Chapter Twenty-Five
“Good morning, Maurine.” Avery smiled at the admin queen as she held out a folder to her. “These are the signed payment agreements Mr. James requested.”
Trevor’s assistant wrinkled her nose in that habitual twitch of disgust. Was it directed at Avery or the reports? Whichever it was, it reminded Avery of a spinster cat lady before she scolded the kids for stepping on her lawn. “Thank you,” Maurine said, her distaste dripping from each word.
Avery’s laughter bubbled inside her, but she kept it from escaping. “You’re welcome.” She added an extra dose of sunshine to her voice and smile before turning away. The witch could keep her pissy mood and superior attitude. It wasn’t going to affect Avery, not today.
Nope. This happy bubble of hers had been intact since that night at the sex club almost a week ago, and it showed no sign of popping.
“Gregory asked me to drop these off,” she said to Jean when she reached Carson’s office. She forced herself to focus on Jean and not at the open office door. “He had some questions regarding the proposed budget for the new software.”
Jean took the folder, her smile tight. “Thank you.” She glanced at the open doorway before leaning in, voice lowered when she spoke. “Anything I need to warn him about?” She tipped her head toward Carson’s office.
Avery frowned. Was something wrong? Carson hadn’t mentioned anything. “Not that I’m aware of.” But she had zero knowledge of their discussions, which were still in the proposal stages.
“Good.” Jean sat back, shoulders falling as she relaxed. “How are you doing?”
“Good, thank you.” Saying fabulous, unbelievable or amazing would be too much. “You?”
Her nod was contemplative. “No real complaints. But my brain is fried from all of this data.” She motioned to her computer screen. “And the day is still early.”
“I get that,” Avery commiserated. “Anything I can do to help?” It was basically an empty offer since she had a stack of her own work waiting, but she extended it anyway, just like she’d been raised to do.
“Oh, I’m fine.” Jean straightened, a practiced smile moving into place as she glanced behind Avery, standing. “Good morning, Mr. Hanson.” She moved toward Carson’s door. “Let me check if Carson’s ready for you.”
She ducked into the office as Avery’s smile fell. Her stomach churned, her happiness bubble deflating on a wave of sour embarrassment. She turned around, nerves contracting every muscle when she faced the guy from the Boardroom.
Drake Hanson, CEO of a Silicon Valley software company. She’d looked him up after seeing him in Gregory’s office. Highly educated, relatively young and well connected, if his company profile was to be trusted.
“Morning,” she managed to say, voice stiff.
“Good morning,” he said, smile indifferent. He looked nothing and everything like her memory from the Boardroom encounter. Same dark hair, only it wasn’t mussed. Same predatory stare, only there was no hint of heat. Same sleek appearance, only he was fully clothed.
She flashed a weak smile and moved past him. “Excuse me.” She didn’t wait for a response before she strode away. Her face was warm, heart pounding with her own damn issues. There’d been nothing improper about their encounter. No hint of secret knowledge or insulting leer.
Nothing.
But she knew what he knew, and that was the convoluted problem. She couldn’t shake her own ingrained hang-ups. Would she ever?
She flopped down in her chair, thoughts jumping between berating herself and laughing at her stupidity. Carson was right. She was applying this sense of shame to herself. It hadn’t come from that man—Drake Hanson. Not now or the last time she’d seen him.
Yet it still swarmed in her stomach and squeezed her chest. Why? Where was that power she’d embraced before?
Saved for Carson, apparently.
She snorted at herself, her disgust as clear as Maurine’s had been. There was no reason for this little panic attack. None.
She hadn’t participated in public sex with Carson since that club, and it’d been weeks since they’d been to a Boardroom scene. Was it even crazier to admit she missed it?
Yes. Yes, it was.
And there was no way she could say that to Carson. Going along with what he arranged was very different from suggesting it herself. That was a step she wasn’t ready to cross, at least not yet. Her newfound boldness only went so far. But why hadn’t he set something up after their talk last weekend?
And she was stewing over a non-issue, making something out of nothing.
She yanked her drawer open and grabbed the bottle of peppermint oil. One deep inhale of the fresh scent had the tension melting from her shoulders. The wonders of aromatherapy still amazed her. She rubbed it on the back of her neck and savored the cool vapors as it tingled over her nape.
She’d been “dating” Carson for almost two weeks. More dinners, strolls through neighborhoods hunting for the best coffee, nights spent in bed that’d bled into a few mornings. Couple that with the prior months of sex and yeah, she was fully invested in him now.
The stupid love word floated around in her heart, but she kept it locked up tightly. There was no place for it now, not yet.
“Hey, Avery?”
She snapped her head around, smile in place as Gregory stepped from his office. “Yes?”
He scrubbed a hand through his hair, grimaced. That frazzled appearance was out in full force, and she almost winced for him. “I need to ask you a huge favor.”
The overemphasis on “huge” had her tensing. “What?” she asked, dragging the word out.
He heaved a sigh before sending her his best begging puppy-dog expression. “I forgot the papers for the McPherson deal at home.” He cringed at her scowl.
“Your meeting with Trevor is at eleven.” As she understood it, the financial details were the last hurdle they had to pass to land that big new client.
“I know.” He dug his phone from his pocket. “Which is the only reason why I’m asking you to run down to San Carlos to get them for me.”
“Umm...what?”
“Don’t worry,” he rushed on, already tapping at his phone. “I’ll pay for the ride. Tam is at home today. The twins both have ear infections now, and they spent the night playing tag on the crying schedule.” He made one last jab at his phone before looking to her. “A car will be here in three minutes.” He checked his phone again. “And you should make it back in time as long as the traffic cooperates.”
Silence settled around them for a brief moment before her stunned laughter burst free. “Wow. All right.” She shook her head and opened her desk drawer to grab her purse. His verbal diarrhea convinced her to agree more than the implied obligation of her position. “I’ll go get them.”
“Thank you.” The relief flowed in his voice. “I owe you.”
“You do,” she agreed, mentally reshuffling the rest of her work to accommodate Gregory’s emergency. “Remember that at review time,” she added with a smirk as she left the outer office area. “Text me if you need anything else.”
She hustled to the elevator, annoyance shifting to happiness when it dawned on her that she’d get to see the twins. It’d been months since Tam had brought them into the office.
The ride down the peninsula was uneventful, which gave her too much time to mull over the morning. Would she ever be comfortable with others knowing intimate details about her sex life?
She snorted to herself. It was a little late to be stewing on that. She should’ve thought through her initial trip to the Boardroom just a little bit better. But she hadn’t wanted to think about the potential consequences back then.
But what were they now?
The car pulled up to the curb before a two-story modern home situated in the hills overlooking Redwood Shores. The beige stucco was accented by dark brown trim in a boxy style with large windows overlooking the brick-paved drive, which rose on an incline to a three-car garage. The lot even had a small front yard that ran along the side of the home. Mature trees provided an established feel, and the view added to the stunning impression of the home.
Tam answered her knock after a few moments. “Hey, Avery.” Her smile was tired but warm as she waved her inside. “Come in. The papers are in the kitchen.” Her yoga pants and T-shirt were comfortably chic, yet her hair was pulled up into a messy ponytail instead of the stylish bob she usually sported, and her face was makeup-free.
Avery followed Tam past the line of discarded baby toys that trailed across the hardwood floors. The chef’s kitchen was straight out of a magazine with its marble countertops and stainless-steel appliances. But the high-end glamor was offset by the collection of empty baby bottles, dirty plates and open boxes of crackers and cereal that littered every surface. Avery smiled when she spotted the magnetic alphabet letters that covered the lower half of the fridge and the colorful swirling “pictures” that dominated the top.
“Sorry about the mess,” Tam said, waving at the counters. “Priorities shift once you have kids.”
“I can imagine,” Avery said. The open living area displayed the large collection of baby trappings attempting to overtake the family room. Everything from Pack ’n Plays to walkers to a stack of primary-colored bins, half of them spilling toys from their confines.
This was a family home. A lived-in reality that made her heart ache and melt at once.
“Here you go,” Tam said, grabbing an overstuffed folder from the edge of the island. “And tell Greg he owes you.” She leveled a warning look at Avery that made her laugh.
“I already did,” she told her, taking the papers from her.
“Good.” Tam slouched against the counter. “And thank you. The thought of waking the twins just to drag them downtown to deliver that almost made me cry.”
“Really. It’s no problem,” Avery quickly said. “Gregory told me the twins both have ear infections.”
“That’s the way it works with two,” Tam said with a sigh. “If one gets it, it’s only a matter of time before the other does. And if we’re really lucky, they have it at the same time.” She did a little cheering motion that screamed of sarcasm.
Avery winced. “Sorry.”
Tam waved her off. “No worries. It’s life, and I wouldn’t trade those little shits for the world.” Her expression softened with the love shining on every exhausted line on her face, just like Gregory’s when he spoke of his family.
Avery’s chest squeezed around that display of love as it pressed on the longings she’d tried to ignore. She’d always envisioned having a family. A husband, the proverbial two kids and a dog in the suburbs. She’d been raised in that nucleus and no matter how sheltered it’d been, it’d been good. “At least they’re sleeping now,” she said more for something to say.
“Finally.” Tam’s relief was palpable. “I think the medicine is finally working.”
“That’s good.” Even though that meant she wouldn’t get to see them. Avery glanced at the clock. “I should be getting back.” She looked to Tam, waiting.
Tam frowned before she launched forward. “Right. I’m supposed to get you a ride back.” She scanned the counter. “Sorry.” She moved to the other side of the island, frown deepening. “Tired mom brain in play here.” She scratched her head, turning to the family room. “And I have no idea where my phone is.”
“Where’d you use it last?” Avery asked, wandering toward the kitchen table.
“Hmm... I think after Gregory called about the papers.” She turned in the middle of the family room, gaze landing on every surface. “But I honestly don’t know.” She flipped a blanket off the couch, moved the pillows around.
Avery scanned the table. Two high chairs consumed the space along the wall where an array of green, orange and creamy-colored food stains were splattered across the yellow paint. “Is this it?” she asked, lifting a cell phone in the air. She assumed it was, but it could be an older model they used for child entertainment now.
“Yes.” Tam grinned as she came forward, taking it. “Thank you!”
Avery laughed at her obvious relief. “No problem.” Even this scrambled, tired side of motherhood called to her.
“Okay,” Tam said, tapping at her phone. “One car ordered. It’ll be here in five.” She lowered her phone and brushed a lock of hair from her forehead. “Thanks again.”
Avery waved the thanks away. “It’s fine. I hope the twins feel better soon.”
“You and me both,” Tam joked. She followed Avery down the hallway as they returned to the front door. “I wish you could’ve seen them.”
“I’m just happy they’re sleeping.” Which was true.
Tam hesitated, her hand on the door handle. Her lips thinned, concern flashing before she spoke. “I hope this isn’t overstepping my bounds, but I’m here if you ever need or want to talk about anything.”
Avery stilled. “About what?” Warning bells rang in her head for no real reason, but...
Tam tilted her head, frowning. “About the Boardroom.” Her voice was clear and flat when she made the statement, all coyness gone.
Avery inhaled, and those bells clanged loud and instant. She blinked, unable to believe what she’d just heard. “The Boardroom?” A clammy heat spread over her chest and neck before flashing down her back.
“Yes.” Tam drew out the word, brows dipping. She straightened, caution screaming from her expression. “I feel like I stepped in something here. I don’t mean to be intrusive, but Gregory mentioned it and then I saw your profile on the app and assumed you’d pieced together that Gregory and I were also members.”
The world blacked out for one long moment. They were members? Tam and her boss? In the Boardroom? And they knew she was a part of it?
Oh. My. God. How? How! “App?” she managed to ask, thoughts squirreling down to that one nugget of information. She couldn’t think about the rest, not if she wanted to walk out of there with any dignity at all. “What app?” Her voice had flattened out to a single note with the cold focus that settled in.
Tam bit her lip, clearly confused. Well, that made two of them. “I’m guessing that explains why your profile’s so thin,” she quipped.
“So I have a profile?” Excellent. Awesome. “And who has access to this app?”
Tam made a few swipes on her phone before turning it to show Avery. “Every member.” She touched an icon that had a red B in front of a black outline of buildings. How simplistic. The application opened to show a login page, the word Boardroom stamped in red font across the top.
“And what does it do?” she asked. The full impact of what she was seeing was held off by the simple need to survive the moment. She wouldn’t break down. Not here. Not in front of Tam.
Her boss’s wife.
Tam lowered the phone. “It’s where the scenes are scheduled.” Her voice had softened to a patient, explanatory tone.
So that was how Carson did it. Why hadn’t she asked that detail before?
Because she’d trusted him.
And she hadn’t wanted to know the details. Her actions had been easier to accept when she’d sat back and let Carson make the arrangements.
“And everyone has a profile?” she asked, circling back to that detail. What did hers say? Who’d created it? Carson. It had to have been him. No one else in the Boardroom knew her—or so she’d thought. She shook her head. “I’m such a fool,” she mumbled.
“Why?” Tam leaned in, reaching her hand out. Avery shook her head, stepping back. Her stomach soured at the thought of being touched. Tam curled her fingers in and let her hand fall to her side with a weighted sigh. “I don’t understand.”
Avery clutched the folder to her chest, anger trembling through her on the controlled wave of loathing spreading from her heart. She swallowed, and forced back the tears that burned in her throat. “I’m assuming you can’t download the app from the app store.” She let the snark blaze in her voice, well past the point of caring what Tam thought of her reaction. “So who gives out access to it?”
“Avery,” Tam pleaded. “I’m sorry. I just assumed—”
“Who?” she snapped. She braced herself for the answer, a part of her already knowing.
Tam heaved a sigh, shoulders falling in defeat. “Carson.” She took a breath. “And Trevor.”
The world dropped out from beneath her yet again. Her heart hitched, then raced at the implications released by those two names. Her lover and her boss.
The big boss.
The president of her damn office.
There was no reconciling the wave of shame and anger flooding through her. Why had Carson kept the app from her? What had Trevor and Gregory been thinking? How long had they known about her when she’d been clueless about them?
“I don’t know what you’re thinking,” Tam rushed to say. “But I’m sure it’s not what you’re—”
“You’re right,” Avery bit out, cutting her off. “You have no idea what I’m thinking. None. So don’t even try to guess.” She blinked back the tears welling behind her eyes. Her throat ached with the betrayal, but she wouldn’t break. Damn it.
She refused to break.
Tam nodded. She took a step back. “All right. I won’t.” She crossed her arms and leveled a steady gaze at Avery. “But I’ll listen if you need to vent.”
She barked out a harsh laugh and stared at the ceiling. Those damn tears collected at the corners of her eyes. Like, right. She could vent—to her boss’s wife.
That was so not happening.
A car horn blasted from outside, and Avery praised the universe for the awesome timing. She forced a tight smile toward Tam, not an ounce of sincerity behind it. For all she knew, Tam had been aware of her involvement since that first embarrassing night.
Was she the only one clueless to how exposed she really was? How many other people at work were a part of this “private” group?
And why had she never questioned that before now? She had, right? At some point?
Or was that another detail she’d willingly ignored?
“The car’s waiting,” she stated. Tam still blocked the door, and short of shoving her aside, Avery was trapped until she moved.
“Avery?”
She shook her head. There was nothing left to be said.
Tam sighed, but she opened the door, stepping back to let Avery leave. “I’m sorry,” she said as Avery passed.
She snorted a laugh, not looking back. What did Tam have to be sorry about? For letting the cat out of the bag or being a part of the secret all along?
Avery slid into the car, numb to everything yet screaming silently from the ice that was slowly encasing her heart. How? How had she been so naïve? There was nothing secret about that group. Nothing.
Except what hadn’t been told to her.
The driver rattled off the address to the office, half turning to see her. She stared at him as his question slowly registered.
“No,” she said. But where could she go? Tam was probably already on the phone with Gregory. “Wait.” She still had the papers he needed. “Yes. But can you wait while I run in and drop these off? I’ll need a ride somewhere else then.”
“Sure,” he said. He turned around and jerked the gear shift into Reverse. “Not a problem. But the fare is only paid to the first stop.”
Her laughter died in her throat. Of course.
She closed her eyes and sank into the seat, the damn file still clutched to her chest. Maybe she’d know where to go by the time she reached the office.
And maybe she’d wake up and realize this was all a bad dream. And maybe pigs would fly and cows would jump over the moon.
And maybe her heart could be put back together again.
Right. It was past time she stopped believing in fairy tales. Especially the ones with happy endings.