Page 10 of I Choose You

An assistant supervisor nodded a hello at me as she walked in.

“Oh, hey,” I told her before she headed further down the hall. “Slight change today.” I handed her a paper with the highlights of what to adjust for her projects.

She took it with a sigh. “Knew this was coming. Thanks. He’s right, you know,” she said, pointing where Todd left for his office. “You’re a lifesaver for all of us.”

“Thanks, girl.” I smiled at her as she hurried to work.

As more and more employees filed in, I doubled back to my desk to jiggle my mouse and look for something to check real quick. Mom liked to think I was a perfectionist and that enabled me to be so successful. It was more about saving time. Why do something sloppy and repeat it all when it could just be done right the first time?

Once I double-checked the schedule and confirmed everything was in place, I grabbed my empty coffee cup and returned to the hallway. As I headed toward the kitchen, I crossed over to the lobby space where I could get there faster. The temp was in, stowing her things at Sandra’s station, and I smiled at her. Whew. One less thing to manage.

A man’s voice stopped me in my tracks.

“Excuse me, is this the correct floor where I can find the office for Todd Ellis?”

I froze mid-step as the connection hit.

Wagner.

“I’m here to meet with him. I’m Kaden Wagner, from Wagner Industries.”

Shit.

That smooth, rich voice hadn’t sounded quite that deep in high school.

Shit. Shit. Shit. I cringed, my face unfreezing enough to do only that. I never thought I’d see him again.

Kaden Wagner. As in the popular guy from high school.

“Brooke?” the temp asked, having worked here before and knowing who I was.

I spun around, my reactions jerky from the shock of Kaden Wagner being here, of all places.

When I faced him, surprise nearly knocked me over. Oh, it was him all right. One of the two identical Wagner twins. Blond, blue-eyed, and he sure had filled in that boyish body. He’d aged well, replacing lanky arms with muscles. Even dressed in a suit he proved to be the picture of health. No, he wasn’t just healthy—he was unbelievably sexy in such a sinful, wicked way.

“Brooke?” he asked, mirroring the shock I felt. His mouth parted as he raised his brows. “Brooke Ponder. You’re the B. Ponder who’d sent me that email?”

I nodded, vaguely aware I couldn’t just stand there and gawk at him. Clamping my lips shut, I took care of that. But words wouldn’t come. It was impossible to speak, to have one of my usual quippy comebacks ready. My mind simply stalled.

Kaden. Fucking. Wagner. Of all people.

I caught myself from spiraling to the inferior feeling he used to inspire in me. Before I could wish for a hole to open up in the floor and swallow me, I cleared my throat, willing my brain to kick into gear.

He’s just a guy. A guy I never, ever thought I’d see again, let alone to do business with, but still, he’s just a guy. Come on, Brooke. Speak!

He snapped his fingers and shook his head a bit. Lowering his gaze, he seemed too stunned to wipe the shock off his face. “I was wondering. That name seemed familiar. Ponder.” I wouldn’t say he looked bewildered, but his voice had lost that suave, smooth tone.

He rubbed the back of his neck, blinking a couple of times as he furrowed his brow. “I was, uh, wondering if Ponder—”

“You were pondering!” The temp secretary paired her insertion with a too bright smile and laugh. “Get it? Ponder.” When she realized the awkward silence would need a wrecking ball to plow through, her face fell. She pressed her lips together tightly and sat.

I’d like to get out of here. But I couldn’t. I was the utmost professional, not a perfectionist, but a professional. And no one, not even my crush from high school would render me a tongue-tied mess. Especially not him, not after what he did to me.

“Kade—” I cleared my throat and swallowed. “Kade—” Nope. One more try to lose that croakiness. I drew in a deep breath for good measure. He could fumble and um and uh all he wanted. I would not. He didn’t deserve to see me flustered, even if he had surprised me. “Mr. Wagner.”

There. Formal and no funky crack in my voice. “I can escort you to the office of Mr. Todd Ellis. Right this way please.”

Ooh, that’s right. Formal and unflustered. You got this, girl.