Page 42 of Return on Love

I feel my cheeks burn up at the insult. I see Ryan clenching and unclenching his jaw. But we need to maintain the cover.

“Eva’s great,” Gabriel says before Ryan can speak up. “She’s gelling well with the entire team and has quite a decent understanding of the industry.”

Ryan shakes his head. Poor Gabriel. He doesn’t know we have to play Weber. He has just come to my rescue, so that Weber can’t taint my reputation. The poor dear.

“Really?” Weber is clearly astonished that all his efforts at making me seem incompetent seem to have failed. “That’s… that’s great.”

“But, y’know, she’s a little disinterested. For example, she hasn’t come to the meeting again,” Ryan says, as he picks up his phone and types something.

“But that’s because…,” Gabriel starts, but then we hear his phone pinging. Probably the message from Ryan. And he stops.

“Yeah, you were saying?”

“I mean, yeah, she left office early, that’s what I was saying. I’ll send you the projections and the presentation by next Friday. Have to drop off now, so please excuse me.” Gabriel drops off the call. I can’t help but smile as Ryan licks Weber’s ass a little more before finishing the call. Gabriel is also in the room by then.

“What’s happening? Is this like a spy movie or something? Why don’t I know anything about it?” His gaze oscillates between the two of us.

“It’s nothing. Just that Weber is plotting something in Eva’s firm. And he’s using all of us as his pawns. We’re just trying to let him think we know nothing, but we’ll do what’s best for MooreGames and for Bernard,” explains Ryan.

“But what about the funding? When he realizes we’re just playing him, won’t he stop the funds?”

“He might. I hope if we get the presentation in front of the partners, Weber’s criticism will have a lower impact. Plus, if getting funds means putting Eva… or Bernard under the bus, I’m not doing it.”

I feel a gush of warmth flow through me. It's nice to know someone has your back.

After a mini-beer-party, we all disperse. Ryan, as usual, drops me home. I don’t even find it weird anymore. It’s our thing. I’ve had only two beers. I don’t want Ryan to see me in an inebriated state again. But, as we walk home, he holds my hand. “Just to keep you steady,” he says, smiling. “Good, that you’re not wearing heels.”

I’m in half a mind to protest and tell him I’m not drunk, but I like the feel of his hand. My hand disappears inside his palm. As we near my building, his grip tightens a little. I turn around. My head barely reaches his shoulder.

“You wanna come in?” I ask, batting my eyelids a little, and just as I do, I feel a little foolish and a little slutty. First, I’ve never done this kind of thing before—trying to get a man inside the house. I’ve had more practice of sending them off from the door. Second, and more importantly, I don’t want to spoil what we have. The more I get to know this man, the more my hate reduces. I wonder if there’s any hate left? I feel I can trust him despite his gender. Perhaps we can even be friends… with benefits? More likely it’s just the beer doing a number on my brain and my sex-starved body is rising to the occasion and opportunity.

“Not when you’re drunk,” he whispers. He lowers his face and I tilt my head, close my eyes, and pout my lips, waiting to feel the warmth of his lips upon mine. But it doesn’t happen. I feel his lips brush against my forehead before he disengages himself.

I hold on to his hands as he slides them away, increasing the distance between us. How I wish I could make him stay. My brain tells me it’s a bad idea but my body wants it… badly. I want to continue the kiss we had. But he doesn’t. He’s made it quite clear, multiple times.

He waits outside till I’m safely inside the gates. As soon as I switch on the lights in the house, he calls me. “I’ll call you tomorrow. Sleep well.”

“Gnite.”

Chapter 14

“Once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny.”—Yoda

The next morning, when I wake up, I see a message from Alex. “Dad wants to meet you this Sunday before you go back next week. Let's meet for lunch at the same place, unless you have another restaurant in mind.”

I’d told Alex that my project might get over sooner than expected. Of course, I didn’t expect him to tell Dad, otherwise, I would’ve just left next week and told them later that it was sudden. I mean, officially, I still don’t know, right? But the deed is done.

Maybe I should just say no. I’d love to see Dad’s reaction when I do that—his children defying his orders. At least he talks to Alex, maybe even cares about him. But for me, he’s communicating through my brother. He can’t even message me himself! Anyway, I don’t respond to him just yet. My brain is still half-asleep.

The second message is from Lily. “Call me when you see this.”

I quickly wash my face and make some coffee before settling down on the couch and calling Lily.

“What’s up, Lils? All okay?”

“No. I don’t think so. Yesterday evening I saw Bernard and Weber arguing. I couldn’t hear anything from outside the room. But I asked Gordon what was up between them. He said Weber has been telling everyone that Bernard is hiding the truth about his clients’ actual financial situation from the firm.”

“What! That can’t be true. I mean, everyone knows Bernard is an epitome of honesty. Who’d believe Weber.”

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