Page 78 of For One Night

She nods, walking backward. “I’ll be here at nine.” She turns to the door, and Lachlan hits me in the stomach.

“Let me show you to the elevator.” She lights up as I slip past Lachlan.

“Thank you.” She waves at Lachlan as I catch up to her and hold the door open.

We walk slowly to the doors, and my finger lingers over the call button until I finally push it. “Please, don’t be concerned about working here. I got the message, loud and clear.”

“What message, Lennox?” She runs her finger over her lip.

I avert my eyes. “It was one night. We had no idea we’d end up working together.”

She drops her head. “Yeah, exactly.”

The elevator dings, and the doors open. “There you go. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Lola’s eyes flutter to mine. “I’ll be here.”

The doors close, and my heart sinks. I can’t believe she affects me so much. What’s worse, I’m not sure I can trust her. I find my way back to the office, lost in thought as I open the door.

“Wow!” Lachlan gawks at me. “I don’t think I’ve ever witnessed anything like that, wow.”

My shoulders slump. “I don’t even know what to say.”

“She’s intelligent, gorgeous, and completely into you.” He watches me as I sit down, laying my head on the desk and begin to bounce it off the surface.

“What in the fresh hell?”

“It’s all good, dude.” He raps his knuckles on the desk. I slowly raise my head, glaring at him.

“I’ve seen more of her body than she has. This is as far from good as it gets.”

He half shrugs. “She took the job. She must be okay with it.”

“I guess she is okay with it, but I’m the one—thanks to you, might I add—who is going down in flames wondering if she’s here for just the job, or does she have an ulterior motive?”

“Like what, sleeping with the boss? Sexual harassment suit? She’s totally blew both of those angles.” He stares at me.

“I wonder what the jail sentence is for suffocating your twin for pushing you over the edge?” My eye twitches.

A smile plays on his mouth, he tries to hold it back, but there’s no use; he’s ridiculous. “Probably not as long as killing your new co-worker.”

“Fuck you!” I kick the desk. “And what in the hell was with the copier? It works!”

He cringes. “I thought you might want to talk.”

“Oh, trust me, I have plenty I want to discuss with her.” I hold my hand up, pointing at my fingers. “How did I not know the name of the person interviewing? How did she know which penthouse I was in? Did she plan the entire thing? And most importantly, did she use me?” My heart is pounding so hard it’s all I can hear.

Lachlan tightens his jaw. “I have no words. I can’t tell you she didn’t plan this or set you up. I don’t know what will or won’t happen. What I do know is you’ll do the best you can, and everything else will be alright.”

“I hope you’re right.”