The cab pulls up outside Blake Tower and I stride up to the glass doors.
I almost falter when I spy the same doorman who met me the first time but I keep my pace strong.
I have no idea what I’m going to say when I come face to face with that bastard.
What can I say?
There is no time to think.
As I step up to the doorman, I’m prepared for the cold blank stare of an immovable force.
Instead his hard face morphs into a wide smile when he spies me closing in.
“Miss Snow,” he says and swings the door open, holding it for me as I pass through, “I see you managed to sidestep Rowe’s vehicle of horrors this time.”
That earns a surprised laugh, “Good morning, Brock. I need to see Mr. Blake.”
He gives me a nod as though he was expecting me.
I ride the elevator full of rage and when I step out onto the top floor, I am a ball of fury.
I trace the hall to the desk outside Kaden’s office but I bypass it, heading straight for the door.
“You can’t go in there!” his assistant snaps. “Mr. Blake is in a meeting.”
I look at her and I have no idea what my expression looks like but her eyes widen and she promptly snaps her mouth shut to sit back down.
I push open the door and find myself in alone in his office. I instinctively look towards the window where I’d spotted him last time but the office is empty.
I can hear voices coming from a second door on the other side of the room. That must lead to the meeting room.
Taking a deep breath, I straighten my shoulders, march up to the door and charge through.
I charge right Into a boardroom full of expensively dressed older men and women.
All faces turn to me, all fourteen sets of eyes.
Oh no.
Kaden is standing in front of a large screen and when he looks at me with his piercing eyes, I feel it.
His gaze drops to my figure hugging dress and lingers at the spot on my throat where he’d marked me.
I had to spend extra time covering and concealing the bruised flesh but he was looking right at the spot as though he remembered exactly where his mouth had been.
His jaw tightens for a second before his face morphs into a wide grin.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I didn’t think I’d be able to introduce you to Miss Snow until later in the week.”
He looks up at me again.
What is going on?
“Claire, I’ve been trying to explain your app design to the board but I don’t think I’m doing it justice. Would you mind…?”
He waves a hand at the wide screen and I suddenly notice that it’s displaying the specifications of my app.
What?
I walk towards the front of the room but I have this funny giddy feeling like I’m in a dream.
He introduces the nine board members then indicates to the three younger women and two similarly aged men sitting together near the front.
“And this is your team: Danika, Robin, Morgan, Wilson, and Louis. They are each top of their field in marketing, programming, PR, art and design. If anyone is qualified to make this app fly, it’s them.”
I smile at the table of experienced professionals, all of who are here for me and my new app.
Kaden places a hand on my lower back and it sends electric heat through my entire body.
He leans down to murmur in my ear and I feel the warmth of his breath on my throat.
“You look incredible,” his gruff whisper feels so raw that I have to lock my knees to stop them shaking, “I’m sorry about this, I’d planned to have this meeting on Wednesday so you’d have more time to prepare but the board already had a meeting scheduled for today and they won’t be able to meet again for another couple of weeks.”
“It’s not a problem,” I stammer.
“I missed you when I woke up,” he whispers in my ear, “We need to talk after the meeting.”
“Do we?” I level him with a cool gaze and he frowns at me.
“Yes,” he replies before giving me a gentle push towards the screen.
“Claire will take it from here,” he announces to the people waiting around the table.
And I do.
I comfortably step into the business role. This is what I know and where I am most comfortable.
After a quick demonstration of how to use the screen, I begin, “I’m not sure how much Mr. Blake has told you already, so I’ll start from the beginning.”
My voice comes out strong and I can feel my confidence skyrocketing as I continue.
Every so often someone stops me with a question or a clarification, and I find that can answer easily. I quickly pick up exactly what it is they need me to tell them by their inquiries and as my explanation goes on, they have fewer questions.
They seem to be as interested in my idea as Kaden had been on that first day.
The meeting ends with a discussion of the capabilities and possible expansion of Gifting Elf. It’s so exciting to finally have input from seasoned professionals at the top of their fields.
When it’s time for the meeting to end, I’m actually buzzing with energy and excitement.
Wow.
That went well.
The room clears out and I turn to find Kaden standing very still.
He’s staring at me, his expression unreadable…