The meeting did not go well. Apparently Selena Chase, Trey’s only real competition, was playing hardball with the mall deal. Since he knew that this deal was Trey’s baby, Trevor wasn’t about to let it slide through his fingers.

He missed having Millie in the office. She would have slipped him talking points or other key data to better prepare him for the meeting. She also would have unobtrusively poked her head in, somehow sensing the best time to bring beverages, lunch, or whatever else was needed. She seemed to have some sort of sixth sense that allowed her to be the ideal assistant, and he just plain missed getting to see her lovely face. Even with an injured cheek, she was still absolutely beautiful.

Candace, the woman filling in for Millie, was basically just a receptionist. When Trevor had gone out to her desk to request that she bring a coffee carafe to the Executive Board Room––something Millie would have already taken care of––Candace had been filing her fingernails. It was so unprofessional that he had almost asked her to leave, but stopped himself because he realized that most of his problem with her was the simple fact that she was not Millie.

By the time the meeting ended, Trevor was fairly certain that Selena Chase was going to steal this deal right out from under his nose. She wasn’t playing fair. His advisors informed him that she had been meeting with every member of the Donovan Enterprises team that she could sink her claws into, in order to offer them more money, a better title, whatever it was that they most desired.

Key employees were beginning to drop like flies, and they were taking inside information with them. The latest traitor was Trevor’s only friend from downstairs, Bandy. He wondered what secrets his friend was sharing with the competition. That man blabbed everything he knew. The fact that Trey had insisted on trusting his people and refusing to make them sign confidentiality agreements was now beginning to burn the company.

Each move they made, Selena was one step ahead of them, undercutting them. The realization that she might actually secure the entire deal made his head pound with anxiety.

He paced back and forth when he got back to his office. “This can’t be happening. I can’t lose this deal.” He stared out the large windows as he muttered to himself. He longed to talk to Millie. She would know what to do.

As if sensing that he needed her, his phone buzzed with a text from her. When he read what it said, he nearly threw the device across the room.

Rather than text her back, he decided to call her. He started speaking as soon as she answered. “What do you mean we can’t see each other anymore?” His voice sounded harsher and more demanding than he intended.

“Trevor, you’re my boss,” she replied rationally. “I enjoy spending time with you, but it is inappropriate for us to have anything more than a professional relationship.”

“What if I wasn’t your boss?” he asked.

She was silent for a long moment. When she finally spoke her voice was faint and filled with disbelief. “You would fire me?”

“No!” he responded immediately. “I would step down and let my brother find someone else to stand at the helm of his empire.

“You can’t do that.” Her voice sounded much steadier now. “This is what you’ve always wanted.”

“I want you more,” he told her honestly.

“That’s sweet, but I can’t let you give up on your dream. You can do this.” She sounded far more confident than he felt. Hesitating for a moment to take a deep breath, she finally added, “Selena Chase called me today.”

Trevor could hear the blood rushing in his ears. “You can’t leave Donovan Enterprises. We need you.” He could barely hear his own words over the pounding in his head, so he went with the simple truth.

“It would solve our employee-boss relationship problem,” she started before adding under her breath, “Or create new problems.” Trevor figured it would be the latter, but he let her finish. “I told her never to call me again because I have no intentions of ever leaving Donovan Enterprises.”

Trevor let out a breath that he hadn’t realized he was holding. “I guess I can add loyalty to the ever-growing list of things to love about you.” She giggled at his compliment, and he basked in the sound of it. He pictured her relaxed and casual look of sweatpants, fluffy hair, and bare feet with their surprise pop of color, and silently vowed to figure this out.

After saying goodbye to Millie, Trevor made a decision. It was time to go pay his brother a visit.