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I pick up my glass and try to ignore his sexy stature as he speaks with Terry.
“I was wondering, Reagan, what would I have to do if I wanted to be a chief executive?” Margie’s voice is loud enough to cut into Terry and Everett’s conversation. They both turn to look at me.
I almost spit out my champagne. I’m stumped by this sudden inquiry of hers. Tackling one thing at a time, I swallow the champagne in my mouth, then prepare to answer my assistant. “Well, firstly, with lots of hard work. You’d need a master’s in management…
“What about you, Everett?” My jaw clenches when she moves her attention to him. “Do you have any advice for me?”
“If you want to go further in your career, maybe look at night classes. You’ll still be earning an income and you can pay for your classes for your master’s degree.”
I tried to stop myself from reading too much into all this. I’m not a paranoid person. I know I can do my job and had no worries about that, but it threw me as to why she’d want to ask about becoming a CEO all of a sudden. I glance at Ev, who’s gone right back to his conversation with Terry. I aim a grin at Margie and lifted my glass to her before I take a sip.
“Why don’t we have lunch, say, Tuesday. I think I’m free.” My ears perk up when I hear Terry extend an invitation to Everett.
“Yeah, sounds good. Give my assistant a call on Monday and she’ll put it on my schedule,” Everett replies with a grin.
“Reagan. If you could do that for me?” Terry asked.
“I can schedule that for you Monday morning, Mr. Hicks.” I didn’t even get a chance to get my answer out before Margie offered like she was teacher’s pet. “I don’t mind doing it. Reagan has enough on her plate, and she’s always busy on Mondays.”
“Okay, thank you, Margie. That’s truly kind of you.”Terry then turns to me. “You know, Reagan, you could do much worse than this young lady as your assistant. I’m impressed. You chose well.”
“Thank you, Mr. Hicks. That means a lot.” I force a polite smile at my boss, but inside I’m screaming. With nothing else to do, I pick up my glass and drain its contents. I look up and find Everett watching my every move. Shaking my head, I catch a passing waiter by the arm and order a vodka and lemonade.
“I wish I could be like you, Reagan,” Margie says, grabbing my attention. “You’re just so confident.”
“Thanks.” I look over my shoulder, hoping to see the waiter coming back with my drink, but instead all I see is Terry and Everett shaking hands. Terry pulls him closer and whispers something to him. Everett nods and drops his hand.
The shareholders decide they’ve had enough and say goodnight to us, leaving empty chairs around the table. Everett pulls a recently vacated chair over and sits next to me. Just at that time, the waiter returns with my drink. I’m bored shitless now, and Margie’s sucking up is starting to irritate the fuck out of me.
Everett’s hand settles on my thigh beneath the table, and goosebumps cover my skin. I give him a warning look, telling him not to, but he doesn’t listen to my unspoken request. His fingers slip beneath the side split of my dress, and I have to cover his hand with mine to stop his progression. My breath catches in the back of my throat, causing me to cough lightly, and I try to regain my composure by grabbing my glass and taking a sip of the sweet drink.
Margie stands and walks around the table until she’s reached Ev. “Do you mind if I take this seat?”
He whips his hand back like he’s been bitten. For the second time tonight he’s been cockblocked. I want to laugh, but seeing Margie take the seat on his other side has my anger rising.
“No, of course not. Take it.”
She asks Ev about his company, so I turn to Amelia, who strikes up a conversation about hair and fashion, and I soon found out that she likes the same shops I do.
Margie’s laugh rips through me. I turn to pick up my glass and see her hand on Ev’s arm. I stare for a beat too long before knocking back the rest of my vodka. I’m not sure what’s wrong with me tonight. I just feel off. I let Margie get to me, even though she was no different than when we were in the office. I bang my glass down on the table harder than I mean to, causing Everett and Margie to pause. His hand on my forearm feels like it’s burning a hole in my skin.
“I’m fine.” I stop a passing waiter and order another but make it a large one. If I have to put up with this, then I may as well be numb and not have to listen to it.
Thirty-One
Everett
I heave Reagan up into my arms, lifting her from the limo. Once I thank the driver, I carry her into the building and to the elevator. She’d fallen asleep with her head against my chest not long after we got in the car.
In the elevator, I hold her against my chest and watch the numbers change from floor to floor until we reach the tenth floor. I carry her the short way to my apartment and take my key from my pocket, opening the door. Reagan groans as her nose nestles into my neck, getting herself comfortable in my arms.
I take her into the bedroom and lay her on my bed, taking a minute to just look at her, brushing my fingertips across her forehead and sweeping away the hair that has fallen into her eyes. I take her shoes off one by one and place them in the closet before stripping out of my suit. I hang up my jacket and pants and throw my shirt into the linen basket, before finding a shirt for Reagan to sleep in.
I pull the sheet back on my side of the bed before and trying to get Reagan changed for the night. She groans as I start pulling her dress up her body, her eyelids flickering.
“What’re you doing?” Her head lolls forward when I pick her torso up. “I don’t think I’m up for shex, babe.”
“Yeah, yeah. Lift your arms up for me.” I chuckle quietly. She attempts to lift them but they’re floppy and just fall back down. “Open your eyes a second.”
