The CEO Buys in (Wager of Hearts #1)

Disappointment thudded into Chloe like a jackhammer. “I’m not going back to Trainor Electronics?”

 

 

“No. HR called to say all their flu victims are well enough to come in tomorrow. I know it’s a pay cut from the executive suite, but I gave you the highest paying of the new job openings.”

 

“You’re the best,” Chloe said, trying to shake off the blow, and sound as grateful as she should be to her boss and friend. But all she could think about was not seeing Nathan tomorrow morning.

 

“Just to double-check, nothing awkward happened between you and Nathan Trainor, did it? I know you were finding it uncomfortable to work in his home.”

 

“Awkward?” Chloe heard the squeak in her voice and swallowed hard. She wasn’t sure what to tell Judith. Now that she wasn’t working for Nathan anymore, her personal life shouldn’t be relevant to Flexitemps. “No, we ended up getting along well enough.”

 

“Good. That’s a very nice account for me.”

 

“Um, speaking of accounts,” Chloe said, “I might want you to look for a permanent place for me.”

 

“I’m sorry, sweetie, but you know I don’t handle start-ups. There’s not enough money in them.”

 

“I’ve rethought my position on large corporations,” Chloe said. She lowered her voice so Grandmillie wouldn’t hear. “And I need the job security and the higher salary.”

 

“I’ll see what I can find. You have a great resumé, but the job market is tight, as you know.” Judith’s voice went from businesswoman to concerned friend. “What made you change your mind? Is your grandmother doing all right?”

 

“She’s going to need help when I’m not here. But it was some other things too.” Not just her grandmother’s revelations. Knowing Nathan had begun to undermine her negative attitude. How could she disapprove of a big company when the man she was having incredible sex with ran one?

 

“Update your resumé and send it to me tonight,” Judith said. “I’ll e-mail you the address and reporting info for Tallman and Hicks.”

 

“Right. I’ll do that.”

 

Judith said good-bye, and Chloe slumped in her chair, letting the cell phone drop into her lap. She didn’t want to work on her resumé tonight; she wanted to sit in front of the television set, letting Grandmillie comment on how bad the shows were while Chloe daydreamed about Nathan.

 

Nathan! Did he know she wasn’t going to be at Trainor Electronics tomorrow? No, he would have called her if he did. HR wouldn’t bother the CEO on a Sunday with personnel issues; they would make sure he had whatever he needed without him ever having to think about it.

 

She stared down at her cell phone. She was afraid to call him, afraid her absence from outside his office wouldn’t matter to him. Even more afraid that his interest would fade when she wasn’t right there in front of him, working through his e-mails.

 

No, there was still the wedding next weekend. She would have at least six more days of his attention.

 

She picked up the phone and hit his speed dial.

 

He answered on the first ring. “Chloe, I’m on the terrace, staring across the Hudson River, wondering where in that glow of lights you are.”

 

The tension drained from her body. He’d care that she wasn’t going to be there tomorrow. “Slightly south and three counties in.”

 

“How’s Grandmillie?”

 

She sucked in a breath as his words touched that fresh bruise on her heart. “She’s doing fine.”

 

“You don’t sound fine.”

 

Even though he couldn’t see her, Chloe shook her head. “She had a little health issue last week that she just shared with me, but it’s nothing to worry about.”

 

“I’ll have Ben take a look at her. It will give him someone else to badger, so he’ll leave me alone.”

 

The temptation to have the highly qualified Cavill give Grandmillie a thorough checkup nearly overwhelmed her, but it was a favor she couldn’t accept. Nor would her grandmother want her to. “Thank you, but it’s not necessary. She saw her own doctor.”

 

“We’ll talk about it tomorrow.”

 

He was using his strategy of retreating to fight another day, but she was too weary to tell him she wouldn’t change her mind. “That’s why I called. I won’t be there tomorrow. Everyone at Trainor Electronics is healthy again.”

 

He swore, making Chloe’s sore heart flip with delight. “Where will you be working?”

 

“Tallman and Hicks Accounting in Midtown.”

 

“We’ll meet for lunch. At my apartment. I’ll send Oskar for you.”

 

She laughed. “You’d have to come in the car with Oskar. Remember, I only get half an hour for lunch.”

 

He muttered another curse. She loved his frustration. “Isn’t that against some labor law?” he asked.

 

“Not for a temp. We’re just hired guns.”

 

“I’ll be there in the Rolls when you get off work. We’ll drive to New Jersey together.”

 

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