Found in You(108)

“That’s not what I was thinking.”

“What were you thinking?”

“I was thinking I should have been faster.”

His words stopped me mid-step. I turned back to see if he was serious.

He was. He did look at me like Hudson did. I’d never recognized the intensity because it was completely absent of the electricity and heat that Hudson’s stare always contained.

The color drained from my cheeks.

David cleared his throat. “Sorry. That was uncalled for.” He brushed past me, continuing on to the office. “Anyway, congratulations. I’m happy for you.”

I fell into step behind him. “I’m happy for me, too.” My voice had lost its earlier enthusiasm, still shocked from David’s proclamation. Maybe we couldn’t work together.

I couldn’t stand thinking about it. I changed the subject. “And I’m stressed. Hudson wants me to go to Japan with him tonight.”

David pulled out his keys and unlocked the office door. The room was dark, the computers off—he must have been on his way out when he met me at the entrance.

“Why are you here so late, anyway?” Usually closing managers were out by six-thirty, tops.


He shrugged. “Waiting for you. And, yeah, Hudson told me about Japan.”

I flicked the office light on. “What? When?” I’d only found out about Japan that morning. I didn’t even want to acknowledge the first part of his statement.

“About an hour or so ago. He wanted to make sure we’d be covered without you.”

Hudson had already talked to David that morning? This day was getting more interesting as it progressed. “I haven’t said yes yet.”

“But you will.” He didn’t bother to hide the ache in his voice.

I sank on the couch and rubbed at my forehead. “Is that the only reason Hudson called you?”

David sat on the front of his desk. “Actually, he didn’t call. He stopped by.”

“To tell you he’s taking me to Japan?” Hudson had said he had an early meeting. Why hadn’t he mentioned it was with David? Or was his encounter with David coincidental?

“No, to discuss some other things.”

Dread dripped into my veins. “Oh, really? Like what things?” I pretended to examine my nails, going for an aloof demeanor while really I was anything but. Which was silly, because there was no way Hudson would have talked to him when he’d promised me we could still discuss it first. Besides, David wouldn’t still be there if he’d been fired.

Still, I couldn’t help feeling anxious for David’s response.

He shrugged, and it felt as equal of a show of calm as the one I was giving. “He said he’s transferring the Party Planners deal to Fierce. Something about a conflict of interest.”

The knot in my stomach loosened, if only slightly. Of course. Hudson had to deal with Paul.

“He took all the copies of the contract.” David eyed me, searching for my reaction. “But he said you already knew all that.”

“Yeah, I did.” Boy, did I.

“Sorry you lost your deal.”

I sensed David was testing me, making sure Hudson wasn’t jerking around with my business just because he could. It was sweet, actually.

Also, totally unnecessary. “Nah, it’s fine. The more I got to know about the company, the more I realized it wasn’t a good fit after all.”

David’s shoulders should have relaxed, if I was reading him right, but they didn’t.