CHAPTER EIGHT
CADE HARLOW
Stress pounds through my temples, thudding through my head and making it ache. I’ve been working too damn hard to lose everything to this guy. He’s smooth, I can’t deny it. He’s crisp and well dressed and he talks to Ellen like he knows just what makes her tick. I feel an odd jealousy at the way he makes her smile, the way he elicits a laugh from her.
She needs to be careful. Anger thuds at my chest. If she acts like a schoolgirl with a crush around Adam, he’ll know that our relationship isn’t for real. She’s playing her part well, touching my arm, asking innocent questions, taking an interest in me and what I am doing. But I wonder if she’s attracted to him.
She nods at everything that Adam and I say, and she looks as polished as she did the evening I proposed to her. Everything is going perfectly – everything is going according to plan and, honestly, there is no real reason for me to worry.
But I just can’t shake the concern from my bones. The way Adam looks at Ellen has me unsettled, and I have a bad feeling that she’s looking at him in much the same way. I can’t blow this.
I need to come up with better ways to convince her to play her part. I need to find a better way to deal with Adam. I’d be doing so much better if I had actually slept last night and the ache in my head is growing blinding.
“Okay, Mr. Harlow. Everything seems to be in order.” Adam is smiling as he holds up the paperwork, “Do you mind if I take a copy, just for the records?”
“No, of course not.” I respond pleasantly.
A moment later, he’s stepped out of the room. An obvious ploy. I turn to look at Ellen, cutting her off before she can speak, “Thanks for coming with me.” I take her hand in my own, speaking in low tones, “I know it’s boring, but I really appreciate it.”
She smiles and it’s so warm and so sincere that I feel winded for a moment, “Don’t worry about it, Cade. I’d never make you go through this alone.”
A hand seems to grip my heart, clutching it tightly in my chest. There is sincerity in her voice that I have not heard for so long. It makes me ache and I hate it. Of course she is acting sincere and loving. It would be silly of her not to – we’d both lose out if she decided to be snippy.
Still… the feeling lingers in my chest long after the moment has passed. When Adam wanders back into the room, we shift apart again, my attention moving back to him. He hands me my papers and I nod.
“Thank you.” I take them and tuck them back into my briefcase.
“I don’t expect any delays.” Adam is smiling in a reassuring sort of way, “We’ll probably need to meet a few more times, to sign some papers, but I’ll be in touch.”
“Is that all then, Adam?” I smile, shifting in my seat. He takes me in for a long moment and I am struck by the blue of his eyes. I shrug it off.
“That’s all.” He smiles and it lights up his face, “Oh – I don’t think I’ve congratulated you.” He looks between me and Ellen, “Congratulations on your engagement – both of you. You must be very happy.”
For a moment, I don’t know what to say. Ellen comes to the rescue with a bright smile, “Oh, very.”
“Definitely.” I smile, taking Ellen’s hand as we stand.
Adam follows soon after and we make our way to the office door, “I’ll be in touch then.” He smiles.
“It has been a pleasure to meet you both.” He smiles again and I don’t like the way his eyes linger over Ellen. Her eyes meet his and I can practically feel the chemistry between them. Ellen pulls her gaze away quickly and I feel relief settle within me.
Good. She’s not going to blow everything on a silly attraction. I’m surprised that I don’t feel that much better. I push my emotions down deep and offer Adam my hand. He shakes it firmly, “Good to meet you too.” I fix him with a solid stare, “I look forward to a smooth transaction.”
His grip tightens for just a second and we are locked in the moment, tension running through the both of us like a rod, connecting us together.
Then Ellen clears her throat and the moment is broken. Adam nods politely, “I’m sure it will, Mr. Harlow. I’m sure it will.”
“Call me Cade.” I add, and my voice comes out colder than I intended it to.
Adam smirks, a faint one tugging at the corner of his mouth, “All right, Cade. I’ll call you to arrange another meeting.”
“Perfect.” I turn to leave.
“Goodbye.” Ellen smiles pleasantly as we leave. I can’t fault her. She is doing her job more perfectly than I could have ever dreamed. Yet there is still a bitter sort of feeling in my stomach, one that I just can’t shake.
I don’t know why Adam sets me on edge this much, but I’m not going to let it get to me.
I have to win this round, and I’m not letting anyone stand in my way. I glance at Ellen as we reach the elevator. We make our way down in relative silence. I guess she doesn’t want to break character any more than I do. Keeping this up is far too important to the both of us and messing it up is not an option, not something that we should even be considering.
When the elevator doors open, I hear Ellen gasp. She looked dismayed and annoyed, “I can’t believe it! I left my purse upstairs.”
I bite back the annoyance that rises in my throat and instead nod in sympathy, “Want me to go and get it?”
She shakes her head, “I’ll do it. I’ll be as quick as I can.”
She gets back in the elevator and I watch as she disappears behind closed doors. She’ll be alone with Adam and I only hope she keeps up the game.