Page 38 of Nefarious
Though really, it was his own fault for giving into a decade-old fantasy. But how could he have turned her down when she stood alone at midnight, wanting him after so many years, giving him a chance he’d stopped even considering an option? Whenshekissedhim, he went for it because that chance might never come again. He didn’t really think through all the ramifications. And she’d reacted more passionately than he’d dared dream. That night, he opened himself up to her, gave himself totally, and believed it could be the first night in many.
He’d thrown his cards on the table and lost.
He sighed.Women. Can’t live with them, can’t blackmail them into loving you forever.
Dane,
Hi. I sent you an invitation to meet me for coffee yesterday, but I don’t think you ever saw it. I know you’re busy during the day, but I’d really like to meet at some point and talk. Are you free later this afternoon? I’m not going to take silence as a refusal. Please respond.
Noelle Constance | CEO Fleetwood Capital LLC
Val’s door opened, and Dane strode in without knocking first. He hadn’t walked into her office in so long, he looked completely out of place. Val closed her laptop and leaned back in her chair, curious to find out what occasion had brought him out into the open.
“You sure you don’t want to meet someplace more clandestine?” She’d never cared who saw them together, although with the events of the past week, it might be better for Noelle to remain unaware of their alliance.
He glanced back through the window in her door. “No, I just need you to answer a quick question. Have you been in touch with our old board members?”
Val scanned her memory. “Not lately. Why?”
“Apparently Noelle has been contacting them.”
“Oh, has she? Interesting.” Val filed that away. “That won’t look good if she requires a restraining order after you dump her.”
A line creased his forehead. “I hadn’t thought of that.” He settled into a chair. "Why is she investigating me in the first place?”
“Do you think it’s a coincidence she started asking about you after you let her know you wanted to take her out?” Val held her hands on her lap so Dane wouldn’t see them shake. It irritated her to have to turn him and push him in the right direction, especially when that direction was toward another woman.
“So you think she’s vetting me?” He shifted his eyes. “This could work out in my favor.”
When he looked that cocky, Val had an urge to grab his tie, wrap it around her wrist, and push his chair back into the corner, out of view of anyone peering through the small window. She’d lock the door and unzip his pants.
“Val?”
Val blinked. “Yes, yes. She’ll find out what a great guy you are and fall into your arms. Wedding bells will ring. Now could you please get out of my office? Some of us actually do work around here.”
Dane smiled as he left Val’s office. He’d only stepped in to destabilize her. He knew how jealous she grew of other women, and he wanted to make sure she’d be eager to consummate the promised affair. She’d rebuffed him long enough.
When he returned to his office, Selena was swiveling in his chair. “Hello. Are you ready to show me more about securities?”
She’d dressed in quintessentially schoolgirl attire. Short skirt, high stockings, penny loafers, and a short plaid tie around her unbuttoned shirt collar. He swallowed. “Aren’t you supposed to be with the other interns until noon?”
“Ugh. They’re going through the Fair Credit Reporting Act.” She rolled her eyes. “I’m already aware of the regulations.”
He sat on the edge of his desk, conscious of the schoolmaster position this put him in. “What responsibilities does a bank have when it uses a consumer report?”
“It must disclose the cause of a denial of credit to the consumer.”
“Does it?”
She hesitated with a pout. “No, wait. It just has to disclose that—”
“Off you go.”
She wrinkled her nose. “I can read about all that later. I’d rather stay here and get the kind of training I won’t get from the books.”
A responsible mentor wouldn’t have entertained her obvious manipulation. He had theoretical obligations after all. There was a weekly meeting with his developers that he really ought to attend. He rarely showed up for them though. He’d put project leads in place to handle the day to day. They’d alert him if they hit any major roadblocks or needed input. “Go grab your laptop.”
She raced out of the room, beaming. Dane adjusted his pants.
