CHAPTER 24
Evie
“Come in!”
The door to my office opened, and Merrick poked his head inside. Finding just me, he let himself in.
“Hey.” I closed the notebook I’d been writing in. “Good timing. I’m done for the day.”
“Wish I could say the same thing. I’m running behind. The market went a little crazy today because of some unexpected news. The analysts just finished working on what it means so we can talk about it and decide on our holdings. Sorry, but I’m gonna be another hour or two.”
“Oh…” I shrugged. “That’s okay. I can find something to do.”
Merrick looked at his watch. “It’s already six thirty. Why don’t you go up and get comfortable? Order some dinner since it’s going to be too late to start cooking by the time I’m done.”
“I’ll just work some more.”
Merrick frowned and held out a key. “I noticed you left this behind yesterday when you left my place.”
“I figured you were just loaning it to me to let myself in. I didn’t think you wanted me to keep it.”
“Will it freak you out if I tell you to hold on to it? This is a copy.”
“Do you want me to answer that honestly?”
He smiled. “How about you take it and go up now, and we talk about it later?”
I nodded. “Okay.”
Merrick handed me the key. “Go get changed and settle in. I don’t want you to stay just because I’m stuck for a while.”
I tilted my head. “You’re just hoping I greet you like I did before, aren’t you?”
He chuckled. “Go. You can snoop around some more.”
“I don’t think you realize the danger of making that statement to someone like me.”
He closed my palm with the key inside. “Have at it. I’ve got nothing to hide.”
It wasn’t lost on me that my ex wouldn’t even let me look at a picture on his phone without hovering to take it back. But then again, there was no comparison between Christian and Merrick. “What do you want me to order?”
He shrugged and pulled his wallet out of his pocket. “Whatever you want. I’m not picky. But use my card to order it.”
“I can pay for dinner myself. Though, technically, I think you wind up paying for dinner either way, since you pay me the money I use to eat.”
His lip twitched. “Use my card, please. I gotta run. I have six people waiting in my office.”
“I’ll see you soon.”
A little while later, I headed to the elevator. I’d just entered and pushed the button for the top floor when Joan opened the double glass doors to the office and walked toward the waiting car.
Shit.
Merrick’s floor was illuminated. But I couldn’t very well close the elevator doors now that we’d made eye contact. So I panicked and did the only thing that came to mind. I hit every button on the panel.
Joan noticed as soon as she stepped inside. “Oh my.”
“Yeah, someone must’ve thought they were being funny.”