Page 26 of Tempted

She nods as she types in a message. “Aye. He was reluctant at first, but I reminded him how good you are.”

I feel my face heat.

She glances up and sees it. “Oh, I mean...you as a company.” She clarifies, almost bashfully.

I wave again, feeling slightly embarrassed. “Of course that's what you meant.”

With a smile, she sets her phone back down on the table. “To be truthful, Malcolm, I wasn't sure if you would agree to meeting with me. I know that the way you and I ended was quite unsavory.”

“It was for my Uncle Dougall, as I've mentioned. I suppose that in business, one of the most difficult lessons to learn is to set your personal life aside for business. This is a test.”

“Well, I'm glad that we've both evolved. I'm not the person that I was when we were together, Malcolm. I went through a lot in the last few years, actually. Nothing that I want to get into here, unfortunately. But I believe that people come into your life for a purpose. When we were together, I was a spoiled brat, and I know it. But part of that was fear. I didn't know that at the time, of course. And if I had known then what I know now, I would have ended things a lot sooner, and I wouldn’t have waited until we were both so miserable, and for you to end it. I know that that could not have been easy for you. I just wanted to get that out into the open, so that we can move on.”

Something doesn't add up. “Then why the affair with Rush?” I challenge.

She shrugs. “That was a mistake. And one that I'm still paying for.”

My brows furrow. “What do you mean?”

“I can tell you soon, but not now. There are a few things that I need to figure out first. I know that that doesn't make any sense right now, but trust me, you'll understand when it's time.”

At first, I was starting to feel forgiveness for Clare for her past wrongdoings, but her elusiveness is proving to me that she hasn't changed one bit. She's still a drama queen. Only, now she's slicker about it. Half of me wants to pull out of this business deal that's pending. But a small word of warning to my uncle should fix that. Besides, whatever secrets she's hiding will soon come out, once I get word back to our security team. They'll be able to dig up what she's hiding, and if it will hurt us.

And it's like she's reading my mind. “It has nothing to do with the business, I assure you.”

That's a lie if I've ever heard one. Clare, while slightly less transparent, still holds her cards a little too far from her own face. I make a mental note to have a conversation with Rush and find out what his side of the story is. “I’m sure.” I say, concealing the doubt in my voice by clearing my throat, covering my mouth with a fisted hand. Clare doesn’t pick up on it.

“Anyway, I look forward to doing business with you. Do you feel like I can be your client, or would you rather me deal with Caleb or Ethan, or maybe even Maverick?”

My grin is sly. “How about my Uncle Dougall? Since he likes you so much.” I wink, but I’m thinking that would be the perfect karma for him, since he wanted this account so badly.

Clare finds the humor in that as well. “I’m sure my da’s millions pale in comparison to some of your top clients, Malcolm. Your Uncle Dougall would laugh in my face. I’m surprised that he was so adamant about taking on our account.”

“You’re being modest. I’ve seen your numbers, Clare. You’re in the billions.” I tell her, wondering why she’d even think that I wouldn’t know that. Fool.

Now it’s her turn to wave. She was kidding. Thank God. I was about to stand up and point at her and shout ‘fake!’. Well, not really, but I'm feeling more and more like I’m being played the longer that I sit here with her. Good call on breaking up withher years ago. The more things change the more they remain the same. And for the life of me, I can’t seem to figure out what Rush ever saw in her. Then I remember that I saw some redeeming qualities in her when we first met, too. Her true colors weren’t revealed until much later. When it was too late.

The waitress asks us if we want dessert, and we both look at each other and decline, since we’re both full already. “Maybe we’ll take a rain check?” Clare offers. “This was fun. Unless...well, it’s none of my business...but I didn’t know if this lunch meeting would cause you any problems...personally speaking, that is.”

She’s asking me in a roundabout way if I’m spoken for. I decide that now is the time to set the record straight. “Clare, regardless of my personal life, this is business and will only ever be business.” My tone is slightly clipped, and she picks up on that.

“Certainly.” She nods once, indicating that she understands. “Well, thank you for lunch, Malcolm. It was very nice to catch up with you.”

I tip my head slightly, amicably, and add warmth, but not too much. “Likewise.”

“Well?” Declan says, the second that he sees me enter the office. I’m soaked from head to toe from the rain. I just give him a look and head to my office, so that I can change clothes before my meeting in thirty minutes.

“Uh oh.” He says, almost teasingly, following me.

“Where’s Rush?” I ask, all but stomping to my office.

“I think he’s in with my da, why?”

“I need to speak with him.” I look at Declan. “In private.”

He raises his hands in defense. “Fine, dude. What’s crawled up your ass?”

“I’m soaked, and I need to talk to my brother.”

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