TWO O’CLOCK ON Thursday, and I was sitting in the lobby of AnaVoge for an appointment that the receptionist had assured me was still on. Finally. But, unlike the other visits, my head wasn’t in the game. All I could think about was Lucas. The way I’d woken up beside him as he watched me with eyes that betrayed more than a passing attraction, and the fear I felt coming off him when he dropped me off at the hotel. And last night? God. The sound of him as he came, the visual of his strong, lean body straddling mine as his dick disappeared deep inside me, and the way he’d looked at me after, dazed and drunk off the high. I’d needed to get focused and ready for this meeting today, but all I could do was keep replaying our time together in my mind and wonder where we went from here.

“Mr. Davenport? Mr. Davenport, he’s ready for you.”

Blinking, I shook my head to clear it and realized Astrid was standing in front of a side door, waiting for me to follow her.

“Oh, sorry,” I said, and then flashed what I hoped was a smile that said I had my shit together. Getting to my feet, I buttoned my suit jacket, picked up my briefcase, and then followed her through the oak door that separated the lobby from the offices. The back was nothing like what I’d expected. Whereas the lobby had an elegant, traditional feel, the back was modern, all glass walls for the offices of equal size that lined one side of the room, while the rest was an open space with several tables in the middle in place of staff cubicles. It was an inviting, open-door setup that I hadn’t seen in any of the companies we’d acquired, and it made me even more curious about the man I was about to meet.

I was led into one of the minimalist offices, and nothing about the space boasted of a CEO at all. Speaking of which, there wasn’t anyone in the room, and as I looked at Astrid, she smiled. “He’ll be right with you. You can take a seat.”

Then she left, and I stood there, waiting in a room full of see-through walls where I could feel eyes on me from every direction. Well, this is awkward. Which I’d venture to guess was the point. Keep me on my toes and off guard, giving the home team another advantage. I was beginning to think this guy had a flare for the dramatic.

My guess was right on as the sound of my name had me turning to face… Holy shit. The man standing in the doorway holding a stainless steel travel mug was the last person I’d ever expected to see—again. My mouth parted in shock as I took in the oversized collar of his white shirt that was paired with a cropped black jacket and slim-fitting pants. It looked like something Prince would’ve worn, right down to the high-heeled snakeskin boots. The only thing different about this—Bash, had he called himself?—was the lack of red lipstick, and his inky hair was parted instead of slicked back.

He held out his hand toward me. “It’s nice to officially meet you, Jackson Davenport.”

“Uh…” I blanked, completely thrown off as I shook his hand. “Sebastian Vogel?”

Sebastian cocked his head. “You seem surprised.”

“You’re not who I was expecting.”

“Should I take offense to that?” he said.

“No, of course not. I just didn’t realize we’d already met. Unofficially, I guess.”

He smiled as he let go of my hand. “Yes, well, I make it a point never to talk shop after hours. Too many other fun diversions. I take it you enjoyed yourself Friday?”

My face burned as the first thing I thought of was Lucas’s naked body under mine. Did I enjoy myself? Uh, yeah. You could say that.

Clearing my throat, I tried like hell to remember this was an important business meeting with a company we had a vested interest in purchasing. “I’d like to focus on the point of why I’m here today, if we could.”

“Ah, of course. That was none of my business. Just making sure our locals treated you well during your stay.” He walked around his glass desk and sat down in the leather chair behind it. “And I do apologize for the wait. I’ve had a few things to attend to this week of a personal nature, as I’m sure you can understand.”

Do I ever. “I do. I appreciate you meeting with me.”

“It’s not every day a company of your prestige comes calling. I’m flattered.” Sebastian gestured to the chair opposite him. “Please.”

Unbuttoning my jacket, I sat down and placed my briefcase on the floor beside my chair. Hopefully I’d be needing the contents before the meeting came to an end.

“Flattered, but not curious?” I asked.

“The rumor mill talks, but I rarely listen to gossip.” Sebastian leaned back in his chair and crossed his legs. “The floor is yours. What can I do for you, Jackson?”

As I launched into my pitch, quoting facts and numbers, I felt confident that Sebastian would be easily sold. Davenport Worldwide did come with a reputation for getting what we wanted, and with the amount of money we’d be throwing his way, anyone would be hard-pressed not to take the deal.

When I wrapped things up, Sebastian said, “I assume you’ve drawn up a proposal?”

“We have.” I unlocked the briefcase, pulled out the contract, and slid it across his desk. “As you can see, we’re prepared to offer you a substantial sum to acquire the rights to your company.”

Sebastian glanced down and then did a double take at the figure. “You came here to play,” he murmured as he picked it up and flipped through each page.

“That we did. Analytics in social media marketing is something many companies are desperate for, and the market is practically untapped. We believe in your business and would like to help AnaVoge become the go-to in your field.”

“Hmm.” Sebastian dropped the contract back on to his desk. “It’s clear you’ve done your research, and as such, you would also know I’m not in the market to sell.”

“We do. But we also know you’re a smart businessman. Davenport Worldwide can offer your company the connections and resources it needs.”

“Who’s to say I couldn’t do that on my own?”

“Maybe in time, but with the way things are shifting so quickly, there’s no way to know if you’ll be relevant two years, three years, five years from now. You’ve got to strike while the iron is hot. We have the means to do it, and fast.”

Sebastian steepled his hands and tapped his fingers on his lips. “And to do that, reach those numbers you project, you’d use your father’s signature approach, I assume? Divide and conquer?”

“Assuming we acquire your company, we’d have to do a full assessment and analyze the best strategy.”

“That’s not a no.”

“It’s not a yes.”

“Hmm,” Sebastian said, and rocked back in his chair, his kohl-rimmed eyes studying me. “Well, it’s an offer many would jump at. Good of you to come all this way for little ole me.”

“A fifty-million-dollar company isn’t exactly little.”

Sebastian’s smile grew. “Yeah, I do okay. But here’s the thing, Jackson. May I call you Jackson?”

“Of course.”

“What I’ve learned in the years I’ve been doing this is that no amount of money is worth it if your people aren’t happy. You’re not going to keep the best and brightest by focusing on the bottom line.”

“Surely you don’t mean to tell me you don’t care about money.”

Sebastian chuckled. “We’ve been lucky enough that I have more than I’ll ever need. But there comes a point when ambition turns into greed, and that isn’t such a good look for me. It would also come at a price, I think, and it’s my job to look after the best interests of my company and my staff.”

“So your answer is no?”

“Can I ask you something? What do you like about my company?”

“I respect your work ethic, and your ideas are inventive. You’ve captured a niche that needs to be filled, and you’ve made savvy business decisions.” I looked over my shoulder at the dozens of people working at tables in the open space. “The way you bring everyone together on a level playing field is also admirable.”

Sebastian’s expression turned thoughtful. “Do you agree with the methods your company dishes out when they take on all these companies?”

No was my immediate reaction, and my brief hesitation was all the answer he needed.

“I didn’t think so.” Sebastian stood and came around to the front of his desk, and then he leaned against it, crossing his ankles. “Jackson, you seem to be an intelligent man. Good instincts, remarkable skills of persuasion…plus I like you. So I’m gonna be real with you.”

I’d never been so bowled over by another in a meeting before, but I’d also never had someone read me so clearly before either, and I was curious what would come out of Sebastian’s mouth next.

“You hate your job,” he said.

Okay, not what I expected. “Excuse me?”

“What’s more, I think you strongly disagree and/or dislike your father. Perhaps both.”

“What the—?” I said, unable to hide my shock at his audacity. “I’m not sure what’s prompted you to make assumptions about my life. You don’t know anything about me or my father.”

“Well, that’s not exactly true. See, I’ve read up a bit on you, too, Jackson, and I’ve got a theory about you.”

He cannot be serious. “I can’t wait to hear it.”

“You graduated from South Haven Academy, did you not?”

“You know the answer to that if you’ve done an internet search.”

“Fair enough. There’s just one thing my search didn’t tell me.” Sebastian narrowed his lined eyes. “Did you attend your graduation?”

“Excuse me?”

“Your graduation. Were you there?”

“That’s what you want to know about me? Whether I walked at the ceremony? What kind of question is that?”

Sebastian shrugged. “A simple one.”

I debated whether to answer him, but I was still curious about what all these questions were leading up to. “I left a few days before the end of classes. Why?” He nodded like he’d expected that answer. “Care to explain what that has to do with anything?”

“I just needed confirmation of exactly who you are, and now I know. I apologize for bringing up things of a personal nature, but I appreciate the clarification.”

“A personal nature…?” I wondered what the fuck he was talking about, but then it hit me. This guy, Sebastian, Bash, whatever his name was, was a friend of Lucas’s, which meant he knew all about our history together and exactly what my father had done. If Lucas had confided in him, that explained why he would know who I was based on the fact that I’d left South Haven before graduation. This had been no level playing field after all.

“You’re a friend of Lucas’s,” I said.

“Yes.”

“A close friend, I take it.”

“Yes.”

Fuck. It all made sense now. Sebastian being defensive of Lucas at the club, the sculpture in the lobby, Sebastian not wanting anything to do with my father’s company. Yeah…this suddenly felt like a coup.

“I assume that was your boat yesterday?” I said. “Your house?”

“Guilty as charged. I apologize for not saying hello. I thought it best not to get involved.”

“And this is you not getting involved?”

“A mere curiosity.”

“So this is why you’re turning us down. Because you’ve been talking to Lucas?” Hold on, had Lucas purposely sabotaged things with AnaVoge? Was this some vendetta against my father? Against me? He wouldn’t do that…surely he wouldn’t.

One of Sebastian’s eyebrows arched. “I would never make a business decision based on my personal life. Or my friend’s personal life.”

“That would be wise if it were true.”

“We don’t get to where we are by being irrational hotheads, now do we?”

“No, we do not.” I scrubbed my jaw. “How long have you known who I am?”

“I recognized you the moment I saw you. Like I said, I’ve done my research, and photos of you aren’t hard to find.”

“Unlike yours. You’re quite the enigmatic CEO. No pictures anywhere.”

“Maybe I’m shy?” Sebastian winked. There wasn’t a shy bone in his body, and he didn’t seem to dislike attention, so whatever his reasons, he wanted his identity to stay private. “What I didn’t realize, though, was who you were in relation to Lucas. He was never very forthcoming in telling us any details about the man who’d broken his heart, only the circumstances surrounding your…quick departure. And the aftermath, of course.”

“Who’s ‘us’?”

“Shaw and myself.”

“Ah, right. The bartender. Seems I walked into a trap that night at the club.”

“Pure coincidence. This is not part of some elaborate setup, I assure you.”

“Doesn’t fucking feel that way.”

“You’re angry,” Sebastian said. “At Lucas?”

“Did he call you? Tell you not to take our offer?” Please say no. Please tell me Lucas had nothing to do with this.

“You know as well as I do Lucas would never do that. I haven’t spoken to him in days, but Shaw let me know that the boy who’d broken his heart was back in town. It was easy to put the pieces together.”

The boy who’d broken his heart… At those words, and the confirmation he hadn’t been involved, my anger abated, but the guilt over something I’d had no control of took over instead. Actually, scratch that—I was angry. Angry as hell, but I’d been taking out my frustration on the wrong person. How could I blame Lucas for anything, even if he had warned Sebastian, when it was my father’s fault I’d never sought Lucas out, and it was my father’s actions that had caused the heartbreak of the only person I’d ever had romantic feelings for?

Shit, I thought, the realization of what was happening similar to being dunked under by a rogue wave. The feelings I’d had for Lucas hadn’t been snuffed out just because I thought he’d found someone else, and they hadn’t dissipated in all the years that had passed since, even though I thought I’d moved on. They’d always been there, lying in wait until the timing was right, and now that I was here… Why would I ever think about going back to Connecticut? For my job? For what was left of my family? The family who’d lied to me. Who’d manipulated lives to get their own way. Who’d tried to keep me apart from someone I loved—

Christ, that was it. I loved Lucas. I loved him, and being here only made that truth more evident. We’d only just reconnected, and I knew. I could feel it in my bones that this man, this place was exactly where I was supposed to be. I didn’t know how, and I didn’t even know if Lucas would want more, but I knew I had to try. Time had been taken away from us, but here was our second chance, and I owed it to Lucas to show him how important he was in my life. How vital.

“Jackson? You look lost in thought.”

I shook away my wayward thoughts. I’d have to come back to those later. “Sorry.”

“That’s quite all right. Something on your mind?”

“You just…reminded me of…” I waved him off. “Never mind. I should be going.”

“Wait. Before you go, I’m curious,” Sebastian said, taking advantage of my distraction as he leaned against his desk and drummed his black nails along the top. “If you were to gain control of my company…what would you do?”

Hadn’t we already discussed this? “I told you. We’d have to assess—”

“No, no, don’t give me the spiel about what your father would do. I want to know what you would do.”

Huh. So Sebastian was testing me, wanting to know whether I agreed with my father or if I had my own ideas. Looked like a wicked smart brain lurked behind the flamboyant facade, and I almost had to smile at his gumption. As the silence between us grew, I thought back to how my father had handled previous acquisitions and what I would’ve done differently.

What the hell. I’d already lost the account. May as well be honest.

“I think the company should stay as it is,” I said. “But to move forward, it would be smart to hire a liaison to speed up negotiations. Someone with experience and contacts who can make it happen before you lose the edge.”

Sebastian’s eyes sparkled. “And where do you suggest I begin my search for such a person?”

I scrolled through my mental Rolodex, and a few names came to mind. “I could send over a list of recommendations. People I’ve worked with in the past. No guarantees they’d be available or interested, but I’m sure you could make an offer many wouldn’t refuse.”

“That’s generous of you.”

Shrugging, I reached for the contract and tucked it back inside my briefcase before snapping the locks shut. “It’s no problem.”

“You have an immaculate track record. I imagine this will not go over well.”

You mean facing my father’s wrath for losing out on a fifty-million-dollar deal? The image of my father’s head exploding would’ve made me laugh if it weren’t the soon-to-be reality. But at this point, I couldn’t care less. Maybe he’d fire me. Huh. Would that be so bad? “You imagine right.”

“Should I apologize in advance?”

“I wouldn’t stay up worrying about it. Whatever happens happens.” Getting to my feet, I grabbed my briefcase and held out my hand toward Sebastian. “But I wish you and AnaVoge well. Thank you for your time.”

“I do hate that we won’t be working together on this venture, Mr. Davenport,” he said, shaking my hand in a firm grip.

“Somehow I think you’ll do okay.”

Sebastian gave me a sly smile. “As will you. Goodbye for now, Jackson.”

After saying goodbye, I headed out of his office, and where I should’ve felt the weight of failure heavy on my shoulders, I only felt relief. That’s strange. How could I be okay with what just happened in there? Somehow, though, I was, even though I never would’ve predicted the outcome.

Two things were certain: my father would be furious, and Sebastian’s company would stay intact.

Exiting into the lobby, I waved goodbye to Astrid, and as I walked out into the heat from the midday sun, I smiled.