I stumbled into my office the next morning, fighting through a haze of tiredness. Sleep hadn’t come easily when I finally got home after that meeting, and I was feeling the effects of it.

Devon’s reaction had surprised me a little, but I couldn’t blame him. His anger was so thick I could almost taste it in the air as we drove back to Pristine’s headquarters in silence. Even Daniel refused to speak.

As I sat at my desk and waited for my computer to load, I took hold of my phone and scrolled through the contacts list. I had a plan in mind, and for it to work I needed to talk to a guy I hadn’t spoken to since finishing college.

A guy who probably didn’t want to speak to me after I ran from his dorm just when he thought I was about to have sex with him. I thought I was too, until I was overcome by the fear that we were moving way too fast.

We had spoken since, but very rarely.

When I saw his name, I felt the embarrassment returning again. James Hansen – the student loved by professors and other students alike. He could finish a beer in seconds before turning in a paper that was almost always given an A.

A real catch, if you were able to handle something like that. I hadn’t been. I’d been too inexperienced to know how to act around a guy like that, but now I needed his help.

My finger hovered over the green “call” button as I worked up the courage to press it. Surely, he would hardly remember it by now. He had no shortage of girls parading through his dorm room, and I was always going to be another number. If that were true, then it stood to reason that he wouldn’t even remember me, let alone my escape.

I couldn’t make myself believe it.

But I didn’t have much choice. I wanted to help Devon, and I thought I knew how, but I had to be able to talk to James to achieve it. Not only that, but I had to ask him for a favor while trying to tell a story I had invented while I lay awake a few hours earlier.

I’ve always been a horrible liar, but I would attempt it this time. For Pristine, for myself, and for Devon.

Just fucking do it, I told myself, pressing the call button. I almost dropped the phone in my hurry to lift it to my ear as it rang, and then I prayed he wouldn’t answer.

Maybe he had died or something.

What the hell is wrong with you, Nicole?

There was a click and then a voice from the past. “Nicole! Long time, no speak!”

He remembered. Well, he remembered me. The enthusiasm in his tone gave me hope that he might have forgotten how our one date had ended.

“Hi, James. How are you?”

“I’m good, but what about you? I heard you didn’t get that internship with the prick from TV. That’s too bad, but I bet you’re secretly relieved.”

What? “James, I…” I started, wondering how to complete the sentence.

“You don’t have to lie to me,” he said with a laugh. “I know you only applied because your dad told you to. You said as much that time you got drunk and ended up back in my dorm. I won’t tell anyone, but between you and me, that was never the internship for you. You’re way too nice to deal with an asshole like that.”

I cleared my throat. “Actually, I did get the internship. I’m calling from my office at Pristine right now.”

There was silence on the other end of the line, and I had a sinking feeling that my plan was over before it began. It wasn’t even my fault – he was the one jumping to conclusions and requiring me to correct him.

“I’m surprised, to be honest. I didn’t think you really wanted it. I thought you were just doing it because your dad wanted you to. Congratulations, though.”

He didn’t sound sincere, but I couldn’t blame him. None of my friends or professors had believed I had what it took to get this internship, let alone succeed, and I didn’t have much more confidence.

My dad was the only one with confidence, and it was true that he had convinced me to apply.

“Thanks, James. I appreciate that, but you’re kind of right. It is pretty difficult.”

“I can imagine. Is he as bad as the rumors say?”

Was he? I hadn’t let myself listen to many of them, but the few I heard were far from flattering. One involved eating human flesh, and so far I hadn’t witnessed that. I hadn’t even seen him eat, so perhaps the vampire one was closer to the mark.

“No, not really. I mean, well, he’s busy all the time so he’s a little… abrupt. But it’s not too bad.”

“Oh well, that’s good to hear.”

He obviously had no idea what else to say, so I took the opportunity to “lead the conversation”. I had received my first and last C grade in college for that portion of my “Business communications” class.

“Anyway, James, that’s not what I’m calling about. I heard you’re at the EPA now, is that right?”

“Yeah, it is. I’m in their graduate development program, so I’m all over the department at the moment. Why, are you looking to come over?”

“No, no. That’s not it.” Although, I wouldn’t have minded. Saving the environment was something I was passionate about, but it business was always my first love. “I need some help with some land a client is looking at. They want to buy it quickly, and I’ve asked them to hold back for a few days while I get the EPA’s history of it. They don’t want to, so I need to work quickly.”

My made-up story sounded plausible, but I was screwed if he asked too many questions.

“Wow, look at you go, Nicole. I didn’t think you’d have the guts to tell a client to sit down and shut up.”

I laughed. “It didn’t quite go like that, but I’ve managed to buy a little time. Do you think you would be able to get hold of the details? Or do you know someone who would?”

“Maybe. What’s the address?”

I gave him the details and then tried to keep up with my story as he asked more questions. When the intercom on my desk phone buzzed, I was very glad to have an excuse to end the call with James. Much longer, and he would probably hear me screaming, “I’m a liar” into the phone.

As soon as I hung up, I hit the intercom button and looked over to see Devon’s name on the screen. I hardly had time to wonder what he could want when he delivered a short message. “I need you in my office, Nikki. Now.”

The line went dead, and I raced out of my office as quickly as I could.

I made it past Maureen before she could stop me and ask me whether I had an appointment, and I moved quickly enough that I forgot to knock.

By the time I realized, it was too late. I was already standing in the doorway, the door open in front of me, and both Devon and Daniel looked up in surprise.

“That was quick,” Daniel said with a smile. “Did you fly here or something?”

I knew he was teasing me, but I couldn’t think of anything to say. Did I look like an idiot for running when Devon called?

Daniel laughed, but I glanced over at Devon to see that he didn’t even crack a smile. He obviously hadn’t moved on from the meeting yesterday afternoon.

“Nikki,” he said, motioning for me to come in. “I need you to sit in on a meeting for me. It’s been planned for a week, but I don’t have time.”

“And you really don’t want to deal with other people and their shit,” Daniel interrupted.

Devon ignored him. “Do you think you can do that?”

I was shocked by the offer, and terrified by the possibility. Taking a meeting in his place felt both wrong and powerful, even though I knew it was neither of those things.

“Of course,” I said, my voice not hiding my lack of confidence. “What do you want me to do? Just take notes?”

“Kind of.” He hesitated and turned to look at Daniel, so I knew there was more to it. “It’s a meeting with the junior marketers. You know, the ones you upset earlier.”

“Oh.”

Dealing with them again hadn’t been at the top of my list of exciting things to do today.

“I mean, I can do it. If you want.” I sounded about as nervous as I felt.

“I do, Nikki. It won’t be hard, don’t worry. Just go in, listen to what they have to say, and then tell them ‘no’.”

“No?” I echoed. I didn’t know what the question was, but I suspected that Devon wanted me to do his dirty work for him.

“That’s right. Say, ‘no, you can’t fucking have your budget increase because none of you actually care about the product. You only care about padding your CVs which would look better if you could list a national TV ad.’”

“You can use your own words, though.” Daniel said, smirking from the couch in the corner of the room. “Or don’t. I’d actually like to see you tell them that.”

When Devon cocked his head and looked at me, one eyebrow raised, I suddenly realized I was blushing. Why it had started I didn’t know – but it was that slightly adorable, slightly in control cocking of his head that had the blush deepening.

There was a subtle glint in his eye, too. Did he know the effect he had on me?

“I guess I can do it,” I said, forcing my voice to remain above a whisper. “I’ll still take notes, though. Just in case you need them.”

“We still have recording devices,” he said, a large smile on his face. I couldn’t tell if he was mocking me.

“Oh, yeah. Right.”

“Look, it won’t be easy.” He stood from his chair and walked around his desk, heading straight for me. Like a deer in headlights, I couldn’t move. I wanted to flee, though.

“But I’m sure you can do it, Nikki. Honestly, it’s about the easiest task you could ever imagine as an executive, and that’s why you’re in this internship. You remember that, right?”

“Of course.”

“Good. Because I’d hate for you to be here without knowing what you hope to get at the end. That would just be bad research on your part.”

I didn’t know what to say, especially when he reached out and placed both hands firmly on my shoulders. His eyes burned into mine, and I was completely lost for words. Mostly lost for thoughts, too.

“The meeting has already started. Same place as before.”

It took me a few seconds to understand the meaning of his words. He was telling me to go, but I was still standing there like a fish stunned by TNT in a lake.

Oops.

“Okay, I can do it,” I finally said, more to myself than to him.

I really hoped I could.