile at him. He’s taunting me.

“Fine. I’ll send it in a bit,” I lie.

“I don’t know if I can trust you.”

He has no idea the game I’m playing, and I don’t know if I can trust myself either.

“I just want to look them over one more time.”

“Show me the email and I’ll help look it over.”

“Fine,” I relent. “But it’s just because I don’t want you sitting in my office all day.” I give him an over-exaggerated glare.

“You’re right. I’m too much of a distraction.”

My hands pause on the keyboard mid-strike. Now he’s flirting with me.

“I don’t get distracted easily.” I look over and allow a soft smile.

Be professional.

He moves closer. So close, I can smell his sandalwood and pine cologne.

I try not to inhale it in desperate gasps.

“Oh, no? Let me see the email.”

I pull it up and turn the screen his way.

He takes the wireless keyboard from me, lightly brushing my fingers in the process, and I tingle all over.

He reads it over, and before I can stop him, he hits send.

“I can’t believe you just did that.” I look at him, feeling both petrified and excited.

“I like to keep you on your toes.” He puts the keyboard back in front of me and turns the screen back to face me.

“We’ll go celebrate when you hear back.” He gives me a wink as I watch him leave.

They’d better email back—because I need to know exactly what he has in mind.

15. #EmpoweredWomen

On Wednesday evening in Minneapolis, Nick and I wander into the large conference hall and the familiar unease of being in large, crowded spaces starts rushing through me. This time, though, I’m excited too. I finally have a chance to prove myself, and despite my nerves, I pull myself together and get ready to make small talk.

I’m waiting for Nick to leave my side any second, as he mentioned he knows a lot of people here, but he doesn’t. He stays by my side and points out the hosts of the seminars we’ll be attending tomorrow, the keynote speaker for the event, and even our competitors who’ll be pitching to investors alongside us tomorrow afternoon.

“Well, if it isn’t my favourite IT consultant.” A beautiful woman with curly black hair and dark brown flawless skin comes up to us. I clench my jaw.