Page 36 of The Long Game

He checks his watch quickly.

"Shoot. I really enjoyed running into you and I’d like to talk a little more, but I have a call with a client in twenty minutes that I need to prepare for," he says reluctantly. I can see it in his face that he is truly disappointed to end our conversation.

"No problem. Now that I know about your mid-morning caffeine fix, I’m sure I’ll see you again," I joke.

"I’ll be keeping a lookout." He winks. "See you soon, Lexi Benson."

He takes a sip of his coffee and walks towards the door. He makes a show of taking in the flavor of the coffee.

"Vanilla… huh, it suits you." He opens the door for another woman coming into the coffee shop and then turns to leave.

For the first time in a long time, I might be ready to move on. To let myself truly consider someone other than Tucker Evans. And maybe Sebastian Clark might be the man for the job.

Chapter Eleven

The Next Day…

Lexi

As I get off on the ninth story that opens to our company’s office suites, I notice a small stir in the office. The front assistant isn’t at her desk and I notice several associates aren’t sitting in their offices, either.

As I make my way further down the hall, I pass the break room. It’s packed with more people than I have seen in the break room at any given time. They're all chatting but I don’t bother to stop – I keep walking.

When I get closer to the executive offices, I hear my father’s booming voice. He’s laughing and carrying on. A smile breaks across my face because my father is such a great storyteller, and I can imagine whoever he is regaling his story to is probably eating up every word.

There’s a second voice, another one I recognize. I slowly creep to the entrance of my father’s office and sure enough, I can see Tucker and my dad laughing. Tucker is sitting on the love seat inmy dad’s office, and my dad is sitting up against his desk with a golf club in one of his hands.

My dad has too many great stories to recall but even with the looming possibility of being spotted by Evans, I can’t hold back as I laugh to myself about a few of the stories my dad has told me in the past.

"Lexi, darling, come in." My dad sees me by the door.

Tucker’s eyes are on me immediately, scanning me from top to bottom. Even though I dress in high fashion every day, I’ll admit that I wore my higher four-and-a-half inch heels and a tight-fitting pencil dress with my hair down, hoping to run into Sebastian again today. Now, I’m feeling a little self-conscious standing in front of Tucker as I witness him lick his lips.

"Look who’s in town and stopped by to pay us a visit," Dad says.

"The prodigal son has returned, I see." I flash Tucker a teasing smile. I already ran from him yesterday; under no circumstances am I about to let him think he’s shaken me.

Tucker gives me a knowing smirk, but I ignore it.

"Why don’t you come in and visit with us?" Dad suggests.

"I’d love to, but this merger won’t close itself. I’d better get back to it. You boys have fun. Tucker, always good to see you."

I don’t wait for a response from either of them. I keep my composure, but I know it’s going to be "telling" soon if I don’t get out of there. Tucker knows my poker face and he knows better than anyone how to manipulate it to show what cards I’m hiding.

As I turn to leave, I hear Tucker get up from the couch and say a few words to my dad.

"Hold up, Lexi," he says as he lightly jogs towards my direction. My office isn’t far from my dad’s and it’s my safe place. I ignore him and attempt to make it to my office as he follows behind me.

He walks in, but, surprisingly to me, he closes the door behind him. My office is practically all glass so viewing privacy isn’t likely, but the glass walls are more sound resistant than you’d think… Lucky me.

"I’m surprised to see you in town," I say.

"It was an urgent thing. My great uncle passed away. I’m helping my dad with funeral arrangements."

"Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know."

"Don’t be. He lived a long life. Never had a wife or kids so he traveled the world. He saw some cool stuff."

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