“So,” Riley says, bringing up two images on her screen, “these are the two options that are getting us most traffic, but I think I can do better. I haven’t got the perfect combo yet.”

“Sounds good to me.” I lean against the back of the couch. “What about that ‘claim your hottie’ hashtag idea? Have we put that in motion yet?”

“Just got started this morning! Lots of activity on it already. And some of the pictures are amazing. Definitely getting us lots of buzz. I’ll have more hard data by tomorrow. For now . . .” She fans herself. “I will just enjoy the eye candy of so many shirtless dudes.”

I laugh. “Just as long as you remember the point is to get people talking about Perfect Match, not to get your rocks off.”

There’s a knock on the door, and then it opens and a burly guy walks in. “This is Connective, Inc.?”

“It is,” I say. “What can I help you with?”

“Great. We’re here to pack you up for the move.” He turns behind him and yells. “Up here, boys!”

“Umm what?” I ask. “I think there’s been a mix-up. We don’t have a move scheduled.”

He consults his clipboard as three more guys enter, armed with boxes and packing tape. “Yeah you do. Jack Callahan’s office phoned it in. We’re supposed to pack up and move you over to Maverick Capital by the end of the day.”

Jack. What the hell?

One guy starts shoveling files into boxes. Another is already folding up the couch. “You want to take the fridge or just trash it?”

Trash . . . ?

“No. Wait. Stop!” I yell.

Everybody freezes.

“Could you wait just a few minutes?” I catch my breath. “I need to give Jack a call.”

The guy who’s done all the talking shrugs. “We’ll grab coffee and be back in five.”

As soon as the door is closed, I dial up Jack’s private number. It goes straight to voicemail. Shit. I try his main office number next. After two rings, a bright, even voice I recognize as Hallie’s answers.

“Maverick Capital, how can I help you?”

“This is McKenna, and I need to speak with Jack right now.”

“Oh, hey, McKenna. Jack’s in a meeting right now—and I mean really in a meeting, not just saying he is to avoid taking calls. I can have him call you back?”

I grit my teeth. Not good enough. “I’m sorry. I need to reach him right now. There’s a bunch of moving guys here who seem to think they’re carrying my office over to Maverick.”

There’s a moment of silence. Not a startled protest or questions. “Ummm . . .”

My heart sinks. She knew. “What’s going on?”

“Jack arranged office space for your company here.” Hallie sounds confused. “We’ve got a suite set aside for you. He thought it would be best to have you operating from our site as you gear up for the launch. He didn’t tell you?”

“Nope.”

“Shit. I’m sorry.”

I don’t need to hear the excuse. She shouldn’t be the one apologizing anyway. “That’s fine. I guess I’ll see you soon.”

“What’s going on?” Warren asks when I hang up.

“Jack wants us to move into Maverick Capital,” I say, and bite my lip.

“Cool.” Warren lights up. “I’ve heard about their setup. It’s sweet.”

“Does this mean I get my own office?” Riley asks eagerly. “And free snacks?”

“Hell yeah!” Warren whoops, high-fiving her.

“Yes. No. I don’t know.” I’m starting to get a headache. “Look, you guys make sure they don’t break anything. I’ll be back later.”

I grab my coat and head for the door.

Jack has some explaining to do.

---

By the time I reach Jack’s office, my whole body is practically vibrating with anger.

Who the hell does he think he is, uprooting my entire company without even asking if it’s what I want? Maybe I like creaky pipes and bad Wi-Fi and porn moans coming up through the ceiling!

I burst into the lobby. Hallie’s head jerks up behind her desk. “McKenna?”

“Where is he?” I demand. “Where’s this oh-so-important meeting?”

We eye each other for a second. Then she sighs and points to one of the closed off conference rooms. “Do what you’ve got to do.”

I march over there and yank the door open. Everyone around the meeting table stares at me. Jack looks surprised.

“McKenna—”

“We need to talk.” I scowl. “Right. Now.”

“If you could just—”

“No,” I say firmly. “There are people uprooting my office while I’m standing here. I don’t have time to let you finish your meeting. You obviously forgot to have a pretty important meeting with me.”

He blinks, like he’s realizing something is wrong. “I’m sorry, everyone,” he says to the rest of the table. “I’m afraid we’ll have to wrap up for the moment. I’ll have my assistant be in touch shortly.”

Everyone else exits, and we’re left alone.

Jack turns to me, looking so concerned—and so damned handsome while he’s doing it—that I want to hit something.

“You’re obviously upset,” he says. “What happened?”

“Didn’t you hear me?” I exclaim. “Why are there movers packing up my office right now? When did we decide that I’m moving in here?”

“Well, why wouldn’t you be?” Jack asks, looking puzzled. “It makes the most sense for you to be here under my roof. Especially since we’re ramping things up for launch in the New Year. You’ll want quick hands-on guidance at your fingertips.”

He grins a little at that last remark, as if thinking of other uses of fingertips.

Is he serious?

“What are you talking about?” I ask. “We’re launching in like, two months? Since when?”

“It’s going to be great.” Jack looks enthusiastic. “We’ll announce at Tech Talk a couple of weeks before the holidays, then launch mid-January. All those resolutions waiting to be fulfilled—you couldn’t ask for better timing.”

My stomach drops. “Tech Talk? This year’s Tech Talk? We’re never going to be ready for that.”

“Of course you will.” He touches my arm, guiding me out of the room and across the office space. “You’ll have all the help you need. I’m bringing the best people in to join your team. We’ve got the perfect suite of offices for you here—”

“Wait.” I spin toward him. “You’re hiring people?” My voice rises. Jack looks around, and then pulls me into one of the empty office rooms. As soon as the door is closed, I jab his chest. “When were you planning on telling me about any of this?”

Jack looks bewildered. “It must have slipped my mind,” he says. “I’m sorry. I got caught up in making the plans, getting everything moving quickly. But it’s a natural next step. This will be great.”

“Great for you, maybe!” I explode. “But it’s my company. I decide where we work and who we hire. You didn’t even ask!”

“I didn’t think I needed to. I thought you trusted me to know what I was doing.” He frowns. “I have done this plenty of times before, McKenna. I wouldn’t send you in the wrong direction.”

“That’s not the point,” I cry. “Maybe I’d have agreed anyway. But you can’t just skip the whole conversation and make decisions for me. You’re a minority investor. Minority! I did the deal that way for a reason, so I wouldn’t have to give up any control. But now here I am, the last one to know about every key decision you’ve taken on yourself to make!”

Jack steps back. “I don’t know what to say other than that I’m sorry. I thought this was what you wanted—a big launch, making waves. We can do that. It’s already in motion.”

Before I can answer, there’s a soft rap on the door. Hallie peeks in. “Jack,” she says, looking reluctant. “Your flight for Miami leaves in an hour.”

“Thanks. Have the car come around.”

She ducks back out, but I’m still in a state of disbelief over here. “You’re leaving now?”

“I have this trip.” Jack still seems confused. “Look, I’m sorry I didn’t run this past you, but it’s all for the best, I promise. You’re going to love working here, and hey, just think about it. I’ll be right down the hall whenever you need to let off steam.”

He winks, then drops a kiss on my cheek and is out the door before I can even manage a frustrated, “Mnnrugh!”

I look around. The frosted glass walls are too polished. There’s no thud of bass rising through the floor. This isn’t my office. It doesn’t feel like mine at all. And Jack didn’t get that, not even a little bit.

A wave of exhaustion rolls over me. I sink down on the floor and lean back against the wall.

Welcome home, I guess.

My phone buzzes. I pull it out, expecting Riley or Warren, but it’s an alert for a news story mentioning Connective, Inc. As I blink at it, another pops up, and another.

What’s going on?

I click through to the first hit, an article on Digital Today. One of their reporters, Nelle Castle, had an interview with Jack. He must have talked up his recent investment. I skim down through the text to find the mention.

My thumb stills over the screen. My heart starts to sink even further than before. I think it’s going to drop right through the floor.

Callahan couldn’t be more excited to see his newest project, the dating app Perfect Match, off the ground. “I know a winner when I see one,” he enthuses. “I can’t wait to watch the company grow under my guidance. When I’m through, no one will look at online dating the same way again.”

There’s more—more of the same. How pleased Jack is with the app. How he’s going to bring it to the world. His project. His guidance.

The article doesn’t even mention my name.

A lump rises in my throat. I swallow it, but the bitter taste stays. What the hell is happening? I knew that bringing an investor on would shake things up, but I thought it would be minor shaking, not these earthquakes.

Moving me into the office of his own accord. Hiring new employees without even talking to me. And now this . . .

I thought you trusted me, Jack said when we were arguing. The thing is, I did. I never thought he’d hijack my entire company. Take it over as if Perfect Match is his brainchild, not mine. My hand tightens around the phone. How could I have misjudged him that badly?

I thought he was the perfect investor for Perfect Match. I was starting to think he was pretty much the perfect guy.

Have I made a huge mistake?