Page 32 of Unraveling the Truth About Love
Twenty minutes later, he was reaching for his coat and keys when there was a soft knock at the door and Claudia pushed it open.
“I saw the line light go off. Have a minute?” She didn’t wait for an answer.
Josh leaned against his desk and glanced at his watch.“Just one,” he said.
She sat on the couch, her leather skirt hiked up to the top of her thighs. She swung her long legs out and crossed them at the ankle. “Riley’s making strides,” she said.
Josh let out another relieved sigh. “That’s great.”
“She’s got a long way to go, but I think she’s really working hard to find her way.”
“She’s very talented. I wouldn’t expect anything less.”
Claudialeaned forward, her elbows on her knees. Her blouse bloomed open, revealing more cleavage and the edge of a lacy cream bra. Josh averted his eyes.
“You’re making me nervous,” Claudia said. “Can you just sit for a minute? I don’t bite.”
He half expected her to say,Unless you want me to.He didn’t budge. “What’s up, Claudia?”
She pursed her lips. “I just thought we should catch up a bit. Wehaven’t really spoken about anything…special…you wanted me to do lately. You know, designs, or any special preps for the Bliss line. I just wanted to be sure I was prepared forwhateveryou might need.”
Josh swallowed the bile that rose in his throat. Claudia was an attractive woman, and there was no denying her seductive ways, which might strike a powerful hold on a different sort of man. ButClaudia’s blatant abuse of Josh’s loyalty to her uncle repulsed him, and as he watched her playing out her seductive ruse, he wondered if his loyalty to Peter was worth it.
She dug around in her enormous Louis Vuitton bag. “I met someone the other day, an editor forVogue. Someone new.”
“Someone new? I haven’t heard of anyone new coming toVogue.” Now he was interested. Surely his publicistwould have the details before Claudia.
“He’s not there yet. But he will be.” She looked up quickly, and the contents of her purse dumped over her legs and onto the floor. “Oh, shoot. I’m so sorry.”
Josh bent forward to help her pick up her belongings. With a handful of lipstick containers, eyeliner, and her wallet, he lifted his eyes to return them and came up eye to eye with Claudia, her lipsan inch from his.
“Thank you,” she whispered. She ran her tongue slowly over her lower lip. “I really appreciate how highly you think of me, Josh, and if ever I can do anything for you…” She let the end of her sentence hang in the air between them.
Josh pushed to his feet at the same time she did and they knocked heads. Claudia’s lips brushed his cheek, and she grabbed her forehead.
“I’m sorry,”Josh said. “Are you okay?” This was the last thing he wanted to deal with.Freaking Claudia.Did she have to pull this right now?
“Yeah,” she whispered. “Oh, gosh, I got lipstick on you.” She rubbed his cheek with a firm stroke of her thumb.
Josh stepped back. “I can get it,” he snapped. He grabbed a tissue from the desk and swiped at his cheek. “Claudia, I know you’re willing to…go the extramile to become a designer.”
“Yes, I am,” she said with lust-filled eyes.
“No one sleeps their way to the top at JBD. Skills will get you where you want to be. Spend some time coming up with fresh ideas; no more new takes on old themes. Give me something I can grab hold of and run with.”
She sidled up to him, pressing her hips against his. “Oh, I’ve got something you can grab hold of.”
Joshmade a disgustedtsksound and pushed her away. “Claudia, you’re an attractive woman, but this”—he ran his hand back and forth in the space between them—“is never going to happen. Let your work stand for itself.”
Her eyes caught fire. She threw her shoulders back. “You have no idea what you’re missing, Josh Braden. We could make a great team, and I don’t mean just in the design studio.”
Joshran his hand through his hair. He was tired of playing games with her. Hadn’t he made himself perfectly clear? Claudia had worked in the business long enough to have established relationships with media, buyers, and designers. She could work anywhere, and he was about ready to have a little talk with Peter and cut her loose. Thistake-me-nowgame had gone way past a girl trying to just sleep herway to the top, but a scandal devised at the hands of Claudia Raven would be painful and humiliating—though not unrecoverable.
“Claudia—”
She held her hand up and stopped him from speaking. “It’s okay, Josh. I get it. I’m a great assistant, but I need to be a better designer. That doesn’t change the fact that I’m attracted to you and have been since the day I set eyes on you.”
“Claudia, you’reattracted to what I stand for, not who I am.” He had to stop this train wreck before it got any more out of hand. “I’m involved with someone.” There, he’d said it without mentioning Riley.Chew on that for a while.
The anger in her eyes faded, replaced with a shadow of hurt. The harsh line of her mouth softened. “Please, don’t play me for a fool. You’re not attracted to me. I get that. There’sno need to make up a fictitious girlfriend. Attraction isn’t everything,” she said, moving closer to him.
“Stop, Claudia. Whatever made-up game you have in your head is not going to happen.” He took a deep breath. “If you value your job, then please stop these antics.”
Claudia gritted her teeth. “Well, then, fine.” She picked up her purse and headed for the door.
“And, Claudia?”
She turnedto face him with watery eyes. He almost felt bad for her. “Let’s not make anyone’s life miserable because of this, okay? We’re all professionals. I don’t need you stomping around or making things uncomfortable. I expect a professional workplace with no ulterior motives.”
“Yes, sir,” she said, and stormed out the door.
