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  As if to sabotage any chance she had to intercept Jacey, the elevator stopped at a number of floors before reaching the lobby. Priory felt the pangs of defeat, even before she reached the sidewalk. Jacey was gone.

  “Shit!” she hissed as she looked up and down the street. She turned around and walked back inside at a far slower pace than she had emerged from the building. The walk back along the corridor to her office was like the walk of shame, her co-workers giving her looks ranging from sympathy to outright celebration. Right now she wanted to slap somebody, but doing so would mean her job. No, she would sacrifice that for a better cause—clearing Jacey’s name.

  Priory slammed her office door shut and slumped into her chair. She grabbed the phone and dialed Reception. What was the girl’s name? “Candace, could you send someone with a coffee … please?”

  “Is Jacey sick, ma’am?”

  I wish. “She will be unavailable for the next few days.” After that, Priory may have to admit defeat. “You can put my calls straight through to me. Thanks.” After she hung up, she smiled bitterly. She’d used please and thank you. Jacey was out there somewhere laughing her ass off.

  She gazed at her inbox. “No better time to start.” Priory stood and moved around her desk to the pile of accumulated paperwork. Slowly and carefully, she worked her way through the stack of paper in search of the contract. A quiet knock interrupted her work. “Come!”

  The rattle of cup against saucer greeted her as a young clerk pushed her way through the door to deliver her coffee. “Ms McAllister. I wasn’t sure how you took it….”

  “That’s fine, errr….”

  “Jenny, ma’am.” She timidly approached and put the tray on the coffee table.

  “Thanks, Jenny.” She gave the girl her best smile and watched her disappear quickly out of the room. “I bet they’re shaking in their boots,” she murmured. Word would be spreading like wildfire that Ms McAllister was acting strangely—in fact, almost human. The last thing she needed right now was to alienate the entire office.

  Priory continued to look for the contract, and she wondered if she had even heard of it. She moved her search to the filing cabinet and looked into her memos and emails with Eddles. There was the usual stuff about board meetings and private meetings to discuss acquisitions, but she couldn’t find anything specific about a contract for Barco.

  She slammed the filing cabinet closed and sat in a chair close to the coffee. It had cooled, but she didn’t care. After adding cream and sugar, Priory stirred the coffee thoughtfully. Maybe Eddles had misplaced it himself. Was he the sort of man to go off half-cocked? He was insufferable and narcissistic, but when he accused someone of something, he usually had his facts straight.

  The coffee break gave her time to sit and think, not only about work but about Jacey. Did she even want a long-term relationship with her? It was a stupid question to ask herself, but she needed to seriously think about, and commit to, her relationship with her assistant. At the house the circumstances were different—less work stress and more a nice safe roll in the bed. Now, the consequences would be direr. This would be a life-changing decision.

  She loved Jacey, she knew that, but would she give up everything for her? Her home, her job, her life? Priory didn’t think she had come to that point yet, but the thought of having Jacey in her life was very appealing.

  She stood and took off her jacket, then placed it over the back of the chair. She mentally rolled up her sleeves and sat behind her desk. She grabbed her wallet and took out a business card and a slip of paper. The phone taunted her for a moment before she picked it up and pressed a button for an outside line. The handset beeped ominously as she punched in the number, and she waited with trepidation as the phone rang.

  “Petals and Posies. How may I help you?” The voice on the other end was as cheerful as ever.

  “Grace? It’s Priory.”

  “Hey, girl! It’s been a while. No new conquests?”

  “Not for a while, no. I’m slowing down, I guess.”

  “And you’re calling me because…?”

  “I need a dozen roses sent to…” Priory’s gaze found the bit of paper with Jacey’s address on it. She repeated it back. “Can you do it today?”

  “Sure can. What do you want on the card?”

  Priory hadn’t thought of that. What could she say in a few chosen words? “We need to talk. Sign it ‘Priory’ and put my personal cell number on the bottom.”

  “Serious, huh?”

  A pithy remark came to mind, but she let it go. “I’m hoping so. Thanks, Grace.”

  “Next time call me just to talk, okay? I’m beginning to feel used and abused.”

  “I thought you liked it that way,” Priory responded.

  “G’wan. Catch ya later.” The line went dead.

  Priory looked at the receiver and smiled. Grace was right—she only called her when she needed flowers. Maybe it was time to cultivate some friendships.

  She felt a bit better now that the flowers had been arranged. She only hoped the arrangement would at least get past Jacey’s front door.

  Priory gazed around her office. So far, her search had turned up nothing, not even a mention about the negotiations. She moved her search to the inbox sitting on Jacey’s desk. To avoid any nosy co-workers watching her, Priory lifted the pile of paper and staggered with it into her own office. “I really need to get into shape.”

  Before starting the tedious task of scanning the paperwork, Priory grabbed the coffee tray and went in search of the staff kitchen. If things weren’t so serious, she would have laughed at the expressions she was confronted with. Was her reputation that bad?

  Finally, she settled back into her chair and sipped the hot beverage from the cup in her hand. Someone had eventually taken pity on her and not only steered her to the kitchen but instructed her on the use of the coffee machine. She had been tempted to brush off the offer, but something stopped her and she accepted the help gracefully. The tentative smile she got when she said thank you was worth a little humility.

  She looked up from the paperwork and thought of Jacey. Where was she now? Home? Or maybe she had driven to a local bar for a stiff drink. God, Priory, you are such an idiot! There was no point in trying to contact her yet, not when she was full of anger and disappointment. Priory hoped the roses would go some way to ruffling Jacey’s beautiful feathers. Somehow, she doubted it.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Jacey walked into her apartment and hurled the keys at the sofa. What she really wanted to do was to throw the keys at Priory’s precious Tiffany lamp, but the effort to do that far outweighed her need for revenge.

  “Of all the insufferable, idiotic, selfish….” Jacey waved her hands around in the hope that a new epithet would emerge from her lips. “Oh God, you are such a bitch!” She was disappointed that “bitch” came out since she had hoped for something more colorful. Instead, she fell back on a familiar name.

  Jacey slumped onto the sofa and lifted up her legs to lie flat. Things had happened so fast she was still catching up with the realization that she was out of work. That didn’t hurt as much as knowing that Priory sacrificed her to the job. Had Priory pretended all this time to care for her just to get her into bed? Not that Jacey could claim innocence in that pursuit, either. She had attained her Holy Grail, but could she move on having known that perfection?

  “It’s an ass, Jace,” she mumbled into the sofa.

  But not just an ass. Come on, her girls started butting in. After three years you finally got it and now you’re going to give it away?

  It’s just a job. You can get another one.

  “It’s not about the job,” she responded.

  No? Then getting another one shouldn’t be a problem.

  “It’s about trust.”

  Trust’s a bust when you have an ass with class.

  “Oh God, she thinks she’s funny.”

  There’s enough of us in here to get well and truly depressed. Someone has
to lighten the mood. The girl was right.

  There was a knock on the door. Jacey remained still with her eyes closed.

  Aren’t you going to answer it?

  “Nope.”

  Could be something good.

  Might be the next-door neighbor.

  Could be the president.

  “Could be your imaginations running riot,” Jacey responded.

  Another knock, this time louder. “Miss Ryder?” It wasn’t a voice she recognized. “Delivery.”

  Jacey mentally weighed the effort of getting up against what the delivery might be.

  Maybe it’s some lurid photos of Priory’s ass.

  “You wish,” she muttered as she rolled off the sofa and onto the floor. Some days were just meant to end at sunrise. “Coming!” As to how long it would take her to get there and answer the door was a whole other matter.

  Another knock, and this time it came as a booming pound on the door.

  “Coming!” she yelled again, and felt the resonation of the word through the top of her head. “Oh God!” she moaned.

  Come on, let’s get our present!

  Now up onto your knees, Jace. That’s it. Put one foot on the floor and push. You can do it.

  “I know how to stand, thank you very much.”

  Hmmm….

  Yeah, sure.

  Just to shut them up, Jacey powered her way to a standing position and raced to the door. She flung it open with enthusiasm. “Sorry. Can I help you?”

  A large bouquet of red roses met her. “Delivery. Please sign here,” a disembodied voice said from behind the floral arrangement before a hand emerged with a clipboard and pen. She grabbed the tipping clipboard and signed the delivery notice.

  “Here you go.” The flowers were pushed into her hands while the clipboard was hastily snatched away by the delivery woman with a great amount of dexterity and flair. Tip, Jacey thought. “Hang on.”

  The woman lifted up her hand. “No need, ma’am. That’s been taken care of.” She strode briskly down the corridor and disappeared around the corner at the end before Jacey had the chance to say goodbye.

  “Glad to see someone’s day is going well,” Jacey muttered and she nudged the door closed with her hip.

  Well, who’s it from?

  Who do you think it’s from? The tooth fairy?

  Don’t spoil the surprise.

  It was then that Jacey realized that some of her inner voices were not playing with a full deck. That explained a lot….

  She placed the arrangement on the kitchen table. She knew who it was from, and the attached card confirmed it.

  Awww, isn’t that cute.

  “Cute?” Jacey growled. “Does she think she can buy her way back into my graces with a bunch of flowers?”

  Sure.

  But they’re roses. You know how much you love roses.

  Why are we mad at her again?

  How soon they forget. Chuck ’em.

  Jacey picked up the flowers and moved to the garbage bin. She hesitated while her girls argued the point. As a matter of principle, she should get rid of them, but they were roses. Could she at least hear what Priory had to say before slamming the door in her face? That was a risky proposition. Priory was a quick mover and could be in her apartment before Jacey had a chance to react.

  But that ass….

  “Shut up about the ass, all right?” Why did they have to keep bringing that up? She had been to heaven and now she would be giving that up. This really was adding insult to injury to the whole situation.

  Jacey looked at the roses and decided to keep them … for now. She arranged them in a vase and left them sitting on the kitchen table. Before she could stop herself, she leaned in and smelled the fragrance surrounding them. “Stupid woman! You better have a damned good excuse for sacrificing me to that toad.”

  Jacey carried the card to the sofa, where she flopped down and made herself comfortable. She studied the message and wondered what the conversation would hold. Should she call or leave it be? Despite the pleading of her girls, she felt she should stay firm. This was her life she was contemplating. Her life.

  Jacey didn’t know how long she had stayed on the sofa. Maybe she had fallen asleep, she didn’t know. There was a knock on the door. It was strong and authoritative, so she suspected it was Priory.

  “Jacey Ryder? Delivery, miss.” The voice was deep and brusque. Maybe it wasn’t Priory, but who else could it be? She had the flowers.

  Maybe it’s dinner, one of the girls suggested.

  “Dinner for one? That’s a bit pointless.”

  Stop arguing. I’m hungry.

  Jacey could feign absence, but the insistent knocking made her answer. “Who is it?”

  “Delivery, miss.”

  “What is it?”

  “Sorry, I don’t know. I’m just the delivery man.”

  Man? Yeah, right.

  You’re jumping to confusions.

  I’m not jumping anywhere. That voice has too much estrogen.

  The conversation in her head started up a headache. “Everyone, keep calm. And shut up!” she hissed at the front door. Jacey flung it open while she muttered and found herself face-to-face with….

  “What do you want?” It was a stupid question to ask and they both knew it, but Jacey used it as a cover for her mental meandering.

  She watched as Priory’s gaze dropped to the card in her hand. “The flowers arrived.”

  “Temporarily. They’re now gracing my garbage bin.” Make a note to dump them…. Would her girls listen? Probably not.

  “Can I come in?”

  “No.” Jacey swung the door shut. Priory quickly slipped her foot against the doorjamb and Jacey heard the satisfying whimper as the door slammed against her boss’s foot. “Go away!”

  Jacey made a dash to the kitchen and dumped the roses in the garbage bin. She knew that Priory had followed her in because she could feel the heated stare on her back. “I’ve got nothing to say to you.”

  “That’s a shame because I have plenty to say to you.” Jacey refused to turn around at the sound of Priory’s voice. “Can you at least look at me when I’m talking to you? Please?” She finally agreed and saw Priory leaning against the kitchen door, one foot raised off the floor. “I’ll make this quick, okay?”

  Jacey sighed. The sooner Priory talked, the sooner she would be out of her life. “Fine,” she said tightly. Jacey walked past her and seated herself on the single lounge chair. There was no way she was letting Priory anywhere close to her.

  Priory hobbled over to the sofa and plopped down with little grace. Her skirt slid up and Jacey couldn’t help but glance at the show of thigh. She felt the itch inside her head. The girls were about to say something, but she held a tight hold on her thoughts. “You had something to say?”

  “Look, I am sorry. I truly am. I froze.”

  “You never froze in your life.” Jacey suddenly realized this conversation was not going in her favor. First of all, Priory had apologized. She was getting the hang of the benefits of sympathy. Secondly, and most importantly, Jacey was being subjected to the almost-tortuous exposure of leg, and her mind was hard pressed to stay focused. “What is your point?”

  Priory moved on the sofa and propped up her sore foot. “I was trying to think—”

  “Well, you didn’t.”

  “Let me finish. I was trying to think if we’d seen the contract he was talking about. I was pretty sure we hadn’t. By the time I came to that conclusion, you offered to take the blame and he fired you.”

  “You could have said something.” Jacey wanted to stay angry, she really did, but the forlorn expression on Priory’s face was compelling.

  “I should have said something. I suppose I was trying to figure a way out of this mess … and that included saving your job.” Priory put her feet on the floor and stood. She hobbled over to where Jacey sat, then dropped to her knees. “Please forgive me. I don’t want to lose you.”

  Jacey s
tudied Priory’s eyes and saw the sincerity there. “Well, it’s too late now. I’m unemployed.” Even to her own ears, she could hear the sound of defeat in her words.

  “Not yet. I told the staff you had to take a few days off. Your dismissal, for now, is between the three of us.”

  “And what’s that going to achieve? He’ll make sure I’m gone.”

  “Then time is short. We need to go through everything in the office to find that contract,” Priory replied urgently.

  “We? Didn’t you just say I was on leave?”

  “Why are you making everything so hard? I have enough problems with Casper at home.”

  Jacey had forgotten about them. “How are they?”

  “The large one thinks she’s a comedienne.”

  “Dylan?”

  “Casper. Practical jokes all the time. It’s driving me crazy. I don’t think this sharing-a-house thing is working out.”

  “You just can’t kick them out.”

  “I know. I’ve been looking into paranormal investigators. You know, like Ghostbusters.”

  “You do realize that is a movie, don’t you? They don’t exist.”

  “Sure they do. Look in the phone book. There’s lots of them.”

  Jacey shook her head. She’s crazy. Certifiable.

  But cute. Don’t forget that.

  And that ass….

  All right with the ass already! Jacey internally grumbled.

  Admit it, girl. You have it bad for her. You don’t want to split up any more than she does.

  But what she did— Jacey knew she was fighting a losing battle.

  She’s trying to fix that. Doesn’t that count for anything? Besides, you could make this work for you. Lots of presents, lots of favors, and especially lots of ass. You could—

  No! That would make me as bad as she is … was … maybe still is. The jury is out on that.

  “Are you all right?”

  “Yeah. Something disagreed with me.”

  Priory grabbed her handbag and looked inside. “Here. Try this.” She pulled out a roll of antacid tablets.

  “Err, thanks.” Reluctantly, Jacey took one and popped it in her mouth. Would it give her heartburn instead of relieving it?