Page 51 of The Fix Up

“Now’s not the time to be settling down. Now’s the time for relationships that’ll further your career in the long run.”

Ben put his drink down. Is that what Holly was to him? A stepping stone in his career path?

He stood up, suddenly overcome by a need to talk with her, to prove to himself that’s not how things were. That Holly could be more to him than a surface relationship crafted to get him ahead in the business world.

“Where are you going, boy?”

Ben was already out of his seat with his phone gripped in his hand. “I think I need to call someone.”

“Is this someone who can get us ahead with the Kleinberger guys?”

“I suppose so.”

His dad beamed his approval. “Then get to it.”

CHAPTER10

“So let me get this straight,” Miriam said, stretching her long legs out beside Holly’s kitchen table and displaying an impressive pair of red leather Manolo Blahniks. “Ben went down on you at his place, then you sucked him off in our conference room, but you’re totally not breaking your no-sex-with-a-client rule because he hasn’t actually penetrated your vagina with his penis?”

Holly winced and gripped the stem of her wineglass a little tighter. “I know it sounds terrible?—”

“No, it sounds like some sort of weird afterschool special.” Miriam took a sip of her own wine, then reached out and put a hand over Holly’s. “Honey, you think maybe you’re trying a little too hard to stick to these weird, arbitrary rules you’ve invented?”

“I don’t know. Hell, I don’t know anything anymore.” Holly shook her head and grabbed a potato chip out of the bowl at the center of the table. “I thought I found commanding and take-charge men a turnoff, and then I dropped to my knees in front of one.”

Miriam looked thoughtful. “Not all take-charge guys are pigs, you know.”

“I don’t even know if Benisa take-charge guy. Maybe I’m bringing out the worst in him.”

“A guy who can get you off with his tongue or get you on your knees with his science vocabulary doesn’t sound like the worst to me.”

Holly sighed and took another sip of wine. “The thing is, I pegged him as more of a beta guy, which I kinda liked after being with an alpha guy for all those years. So why the hell am I turned on by the alpha version of him?”

“Old habits die hard?”

Holly shook her head. “I don’t think so. He couldn’t be more opposite of Chase if they were a different species.”

“Thank God for that. Speaking of King Asshole, what’s the latest from the bank?”

Holly sighed. “Not much. Obviously, I have to complete the job for Ben Langley before we’re paid in full. The first check helped, but it’s not the full amount I need to refinance the loan so it’s solely in my name.”

“And Chase isn’t budging on his timeline?”

“I haven’t been able to reach him. He’s handling everything through his lawyers, just peppering me with legal documents about how I have until the end of next month to either sell or get his name off the loan.”

“Does he know refinancing a loan when it’s underwater is about as likely as the possibility he’ll spontaneously combust?” Miriam’s eyes lit up. “Hey, there’s an idea.”

“I don’t think he cares.” Holly bit her lip. “Miriam, I’m so sorry. I know it seemed like a good idea when we started out to buy the building. Real estate prices were so low, and having my husband co-sign the loan didn’t seem like such a dumb move at the time. If I’d had any idea?—”

“Don’t,” Miriam said. “You can’t blame yourself. Hell, I wasn’t in a position to get any sort of loan at all. My credit was in shambles back then or I would have helped. This isn’t anyone’s fault.” She cocked her head to one side. “Well, it might be Chase’s fault a little.”

“God, I can’t believe I married a guy who thought my career was his rival.”

“I wouldn’t haveletyou marry him if he’d acted like that at the start. It wasn’t until he started climbing the corporate ladder at his firm that it all seemed to go to his head.”

Holly nodded as her thoughts strayed to Ben. How would the CEO position change him? Polishing his social skills and confidence was one thing, but were there other things about him that might change?

“So back to Ben,” Miriam said, reading her thoughts. “You said he’s showing signs of being a more take-charge guy?”

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