The Deal

As she took her leave, Toby's comment about his Dad echoed in her thoughts.

Lucas was here, in a meeting. The very thought if it made her heart tick a little faster. She craned her neck as she walked down the corridor that led back to the reception area. Glass walls meant it was easy to spot who was in which meeting room without knocking on doors. Several meetings were in progress but she didn’t spy him.

Ahead the corridor branched. To the left was her way out. She was about to head that way when she caught sight of him. A large room ahead was filled with personnel. Lucas stood by a projected spreadsheet, pointing out figures, leading the meeting.

Naomi froze.

He glanced at his audience. She caught sight of that familiar hewn face, so starkly handsome. Light-headed with the secret thrill of seeing him, she clutched her portfolio case tighter. He was talking animatedly but she couldn’t hear what was being said. It felt surreal, watching him.

Am I really involved with that gorgeous man?

Glued to the spot, she could only stare.

Then he turned fully to his audience, and clocked her.

Naomi turned on her heel, hurrying toward the reception, and beyond toward the elevator. It was a stolen glance, and yet it made her spirits soar.

Inside the elevator, she turned away from the other occupants and smiled at herself in the mirrored walls. It felt naughty, having seen him that way. He'd obviously picked a meeting room out of the way, and still she'd managed to spy him for a moment.

Her smile vanished when the elevator reached the ground floor and the doors opened. Amongst half a dozen people waiting to enter, was Clara, Lucas's ex.

Of course, she was here for Toby. Naomi filed out with the other occupants, intending to pass Clara by without comment.

"If it isn't my husband's tart."

Naomi bristled. "Ah, the ex wife," she countered. "Fancy seeing you here."

Clara flounced past her and into the elevator.

Naomi tried not to let her joy at seeing Lucas be crushed by Clara. She waved her fingertips at Clara and smiled.

Clara rammed her hand on the elevator control panel.

The doors locked open. The other occupants in the lift look

ed at one another.

"I'm here to collect my son," she announced.

"He's a lovely boy," Naomi replied, unable to resist. "Takes after his Dad, obviously."

Clara glared at her, annoyance pouring out of her eyes. "I'm Lucas's wife," she declared, again. "I'm the mother of his child. Just you remember that."

Not only was she using her child as a pawn, she was hanging on to her marital status symbol for grim death. It grated on Naomi. And it had haunted her since they'd first encountered one another the week before, in Switzerland. Naomi had checked on the Internet though. Clara was his ex. Had she used her erstwhile status to scare off other women?

Naomi forced a smile. "Congratulations on your divorce."

She didn’t wait for Clara to shut the doors on her, quickly turning on her heel she walked away. She heard the doors close and felt relief.

To think she thought she wasn't even going to see Lucas. She'd not only seen him, she'd seen his whole family.

Then she felt a hand on her arm.

It was Clara.

Chapter Three

Lucas looked away from his presentation in time to see Naomi staring at him through the glass wall of the board room. Longing filled her eyes, and it called to him. Mid-sentence he halted, because he couldn't drag his attention away from the sight of her.