“Unless she knew all along, and she was just using me to make sure this deal goes through,” I say grimly. “This could all be a plot by Alan to ensure our alliance succeeds.”
“Normally, I’d agree with you,” Alicia says with a shrug. “But Alan was completely against the deal, remember? Although, maybe he figured you’d find out and pull the deal out of principal.” She glances at me. “All this depends on whether or not Amanda knows who you are, though.”
“How do I find out?” I ask slightly desperately; Amanda had seemed so real and genuine, it wouldn’t be fair if she turned out to be just as manipulative and money-grabbing as everyone else.
“Message her,” Alicia suggests. “You have her number. See how it goes.”
“She’s in a meeting,” I point out.
“Then wait for a reply,” Alicia shoots back.
I frown. It’s definitely the best option. Does Amanda know who I am, and is that the reason she slept with me last night? I need to know, badly.
“Fine,” I say, folding. “I’ll message her.”
I pull out my phone and open a blank message. I stare at it for a moment, wondering what to say.
“What would you have said to her if you didn’t know who she was?” Alicia asks.
Well, that’s easy enough. I start typing.
“Hey! This is Lyle, just sending you my number.”
“There,” I say. “She probably won’t reply for a while anyway. Then I’ll ask her some questions and try to figure out what’s going on.”
Alicia opens her mouth to reply. But then my phone rings out. Stunned, we both stare at it, and I open the message.
“Thanks! Talk later, in a meeting. So excited, tell you about it later so we can get to know each other!”
“Well,” Alicia says, blinking at the message. “Would she send that if she knew you owned the company she was here to meet?”
“I don’t know,” I confess. “It doesn’t seem like she knew.”
“Message her again later,” Alicia says. “Then maybe you’ll get some answers.”
I glance down at my phone.
“Maybe,” I say.
When Brandon comes up to my office, I’m waiting for him. Much of my work fell by the wayside today simply because I couldn’t concentrate on it, struck by the realization that I had slept with my rival’s daughter last night, and that she may or may not be aware of this.
“How’d it go?” I ask.
“Well,” Brandon says with a pleased smile, “the young man that Alan sent, Amanda, is bright, ambitious and willing to collaborate. With her at the helm, I believe we stand a much better chance of our collaboration succeeding.”
That’s great news. I only wish I could be happier about it. Part of me wishes that the deal would fall through, just so I wouldn’t run the risk of bumping into Amanda here.
“Great,” I say unenthusiastically.
Brandon frowns at me.
“Is everything alright?” he asks.
“Sorry, it’s just been a long day,” I tell him. “Thank you for doing that, Brandon. Will you be okay to continue representing us?”
“I’d be honored,” Brandon says, pleased.
He leaves the room and I sit back in my chair with a sigh, staring out the window. I still don’t have any idea what to do now.