Zara strode into the owner of the company’s office prepared to answer for her crimes against coffee mugs, office supplies, and infuriatingly sexy colleagues. In order to survive without hurling a stapler, she deluded herself into believing she could escape unscathed.

Yep, she was in denial with a capital D.

To make matters worse, the target of her wrath, the baffling, bothersome, and breathtakingly beautiful director of finance sat in a chair opposite the owner’s mahogany desk. If he didn’t act like a treasure-hoarding dragon, she wouldn’t revel in messing with his office supplies.

Her blood boiled. Anger was in the house.

Thank Gandalf that she’d worn her Chicago Cubs hipster panties. Whenever she expected Aaron, a devoted White Sox fan, to annoy her, she sported undies of the rival Chicago team.

If her job remained intact after the meeting, she promised to stop pranking Aaron and confine herself to her private panty rebellion. And she’d do her best not to stare at him like he was an ice cream cone she was dying to lick.

Hot damn, she was bargaining.

Despite her desire to treat her eyeballs to the sight of him in a slim-cut suit, she focused her attention on Cheryl. Zara squared her shoulders and aimed a double-dog-dare-you-to-fire-me smile at the woman who ran Windy City Gaming.

“Have a seat.” Cheryl gestured to the empty leather chair next to Aaron’s. “You’re probably wondering why I’ve asked you here.”

His lips formed a tight line, and he gripped the arms of the chair, as though he anticipated a ten thousand volt zap.

Why the hell would he look angry over a stupid stunt, especially when the axe hovered over her neck?

“I assume you want a status report for the Wondrous Worlds project.” Zara opened the folder prepared to share the dismal sales projections. Let Cheryl ask why the final product was a steaming pile of crap. If Aaron hadn’t slashed the budget, they could have afforded a better team of artists.

“In order to remain competitive, the focus of Windy City Gaming will change in the coming year.” Cheryl tapped the desk with her pen. “All in-progress projects are on the chopping block. The senior management team is going on a retreat in Wisconsin over the holidays to choose the projects that will move forward. We’re in negotiations to sell off the ones that don’t make the cut. Those retained will be fast tracked and revamped. Staff will be right-sized to reflect the reduction in projects.”

Zara’s breakfast threatened to come up. She had splurged on Christmas presents and probably would be unemployed when the credit card bills arrived.

“Instead of making the announcement in a group meeting, we wanted to speak individually with any employee who might be affected,” Aaron said.

Without Zara championing Wondrous Worlds, the game was certain to be dumped, and she’d lose her job. All she wanted to do was sit on her couch with a pint of peanut butter cup ice cream and ponder her woes.

Oh, hell, this was depression.

But if somehow the game was a go, she wanted to be the one to lead the project and make Wondrous Worlds a blockbuster. “May I attend the retreat?”

Cheryl raised her eyebrows.

“Half the office is out with the stomach flu,” Aaron said. “Zara has an excellent working knowledge of all active projects. She could pitch each one and answer any questions that may arise.”

Zara’s jaw dropped. She couldn’t figure out if he was trying to help or to set her up for failure. Maybe he wanted to witness her devastation when her project was dropped.

“Fine.” Cheryl shuffled through a stack of papers on her desk and handed one to Zara. “Here are the directions to the lodge.”

Zara bit her lip. Once the cost of renting a parking space shot up, she’d sold her car. “Would it be possible to ride share?”

“I’m heading up tonight directly from work,” Cheryl said.

“Not a problem. I can pick her up tomorrow morning. Say around 8 AM?” Aaron placed his hand on Zara’s elbow. “If I remember correctly, you live near Belmont. It’s on my way.”

Tingles rushed up her arm.

His mussed hair evoked images of him lying naked in a pile of crisp, white sheets.

Her Cub’s undies were a must for the trip. She needed to keep her head in the game to save her beloved project as well as her job.