JULIET
“So,you have to give it to me straight. What’s the situation with you and Caleb?”
Mara puts her sandwich aside and fixes me with an expectant look. We’re down in the design department, grabbing lunch in her studio and catching up after all the madness of the past week.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, I want details! You guys have been running hot and cold for months now, but things finally seem to have settled. Right?”
“Right.” I beam. Although ‘settled’ isn’t exactly how I’d describe the mind-blowing sex we had the other night… And this morning… And then again in Caleb’s office with the door ajar and him covering my mouth with his hand to keep me from screaming. “It’s been… Nice.”
“Are you kidding me? Caleb has been walking around with a smile on his face for the first time in, well, forever. Nice wouldn’t get you that. It’s really working out this time?”
I nod. “So you’ve noticed it, too?” I ask.
“Either you’re blowing him ten times a day, or that is a man in love.” Mara smirks. “Or both.”
I laugh. “No comment. He just did some soul searching. That’s all.”
“You’re back on, for real this time?
I bite my lip, wondering if it’s okay to say. Then I nod. “He said he loves me,” I admit.
She claps her hands excitedly. “I can’t believe it! Why are you not, like, hanging from the chandeliers with excitement?”
I smile. “I am, really. I love him so much. But there’s a lot of drama, still.”
“Tell me about it. How is he doing with it?”
I sigh. “He’s handling it. You know, he’s not one to be honest with his feelings. But he’s been really open with me. And I won’t accept anything less, not this time. I’m not letting him push me around again,” I say, determined. “We’re equal partners in the relationship now. As long as that continues, I think we’ll be okay.”
Mara licks mayo off her fingers and shakes her head. “I can’t believe it. Caleb Sterling. Settling down. That’s insane. You do think you’re settling down, right?”
Of course, I’ve had a goofy fantasy of Caleb kneeling in front of me, slipping a diamond ring on my finger. Of walking down an aisle and having him gaze in my eyes and say, I do. But usually when I think of those, I remember that up until very recently, Caleb Sterling was the city’s number one bachelor.
“I don’t know for sure.” I admit. “Maybe in the future. I’m hopeful. I guess we’ll see,” I say, popping a cherry tomato in my mouth. “First we have to weather today’s drama.”
She nods. “Of course. The whole Sterling Cross takeover attempt rumor is taking over the internet.”
There’s also the person who has been trying to hurt us. But Mara doesn’t know anything about that. And I’m determined to keep it under wraps, so I just smile.
“Enough about me, I want to see your new designs!”
I get carriedaway poring over Mara’s amazing new prototypes, and it’s mid-afternoon by the time I head back upstairs to the office.
I see Caleb’s door is open, and a bunch of suits are just leaving, so
I wait until they’re gone and poke my head in. He looks tired, sitting back behind his desk. “How’s it going?” I ask, entering.
He does that little thing where he rubs the back of his neck, which he only does when he’s stressed. “Good.”
“Liar.” I give him a kiss on the cheek. “How’s it really going?”
“Like shit,” he says with a low chuckle as I put my hands on his shoulders, massaging them a little. They’re so tense. “I think this takeover is looking more and more likely.”
My heart drops. “Really?”
He scans the papers in front of him and nods, his jaw tight. “I’m trying to reassure the board, but I don’t know what else to do. Olivia holds enough shares that if she convinces even half the major stakeholders to sell… I can’t stop it.”