I look down at my hands. “I’m nowhere near the most valuable person at this company.”
“You are because you’re valuable to me.”
Arguing with him is futile. New tact. “I had an incredible time with you in Maui. It’s something I’ll never forget. But I can’t go back to the way it was.”
“I don’t want to go back to that either.” He sighs. “I’m not very good at this, but I want you in my life. I want you here in the office, keeping me on task and taking care of me at work. And I want you at home, in my apartment and in my bed where I can take care of you.”
I look down. “I love my job, and I love the time we spent together, but I can’t do this.” I can’t tell him it took fourteen calls today from women who are pursuing him, and my self-esteem can’t manage to watch him move on to date someone else after I’ve had a taste.
He looks down at his lap. “I can’t lose you. You’re too important to the company, and to me.”
“I can’t stay.” I look at the pattern on the carpet while I make the decision. “I’ll remain long enough to train someone, but that’s all I can give you.”
Jackson sits back in his chair and turns to look out the window. “That’s not enough.”
“That’s all I can give you.” I need to hold firm. I need to make the choice that’s right for me.
“Where will you stay?”
“I’ll be at Gabby’s for as long as she’ll allow it.”
“You’re always welcome in my guest room.”
That’s a terrible idea. Why doesn’t he see that? “Thank you.”
Chapter 18
Jackson
I’m late for drinks with Mason and Dillon. I need to get my head in the game, but I honestly didn’t sleep last night. Why didn’t Corrine’s roommate tell us where she went? Selfish bitch. She was too busy coming on to me.
I don’t want anyone but Corrine.
I’m grateful she’s agreed to stay—at least for the time being. She can try to find someone else as efficient as she is, and I’ll get to approve or veto. I guarantee there will be nothing more than vetoes in our future. And I won’t let her leave until she fully trains someone to replace her. I will use as much time as it takes for her to realize she belongs here at our company and with me.
I don’t understand what happened. We had a great time in Hawaii. I depend on her for so much, and I’d love to see where we can go personally. It’s been a long time since I’ve been in a relationship—since I’ve even been interested in a real relationship. I won’t be perfect, but Jesus, at least I’m willing to try.
Ben drops me at the Four Seasons, and I head into the Press Club. It’s an excellent place for a discreet meeting, and it’s not too loud. I spot the guys immediately and walk over.
“Nice tan,” Dillon mocks.
“What tan?” I’m confused because I don’t have a tan.
Dillon has a glint in his eye. “My point exactly.” He sizes me up. “No tan means you were inside the entire time, either working or doing someone else.”
I shake my head. I have no desire to share.
“Tell us about the estate on Maui,” Mason urges.
“It’s beautiful. It has several bedrooms in the main house, and there are a few guesthouses. It sits on a peninsula of sorts, surrounded by two-hundred-and-seventy degrees of water, which means every room has a spectacular view. Viviana was in the middle of a renovation, so I had to give them some serious cash to keep it going so they could make payroll. It has almost fifty employees.”
“What do they all do?” Dillon asks.
“Corrine went through it with the majordomo, but it’s security, groundskeepers, and an amazing cook—stuff like that.”
“Maybe you should host the next poker event at your place,” Mason suggests.
“I never thought about the game moving around. Great idea.” It might be fun to have everybody at the house.
We get down to business, and I walk them through my conversation with Jeff Wong.
“Do you think he heard you?” Mason asks.
“He was angry, but I think mostly because he’d been ducking me, and I managed to get to him in the one place he felt absolutely secure, thinking I would never have access.”
Dillon drains his beer. “We’ve lined up an incredible IP attorney who has experience in managing these kinds of trade-secret thefts. She’s drafting documents for the Chinese government.”
“We may also have a small reprieve,” I offer.
“What do you mean?” Mason asks.
“We discovered a flaw. We’ve fixed it, but if Hydro Energy’s in a rush to get it out, they won’t have tested it long enough to see the flaw, which prevents the film from working past thirty days. In a month, their buyers will find they have a panel on their window that doesn’t work and is difficult to remove.”
“There is a God.” Mason looks up to the skies with his arms open.
As we’re finishing our meeting, it’s late, and I realize I’m starved. I don’t want to go home to an empty apartment. I debate all of half a second, and I call Corrine.
“Hello?”
“Hi. It’s me.”
“How was your meeting with the investors?”
“I would’ve rather been with you.”
She doesn’t respond.
“Have you eaten?” I close my eyes and say a silent prayer that she hasn’t.
“No.”
Relief floods through me. “Will you join me for dinner tonight?”
“It’s not a good idea.”
I can talk her into this. I need her, and I need to prove that to her. “I promise I
