Oh, he was good. Damn him.
“And if I get fired before I get a chance to secure that funding because I randomly take off in the middle of the work day, then our discussion is moot.”
He was silent for a moment, but I could feel his angry energy buzzing through the phone.
“I wouldn’t want that to happen, Miss Underwood.”
The line went dead and so did my pulse.
Shit!
What was I doing? Everything was so tightly entwined together that no move seemed like the right one. If I jumped whenever he said, even if it interfered with work, that was bad for my job. If I didn’t, that was bad for my “relationship,” which directly correlated with my job. Now I really wanted to throw my phone.
Taking a deep breath, I stuck to my principle that I was right. It wasn’t wise to take off whenever he called. Yes, pride was an issue, though I couldn’t find much of it at the moment. This job was important to me. But had I just cost myself a fake relationship and gotten fired from my other “job”?
I tossed my cell on my desk and put my forehead between my hands. Today sucked.
Twenty minutes, fourteen e-mails, and three annoying visits from Silas, who gloated that he’d just landed a several-thousand-dollar donation, later, I was ready for a late lunch and maybe even an early happy hour.
“She’s right this way,” I heard Marcy say with a slight giggle. She had to be several cubicles away, but her giddy voice carried all the way down the aisle.
I opened my e-mail, determined to send out just one more before lunch and—
“Amy, someone is here to see you,” Marcy said.
I turned in my chair to see her beaming from ear to ear, and realized right away that her obvious joy stemmed from the fact that the governor of New York stood directly behind her, a victorious look marring his handsome face.
“What are you doing here?” I snapped.
Marcy’s eyes went wide at my reaction.
I tried to backpedal with a smile. “It’s just…I’m so surprised!” My newly elated tone seemed to calm Marcy but only made Roman’s grin widen.
“That’s what I was going for, sweetheart.” He turned to Marcy and glanced around the room. “I know how hard you all work, and I think New Beginnings does such a magnificent job for the state of New York and all her citizens.”
“Why, thank you,” Marcy preened, running a hand through her hair.
Glad to see I wasn’t the only one susceptible to Roman’s charm.
“I am going to be doing a lot of running around over the next couple of months, gearing up for the election,” Roman started. “I was hoping to have my girlfriend on my arm for certain occasions, especially since one of the key issues I’m tackling this year is drug prevention. I must admit, Amy has sold me on New Beginnings, and I think your organization would be perfect to spearhead this campaign.”
“Oh my,” Marcy breathed. “That’s wonderful!” She looked between me and Roman, so happy it practically radiated off of her. “Forgive me, but I didn’t know you two were together.”
“Please don’t apologize,” Roman said, clasping her hand in his two. “Amy talks all the time about the importance of her commitment to New Beginnings and what it means to her. I’d never want to cause an issue.”
“No! No, of course not! Amy, anytime you need to go, please do.” Marcy smiled.
I sat there, mouth hanging open, watching what was happening like I was on a different planet. Governor Roman Reese was in full swing, negotiating for what he wanted. And there wasn’t a damn thing I could do about it.
“Thank you so much, Marcy.” He patted her hand. “You’re doing an amazing job here. Keep it up.”
“Thank you, sir.” The woman practically swooned. I couldn’t blame her.
Roman’s dark eyes locked on mine. The crisp navy-blue suit and steel-gray tie he wore made him look like he belonged in the pages of GQ, rather than in the middle of my cubicle.
“Amy,” he said in that way that made my whole body respond. “Care to join me for lunch?”
“Just lunch?”