Page 23 of Serving the CEO
I laughed, which I knew was what she was going for.
“I hate that you had to agree to this just to get my job back,” she said with a sigh.
“You would’ve done the same thing for me,” I said.
“And you’d like it about as much as I do,” she shot back.
“True,” I agreed. I smoothed down my skirt. “But, it wasn’t just your job, you know. I’m doing this for my parents too.”
“I know,” she said, her expression softening. “I’m grateful for it, I really am. But you know your parents will be pissed too.”
“Which is why we’re not going to tell them,” I reminded her.
I looked back at my reflection and tried to convince myself that I was okay. I’d barely had forty-eight hours to process the fact that I was going to date and then marry Derrick Thomas and the hardest part so far had been projecting complete confidence in my decision. And I’d have to keep that façade up through the entire ordeal. If my parents had even a hint of doubt, it’d ruin everything.
I needed a plan to tell them, but there was no rush. I’d decided to see how tonight went first. For all I knew, it would be a complete disaster and he’d be sorry he asked me to partner with him in this.
A loud buzz made my brain stop its incessant spinning. Derrick was outside the building. My heart lurched into a sudden, panicky race, threatening to jump out of my chest.
“Well, he’s timely,” Jami said, turning away. “Although I can’t say I’m surprised. He’ll probably dock you merit points or something if you’re late.”
I laughed with her, but my stomach knotted with even more anxiety. At this rate, I doubted I’d be able to eat a single bite.
After one last look in the mirror, I turned off the light and left the room. I went straight to the buzzer, not wanting him to get impatient. Based on what I knew of his temperament, the last thing I wanted was to start the evening out on a bad note.
“I’ll be down in just a minute,” I told him.
“What floor are you on?” he asked in response. “I’ll come up and get you.”
Jami rolled her eyes and flopped down on our worn couch, picking up the remote. She didn’t protest and I didn’t want an argument, so I told him to come up and then went to get my purse and checked to see if I had everything I needed for a night out.
The knock on the door came just seconds later, and I went to let him in. Jami studiously wasn’t looking at me and I felt a stab of guilt. Opening the door, I offered a smile, but the sight of him had my heart fluttering desperately in my chest despite my determination to keep everything business. He wore a deep gray suit, the color so dark it was almost black, paired with a shirt nearly the color of his eyes. No tie, and his shirt was open at the throat, baring several inches of tanned skin.
Damn.
His gaze met mine, then slowly drifted down over me before returning to my face. “Jessica, you look amazing.” The subtle warmth in his eyes, so different from his ordinarily impenetrable expression, melted things inside me and totally destroyed my ability to think.
“Hi.” I clutched at the doorknob. Suddenly, I couldn’t move.
Behind me, I heard the increased breathing, the low moans and the rough sounds of physical intimacy coming from the TV. Having this man standing here while that played in the background…my thighs clenched.
And then, Jami, damn her, called out, “Oh, hey, Jess, is that your date? Invite him in.”
Face hot, I stepped aside and turned away. “You can…just…whatever. I need to grab my shoes.”
Derrick entered, and as I walked away, I could feel his eyes on my back. In the six months I’d worked for him, I’d never been this aware of him.
Jami, her voice overly bright, said, “Well, hello, Mr. Thomas. Want to sit down and watch TV for a minute while Jessica gets her things?”
I slipped on my shoes and spun around. “I’ve got everything, Jami, but thanks.”
Derrick glanced at the TV and then at Jami, his face pleasantly blank. “Maybe another time.”
“Call me if you need anything,” Jami called as Derrick led the way out the door.
I had a feeling that, if I needed something tonight, it’d be something no one would be able to provide. I was venturing into unknown territory here, and I was on my own.
* * *
