JULIE

Me: Where are you?

After hitting send with shaky fingers, I pace in circles inside the elevator before placing a palm to the cold wall for support.

This cannot be happening!

Ping!

HuntCEO: Office.

The doors slide open, and I march across the hallway and enter his office. Hunter's sitting on a couch. Hamburgers, fries, and shakes were spread on the coffee table before him.

He sips his drink while giving me a hot look.

“Miss me already, Julie?”

I roll my eyes. “Did you know Ted posted about us?”

Hunter stands. “He sent you a friend request.”

“Umm, no. Hunter, the entire executive team knows about us.” I blurt in frustration. “By the time lunch is over, this entire building knows we're a couple.”

To my surprise, Hunter simply shrugs. “Okay.”

I tilt my head back in disbelief. “Well, don't freak out about it,” I say sarcastically.

“Julie, as long as I'm not bending you over the desk at the office, no one is going to care.”

“Oh my God!”

“Look, company rules specifically prohibit harassment and indecent exposure,” Hunter explains carefully. “It doesn't say anything against mutual dating.”

“Yeah,” I snort. “Unless one person owns the company. Can you fix this?”

But Hunter's expression remains quizzical. “Someone on the board is friends with Ted on social media? Well, that's very disturbing.”

I groan at his unhelpfulness and leave his office. Good thing I have a private office and am completely safe from the incoming storm.

I rub my temples and settle back into my desk. Why is he so calm?

Why am I freaking out?

If nothing else, warmth spreads in my cheeks as I click through my emails. The second kiss between Hunter and Imewithin a few weeks feels strangely exciting.

Do I want him to bend me over his desk?

It would definitely feel so good.

I close my eyes. “Come on, Jules, don't be an idiot,” I whisper under my breath as I adjust a floor plan in the graphic program.

I hear a knock and grip the mouse firmly; my heart drums.

Hunter.

“Come in,” I say while gazing back at the screen, and hear the door creak. “So, what's your game plan?”

“Uh, what?” Sylvie asks.

I nearly jumped out of my skin upon seeing her standing in front of me with a puzzled stare. I press a hand to my chest. “Crap, how did... Never mind. How can I help you, Sylvianna?”

Sylvia scoffs while tucking her slick red hair behind her ear. “No one actually calls me that, except my African Grey parrot, Romeo.”

I nod, but only out of the oddness. “Hmm.”

“Anyway, since construction starts in a few days, I was wondering if you'd like some...” Sylvie pauses, and I swear I almost think she's having a stroke. “Additional insight.”

I drum my fingers on the desk impatiently. Why? So you can complain about everything?

“That's okay, Sylvie,” I say flatly. “As much as I would love to have that, it's not necessary.”

Sylvie rolls her shoulders and sets her chin straight. “Fine,” she says forcefully, but her eyes remain sharp.

To my relief, she starts to move for the door, then I nearly hiss in frustration when she stops and turns around.

“You know, I've learned a thing or two about management.”

“Oh, really?”

“People get promoted for hard work, while others can get an easy pass card.”

I cross my legs and push my back against my chair in discomfort while clearly seeing where the conversation was heading.

“So?”

“Hunter's a great guy, isn't he? Save his ass, get the big chair; dating him must come with all the perks.”

“It definitely does.”

Sylvie's pupils grow with surprise, and then she chuckles. “Omigod, do you realize how unethical this is?”

“What's unethical about being a professional, Sylvie?” I ask coldly. “I got here because I worked my ass off, and if you think otherwise, then that's your business. Now, if you have any more delightful questions, go ahead; I'm all ears.”

But she leaves instead, without another word.

It's not a bit comforting to dodge everyone as I leave the building after work.

At home, I have an even bigger problem with all of Regina's stuff cramping my room.

“Look, it's only temporary until I can find my own place and a job,” Regina tells me while I stir my cup of steaming tea in the kitchen.

I give her a doubtful stare. “An actual job? You know you have to actually do more than tell the manager he looks cute in a shirt, right?”

“Aren't you dating your boss?”

“Not the same thing.”

My phone rings.

It's Hunter.

Regina leaves me and wanders off into the bedroom.

“Hi,” I say.

“Hi Julie, I was just about to go into your office, and it was locked.”

“Yeah, it's called clocking out.”

He laughs on the other end.

“It's last-minute, but I want you to come to dinner with me and my investor from the wood company,” Hunter says. “I'll text you the address.”

I grimace at the phone. “Why? I'm not a member of the board.”

“Julie.”

“Yes?”

“This is work-related, and since I'm your boss, are you seriously going to bail on me?”

I glare hard at the plastic fruit bowl. Gosh, he was so freaking annoying. But I draw in a shaky breath and force a smile. “I wouldn't dare dream of it.”

The moment he hangs up, I toss my phone on the table and sigh.

When I step into the bedroom, Regina is dragging her hair through my hair curlers.

“Hey, what do you think of this?” Regina asks. “Straight or curly?”

“Straight. Now give me back my stuff.”

“Definitely curly. What's up?”

“I've got dinner in an hour, with the man.”

Regina coos. “Are you staying out past curfew?”

I shoot her a look. “What? With him? Absolutely not.”

Regina's brows fold in confusion before I realize it was weird not to spend the night with my supposed boyfriend.

I force a smile. “Kidding. But seriously, it's strictly for business.”

Regina nods in understanding.

Forty-five minutes later, I arrive at the restaurant, and the host happily leads me to a secluded table. Three men are seated. Hunter lifts his eyes at me with all seriousness, but one of the men catches my attention.

My heart sinks as the entire room spins around me.

No way.

Tyler?