Page 9 of The Charmer's Gambit
I nodded again, but I had no intention of following through with anything. And knowing Ryan, he’d forget to call me anyway. He usually did. Then he’d show up again in a month or two, demanding the same thing.
But something was different about the way he looked at me this time. The way he gently brushed his fingers down my cheek to the base of my neck. He usually tried to kiss me now, but instead, he trailed his nails down to my hand and gave it a light squeeze.
“Soon, baby. Soon.”
I didn’t like the sound of that. I opened my mouth to tell him, but as always, the words clogged in my throat. I hated how inferior he made me feel, how childish and alone.
My stomach knotted as heat caressed my neck. I faced men like him every day and always held my ground, but Ryan crumbled my resolve with a single look. Maybe it was because I let him inside my heart and allowed him to dampen my fire and crush my dreams. No one else ever came close, a defense mechanism I put in place after picking up the pieces of my life. But the second he waltzed through the door, I went back to that place he left me in, and quivered like a little girl.His little girl.
He brushed my cheek once more and let himself out. I stood shivering in the foyer, staring after him with a mix of fury and fear. My fists curled, and my desire to break something took over. I picked up the closest thing to me, a vase filled with flowers Evan bought Sarah earlier this week, and shattered it against the door.
“Fuck you,” I managed, seething both at myself for my weakness and at the man who put me here. Just when I thought my old self had finally resurfaced, Ryan tore it down.
This was why I couldn’t say yes to Will’s proposal. No matter how much he sweetened the deal, I would never work for him. I already had one dominant man ruling my life. Two would absolutely destroy me.
3
Coffee with Cream & Sugar
I studied my blue eyes in the compact mirror at my desk. They didn’t look as tired as I felt, thanks to my morning date with the makeup bag. I hated foundation but needed it to cover my sleepless weekend.
Ryan’s unexpected visit, coupled with Sarah’s surprise goodbye visit early Sunday morning, meant I hadn’t rested at all. My ears were acutely tuned to every single noise in my apartment building, causing me to jump at the oddest of sounds.
Like the dinging of the elevator down the hall.
I closed my door when I entered my office, but the damn binging went off every minute as my colleagues arrived. If my assistant hadn’t called me about the last-minute meeting on my calendar this morning, I would have opted to work from home. The vagueness of the invite made me frown.
Urgent Meeting: All Hands on Deck.
Not a useful title, but at least I had a location and a time.
I slipped on my black pumps and grabbed my jacket from the hanger behind the door. Skirt suits were pretty, but I preferred comfort while I worked. Hence my habit of kicking off myshoes and wandering around in stockings. Not exactly work-appropriate attire for a meeting, though.
The conference rooms were located on the top floor with the executive offices, a place I rarely visited. Baker Brown LLP was one of the largest firms in the country with over 1,500 attorneys, and offices all over the world. They only recruited from top-tier law schools—including my alma mater, Northwestern—and had a reputation for being one of the top firms in the United States. Meetings on this floor with fourth-year associates were rare at best.
I stopped by the receptionist’s desk to check in and was met by Janine Lawson. I recognized the petite redhead immediately as Jeff Dower’s assistant. I shook her hand as a cold sensation trickled down my spine.Why is a partner’s assistant greeting me like she knows me?
“This way, please, Miss Dawson,” she murmured.
I wiped my suddenly clammy hands against my black skirt and followed her down a hallway of windows overlooking the Loop. When we arrived at a set of glass doors, my stomach flipped. Janet Bishop, another of the firm’s partners, stood on the other side, chatting with Jeff. Her white suit popped against her ebony skin, and her teeth were equally bright as she flashed us a welcoming smile.
“Are you sure this is the right meeting?” I whispered.
“Yes, Miss Dawson. They’re expecting you.” Janine gestured for me to enter.
Right. Okay. I’d operated on less sleep before. I could handle this. They probably had a brief question about an existing client, and then I’d be sent back to my office to hide. All my cases were up to date or ahead of schedule, and no one had ever complained about my work. No need for concern.
I entered with the calmest demeanor I could muster. It wasn’t every day I met with the most powerful attorneys in the country, but confidence was key.
“Ah, Rachel, thank you for joining us this morning.”
Holy shit. Jeff Dowers knows my name. “Good morning, Mister Dowers. I’m happy to be here.”I think. “Miss Bishop.”
“Good morning,” she replied, shaking my hand. It was firm and exactly what I expected from a woman in her position. “I believe you’ve already met Will Mershano.”
The smile slipped from my face as she motioned to the man sitting at the head of the table. His hands were clasped in front of him as he observed the exchange with an amused expression. I had been so consumed with the partners that I hadn’t noticed the third person in the room, which was a bit of a miracle considering his attire.
Holy cow, the man cleaned up nicely. I’d only ever seen him in jeans and T-shirts, even on the days he visited my office. Those were nice, but this suit . . . Wow. Talk about tailored to perfection. He smoothed his dark tie as he stood and walked around the table to shake my hand. His palm smoldered against mine, a feat considering the warmth radiating across my skin.
