Exposed by Fate (Serve #2)(8)

“All right, I’ve finished boring you all into a coma. Everyone is excused. And while you’re designing today, remember ‘form and function,’” Regina said, clapping her hands once. “Eliza, please remain behind. I need to speak with you.”

She tried not to let the horror show in her face when every head turned in her direction before exiting the room. Had she been too obvious in her daydreaming?

The door closed behind the final person, and Regina smiled. “Goodness, Eliza. When have you ever been in trouble?” When Eliza just looked at her blankly, Regina sighed. “You’re looking at me as if I’m a grade school principal.”

Eliza relaxed. “You’re far too well dressed for that.”

“Flattery will get you everywhere, my dear.”

They shared a laugh. As always, Eliza was thankful her boss didn’t rule the office with fear, instead treating every employee with respect and limiting her criticism. Morale at Rothman and Cower always remained high, and Eliza considered herself lucky she’d been hired by such a unique firm.

Regina settled into the seat beside her. “I want to preface this news by saying your work has always been excellent, but lately, you’ve really been putting us all to shame. So, knock it off.” She tried for a stern expression, but couldn’t contain her smile. “Kidding, kidding. As you know, the partners are attending a gala Saturday night. God knows which cause this time. Endangered owls or something? Anyway, it has come to my attention that Conrad Sterns will be in attendance. He has just purchased a thirty-room home in the Hamptons and needs a designer.”

Eliza sat up straighter in her seat. The name Conrad Sterns didn’t ring a bell, but if he’d just purchased such expensive real estate, he had to be important. Surely they weren’t considering her? She’d never done a job of that magnitude. “Only thirty rooms?” Eliza squeaked out.

Her boss giggle-snorted. “He’s young, Eliza. Just like you, he’s very cutting edge. We think you’d be the perfect candidate to approach him at the gala. You speak his language.”

She blew out a breath, excitement bubbling in her chest. “I don’t know what to say, except…let me at him.”

Regina held up her hand for a high five, which Eliza smacked soundly. “That’s what I like to hear.” She grew serious. “I don’t have to tell you that landing a job like this one would make you a shoo-in for junior partner, do I?”

Eliza gulped. “I think you just did.”

…

“Good morning, Mr. Preston,” a voice purred behind Oliver in the elevator.

He locked eyes with a pretty brunette in the steel doors and flashed her a winning smile. Had they met before? If so, he didn’t recall. His thoughts were interrupted when the elevator doors rolled open and another woman boarded, her heavily-applied perfume making his eyes tear.

“Mr. Preston,” the newcomer husked. “How was your weekend?”

He started to answer, but felt the brunette behind him sidle closer. “I could have made it better,” she whispered in his ear. “Much better.”

Christ, it was an ambush. Were they in cahoots?

The bell dinged above him, signaling they had reached the floor for Preston’s ReVAMPed. He barely resisted a shout of hallelujah as he lunged from the elevator. Still, being rude wasn’t his thing. Before the doors could roll closed, Oliver turned. “You girls behave today,” he murmured, adding a wink for good measure.

The doors closed on a round of sighs.

Minutes later, he avoided his sister’s gaze as she took her seat across from him at the conference table, focusing instead on making last minute notes before the meeting. Eliza hadn’t called to back out of their arrangement yet, and strangely, he’d woken up this morning hoping like hell she wouldn’t. It might have had something to do with the epically painful wood he’d woken with, fresh from an erotic dream starring guess who. However, the sexy blonde who’d kept him awake most of last night wasn’t required to sit across from Caroline, taking a guilt bath this morning. He had the pleasure of doing it for the both of them, didn’t he?

Christ, she was going to be worth it.

“Should we start?” Caroline asked, grinning from ear to ear. Come to think of it, he couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen her without a smile. She’d always been a positive person, but lately she was Suzy-f*cking-Sunshine. Not that he minded. He loved seeing his sister happy. It just gave him the uncomfortable feeling his own life was sorely lacking. “Lots on the agenda today.”

“Ready in this corner,” Asher Laurie answered, to his right. His alternative lifestyle publication had merged with their finance side, creating their BDSM/money matters hybrid, Preston’s ReVAMPed. Asher worked as editorial director for the ReVAMPed side of the magazine, while Caroline continued to focus mostly on the finance end. They had clear-cut, defined roles whereas Oliver tended to dabble on both sides. He also brought in money, advertising, stirred up interest. The staff referred to him as their mascot, which made everyone laugh, but lately had been getting under his skin.

“Great.” Caroline flipped open the folder in front of her. “Let’s start with the VAMP side. Asher, I read the article you submitted Friday. What was the title?” Caroline shifted through some paperwork. “‘Are you taking part in BDSM and don’t even know it?’” She leaned back in her chair. “I think we should run it as the cover story. It has the exact tone we’re looking for to attract the new readership. It’s fun and accessible. Oliver, what do you think?”