“That’s good.” Relief was evident in his voice as he blew out a breath. “I need to ask you a question. Did he provide you with pre-qualifications for funding?”
“Of course. Why?”
“No reason. I just doubt he is actually going to purchase it.”
“What makes you say that?”
“Just a hunch. So don’t waste a lot of time on him, all right?”
“I’ll remember that.” I absentmindedly brought my fingers to my mouth, remembering the feeling of his lips against mine.
“Excellent.” He cleared his throat. “It’s almost closing time. Want to meet me for dinner?” He was playful again, almost as if he already knew my answer.
“I honestly have an entire stack of papers on my desk. I doubt I will be getting out of here any time soon.”
“That’s not a no,” he pointed out.
I laughed. “It’s a no, Cane.”
“If I were to take you to dinner, where would you like to go?”
I couldn’t help the grin on my face. “What does it matter? It. Isn’t. Going. To. Happen.”
“Humor me.” I could hear his smile through the phone and imagined him sitting at a large desk, chewing on the end of a pen.
“I don’t know. I like pizza. I suppose you would, theoretically, take me for pizza,” I sighed.
He laughed loudly. “You are serious?”
“What? Pizza’s my favorite!”
“Pizza it is, then.”
“Pizza it is, dinner it is not,” I countered. “I am not meeting you for dinner, Cane.”
“What have I ever done to you?” he asked, a hint of a laugh still in his voice.
“Nothing and I plan on keeping it that way.”
“Sounds like an innuendo to me.” I heard him mutter a profanity, following by a honking sound. “You said that like you’ve been thinking about me doing things to you. Now there’s a thought I’d like to explore.”
“You read way too much into that.” I looked at the clock, back to the stack of papers, and sighed. “I really do need to get this wrapped up if I am ever going to get out of here tonight.”
“Talk to you soon, Jada.”
I sat the phone down, forced all thoughts of Cane out of my mind, and worked solidly for the next hour. I only looked up when Alice knocked at the door.
“Honey, I’m leaving for the evening, but there is a lady here to see you. Should I send her back or send her to the break room?”
“I’m not expecting anyone,” I said perplexed, my mind racing through possibilities. “Do you know who she is?”
“She said her name was Lucy and she was from Alexander Industries.”
“Alexander Industries? Just send her back, I suppose.”
Why would they send a courier so late? Did I forget to get something signed?
Alice gave me a huge smile, a nod, and then retreated to the front. A few minutes later, a pretty blonde appeared in the doorway with Alice behind her.
“Hi! Are you Jada?” She was all smiles and her voice sweet, matching her bright pink dress.
Couriers don’t usually look like that.
“Yes. Can I help you?”
“I have these for you.” She grinned as she held up a bag in each hand. Alice followed behind her with a large pizza.
I put my head into my hands, feeling heat rush to my cheeks.
“Where would you like these?” Lucy held the bags up in the air.
“I’m going to take a huge shot in the dark here, but I’m guessing Cane had you deliver this?”
“Absolutely!” She laughed. “I’m Lucy, by the way. I’m Mr. Alexander’s secretary. He asked that I arrange dinner for you here since you were too busy to go out tonight.”
She and Alice sat the items on the table beneath the window.
“I don’t know if you were expecting this or not,” she said, looking at my confused face, “but he just requested this a little while ago. I’m sorry if I interrupted you.”
“No, thank you. It’s fine. I appreciate your trouble. I just didn’t realize what he was up to.”
“Mr. Alexander said you may be surprised,” Lucy smiled brightly.
“That’s a lot of food for one person,” I commented, waiting for the ball to drop.
It didn’t take long.
“He should be here any minute,” she said, looking at her watch. “He was stuck in a little traffic in Glendale, but I know he is on his way. I actually have a few errands left to run before I call it a day, so, if you don’t mind—”
“Go. Please,” I said, feeling sorry that she had to deal with Cane’s shenanigans. “Thank you for going out of your way to do this.”
“It is no problem at all.” She gave me a big smile and left, Alice following closely behind.
What am I going to do now?
CANE
The older lady in front of me took her glasses off and let them dangle on a chain around her neck. She walked around the side of her desk and eyed me like the fathers used to do when I picked up a girl before a date.
I gave her my best charming smile. “I appreciate your help this afternoon, Mrs. Jewell.”
“Alice. Please, call me Alice. And you are very welcome.” She patted me on the shoulder. “Jada has had a rough time of it lately. You better be nice to her, you hear me?”