Page 27 of Captivated By You

“I’m Kiana Doherty. I’m here to see Mr. Kingcaid. He’s expecting me.”

“Oh.” She tapped on her keyboard, stared at her screen, and frowned. “There’s nothing on the computer. And I’m afraid Mr. Kingcaid isn’t here right now.”

“He isn’t?”

I frowned, realizing my error. He was the CEO, not the hotel manager, so this wouldn’t be where he based himself. And his plate was probably overflowing with things that needed his attention, not least finding a new manager for this establishment.

“I see.”

I shuffled from foot to foot, unsure of my next move. I didn’t have his number, and I doubted the receptionist would give it to me. I could tell her I was due to start work here, but I didn’t feel it was my place to. Not until I’d officially told Asher that I’d decided to stay.

“I can take a message, if you’d like? In case he calls in.”

“No, it’s okay.” I turned away, then changed my mind. “Actually, yes, if you could just tell him I stopped by and I’ve made my decision. He’ll know what it means.”

“I’ll do that. Miss Doherty, wasn’t it?”

I nodded, then resumed my trek across the vast lobby and back out onto the rain-dampened street. Why was I so disappointed? After all, I’d been the one to tell Asher I’d make a decision in a day or two. What had I expected? That he’d be here twenty-four seven waiting for me to turn up?

The man ran a multibillion-dollar company. I doubted he had a spare minute in the day. But that left me at a disadvantage. Until he got my message and called, I had no choice other than to sit on my hands and wait.

What if he didn’t call? What if he’d had time to reflect on my reaction and he’d decided I wasn’t worth the trouble? The list I’d made burned a hole in my pocket, and I almost tossed it, too worried that laying down reams of demands might push him in that direction, if he hadn’t gotten there by himself already.

I meandered through the streets, the idea of hanging around at my apartment—the one I’d signed a six-month lease on that I might have to wriggle my way out of somehow—unappealing. Whether it was fate or some kind of subconscious nudge, I found myself on Asher’s street. At least, I thought it was his street. It looked vaguely familiar.

A thought pricked at the back of my mind. Did I have it within me to muster the courage?

No. Don’t be ridiculous.

It wasn’t as if I could just wander up to the penthouse and knock on the door. He’d had that keycard thing, and I was sure visitors had to be buzzed up, or something. That gave him an out. If he didn’t want to see me, he’d deny me access. Who needed that kind of rejection?

Not me.

If that were true, why did I find myself climbing the steps up to his building and walking inside?

Halfway toward the reception desk, I hesitated. And then the receptionist spotted me and gestured. Too late now. I squared my shoulders, my heart hammering in my chest, and pasted on a bright smile.

“Hello, my name is Kiana Doherty. I’m here to see Asher Kingcaid. He’s in the penthouse.”Smooth, Kee. Real smooth.

The man’s lips twitched. He probably thought I was an idiot, and he’d be right.

“Is Mr. Kingcaid expecting you?”

I shook my head. “But he knows me. He’ll want to see me.” I hoped. “Could you call him?”

“One moment.” He picked up the handset and ducked his head, murmuring into it as if he were passing on state secrets. After a few seconds, he hung up, tapped on his keyboard, then swiped a plastic card through a machine and handed it to me.

“You can go right up. The elevators are over there. Put the card in the slot and press PH.”

“Thanks.”

I made a good show as I crossed the lobby toward the bank of elevators, all erect spine and confident swagger, but my knees knocked the entire way, and my stomach wouldn’t stop flipping over and over.

Here I was, about to tell a man I’d spent the night with that I’d accept a job in his company, providing we kept things completely professional. And I’d chosen to tell him that by coming to his home. The place where the dirty deed had happened.

Okay, not “dirty deed.”

Actually, yeah, very dirty deed.

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