Two weeks and one day later…

Jolene knocked twice, turning her head so that she could listen to his response.

“Come in,” he said immediately. Then again, he was expecting her. He’d set up this meeting and his PA had announced her upon her arrival.

Rob smiled as she walked in, lines crinkled the skin around his eyes. “Take a seat.” He gestured to one of the chairs at his desk. He tossed a pen onto the note-pad in front of him and ran a hand through his thick, salt and pepper – more salt than pepper ‒ hair.

“I’m sure you know why you’re here?” He leaned back in his chair, clearly loving the fact that he held her future in his hands. His smile straddled the line somewhere between humor and a smirk. He folded his arms.

Jolene sat down. "Yes." She nodded. This was either one of those talks where he would let her down gently, or he would be promoting her. Her stomach felt wound up. Carla Jackson had a meeting straight after this. It was impossible to tell just by looking at him which way this was going. They would soon know their fate though. "I need you to know something, Rob." She shouldn't do this. The old Jolene told her not to. The old Jolene begged her even. The new Jolene, on the other hand, was a little more impulsive. The old Jolene could go to hell. Fact was, Storm was right, she was great at what she did. If this blew up in her face, Jolene would find another position and easily. She owed it to herself to be straight. To go for it, and she would.

“Sure. Okay.” Rob looked at her with narrowed eyes, sizing her up. “Go ahead,” he prompted.

Her tongue suddenly felt thick in her mouth. Her lips dry. She could do this. Jolene sucked in a deep breath. “I hope you’re about to tell me that I’ve been promoted. Why?” She leaned back in her own chair, folding her arms across her lap. She suddenly felt calm and very sure of herself. “For several reasons. Firstly, because I deserve it. I’ve made this company a lot of money over the years, especially since bringing on Dell Apples as a client. They’re our biggest client, as you know.” She paused. “And then, secondly, because I won’t be able to work for Carla. She’s good, very good ‒ not as good as I am, but an understandable candidate and a formidable adversary. Bottom line, it won’t work. I sincerely hope you choose me, but if not, I’ll be handing in my resignation. I wanted you to know that before you said anything.”

A slow smile spread on Rob’s lips.

She forced herself to stay where she was. To stay relaxed. Not to fidget. Dammit, but she loved this job. Had she just thrown it away? It didn’t matter. It was true, she couldn’t work for Carla. No damned way.

“Are you saying that if I decided on Carla, that I should change my mind? Are you threatening me, Miss Pierce?”

“Not a threat.” She shook her head. “I thought it was best you knew, and yes, if you decided on Carla, I’m giving you a chance to change your mind…sir.” She quickly tacked on the last, not wanting to sound too pushy.

Rob laughed. "Just so you know, I picked you, Jolene. You have the position if you want it." He shook his head, his smile wide. "I have to say, I was a little worried about choosing you. You know your stuff, you're a hard worker and a good leader, but you tend to be a little too rigid sometimes. You're not much of a risk taker and that worried me, but today," he chuckled, "you proved me wrong. It took some balls to lay it out there. Heck, there's a good chance I would've changed my mind if I had gone with Carla. You're the new Marketing Director." He stood up. "Congratulations."

Jolene thought she would be thrilled. This is what she had been working so hard for. Nothing. She forced a smile. “Great! I’m glad to hear it. Thank you.”

Rob held out his hand and she shook it, feeling numb. “You’re going to—”

Just then, a buzz sounded at his desk. “Just a second,” Rob said, picking up his phone. He listened and frowned. “My appointment with her isn’t for another ten minutes.” He looked at his watch and then at Jolene. “Okay, I’ll tell her.” He put the phone down. “That was my PA, she says Carla is looking for you and that you need to head back to your desk.”

“Why?”

“Your guess is as good as mine. Maybe Carla has organized a celebration for her new boss.”

“But Carla doesn’t know, does she?”

“I told her this morning,” Rob said. “She asked me straight and I told her. Our meeting in ten minutes is a formality.” He shrugged.

If nothing else, Carla was straight. That and an ass-licker. It wouldn’t surprise her if she was throwing a celebration party downstairs. Jolene nodded. “I’d better go then.”

“Celebratory drinks with the board at Hershies after work?” He raised his brows in question. It wasn’t really a question though, she would be expected to attend.

Hey, it wasn’t like she had anything better to do. It wasn’t lost on her either that Carla had kids. She was a divorcee with way more responsibility. The fact that Jolene didn’t would have counted in her favor. Corporate sucked. “I’ll be there.”

Rob was already sitting back at his desk, eyes on his computer. Pen back in hand. “Six sharp,” he said as she walked out.

Had Carla organized a celebration? She wouldn’t put it past the woman to immediately start sucking up now that she was her boss. Jolene halted in her tracks, she needed a minute to soak it in. Marketing Director. It felt good, but it didn’t feel great. It didn’t feel like she thought it would feel. Her mind wandered back to Storm, to her time with the dragons. She was still hurting. Still missing him. Jolene sucked in a deep breath, swallowing down a lump. That same damn lump that always clogged her throat whenever she allowed herself to think of him. There was no time for that right now. Jolene began walking back to her office. For now, she’d throw herself into her work. She’d be the best damned Marketing…What?

The guy standing in her office was big. He had his back to her, so it was hard to tell if she knew him. He had broad shoulders and was well-muscled. He reminded her of a shifter. Couldn't be though. Not here. It was that, or he was a GQ model. He was wearing a collared shirt and a pair of black suit pants. What was a GQ model doing in her office?

Carla was giggling and twisting a lock of hair around her finger. Her cheeks were a bright pink. Jolene’s heart beat a whole lot faster as she rounded the corner.

“Beck,” she gasped, clasping her chest. “What are you doing here?” She couldn’t help but smile. It was so good to see him.

“Hello, Jolene.” His eyes sparkled. “I came to fetch you.”

“Fetch me?” She felt confused. Must have looked confused.

“Yes, the prince wants to see you.”

“Prince!” Carla spluttered. “What prince?” She looked from Beck to her and back again.

“Did Jolene not tell you all about her—”

“Stop,” Jolene interrupted. “I didn’t say much of anything about my vacation. It’s not anyone’s business. Especially since this is my place of business.”

Beck nodded. “Makes sense.” He winked at Jolene.

“You met a prince while you were on holiday, didn’t you?” Carla gaped at her.

“Maybe,” Jolene muttered, wanting Carla off her back. “It was nothing,” she quickly added.

“Couldn’t have been nothing, since it looks like he wants to see you again.” Carla was smiling from ear to ear. “I thought your whole ‘taking a cruise’ thing was silly. Looks like I was wrong.”

Jolene ignored Carla. Her mind racing. What the hell was going on?

“Get your things together,” Beck said. “We need to go. Our flight leaves in half an hour.”

“Oh, you’re too late then.” Carla looked happy. In fact, she was gloating. “Boarding gates will have closed. Poor thing.” She shook her head, faking concern.

"Actually, we're on a private jet, so I think we'll make it just fine." Beck hooked his thumbs into his pants pockets.

“I can’t just up and leave.” Jolene shook her head, feeling excitement build inside her regardless. She tried to tamp it down. She needed more answers first.

“The prince insisted that I not take no for an answer.”

Carla giggled, her eyes on Beck. “Can I get your number? You take the prince,” Carla glanced her way, “I’ll take the bodyguard. I like buff guys.” She winked at Beck, flirting with him shamelessly.

Beck chuckled. “Oh female, that’s where you would be wrong. The prince is bigger than I am.”

“He is?” Carla’s mouth dropped open.

Beck nodded. “And more good-looking. His cock is bigger than mine is as well.”

Jolene bit down on her bottom lip to keep from laughing. The look on Carla’s face was comical. It shut her right up. She sat down, with a bump, on the edge of Jolene’s desk. ‘What the hell is this?’ she asked herself for the tenth time since seeing it was Beck.

“Let’s go,” he insisted. “I don’t want to have to throw you over my shoulder.”

Carla made a squeaking noise and started fanning herself. “If you don’t go, I will.”

Like hell! “I can clear my schedule for the afternoon but will need to be back by six.”

“No can do.” Beck smiled. “You’ll be lucky to make it back by tomorrow.”

“I can’t just leave. Trust Golden Boy to expect me to drop everything and come running when he crooks a finger.” Her heart was pounding. This was probably all a game to him. One last fling. Or something stupid like that. “You’re sure you don’t know what this is about?”

“I wasn’t briefed beyond taking you to a certain location. At a certain time.” He looked at his watch and frowned. “By any means necessary.”

Carla squeaked again. “You sure you don’t want my number?”

“You have one minute,” Beck said. She could see he meant it.

“Pushy much?”

“I’m under order.” Beck winked at her and Carla swooned, clutching at her chest.

“Do I need anything?” she asked.

Beck shook his head. “It’s all arranged.”

Jolene pushed out a breath. She picked up her phone and asked to speak to her boss.

“Yes,” he said, sounded irritated at being interrupted.

“Hi, Rob, something has come up, I need to reschedule our six o’clock.”

“What?” He sounded flustered. That and a touch angry. “You can’t make the board reschedule. Drinks are tonight. You need to be there!”

“I can’t make it. Have drinks without me then. Please apologize on my behalf, but it can’t be helped.”

“It’s your night. You can’t not be there.”

Shit! Was she killing her career before it even began? Maybe. Was she going to go anyway? How could she not? “I’m sorry, there’s nothing I can do.”

He pushed out a breath. “I’ll see what I can do about rescheduling and Jolene…”

“Yes?”

“Don’t make a habit of this.”

“I won’t and thank you! I owe you one.” She licked her lips. A habit? Yes, she really hoped that meeting with the prince would soon become a habit. ‘Oh Storm,’ she silently prayed, ‘please don’t let me down. Don’t let this be another game.’