Mr. CEO(44)

For a minute, I continue to scan, my eyes darting everywhere, but I eventually give up.

After a moment, I turn and continue on, thinking, Relax, Charlotte. You’re just being paranoid.



“Did you see what happened with that celebrity guy in the news?” Eva asks me as she takes a bite out of her blueberry bagel that’s covered with cream cheese. We’re sitting in the Blue Cafe in the corner. It’s secluded and private which is nice. It’s been awhile since I’ve eaten in a place that has a dollar menu, but I’m happy to see Eva and catch up on corporate gossip and talk about the project we’re working on together.

As usual, Eva’s dressed sharp as a tack in a red pantsuit and matching lipstick, her hair pulled back into an elegant ponytail. I need her to be my stylist.

I pause, peeling the plastic wrap from around my banana nut muffin. I’m trying to be cheerful with Eva, but I just have a bad feeling. I don’t like how distant Logan was with me in his office. “What guy?”

“It was what’s his face,” Eva snaps her fingers together multiple times trying to jog her memory, “the hot young guy that plays a president on that one show and he cheats on his wife with an intern.” She motions at me as if I’m supposed to be a psychic and give her the answer. “You know, that guy.”

Actually, I have no idea who that guy is. I’m drawing a blank. Since starting the new job, I don’t watch much TV, and the only hot guy in my life is Logan. “I don’t know who you’re talking about-”

“Jake Goldwater!” Eva yells and slaps her hand on the table. “That’s it!”

I vaguely know who she’s talking about, I think I’ve watched a few movies he’s been in. I don’t think he’s anything special. “What about him?”

“Well supposedly, in real life he also heads his own company, Goldwater Productions.” She taps a finger against her chin thoughtfully. “I think he even owns a building several blocks from here. Anyway, he got caught banging one of his secretaries... on video.”

“Damn,” I mutter, shaking my head. “I’d hate to be that girl. She’ll be humiliated for the rest of her life.”

Eva gives a short laugh. “You’d be one of the only ones. There’s probably scores of women who’d sleep with him on camera.”

“Good for them,” I mutter darkly.

Eva bringing up Jake’s scandal hits close to home. The parallels are freaky. I’m not Logan’s secretary, but I am sleeping with him. It makes me feel ashamed that I just don’t come out and tell Eva. I almost feel like a fraud.

It would be nice to have someone to confide in, someone I can tell my doubts about Logan to. Someone who can tell me that I’m insane for staying with a guy, even if he is rich, that won’t commit.

Eva peers at me with concern. “Something wrong?”

“No,” I lie. “I just feel overwhelmed with all this work.” And worried about the direction my relationship with Logan is going.

“Aren’t we all.” Eva pauses and she looks like she’s debating on whether bringing up a topic.

“Speaking of hot bosses, there’s a rumor going around about Logan…”

“Eva,” I say, cutting her off. Here’s my chance to come clean with Eva. At this point, it'll be a relief. With all my doubts about our relationship, I don’t see a reason to hold back anymore. I just hope Eva doesn’t judge me too harshly.

She shakes her head, setting aside her bagel, her face twisting with shock. “Oh no, don’t tell me…”

“I’ve been sleeping with Logan,” I say super fast. There. I was right. I feel so much better already.

Eva’s mouth opens wide with shock. “Jesus, Charlotte, how long has this been going on?”

I tell Eva everything, about Vegas, about sleeping with Logan and then leaving him. I hold nothing back, and when I’m done, I feel even more liberated. “After Ian, it was so easy to just fall in bed with him. He was just so charming and… sexy. I couldn’t help myself. But now I’m worried that we’re…” Finished. I feel a lump form in my throat at the thought.

Maybe I’m just overreacting and it’s all in my head.

That’s what I want to believe, but deep down inside, I know otherwise. That Logan’s hiding something from me, I’m certain, I’ve just been doing a decent job in deluding myself that things will get better.

Eva’s shaking her head in disbelief and doesn’t seem to notice my last sentence. “No wonder he gave you the head sales position.”

“So you think that's the only reason I got the sales job?” I ask irritably. I thought Eva would be giving me relationship advice, not questioning my position in the company.

“Don’t you dare,” Eva says defensively, seeing that I’ve taken her words the wrong way. “You know I would never think so lowly of you. You’re a beast at what you do, and everyone knows it. That’s why Logan hired you.” The passion and sincerity in Eva’s voice make me feel ashamed for jumping to conclusions.

Eva shakes her head. “What I meant is that Logan wanted you, and seeing how good a sales rep you were, he made sure you’d work closely with him.”

“I’m sorry, Eva,” I say softly. “I didn’t mean to snap at you.”