Flawless Desire

“Wow,” I murmur in admiration.

Mara grins. “Thank you. I designed it.”

“You did?” I ask, impressed.

She nods. The girl can’t be much older than me. She’s wearing a sleeveless ribbed turtleneck and fingerless gloves, and has chunky boots on her feet with paint splatters. Not exactly professional, but with talent like hers, I guess it doesn’t matter.

“It’s going to be part of our new line. Sorry if we’re all a little crazy right now,” she adds. “We’re planning the big launch and the graphics team can’t seem to get a handle on the advertising. Caleb Sterling’s a bit…” She pauses, searching for the word. “Exacting.”

Oh, she didn’t have to tell me that.

I’m relishing the memory of him, ordering me to take off my clothes, when my phone buzzes with a text. It’s Victoria.

WHERE R U?

“That’s my cue,” I say with a sigh.

“Great to meet you,” Mara smiles. “Come down and say ‘hi’ any time you like. We have great snacks down here,” she adds with a mischievous wink. “They’re vital to our creative process.”

I laugh. “I’ll remember that!”

I head back upstairs, glad that someone in this building has warm blood in their veins, and not ice water, but when I reach the office, it’s my own blood that runs cold.

A familiar face is standing by my desk. My throat tightens. It’s Olivia.

Victoria looks up as I approach. “Finally. Olivia Cross, this is Juliet. Juliet, this is Olivia Cross, the co-founder of Sterling Cross.”

Olivia bridges the distance and shakes my hand. “Oh, wonderful, Juliet. So nice to meet you.”

I try my hardest to keep cool, as if I’ve never seen this woman before in my life. “Likewise.”

Victoria stands up and heads to Caleb’s office. I notice she doesn’t use a key to open the door. “I’m sure he left those papers you wanted in here, Olivia. I’ll just be a moment.”

“Sure, take your time,” she says, sitting on the edge of my desk. She watches until Victoria disappears and turns to me, her voice low. “Anything?”

“I did get access to his schedule.”

“And?”

“Well…” What does she want me to do? I’ve officially been employed by Sterling Cross for three hours. “Victoria isn’t letting me do anything where Caleb’s concerned. But—”

“Then try harder,” she urges, leaning in to touch my sweater as Victoria appears in the doorway, holding a stack of legal papers. Olivia’s voice is suddenly loud. “Oh this is so smart! So soft. I love it.”

“Thanks,” I mumble.

Olivia takes the papers from Victoria and says, “Well, I’m off. It was great meeting you, Juliet.”

She sashays off with a smile, leaving her instructions ringing in my ears.

Try harder.

Alright. Fine. Time to push this plan into overdrive. “What time is lunch?”

Victoria stares with an expression that says, I knew I was right about you. “When I say things are quiet enough. I’m going now, so you need to cover me.”

Perfect. “Oh. I’ll probably just eat at my desk, if that’s okay?”

“Whatever.” She grabs her purse and heads out, leaving me alone.