Need You Now (1001 Dark Nights)(10)

“Something you wanted to say, Ms. Woods?”

I freeze at the deep timbre of his arrogantly demanding voice, hating the way it dances along my nerve endings with deliciously erotic results. With effort, I glance over my shoulder. “No. Nothing. But I’ll make sure your first appointment is here in the next few minutes.”

I exit into the hallway, pulling the door shut and leaning on the hard surface. Clearly, Jensen Miller and I have gone from bedroom buddies to enemies in less than twelve hours. I have absolutely no clue how that happens or how to fix this mess. I don’t even know how to ask for my phone back that I’m certain he must have. I’m darn sure not asking for my panties. He can keep them.





Part Four: Controlled



More worried than ever about Katie calling my phone, I pry myself off of the door and rush to my desk. Clinging to the hope that maybe Jensen doesn’t have my phone, I grab the desk phone and don’t bother to sit, quickly punching in the front desk and speaking to lost and found. A minute later, disappointed with bad news, I sink into my seat and glance toward the hallway where I’ve just come from, debating going back and just asking Jensen if he has it. The debate lasts about thirty seconds and I stay in my seat, determining I had better get his meetings set up if I want to keep my job.

It’s a thought that has me deviating from that plan, and I dial Katie’s phone only to hear her voice mail again. “Call me,” I say anxiously to her message system. “It’s urgent.” I glance around the empty lobby again, as if “he” will suddenly appear and I lower my voice. “I don’t have my phone. It’s lost in the hotel somewhere. Anyone could see any message you leave me. Please. Come to work. There are things going on here you need to know about. Please, Katie.” I end the call and resist the urge to seek out Meredith, deciding it’s best I make sure Jensen is plenty busy first.

Pulling out a list of department heads, I dial the front desk again, but this time I ask for the manager on duty, who is far from pleased about the impromptu meeting. With her on her way, I quickly line up two more meetings and have the general manager set up for the lunch hour, allowing him time to call the managers who are off duty and get them into work.

About the time I end that call, Sheila steps into the corporate office suite, rushing forward and swiping at her brown hair. “How important is this?”

“Very,” I assure her, pushing to my feet. “We have a consultant in from the Board of Directors. He’s interviewing all the department heads today.”

She stops at my desk, lowering her voice, her eyes going wide. “Why? What’s wrong?”

“Meredith requested him. It’s all I know.”

“And we knew this when?”

“Today. I think that’s the idea. To see us all in our true element.”

“We plan and organize,” she states. “That’s how we succeed.”

“I wasn’t aware everything could be planned for.”

At the sound of the familiar male voice, my heart lurches and Sheila whirls around to face Jensen at the same moment I do. I find him standing at the edge of the hallway, and Lord help me, the man radiates masculinity and power, the epitome of every fantasy ever created by womankind in his suit and tie. I don’t have to see Sheila’s face to know her jaw is on the ground.

“This is your first appointment,” I announce, trying not to remember how close I came to seeing this man gloriously naked. “Sheila runs our front desk services,” I continue, touching her shoulder. She jolts a bit and glances at me and then at Jensen again. “Sheila,” I continue, “this is—”

“Jensen Miller.” he supplies, waving her down the path he’s just traveled and without a glance my way. Sheila hurries forward, managing to be by his side in a flash and smiling up at him as if he’s some sort of Greek god.

“Whatever I can do to help,” she offers. “I’m at your service.”

I roll my eyes as the pair disappears and force myself to line up a few more meetings before I go to Meredith’s door and knock. “Come in,” I hear almost instantly.

Wasting no time, I enter the office and shut the door. She holds up her hands. “I know it’s a shock, but I felt my silence was necessary until I was certain Jensen wouldn’t be dissuaded by the board to aid our situation.” She motions me forward. “Come here and sit.”

Moving toward the desk, I claim the leather visitor's seat directly in front of her and hold onto both arms. “How bad is this, Meredith?”

“Bad.” Her hands settle on her desk and flatten, as if she’s bracing herself for more of whatever is to come. “Really bad.”

“And you think Jensen can save us?”

“Better he be my bastard than the board’s.”

“Bastard?”

“Of course he’s a bastard. He has an agenda and it’s his wallet. He feels he can save us and his investment with us.”

“So he’s not loyal to you.”

“He’s loyal to his wallet and that’s good. He feels the board is going to cost him money.”

My head is spinning and I have the sense there are many vines growing from one stem, most of them invisible to me. I’m in the middle and in the dark. I’m certain of it. “If we don’t win over Jensen’s support, then what?”