Then I feel a pang of guilt, bonding with her like this. It feels like I am leading her on. After tomorrow, we’ll never see each other again.
She looks up at me, out of the blue. Studying me, like I studied her. Then she closes the drawer and sits on the bed, patting the spot next to her. “Come, sit. I’m bored of snooping, both of you are boring.”
The words are droll, but her expression says she’s messing with me. In a way, it’s kind of sweet.
“Other than both of you being boring, can I ask what you see in him?”
My brain spins into panic mode, something that’s happening a lot lately. Don’t say something stupid, Kaylee. “He’s really sweet.”
She laughs out loud, slapping the bed. “No, he’s not. Try again.”
I sit back and sigh. “Well, believe it or not, he does have a sweet side. You know, the one where he’s kind to the wait staff and, um, patronizes local chocolate companies.”
“Well, that part’s only common sense. Those chocolates are amazing.”
“Thank you.”
“You sure he’s not just marrying you for your chocolate?”
It’s my turn to laugh out loud. “Well, he does have a serious sweet tooth,” I answer.
“Well, I admit I don’t know what you see in my dorky brother, but I do know what he sees in you.”
Another round of panic hits me. “What?”
“Smart, sexy, confident.”
At the moment, I feel none of those things, but I’m not
about to argue. “I’m sure his other girlfriends were great too.” I say it, and I’m sure it’s true. A billionaire can afford to be picky.
“Ha! No,” she says, “Chase played the field, but trust me, there weren’t a lot of winners. And none of them were willing to stick around when things got real. You’re different.”
I wonder if Ashley would still be this nice to me if she knew I was poor and not the wealthy entrepreneur philanthropist chocolate mogul that Chase made me out to be.
I swallow and find myself at a loss for words. I don’t know that I’m any different than those other girls he dated. Well, other than me striking a verbal monetary arrangement with him. And truth be told, I am starting to care about him. That’s bad for me. Hell, I’m starting to care about his sister, too. I must be hopeless.
She looks up at me and blinks, like she’s breaking out of a trance. I wonder if the conversation has freaked her out as much as it has freaked me out. We both chuckle nervously.
She speaks first. “I say we get back to your chocolate. What did you say it’s called?”
“Scrumptious.”
She jumps up and shakes her head on her way to the door. I shrug and follow. I guess eating chocolate is better than the awkward conversation we’re having right now.
She throws the bedroom door open and we both stride through. “Well, your chocolate is amazing. I want some more. Care to join me?”
I follow her out into the main room of the suite and then glance over at where Chase and Liam are deep in conversation still. And still about real estate specifics, by the sound of it. Only the tone of the conversation is now interested, engaged, and conversational instead of confrontational and hostile. It sounds like a win to me.
“No, thanks. I think I’ll join the guys,” I say as I focus on Chase’s face. I see his green eyes flash and his hair is slightly mussed, probably from running his hand through it. Which he does when he’s nervous or stressed. It makes him look less stuffy, more down to earth. It’s the side of him I like most.
Crossing the room, I take my place next to Chase where I fully intend to look supportive and feign interest in the details of the possible real estate transaction for as long as I can manage. I can only hope it doesn’t drag on too much longer.
Chase looks up and flashes me a smile and grabs my hand, giving it a squeeze without even taking a breath from the conversation he’s in. It’s clear that he’s having a good time.
I peer at the laptop screen and see the board of directors. Liam must have switched it from the smaller phone screen while I was in the bedroom with Ashley.
I see the board members sitting forward in their chairs, well most of them. I stare at the screen some more until I pick out Mark.
It’s obvious which one he is. Instead of sitting forward, he sits back in his chair, eyes glazed over, resting his chin on his hand. This has not gone the way he had hoped. Thank goodness for that. He looks seriously upset, like he’s a Pitbull and somebody has taken away his chew toy.
Chase finishes off the conversation with a clap of his hands and a huge grin. “So, lovely board of directors, what do you say? Are you ready to name me CEO?”
“Hey,” Mark objects.
The board members all turn their attention back to Mark, who holds up his hands. “Okay, I have to admit this evening is just one surprise after another. You two, despite the facts, certainly seem happy. And the property you’ve put an offer on is um, cute.” He stands up.
“Congratulations,” Mark continues like the slimy corporate shark that he is, “to both of you. Really. But I’m not quite finished with the report. It’ll be soon, though. Promise. Tomorrow afternoon the latest. I ask the board to give me these few hours more to finalize my report before we take a formal vote on the matter. And now, if you’ll excuse me, I have work to do.”
Chase glares at Mark through the screen. The animosity between the two is palpable, even online. In any case, the board all nod their heads, and everybody says their goodbyes. Then the laptop meeting screen goes blank and it’s just the
