Page 92 of Matchmaking the Rival

In a fraction of an instant, my budding headache completely vanished, just like that. Cade was magic, I swear to God.

"Really? Where are we going?"

"I don't know yet. I'll figure something out this evening to make sure you forget all about this craptastic day."

"Oh, that's a very good word to describe it."It's only nine thirty in the morning, but this day is already better.“But wait. Natalie and I are going out with Jeannie after work.”

“We’ll figure something out.”

"Okay. Damn, I have to go. Our mutual friend Arthur, our CFO, is calling me.”

“Talk to you later.”

“Bye.”

I spoke with Arthur on the phone for a couple minutes. I wondered what he thought about the new development, but it wasn't my place to ask. I wasn't nosy. This was Sonya's business, not mine. I simply had to follow the instructions and do my best for the company.

After I hung up, I did something I usually didn't do during my work time. I opened my private folder where I had my personal financial spreadsheets. Even if I was unemployed for a couple months, I still had enough savings to be able to continue helping out my parents with their rent. That should be enough, right?

Stop this, Meredith. It's not like you to procrastinate. You have a job right now.Make the best of it.

At around eleven o'clock, there was a knock at my door, and Diana, one of our assistants, stepped inside. "Meredith, I have something for you. A delivery boy just brought it. I think it's some samples."

"Thanks." I took the box. It had no sender or a recipient. As carefully as possible, I put it on the desk and opened it up.

Oh my goodness.There were threepastéis de natainside, and there could only be one person who sent them. I snapped a picture and sent it to Cade.

Meredith: Is this your doing?

He replied a few seconds later.

Cade: Obviously. Who else knows what your favorite treat is? Wait, don't answer that. I don't want to know.

I chuckled, typing back.

Meredith: My sister and parents know, and that's about it. Why did you pass it off as a sample?

Cade: I didn't want to make a fuss about this being from me.

He was charming and thoughtful and whip smart. All that made him insanely attractive to me.

Meredith: Thanks. I feel better just looking at them.

I immediately shoved one in my mouth, humming.

Cade: Good. That was my goal. I can't wait to see you tonight.

I grinned from ear to ear as I typed back.

Meredith: I can't wait to see you either.

I put the phone down, sighing. I'd never experienced anything like this before.

Usually the only person I shared my bad days with was my sister. Once, with an ex, I'd made the mistake of telling him when I came home from work one evening that it had been a difficult day, and he said he didn't want me to bring down his mood with any of that. Since then, I'd never bothered.

But Cade didn’t hesitate to ask me how my morning was, and now he was going out of his way to make sure the day wasn't complete crap. I was going to spoil him rotten this evening and show my appreciation in every way possible.

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