“I won’t let my personal feelings get in the way of this job. I’ll bring the same professionalism and preparation to this assignment as I do everything else.”
“I expect nothing less. Now I’m going to call Tyson, get him up to speed.”
Discomfort makes me shift in my seat. I close my portfolio. “I’ll leave so you can talk to him privately.”
“No, stay. We’ll need to talk through a few things together. Give me a few minutes to send this email and we’ll call.” She turns to her computer. I can’t scream out loud, but I let my mind have it.
I wasn’t just blowing smoke when I told her I wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize my job here. Without it, I’d still be stalled out in a puddle of my failures and regrets.
I’d rather stick pins under my fingernails than talk to Tyson. But I’ve learned that the true test of how important something is to you isn’t how hard you’re willing to work for it, it’s how much you’re willing to suffer.
So I’m going to sit here, take notes, and ask questions.
Tomorrow, I’ll go to Paris and make everyone think I’m his girlfriend and make sure the company we’re thinking about buying is sound.
But it’s going to be hard as hell. Surrounded as I am by his family, it’s impossible to pretend he doesn’t exist, and there’s always something to remind me of him. So despite the months that passed since I saw him, the burn of humiliation of the things I said and the rejection he dealt me still sit a little too close to the surface.
“Siri, call My Baby.”
Surprised that she’s calling Max while I’m sitting here, my head whips up. But before that surprise can settle, the call rings once and goes to voicemail.
“You’ve reached Tyson, I’m not available to take your call. If you’d like me to return it, send me a text. Otherwise, leave me a message at the beep.”
“I’ve told him to change that absurd message a hundred times,” she grumbles and disconnects.
I press my lips together and drop my eyes to my notebook, scribbling gibberish until I’m sure I’ve got control of the laugh that wants to burst out of me.
Tyson is My Baby. Not Max. I already know he’s not the unflappable, untouchable, ruthless task master he wants the world to believe he is. But hearing his mother call him My Baby almost makes me sad that he didn’t answer.
Almost. Mostly, I’m just relieved. “I guess we’ll have to do this by email, then.” I drop my notebook into my tote bag.
“No, just a minute. His phone is always on that ridiculous do not disturb. He’ll see it and call me back. You can work in here until he does.”
Like hell. I shoot out of my seat and start backing toward the door. “I need to be connected to the VPN to access some of my databases, and the list of attendees is long.”
She glances irritably at her computer screen.
My heart is racing. He could call back any second, and I don’t want to be here when he does. “I’ll just go get started. If he calls, you can ask Emily to patch me in.”
“Fine. If I haven’t heard back by noon, I’ll start an email thread.”
“Thank you, I’ll look forward to it.” And then pray like hell that whatever he’s doing keeps him until then.
6
I Guess That Backfired
Tyson
I checked my phone after a long morning of meetings to find a text from my mother that said,
I don’t know why you never answer your phone. Check your email, I have an assignment for you.
I only read the first paragraph before I stop and call her back.
She answers on the first ring, and then my phone starts to alert me that she wants to FaceTime.
“I read your email, and I’m confused,” I say as soon as I see her face.
Her dark eyes narrow, and she purses her lips. “There was nothing ambiguous in that email. What exactly is confusing you?”
I square my jaw and shake my head. “Why am I going to do Erin Canterbury’s job for her? Didn’t you hire her over me because you thought she was a better candidate?”
“She’s been terminated.”
I almost drop my phone. “What? When?”
“Officially, today.”
“Why?”
“She violated the terms of her contract. That’s all I can say for now. Do you have any more questions?”
“Yes, why do I need a date?”
“She’s not really your date. She’s only pretending to be so that you can focus on what you do best.”
“Okay, but why her? I have a dozen women I can call right now who won’t require you to buy a train ticket and pay through the nose for a hotel.” The last thing I need is Hurricane Dina’s fine ass anywhere near me and my neatly ordered life.
“Besides the fact that espionage is her trade, I think she’s exactly who people would expect Tyson Wilde to be with if his taste in women reflected his taste in everything else. And unlike any of the women you’re likely to have on speed dial, I know we can trust her.”
I grit my teeth. “That was ten years ago. When are you going to stop throwing that back in my face?”
“Well, Tyson, people don’t change. You lose focus when your feelings are involved. So think of me sending Dina as me giving you the support you need to be successful.”
“Right.” If only she knew that success is the very last thing Dina is wishing for me right now.
I cross my arms over my chest and lean back in my chair. “Good luck convincing her to do it.”
She mimics my pose. “You can wipe that smirk off your face, I already have.” Her smile is gloating.
I sit up straight in my chair, beyond the point of feigning nonchalance. I thought hell would freeze over before Dina would agree to come within ten feet of me. “Did she ask for a raise first?”
“She smiled and thanked me for the opportunity. Unlike you, she understands the meaning of the word employee.”
I stiffen at the underlying implication in her tone, but I don’t take the bait. I don’t have time for the argument that would lead to. “I didn’t say no. I just voiced my objection. I don’t think I need her, but if you do, then fine.”
“That’s good to hear.” Her imperious nod of approval is the same one she used to give me for eating all my vegetables. She has never stopped seeing me as the child who needed a lot of help.
I’m ready for the call to be over. “Fine. So besides going to butter him up so he’ll want to sell the business to us, we want to make sure we get information that he might not have disclosed?”
“Precisely. Dina will arrive tonight—”
My stomach dips. This is happening too fast. “Tonight? I thought you said Friday night.”
“That’s when you need to be at Le Meurice—that’s where you’re staying. But she’ll need the day to shop for her weekend wardrobe.”
I snort a derisive laugh. “Oh, so that’s what it’s costing you. A weekend at Le Meurice, shopping in St. Germain with your black card, a night at a chateau. Is she coming over on the company jet, too?”