Page 23 of Craving the Player

“Right.” She coughs, standing up from her chair. “Have agood rest of your day, babe. Talk later.”

Iround my desk and place my palms down on the smooth wood, nodding firmly. An array of emotions flicker across Sophie’sface before she settles on asmall smile. She raises her hand in asmall wave and pulls open my door, walking through it silently.

As soon as she’sgone, Iclose the door and achoked sob is ripped from my throat. Imove ashaky hand to my chest bone and struggle to suck in ashuttered breath. Balling my hands into fists, Iclench my jaw, angered by my lack of strength. Keep it together, Sierra.

They never deserved you. They mean nothing to you anymore. You can do better. You will do better.

Irepeat the mantra over and over again until I’ve made myself believe it. Even for just right now.

As Islide athick stack of clasped papers into my briefcase, aknock on the door startles me. My eyes—tired and somewhat blurry from the sting of my drying contacts—fall on Cole’sbroad shoulders as he leans in the doorway, the epitome of confidence and bold male energy. Ithink it’seasy to admit that he intimidates me nearly as much as Braden does.

Aheat festers in my chest at the thought of Braden. Nearly six-and-a-half feet of towering man and sexual prowess wrapped in amess of arrogant words, fearlessness, and awhole ton of experience. I’mnot sure how anyone could help not being intimidated by all of that. Iwouldn’tdoubt that even someone like Cole would find Braden’spresence unnerving.

“Heading out?” Cole asks with an easy smile that makes my nerves somewhat settle.

“Yes, sir. Ihave abox of toaster waffles calling my name.” Ilaugh lightly, sliding the straps of my purse up my arms until they rest on my shoulder.

“As great as those sound, Iactually came to invite you to join myself and afew other co-workers at the Italian restaurant down the street. Best fettuccine in the city, hands down.” His million-dollar smile does little to calm the growing uncertainty that fills my stomach at the thought of having such acasual meeting with my bosses.

With my luck, I’ll crumble under the pressure and end up stuttering aridiculous attempt at ajoke that will end up labeling me as the awkward girl for the rest of my career here. Not the worst label, but not exactly what I’maiming for.

“Thank you for the offer, bu—”

“We don’tbite, Ipromise. It’ll be fun,” he tries again, this time placing his palms together in front of him. The gesture looks like asilent plea, and Ifeel my resolve weakening.

I’mnot sure whether it would look worse for me to decline all together, or make acomplete nervous fool of myself. Not wanting to upset the people who hold my entire career in their hands, Isay, “Okay. When should Ibe there?”

He grins. “We can head over now, actually. Everyone is already on their way. Ioffered to ask you myself. It’sonly afive-minute walk, anyway.”

Oh. “Okay.” Iinwardly cringe at my simple reply before squeezing the strap of my purse with atight grip and waiting for Cole to lead the way out of my office.

When we both step into the empty hallway, Iclose my office door and turn back to see him waiting for me. The troublesome nagging in my head becomes quite anuisance as Ifeel my palms begin to sweat. Sending him areassuring look that Iknow Ibelieve myself, Ifollow him to the elevator.

“So, Sierra. How do you like it here? Any complaints?” he asks when we reach the shiny silver doors. Ireach forward to push the down button before stepping back and casually wiping my palms on my skirt.

“It’sbeen great. Everyone’ssuper nice.”

“Glad to hear it. Sometimes the pressure gets to be too much for some of our new hires. Ithink they expect it to be an easy job.”

Inod along with his words. Ican see where that idea would come from. Back when Ifirst told my parents that Iwas planning to spend four years getting amarketing degree, they were alittle underwhelmed. Although, Ithink it stems from them wanting me to follow in their footsteps and want to ‘save the world’ or so my father would say.

My parents both spent decades of their lives on humanitarian missions in third world countries. Ajob that I’mpositive they love more than Clare and I. It’salso ajob that has been the root of several family disputes over the years. It’seasy for them to look down on us for not wanting to do better for the world, putting ourselves and our own careers first. Because of that, we don’tspend alot of time together. We never have. The only difference now is that Clare and Iare grown up, meaning there’snothing to force us into seeing our parents like there was when we all lived in the same house. Nobody puts the effort in, and our family remains distant. I’msure that’show it will always be. Ican’tsee that changing for anything.

My parents fear what they don’tunderstand. And they don’twant to learn any different.

The elevator doors slide open with aquiet ding and we walk inside. Ifeel tense, rattled from my thoughts. I’mfrustrated with myself for letting my parents get to me, but will myself to let it go when Cole settles beside me, the elevator doors closing.

“I’mreally thankful for this opportunity. Idon’tplan on wasting it,” Isay, confident in every word that Ispeak.

He meets my gaze. “That’swhat Ilike to hear. We’re lucky to have such ahard worker on our team.”

My lips tug up, my cheeks flushing from the compliment. Istare at my closed-toe black heels and bite back my squeal. It would seem that all of my hard work is finally going to pay off. Let’shope that Idon’tfuck it up.

---