I dreaded the “check-in” phone call that Mr. Fraser scheduled on Monday afternoon. I had nothing to give him, but I couldn’t lie. If I told him I had the story, he’d want to see at least a rough draft before sending me home right away. I bet the hotel wasn’t cheap and keeping me here when I was “finished” wouldn’t help the company’s bottom line.

I had to tell him the truth, no matter how hard it would be.

My eyes darted between the phone and the small digital clock on the side of the bed. I wished it would just ring. I didn’t think I had enough fingernails to last me the next few minutes. I placed my hands on my lap, pressing them against my thighs. Bleeding from the fingers wasn’t going to help me write a story.

I had spent the majority of the day on Sunday, and earlier that day, researching more about Luke Walters. If he wasn’t going to allow me to interview him, the least I could do was start my article with some background. I hated using other sources when the center of my piece was less than a half hour away, but my future seemed bleak.

I doubted Mr. Fraser would allow me another chance with an easier target for an article. I’d be stuck in the same rut for who knew how long.

The clock on the side table turned to four on the dot when my cell rang.

I jumped out of my chair and picked it up. “Mr. Fraser.” I paced around the room. It wasn’t that large, and with the furniture in the way, I had a short distance to go before turning on my heel and heading in the other direction.

“Hello, Sophia,” he said. He sounded chipper, and I supposed his coffee was still coursing through his veins. My caffeine level had plummeted, though no one would have guessed it since I hopped around the space as if I were five cups in. “How is the story going?”

Well, he got right down to business. I didn’t expect any different, but a girl could hope.

“Mr. Walters is quite a difficult subject,” I said.

“So I’ve heard.”

“You have?”

“Yes,” he said. “Which is why I sent you. We haven’t had any luck in the past.”

My jaw dropped. I wasn’t the first on his list? So, this wasn’t my promotional piece? He only sent me because no one else could do it?

“I went to his office numerous times, but he won’t budge on the interview,” I explained. If I had the same luck as the others, would he send me home and try again with someone else? At the very least, I could try again for the promotion another time.

“That’s disappointing.”

I squeezed my eyes closed and pressed my fingers to my temple. Why did his disapproving tone make me feel like a kid again? “I tried, Mr. Fraser. I waited for hours on two separate days to see him. I can’t force him to talk to me. I managed to speak with his partner—”

“Did you get any information about the royal succession from him?” Mr. Fraser asked.

“Well, no, but it doesn’t seem like anyone else knows about it. Or maybe they are contracted not to talk about it? I’m not sure.”

Mr. Fraser sighed again. I would have preferred him to tell me how disappointed he was again, rather than hear that. “If you want to make it as a reporter, then you need to get the story that I sent you there for.”

“But—”

“No but’s about it, Ms. Holmes.”

We were back to formalities again. He only did that when he was upset with someone. His disapproval rarely landed on me since I was mostly given fluff pieces. He saved his disappointment for his more experienced reporters. I wondered if they ever felt the way I did at that moment. They wouldn’t be human if they didn’t.

Sweat formed under my armpits. Even though it was freezing in the UK, I pulled off my sweater, needing to cool down.

“Thank you, Mr. Fraser,” I said, sticking my tail firmly between my legs. The conversation was over according to him. If I said any more, I’d risk him sending me home and never getting an opportunity again. I wouldn’t do that until it was necessary.

“I will check in with you in two days, Ms. Holmes. I expect you to have something written.”

“I will,” I said and hung up the phone.

I squeezed the little device in my hand until the edges pressed a little too hard against my palm. Letting go, there were marks in my hand from the phone.

What the hell was I going to do? I had already told Luke that I wasn’t going to bother him again if we went to dinner.

Could I pull a fast one on him like he did at the cafe? Could I say my terms were him answering my questions in addition to that?

I cringed at the idea of stalking him to his house, but what other choice did I have? All he had to do was answer some stupid questions. None of them were particularly revealing, at least in my opinion. Why did he care so much? Did he enjoy playing games?

I shoved my phone into my bag and tugged on my scarf and jacket. Mr. Luke Walters wasn’t going to prevent me from getting the promotion that I deserved. I would sit in his office building all week and really pester him if that was what I needed to do.

With Mr. Fraser’s insistence that I get the work done no matter what, maybe he wouldn’t be too upset if I ended up in jail for trespassing, if Mr. Walters became too upset with me.

Though I had a feeling he’d never do that. In the short conversation we had the night before when we were getting to know each other, there was something different about his demeanor. He wasn’t as agitated with me. He seemed almost amused.

Did he like me? Had I put on enough charm for him to change his mind about me? Was there a way I could use that to my advantage?

First thing first, I had to get to his office. I was cutting it close on time, but I crossed my fingers that he continued to be the workaholic that he proved to be so far.

I wasn’t sure what I would tell him, but he’d have to listen to me. He didn’t have a choice anymore. My claws were out, and I was going to dig them into the ground until I got my story.

If I was going to have a crazy taxi driver on any day, I was happy it was that afternoon. While I white-knuckled the handle of the door next to me, we ended up at the building before five.

The lights were still on all over the building, and I had a feeling that Luke was in his office.

After thanking the driver, I sprinted into the building. The temperature wasn’t what I was used to, and I was friggin’ freezing. When I reached the lobby, I thought I was going to carve out a new set of teeth by the way I was chattering.

“You again?” Victoria asked from behind the front desk. She stood up and dug one hand into her hip. “Mr. Walters said he was done with you.”

“He might be done with me, but I’m not done with him.” Like hell was I going to let this girl under my skin. Though she was close to a phone that could be used to call the police.

“I’m not interrupting him,” she said.

“That’s fine,” I said. “I’ll wait here.”

She muttered something under her breath and sat down again. The chairs in the lobby were far enough away from her desk that I could block her out completely.

Since I’d done all my research the last two days, I honestly had nothing to do.

Instead, I opened my eBook app on my phone and continued reading a book I’d started on the plane. It was a recommendation from Matt, but I had a feeling from the sexy guy and girl on the cover that he gave me the first recommendation he saw. I knew he was trying to tell me something. That I needed a hot guy like the cover model to throw me onto the bed and have his way with me. While I wanted that too, I had to focus on my work story than the pathetic story of my love life.

Every time the elevator dinged, I stood up, preparing myself to come face to face with Luke. He needed to know that I wasn’t lounging around while waiting for him. I was serious, and he should treat me so.

I only leaped out of my chair twice before his handsome face appeared from the elevator bank.

His eyes found mine almost immediately. Unlike every other time I saw him, his face split into a wide grin. At first, it seemed like he was teasing me, but as he came closer, he looked genuinely happy to see me.

My hackles rose. What was he up to? Did he have the police waiting for me outside?

I glanced at Victoria. Had she told him I was there? Was I going to have another conversation with Mr. Fraser today, telling him that he needed to bail me out of jail?

“Sophia,” he said. “I knew you were going to be back.”

I narrowed my eyes. “You did?”

“Of course,” he said. “A woman like you never gives up.”

“You don’t know anything about me,” I said defensively, but then realized he did know quite a lot about me after our little Q&A session the other night at dinner. “You didn’t fulfill your end of the bargain again. I’m not leaving until—”

“Are you hungry?” he asked, checking his watch. “It’s a little early for dinner, but I skipped lunch today.”

“Um, sure,” I said, still taken aback that he wanted to go somewhere with me even after I continued to bother him at work.

“I just want to be clear,” he said, locking his beautiful light brown eyes with mine. “I have a business opportunity I’d like to discuss with you. I think it will benefit us both.”

“That’s fine with me,” I said. I wasn’t looking to start anything with someone I had to write a story about. A business deal was exactly what I was looking for. And if it benefited us both, then I had some idea of what he was offering. An interview in exchange for something. I had no idea what that “something” was, but I wasn’t about to pass up the opportunity.