“Stop calling him my boyfriend.”

She grew quiet on her end, but the elevator opened on mine. I stepped out and headed towards my back exit. When the door opened and I slid into the backseat, Mike was next to me. He gave a small wave.

“I’m sorry,” I groaned into the phone. “I’m irritated with him, not you. I shouldn’t take it out on you.”

“Oh. Well. You’re still going to Octave tonight, right? Even if you’re mad at him, you’ll still go? Pleaseee?”

I grinned at how eager she was. “Yes, I’ll go for you.”

“And for him,” she whispered into the phone. “Even if you’re pissed right now, imagine the hot make-up sex. That man if one fine specimen, Emma. I know I should hate him. I used to, but I can’t deny the sex appeal of that man, not one bit. If I wasn’t so used to Noah and how attractive he is, I would’ve reacted the same way as Allison. Good thing I’ve got some immunity built up, huh?”

“You’re horrible.”

She laughed, “Just happy that you’re back on the team again. Noah already told me that he’s going to promote us both. He really doesn’t want Mr. Hudson to get the benefits from this account so he’s moving you above him. Mr. Hudson is going to be your assistant. You’re the Head of Project Promotions now. Congratulations!”

“What?”

There was a grumble on her end before she rushed out, “Sorry. I wasn’t supposed to tell you that. It was a surprise for tonight, but dress sexy. Tonight will be so much fun. I promise!” Then I heard her say, “Shut it, Noah. If I hadn’t said anything, she might not have come out…I don’t care…” Her voice grew clear again. “I’ll see you later, Emma. See you tonight!”

It wasn’t long until my phone lit up again. This time it was Carter.

I answered, “Calling to do damage control?”

He sighed, “No, but now I am. You’re angry with me?”

“Were you sitting right next to her?”

“I’m in the back of the jet. They’re in the front.”

“But how did you—”

“I had the intercom open on her end. I could hear everything she said to you.”

He didn’t even sound apologetic. “You were eavesdropping on her.”

“Yes, I was. And I’ll do it again and again when it comes to you. I’m starting to realize that you have no idea the lengths I have gone and will go for you.”

I shut up and sat back. Then I surrendered, “You weren’t in New York for me.”

“No, I wasn’t, but I was in Chicago because of you, for you. I was in New York today for a friend of mine that asked me a long time ago to buy into his hotel so he could start up his idea. It was a good proposal and I invested. It was smart on my part, one of the first decisions I did independent from those my reputation associates me with. That decision and that money have allowed me to further expand and I am very close to becoming fully independent of those previous associates. Are you understanding me?”

I gulped. Oh yes. I was following along. I was suddenly a starving person given their first morsel of food in months. I was hungry for more. “You’re coming back with them?”

“I’m coming straight to you.”

Desire lit inside of me. The flame grew to a fire. “Hurry.”

“I am.” The raw need in his voice had me breathing hard. “Are you still angry with me?”

I grimaced. “I was never angry at you, not really.”

“Good.”

I glanced at Mike, who was studying his window with an intensity that told me he was very aware, and uncomfortably so, of our intimate conversation. I lowered my voice, “I have some things to tell you when you get here.”

He hesitated on his end before he said, his voice husky as well, “As do I.”

My heart picked up. My hand grew sweaty around the phone. “Okay then.”

He chuckled. “Okay then.”

“Did you get me kicked off the account?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because it wasn’t safe for you. I didn’t want you in New York, not right now. You’re safer there and in my home. And it wasn’t ethical. Noah shouldn’t have put you on that team in the first place. He knew I was on the board. He knew about my relationship with you. He was trying to manipulate me.”

I was confused, again. “What are you talking about? He didn’t think you were going to approve the product?”

“No. My previous associates have another product that would be its competitor.”

“But you did approve it?”

“Of course I did.”

My head was swimming. “This makes no sense to me.”

He chuckled again. “This is my excuse to step away from the other product.”

My chest felt constricted. “They’ll let you…step away?”

“Yes, they will. I have done very well for those associates. They’ve known about my wish for independence and with a venture I insured for them over this past week, I have fulfilled any obligations they might’ve had for me to the family.”

“Are you saying…” No, it couldn’t be. People didn’t walk away from that life.

“Yes, Emma. I’m free now.”

I couldn’t talk. My chest was heaving. My eyes were watering and I gripped onto that phone like my life depended on it.