Exposed by Fate (Serve #2)(54)

“Oliver?”

He wanted to swat the woman’s voice away like a fly. It was accompanied by heavy perfume that choked off the oxygen he was barely capable of inhaling. Not light and fresh like Eliza. He felt a sudden, urgent need to find out what type of perfume Eliza wore and get a bottle of it. It would be torture smelling it on anything other than her skin but at least he’d have a small part of her.

“Oliver.”

The screensaver came up on his computer and broke his concentration, forcing him to greet the newcomer. A woman. A young woman who had decided to perch herself on the corner of his desk. Did he know her from somewhere? Oh, right. The intern Caroline had hired. There was a vague familiarity about her, but he couldn’t place it. Didn’t care enough to make the effort. What did everyone want from him? Let me die in peace.

“Is there something I can do for you?” His question came out sounding like a croak, but she laughed as if it were the funniest thing in the world.

She crossed her legs and posed, one hand behind her head. “You can stop moping around and take me to lunch for my first day.”

Lunch. As in eat actual food? “I’m sorry. Do I know you?”

Her laugh made his teeth hurt. “You’re hysterical. Come on, let’s get out of here. I’m bored.”

It hit him then. Blue Dress from the gala. Had he…inadvertently encouraged her to apply for a job here? He could barely remember their conversation. When he thought of that night, all he could think of was Eliza. All he could think about period was Eliza.

“Sorry, I have to work.” He nudged his mouse and woke up his computer just to be convincing, but it seemed so pointless. God, he was sick of his own bullshit. “Actually, you seem like a really great girl. I’m just not interested.” Unbelievable. It felt unbelievable to say that out loud. Exactly how long had he been pretending to be interested in anyone but the girl he loved? Fuck, he loved Eliza so much. Was she done with her meeting yet? How had it gone?

Apart from her eyes flashing wider, Blue Dress didn’t appear discouraged by his refusal. She executed an awkward scoot across his desk and leaned down, probably to put her cleavage on display, but he had no desire to look. “Are you sure you’re not interested?”

He caught her hand mid-air, just before it reached his face. “Positi—”

“Oliver.”

Every muscle in his body went on high alert when he heard Eliza’s voice. The light saber barrier around him crashed to the floor in a flurry of sparks and he shot up straight in his chair. She floated into his office looking more beautiful than he’d ever seen her. Her face glowed with a healthy flush. She looked triumphant. Happy. His heartbeat swelled loud in his ears, making up for the last couple days when it hadn’t beat at all. She smiled at him as if she couldn’t wait to tell him something, wanted to throw herself into his arms where he needed her. But it all washed away in one horrifying breath of time.

As if someone had hit a mute button, he couldn’t hear a sound. Eliza looked at him, at the girl sitting on his desk, and her joyful expression transformed with recognition. He’d become so attuned to her, he could see every thought play out on her face. The vacant sadness in her eyes told him everything. She thought he’d lied. That he had gone home with this girl after the gala. That he’d lied to her about it. Otherwise, why would she be here, sitting so close? His fist slammed down onto the desk involuntarily. “No.”

Eliza shifted on her feet. “I-is this a bad time? I can come back.”

The desolation in her voice threatened to carve him wide open. “Don’t leave. For God’s sake, please don’t f*cking leave.” He was torn between rounding the desk and hauling her inside and staying perfectly still in case she bolted. One problem at a time. He looked at the girl sitting on his desk. “Excuse us. Now,” he added when she didn’t immediately move.

Eliza lifted her chin when the girl walked past and if at all possible, he fell even harder for her. When they were finally alone, he stood slowly behind his desk. What he really wanted to do was throw himself down in front of her and beg for mercy. “I know what you’re thinking and—”

“No, you don’t.” Her smile wavered a little before sticking. “I tried calling, but you didn’t answer. You, uh…you never made that phone call to Porter. I just wanted to stop by and remind you.”

His legs turned to liquid, sending his body collapsing down into the chair. He’d been right. She had to hate him, because this was his worst nightmare come to life. Of course, she didn’t know that, did she? She thought he was a lying, scumbag womanizer. That’s all he’d ever be to her. She’d been programmed too early to see him one way, and no amount of trying could convince her differently. Hell, she wanted somebody different. When he’d agreed to it, he must have had the foresight of a goldfish. Or maybe he’d just been so confident that she wouldn’t want Porter after they’d been together. Whatever the reason, he’d put himself in this situation and there was no way out of it. Unless…

“If that’s really what you want, bunny, I’ll do it.” The words tasted like rusty vinegar in his mouth. “When and where?”

Her lips parted in an O, as if she hadn’t expected him to agree so readily, but she recovered quickly. “Tonight at eight.”