Page 22 of The CEO's Revenge

“I’m sure school is over for the day. I’m still at the office if you come by right now.”

At first I was going to negotiate to see him tomorrow, but I realized the quicker I got over this meeting the less anxiety I would have to put myself through by waiting another twenty-four hours. The thought comforted me. “I’ll come now,” I mumbled.

“Good. The address is on the card. I’ll see you in a few.”

Without another word, he disconnected the call.

I stared at my phone. Bastard. I allowed myself the luxury of sitting and taking deep relaxing breaths for a full five minutes. Then I got up, packed up my belongings and left. I headed to the parking lot and was soon on my way downtown. It was just before peak hours so traffic was still light enough for me to get there in twenty minutes. I groaned when I realized that this evening I would be going with the rush hour traffic. I saw myself sitting in the parking lot marking papers while waiting for traffic to ease. There was no way I was going to be sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic for two plus hours. All these inconsequential thoughts passed my brain when what I was really afraid of was seeing him again in an enclosed space.

Would I be able to control those old feelings?

I parked in the visitor’s section in the parking garage, surprised to find that the security guard was expecting me. I followed his directions and quickly found the lobby. As I watched the elevator climb to the twenty-second floor, my heart began to race.

Get in, collect the check, get out.

That was all I needed to do.

Get in, collect the check, get out.

And then never see Max Blackstone again.

I kept my fingers crossed, praying that it would be that easy, but somehow I could not shake the dreadful feeling in the pit of my stomach that I was about to face the challenge of a lifetime.

9

MAX

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vwNcNOTVzY

-Gold Digger-

Score one for me. I could barely conceal the feeling of triumph that raced through my body as Savannah disconnected the call. As I had hoped they had fallen short, and substantially too, for I knew if she had another choice or could have done it differently, she would not have called me. All last week I had waited, knowing it must not be me who reached out to ask whether she needed the donation. She had to call me first. And it had come to transpire that they did not need my money then I would have found another way to deal with Savannah. One way or another she was going to be beholden to me.

I pressed the intercom and it crackled to life.

“Yes, Max?”

“I have a Savannah Maitland coming by the office in a few minutes, Sheila. Could you please clear her with security?”

“Sure thing, Max.”

Impulsively I added, “could you also have Derila deliver some refreshments?”

“Anything in particular?”

“Iced coffee, heavy on the cream in one of them.” Impulsively, I added, “And one of their donut assortments.”

“Got it.”

“While you’re at it, get me a couple of bottles of water too.”

“Your fridge is stacked, Max.”

“Is it?”

“You’ve never checked or you would see that it is.”

I could hear the amusement in my secretary’s voice. I got up to check the mini fridge in the corner of the office and was surprised to see that she was right. I laughed.

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