Chapter 27

Linny

That was melodramatic. That’s not who I am, but every word is true.

West is rubbing his temples. He hasn’t said anything in response to my declaration that I can’t sleep with him again.

I owe him more of an explanation than what I’ve given considering I just spent almost an entire week pretending I didn’t know him.

“West?” I say his name softly. “I’m sorry.”

He looks down, avoiding eye contact with me. “For what?”

I want to reach out and touch his shoulder, but if I do that, I’ll feel that same addictive rush of electricity that charged through my body that night in Las Vegas.

I rest my hands in my lap, clasping them tightly together to try and mask how badly they’re shaking.

“I was wrong when I pretended not to know you,” I say the words that I should have said a week ago.

He finally looks at me, his expression impassive. “Why did you do it?”

I wish the answer were concise and straightforward, but it’s complicated, so I go right to the core of the issue.

“Faye & Sons has a strict policy about employees having sex with clients. It’s not allowed.”

His brows perk. “I’ll hire another firm to work on the campaign. You’re fired.”

I can’t tell if he’s joking or not, so I laugh. “You don’t mean that.”

He skips past that to ask me a question. “We fucked months ago, Linny. You can’t get in shit for that, can you?”

Technically, no, but if my dad knew about it, I would have been excluded from the Rizon campaign altogether which would have been another notch in Mitchell’s belt.

There’s more to it than that, but it’s personal and I don’t know West well enough to bare my soul to him.

“My dad is retiring next year and I’m up for the position of CEO when he does.” I pause to consider my next words. “Mitchell is a candidate too, so every action counts right now.”

West’s gaze scans my face. He studies me carefully. “You were worried that your dad would be disappointed in you for fucking a stranger. That’s it, isn’t it?”

I swallow hard, my throat chalky and dry. I’m twenty-six-years-old. I should be able to make my own choices, and mistakes. I want to and need to, but as long as I’m fighting Mitchell for my dream job, my dad’s opinion still matters.

“That’s part of it,” I answer honestly. “I’m trying not to give Mitchell ammunition that he can use against me.”

West’s hand drifts to the armrest of my chair. I stare down at it. It’s large and I know I’ll find comfort in it. I want to reach for it, but I stop myself.

“Why the fuck is Mitchell up for the job?” His jaw tightens. “He’s not a Faye, is he?”

I shake my head and sigh. “His mom married my dad a few years ago.”

“He’s your stepbrother?”

I lean back in the chair. “He’s my competition.”

He nods knowingly. “I see what’s happening here. Dear old dad has pitted the two of you against each other in a death match. Whoever is left standing at the end, gets to take over the company.”

“In a nutshell, that’s about right.” I half-shrug. “You would think since the company bears my surname, that I’d have an advantage, but that’s not the case.”

“Do you have any brothers?”

I straighten. “Just me and my sister.”

“Where did the Faye & Son’s name come from?” He turns in his chair, so he’s facing me directly now.

“My grandfather wanted his sons to work with him. One did.” I wave one finger in the air. “My dad. He hoped to have a son or two to keep that legacy alive.”

His eyes narrow. “Your grandfather was Lincoln Faye? I saw his portrait hanging in the reception area when I came to your offices.”

“I’m his namesake.” Bringing my hand to my lips, I sigh. “There were complications during my birth. The doctors told my parents that my mother would never be able to carry another child, so my dad insisted on naming me himself. He always wanted a son, so he named me after his father.”

A flicker of something washes over his expression. It’s not pity and I’m grateful for that. I felt sorry for myself for years when my dad would joke about how I was supposed to be a boy. I always knew that he loved me, but it stung and bearing the name of my grandfather is a constant reminder of who I will never be.

“Your name is beautiful.” He gazes into my eyes. “Everything about you is beautiful.”

It would be so easy to lean forward to kiss him.

“You want to make your father proud.” He pauses for a minute and then continues, “I get that.”

It’s an invitation for me to ask about his family, but that’s not my business. I can’t open any door that will take me a step closer to him. “I want the CEO position. It’s not just because the first thing I’ll do is fire Mitchell.”

That pulls a hearty laugh from him. “That guy is an asshole.”

“You have no idea.”

He reaches to touch my hand and I don’t stop him, even though I know I should pull back.

“I understand discretion.” He brings my hand to his lips, resting it there, as he goes on. “We can be together and keep our business relationship separate.”

It’s so tempting. The thought of being in his arms again sends a shiver of desire up my spine.

“It was good that night,” he growls as his eyes scan my body. “Jesus, Linny, it was so fucking good. You can’t deny that.”

He’s right. I can’t. “It was good.”

“The best you’ve ever had.” His brow lifts.

I smile at his arrogance. “Was it the best you’ve ever had?”

He presses my fingers to his lips and closes his eyes. “By far. I’ve come so many times thinking about fucking you. I ache for you.”

I feel lightheaded. His words offer me something I didn’t know I was craving.

It’s surreal that a man I only spent a few hours with could feel the same things for me that I feel for him. Doubt seeps in so I ask the question that’s been on the tip of my tongue for days. “When you first saw me in the conference room last week, what did you think?”

His eyes meet mine. “I felt like I won the lottery.”