Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 58952 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 295(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58952 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 295(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
Because Lauren Connelly wasn’t anyone’s pushover, and she wasn’t about to start now.
* * *
Chase was in the conference room reviewing a client’s investment portfolio with one of the firm’s junior financial advisors, when he heard raised voices coming from his personal assistant’s desk. Frowning, he paused mid-sentence, and the silence between himself and Gary gave him the chance to overhear the conversation happening just down the hall.
“I’m really sorry that you made a trip here,” Victoria said, sounding flustered, when she was normally so composed. “But I already told you on the phone that Mr. Gossard is not available. He’s in a meeting for the afternoon and asked not to be interrupted.”
That was true. While reviewing the portfolio with Gary, and discussing stock options and other investments for their multibillionaire client, Chase had told Victoria to put all his calls on hold for the afternoon. The last thing he’d wanted was constant distractions diverting his attention.
“That’s fine,” a familiar female voice replied, and there was no mistaking the determination in her tone. “I have nowhere else I need to be for the rest of the afternoon, so I’ll just sit right here in this reception area and wait until he is available, because I’m not leaving until I’ve spoken to him personally.”
Yep, there was only one woman in his recent memory who’d shown such tenacity when it came to dealing with him. Lauren Connelly. Except he had no idea why she’d shown up at his office, when he’d instructed Victoria to call Lauren with what he felt was a very generous offer, in lieu of any weekend with him.
A minute later, his personal assistant walked into the conference room, her face flushed. “I know you said not to bother you, but Lauren Connelly is here,” she said, keeping her voice low.
“I heard,” he said wryly. “Why is she here? Didn’t you get in touch with her earlier about compensating her for the bachelor auction?”
She nodded, wringing her hands together. “Yes, but she wasn’t very happy about the offer, and now she’s insisting on speaking with you personally. She’s adamant that she’ll wait for however long that takes.”
If it had been anyone else who’d been that forward and making demands, he would have been annoyed, but it didn’t escape his notice that he was more curious, than irritated, when it came to Lauren.
He glanced at Gary, a young up-and-coming advisor in their firm, who had a few financial tabs open on his computer. “Let me handle this issue, and then we’ll finish our discussion,” Chase said, standing. “In the meantime, come up with some viable stock options for our client, and we’ll analyze those opportunities when I get back.”
“Will do,” Gary replied, and began tapping away on the laptop’s keyboard.
Chase followed Victoria to the reception area, and as soon as Lauren saw him, she popped up from where she’d been sitting on one of the couches. Her chin lifted stubbornly, and her back straightened, as if she was squaring off to do battle. With him, apparently.
“I know you’re a busy man, but I’m here to tell you that I’m not accepting your bribe.”
Her word choice made him blink in surprise. “My bribe?”
“Isn’t that what that big, fancy weekend package was all about?” she asked, bristling as she strode toward him, then stopped a few inches away. “A bribe so you wouldn’t have to spend a weekend with me?”
She clearly wasn’t happy with the arrangements he’d told Victoria to make, and whatever Lauren’s reasons, he’d rather not have an audience while they discussed them. “Why don’t we finish this conversation in my office, where it’s more private?” he suggested.
“I think that’s a good idea,” she agreed with a decisive nod.
Trying to be a gentleman, he touched his hand to her lower back to guide her down the hall to his office. The silky fabric of her blouse was cool against his fingertips, which quickly gave way to the warmth of her skin beneath. He could have sworn he heard her suck in a breath as he increased the pressure of his palm and ushered her into the room. And that reaction gave him a great sense of satisfaction because he found he liked shaking up this woman’s composure and throwing her off-kilter.
As soon as they were inside, she bolted away, severing the connection between them. But when she turned around to face him, her cheeks were a pretty shade of pink and her eyes reflected that same attraction they’d shared the night of the charity event.
He moved to the front of his desk and instead of sitting behind it, he leaned his backside against the edge, affecting a casual air. “Have a seat, please,” he said, waving his hand toward the two chairs a few feet away.
“I’d rather stand, thank you,” she replied, moving closer, refusing to give him a superior position.