I waited for several long seconds, tapping my foot nervously to the company’s nineties-era hold music.
Eventually, Simone returned. “Mr. Kincaid asked if you’ve spoken to HR about the matter.”
“No, I haven’t spoken to HR,” I snapped. “It’s not an HR matter. It’s a Mr. Kincaid matter, I assure you.” I knew Simone was just doing her job, but I was getting angry, and she was the one keeping me from talking to the person I was angry with.
“Of course, Ms. Lind. Just a moment, please.” The hold was shorter this time. “I can schedule an appointment for you to see him if you’d like.”
“Yes, please.” Finally!
“His first opening is next Thursday at two.”
My chest felt tight. “He doesn’t have anything sooner? All I need is a phone call. Can you tell him directly that I just need a few minutes with him?”
“I’m sorry, Ms. Lind. I already did. He said to give you his first available.”
“Never mind.” I hung up before she had a chance to respond.
Well. There was my answer. Donovan was definitely avoiding me. I’d known he was an asshole, but this had gone too far.
I sat back in my chair and pinched the inside corners of my eyes, refusing to cry at work. I could understand why he’d want to treat me like any other employee, making me wait until he had an opening in his schedule so that it didn’t look like I had preferential treatment. But it sure hadn’t seemed to be a concern of his the day I’d walked in and let him shove his cock down my throat. Why was it protocol he was all of a sudden interested in following now?
Playing with my emotions in the bedroom was one thing. At the office was a totally different story. Especially when I had so much more to lose than he did.
In fact, he didn’t have anything to lose at all.
Was that why it was so easy for him to blow me off?
Whatever the reason—whether it was because he wanted to play a game or teach me a lesson or because he was over our tryst—it didn’t matter.
I was done with him.
Twenty-Six
The next evening, I rushed home after work to change into something appropriate for the Think Expo. Tom and his team didn’t need me, but I wanted to show my support and make sure that everything ran as planned. I chose a simple black ruched body-con dress and some strappy heels and headed to the Financial District.
I took a cab to the hotel and followed signage to the Expo, which was conveniently being held in the ballrooms on the first floor. All day, innovators had presented new ideas in the world of technology to investors and tech enthusiasts. A cocktail party in the ballroom topped off the evening. The hallway leading to the event was set up with major exhibiters displaying their products. Large screen TVs battled for the attention of guests dressed in tuxedos and fancy dresses as they made their way to the party. Our client was among these competitors.
I found SummiTech’s exhibit quite easily, the bold media production easily drawing my attention to their display. Employees for the company handed out brochures and spoke to guests as they passed by. I spotted a couple of my team members hanging back to monitor the situation and checked in with them to make sure they’d brought enough marketing materials and to gather some initial feedback on the items Reach had put together.
After I was satisfied that the event was running smoothly and that everything we’d provided was working as intended, I set out to locate Tom.
“Here you are,” I said, when I found him inside the ballroom with a flute of champagne in hand. “I was looking for you.”
His brows rose. “Am I in trouble?”
“Of course not. I watched SummiTech’s presentation on my way in. The entire setup looked great. How do you think it’s going?”
His shoulders relaxed visibly. “I spoke to Munns about fifteen minutes ago, and he was pretty stoked, so I’d say it’s going great.”
“Excellent.” Robert Munns was our client, the CEO of SummiTech. “As long as he’s happy then Reach should be happy.”
“Exactly why I’m drinking.” Tom held his glass up for emphasis. “You should join me.”
A glass of champagne didn’t sound like a bad idea. It had been a long day. Correction—it had been a long week. While my workload had been pretty manageable, there had been mental and emotional stress that had worn me out, and I longed for an escape.
Alcohol wasn’t the kind of escape I had hoped for, but since I’d banished my non-relationship from my life the day before, I had to take what I could get.
“I will definitely join you if I can find a server.” I scanned the ballroom for the closest waiter.
“I’ll find one.” Tom, who was much taller than me, even as I wore heels, did his own survey. “I didn’t know Kincaid would be here.”
My heart stopped. “He is?”
“I just saw him talking to that Hudson Pierce guy.”
As soon as I turned, I saw him. He was impossible to miss. He’d obviously come straight from the office because he was still wearing what he’d been wearing when I’d glimpsed him from across the hallway earlier in the day. And damn did he look good. Donovan Kincaid wore a suit better than a room full of men in tuxedos.
Which was not a good thing considering my whole resolution to be done with him.
Suddenly I wished I’d chosen my outfit better. Black was so boring. I hadn’t even added jewelry. My underwear was fine but nothing fancy.
And none of that mattered because I wasn’t sleeping with him.
What the hell was he even doing here anyway? There was no reason someone of his level needed to attend this sort of thing on behalf of Reach. He wasn’t even dressed for the event. He’d obviously come here last minute. Had something gone wrong? Was he checking up on my team?
Was he coming here for me?
“Oh, god.” I turned my back toward him. I couldn’t settle the flutters in my stomach. I wanted him to be here for me, despite everything he’d put me through, and not only was that setting myself up for the worst kind of disappointment tonight, it was setting me up for the worst kind of disappointment in the long run.
I had to get out of there.
“Do me a favor, will you?” After our talk the day before, I was pretty sure Tom would help me out. “If he asks about me, tell him you haven’t seen me.”
I was already mentally mapping my escape. The ballroom was small, and I’d have to go past Donovan to get to the front doors, but I had to go that way because the coatroom was down that hall.
“Yeah. Sure. But…” Like he had the day before, Tom’s voice filled with concern. “Is there some sort of problem that you need help with?”
“No. I promise. And you’re a great guy for asking. Just, like I said, Donovan and I have a complicated…” I searched for a word that wasn’t relationship. “Acquaintanceship, and I’m just not in the mood to deal with him tonight, so I’m going to slip out before he notices me.”