And on top of their private meetings, they were sharing a secret. Fucking great. “What project are you working on?”
“Nothing you’d be interested in.” Before I had a chance to scowl, he corrected himself. “I’m trying to purchase a company from someone who would never sell if they knew I was the purchaser. Norma’s the only person I can trust not to leak the information.”
“Fine.” I hated that there was no way around their working relationship. Hated it. But what could I do? “Fine,” I said again, more for me than him. “Social settings only, please. Where there are people around. And when this deal’s over, you won’t need private meetings with her anymore?”
“No. I won’t.”
“I’m going to still ask about her. Like, all the time. Because I can’t just let it go.”
He nodded. “I understand.”
Though I was pleased that we’d worked through our argument constructively, the resolution was still a bitter pill to swallow. “Do you know how much this hurts to let you keep her employed?” I squeezed his hand hard, digging my fingernails into the back of his hand to accentuate my pain level.
Hudson narrowed his eyes, tolerating my assault. “Believe me, I do.”
“Okay then. As long as we’re clear.” I released his hand.
“Was there another reason you stopped by?” He rubbed the back of his hand. “Or was Norma the intended subject all along?”
I laughed as I recalled the ridiculousness of my day. “No. I came by because I just wanted to see you. Lunch was…interesting…and then Celia was there again.”
His brow shot up. “Celia was there?”
“Jordan said he texted you.”
Hudson reached in his pants pocket and pulled out his phone. He flipped through a few screens. “Damn. I left my phone on silent. I didn’t know. She didn’t try anything?”
“Nope. Just let me know she was there.”
“Alayna. I’m so sorry.” He pulled me so I was half on his lap and wrapped his arms around me from behind.
I sighed, settling into the warmth of him.
Hudson kissed the top of my head. “Maybe you should take some time off. I could send you out of town. Would you like another week at my spa?”
I stretched my head to see if he was serious. He was. “I can’t leave now. Not with everything at the club. And she’ll know she scared me off. I can’t let her have that victory.”
“That’s a very brave response. I just hate that you’re in this position.” He tightened his arms around my br**sts.
It was then that I remembered my other reason for stopping by. “Do you have a plan to deal with her?”
He was silent for a beat. “I talked to my lawyer today,” he said finally. “As you said, there’s nothing we can do legally. But we’re looking into some other options.”
“Illegal options?”
“How about you let me handle this? I’ll fill you in when everything’s sorted out.”
I didn’t have the energy at the moment to push him. Besides, it seemed he really didn’t have anything worked out at all, and forcing him to admit that would be unkind.
So I let it go. “You require an awful lot of trust these days.”
He placed a light kiss at my temple. “Too much?” His voice was strained and his body tight—it was his turn to need my reassurance.
So I said, “No. I trust you.” Though sometimes my trust was more of a work-in-progress. I turned to kiss his cheek. “I know you’ll take care of me.”
“Always.” His lips met mine just as his intercom buzzed. He sighed against my mouth. “I’m sure that’s Patricia letting me know my next appointment is here.”
I stood and then offered my hand to help him up. “Guess my blowjob plans are shot to hell then.”
His eyes darkened. “Maybe I could make them wait.”
Laughing, I swatted at his shoulder. “Shut up. I didn’t have blowjob plans. For all that I’m conceding to, I think I’m the one who deserves the sexual favors.”
“Tonight.”
“I’m holding you to it, H.” I reached up to give him a final peck on the lips. “Meanwhile, you should know that I hate you a little.”
“You do not. You love me.”
I shrugged. “Same thing.”
Hudson walked me out so he could welcome his next client in as I was leaving. I’d almost made it to the elevators when Trish called after me.
I walked back to her desk, wondering if she meant to scold me for keeping Hudson occupied.
“This was delivered for you while you were with Mr. Pierce.” Trish handed me a simple white envelope with my name written in block letters on the outside.
It didn’t occur to me that I should have given the envelope to my bodyguard until after I’d opened it and found the same business card that had been stuck in my books at home. Celia Werner, Interior Design.
The knot in my belly tightened. She’d been on foot when I’d left her at the restaurant. How could she possibly have followed me so quickly? Did she simply guess that I’d come here? Why hadn’t Reynold seen her coming up in the lobby?
“Who gave you this?” I asked Trish, aware that my voice was more demanding than would be deemed polite.
“I don’t know. A courier. I didn’t pay attention.”
“Was she blonde, blue-eyes—”
Trish cut me off. “It was a he.”
That explained why Reynold hadn’t seen Celia—she’d had someone else deliver it. As for knowing I was at Hudson’s office, well, wasn’t that predictable of me too?
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. All she’d left was a silly business card. It didn’t hurt me. It was meant to scare me, that’s all. Meant to warn me that she was watching. That she knew how to get to me.
Resolving to not let her get to me, I opened my eyes. I quickly scrawled a note to Hudson on the white envelope and put the card back inside. “Thank you, Trish. When Hudson is free, can you give this to him?”
I really wanted to burst through his doors and show him personally. Then convince him that both of us should leave it all behind and go to his spa.
But that would be running away. And running away never solves anything. Or so, that’s what everyone always says.
Chapter Nine
After I left Hudson’s office, I decided to try to forget my tension by wrapping myself in work. I was successful for most of the afternoon, but the anxiousness and stress of the day lingered just under the surface. I had to be at the club to meet Gwen by eight and imagined it would be a late night. I longed for a run, but decided instead on a group therapy session. Thursdays weren’t the day I usually went, but there was a session at six led by my favorite counselor. I could grab a bite to eat, hit the group, and be back in time to work that evening.