Once Upon a Dare (Risky Business)(12)

Stellar.

She’d be faced with the evidence of her meltdown every time she came to pee.

Olivia turned on the faucet and splashed cold water on her face. She had to keep it together. Okay, maybe it was a little late for that, but she could recover from this. She couldn’t afford a total breakdown, seeing as how the floor wasn’t going to swallow her up and put an end to her misery any time soon.

Sure, she’d been kicked in the teeth, but she wasn’t a quitter. Hadn’t she proven that time and again throughout the years, overcoming everything life had thrown at her? Cole Bennett would be no different. She would go back to Pritchard’s office and hear what he had to say. Then she’d return to her desk and do her job. Come hell or high water, she’d show Pritchard he’d made a mistake.

She could do this. She had to. What other choice did she have?

…

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Cole hadn’t believed his eyes, or his bad luck, when Olivia had walked into Pritchard’s office. She was wearing a pair of black-framed glasses and her hair was slicked back in a bun, but there was no mistaking those legs or the sway of her hips as she crossed the room. Damn, she had nice stems. He shouldn’t have been looking, but he was only human. And just seeing those legs again got his blood pumping to areas best not roused in the office.

Eight million people in New York and she worked for Pritchard? He’d have been less surprised if she’d showed up in nine months toting a baby on her hip. No, this definitely wasn’t how he pictured the morning playing out. Judging by the look on Olivia’s face as she’d stormed out of Pritchard’s office, the feeling was mutual.

He had the distinct impression she’d rather be anywhere else. Not that he blamed her. He was pretty damn uncomfortable himself. But the more he thought about it, the more sense it made. After all, it had been the receptionist downstairs who’d recommended Olive or Twist for happy hour. It was practically in the lobby. Odds were lots of people headed over there to unwind after a long week.

“I wonder what’s gotten into her?” Pritchard mused aloud. “I hope she’s okay. Olivia’s the best of the lot, a consummate professional. She’ll be an invaluable asset to you as you’re getting acclimated. Smart as a whip and works twice as hard as anyone else on the team. I actually considered making her an equity partner before I heard you were looking to invest in New York.”

Fuck.

Was Pritchard really that oblivious? The least he could have done was let her down easily, in private. This couldn’t possibly end well. He’d screwed her brains out and screwed her out of a promotion? No wonder she looked like she was about to puke.

Guilt racked Cole. He never would have slept with her if he’d known. He could only imagine what she was thinking. Showing up to work and finding out your wild one-night stand was the new boss? That would be a tough pill to swallow for anyone, but for a woman like Olivia? It would be devastating.

He tuned Pritchard out as he tried to see a way out of the mess that had just become Pritchard, Bennett, & Associates. So much for learning his lesson across the pond—never mix business with pleasure.

Pritchard rattled on endlessly, but Cole didn’t pay much attention until he abruptly stopped speaking. At first Cole thought he’d been asked a question, but then realized Pritchard’s attention was directed elsewhere. He twisted in his seat to discover Olivia had returned.

“Is everything okay?” Pritchard asked, rising from his chair. His words were rich with concern, momentarily overriding his usually gruff demeanor.

“Yes, I’m fine, Jonathan.”

Olivia reclaimed the empty chair next to Cole, but didn’t so much as cast a wary glance in his direction. She kept her eyes trained on Pritchard as she spoke, her voice taking on a hard edge. He noted some of her color had returned. She didn’t have the flushed look he’d enjoyed Friday night, but at least she didn’t look like death warmed over. It was a start.

“I’m so sorry about running out of here like that. I had something that didn’t agree with me this weekend.”

“Oh, not food poisoning, I hope?” Pritchard asked as he gracefully slid back into his chair.

“No, I don’t think so,” she returned in a dangerously sweet tone. “More like something rotten.”

“If you need to take the day off—”

“That won’t be necessary.” She shook her head, dismissing the suggestion. “I just had to get it out of my system.”

“Well, wherever you went, I hope you won’t be going back.”

“Mmm. It wasn’t very memorable, so I can assure you it’s a mistake I won’t be repeating,” she replied, turning cold eyes on Cole and acknowledging his presence for the first time.

Talk about going straight for the jugular. Every fiber of his being bucked at her mocking his sexual prowess, but he’d take his licks—this time. Olivia was hurt and angry and needed to lash out at someone. He could be that bastard. It was a role he knew well.

The sick thing was, she’d just called him rotten and lackluster, and she was glaring daggers at him, but damn if he still didn’t want her. An image of Olivia climaxing on the desk flashed through his head and he shut it down immediately. The last thing he needed to do was add a hard-on to the already awkward situation.

No, what he needed to do was steer clear of her, act like the other night had never happened, and move on. That would be the smart thing to do. On the other hand, he had never been all that smart when it came to women. He wanted what he wanted, and damn the consequences.