One Night(10)

“I don’t know if I can do that.” William placed a soft hand against my cheek. “I don’t want to do that.”

“I’m sorry.” I couldn’t look at him as I said it. I really was sorry. If circumstances had been different, maybe I would have said yes. But I didn’t. “I have to go.”

I didn’t look back after I stepped into the elevator. I didn’t want to see William’s face because if I did, I know I would’ve changed my mind. It may have only been one night, but it had been an amazing night. I waited until I heard the elevator door click closed and then I sagged against the wall. William Connor had gotten to me, and he was going to be hard to forget.





CHAPTER FOUR

“Don’t forget, we have a company meeting in ten minutes,” my new colleague, Tara Potter, said as she was about to leave my office.

“I’ll be there.”

It was Friday, and I had made it through my first week at my new job with Gravity, Inc. Gravity was a crisis management firm, and I had accepted a job in their legal department. In five days, I had already helped put out three different fires for our clients.

Tara tossed a wave as she walked away and my phone vibrated on my desk. I didn’t have to look at it to know it would be another text from William. He had gotten my number from Lana, and had been calling and texting me every day since the wedding. I checked the message he had sent.

“Eventually you will relent and respond to me. My charms can’t be resisted forever. You’ll see.”

I shook my head and closed the message without responding. I didn’t want to lead him on, and I had no intention of seeking a relationship with anyone at this point in my life. I wanted to focus on my career. I liked my new job, and I wanted to enjoy it for awhile before adding drama to my life.

Once a month, Gravity’s CEO held a company meeting in the large cafeteria. All 107 employees would gather and listen to a presentation about the company’s status. Or so I had been told. This being my first week, it was also my first company meeting. I hadn’t met the CEO or any of the other executives yet. I was supposed to meet with them a couple days ago, but the CEO’s flight had been delayed so the meeting got pushed.

The cafeteria was nearly full when I arrived but Tara had saved me a seat two rows from the front. “Are you nervous?” she asked.

“Nervous? Why would I be nervous?”

“Our CEO likes to introduce the new people. Don’t worry, it’s no big deal.”

Easy for Tara to say. I was about to be pointed out in front of 100 strangers. Good thing I had at least dressed up today, and even curled my hair.

Everyone around us had been talking amongst themselves but they all stopped abruptly. Apparently some unseen signal had told them the meeting was about to start.

“Have you met him yet?” Tara asked quietly.

“Who? The CEO? Not yet.”

Tara smiled. “You are in for a treat. Connor is awesome. Smart, funny and totally hot.”

“Wait, Connor?” A lump began to build in my throat.

“Yeah. William Connor. The CEO. You knew that, right?” Tara looked at me in surprise. “Everyone knows him.”

My heart began to race and my hands were shaking. This couldn’t be possible. But when I turned back to the front of the room, there he was. William Connor, the star of my weekend sexcapade, was standing at the front of the room wearing a dashing gray suit and smiling enigmatically at his employees.

“Welcome, everyone. It’s good to see you.” His eyes roamed the room and I sank lower in my chair, trying to hide behind the tall guy in front of me.

“We have a lot to talk about today, including some amazing new clients we just signed, but let’s start with our traditional hazing.” He clicked the remote in his hand and a presentation appeared on the white wall behind him. “Let’s pick on our new employees for a bit.”

Everyone laughed, including William. I felt my face flush and tried to decide if I had time to run from the room. Unfortunately, it was so crowded I wouldn’t be able to leave even if I thought I could get away with it.

“We have three new people since our last meeting.” William clicked again and the slide changed to a picture of someone I recognized from my new hire meetings. “James Lewis. Where are you, James?”

James raised his hand a few seats away from me. “Right here.”

“Close to the front. Excellent.” William waved to somebody standing off to the side. “James, I hear you know how to play the accordion.”

“I do.” James laughed nervously.

“Excellent.” William waved for him to stand up. “It just so happens, we have an accordion right here. Come join me on the stage and play us something.”