Her Sexy Valentine by Stephanie Bond Page A

glanced at Tracy’s boyfriend. “Thank you for coming to my assistance.”
    Then she marched out, embarrassed to have been in such a compromising situation. She palpated the tender knot on her forehead. A low, throbbing headache had settled into her crown. The pain brought her near tears again, but she was more determined than ever to stand up to Luke Chancellor. After stopping by the ladies’ room to arrange her hair over the reddened bump, Carol proceeded to the roomwhere the directors’ meeting was being held and pushed open the door.
    Her fellow directors looked up and she could tell not all of them were relieved to see her. Luke Chancellor sat at the head of the table. He smiled up at her. “We were just getting ready to send out a search party for you, Carol.”
    â€œI’ll bet you were,” she said sweetly, then settled into an empty chair. “Sorry I’m late.”
    â€œWe heard a Good Samaritan delivered new computer equipment to your department this morning,” Janet, the art director, said with a smile.
    All gazes slid toward Luke. He held up his hands. “It was Carol’s idea—I just…facilitated.”
    She set her jaw—how did he do that? Manage to sound humble and still take credit?
    â€œHave you revisited the issue of bonuses?” Carol asked, pulling the conversation back to the matter at hand. She shot a look of contempt in Luke’s direction.
    He caught her gaze and confusion registered on his face…what an actor.
    â€œWe were just about to,” Luke said, thencleared his voice. “I think it’s pretty clear that anyone dissenting is following your lead, Carol, so I guess we can cut to the chase by asking if you’ve changed your mind on the issue of paying out a one-time bonus?”
    The weight of a roomful of stares shifted to her. Luke looked hopeful, and Carol knew he was remembering her comment from the previous evening, that she might reconsider her position. But that was when she’d been under the spell he seemed to be able to cast so easily with a handsome face and a few flattering words. That was before he’d made her feel stupid for falling for his caring act, before he’d embarrassed her, turned all her employees against her. This might be her one and only chance to put Luke Chancellor in his place.
    â€œNo, I haven’t changed my mind. Not about the bonuses, not about a lot of things,” she added pointedly.
    Disappointment colored Luke’s face. His mouth flattened, then he shrugged. “I guess that’s that.”
    â€œI guess so,” Carol chirped, then pushed up from her chair. “If that’s all, I really need toget back to work. This party means I have only four hours to get done what I’d normally do in eight.”
    Luke’s mouth tightened. “That’s all.”
    Carol gave him a triumphant look, then walked out. On the way back to her office, she massaged her temples, trying to alleviate the headache that had yet to ease. When she reached her department, she walked the gauntlet of angry stares and closed her office door. There she downed some aspirin and waited for the feeling of vindication to descend. She’d proved to Luke that her opinion still meant something around here…that there was at least one woman he couldn’t charm into submission.
    But sitting here in the wake of her power, the victory felt strangely hollow. She shook it off, reasoning that she could hardly feel good about anything while nursing a headache. She would savor the success later, in private.
    When she was alone. Completely, absolutely, utterly alone.
    She pushed away the troubling thought, announced to Tracy through the intercom that shewasn’t to be disturbed, then spent the morning plowing through a mountain of paperwork. At some point Carol decided she’d skip the Valentine’s Day party and just go home, maybe tuck in with a good book,