his smirk. “I know you’re a hotshot CEO. But I do know software programming. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.”
Ariel reminded himself that he had to be professional.
Check your attitude.
He cleared his throat and stood. “Well, thank you for coming by, Scotty. I’ll get back to you by the end of the week.” Ariel’s stomach growled. He had to get something to eat. It wasn't too often that he needed some fresh air or went out at lunch. But today was one of those days.
Scotty nodded. “I hope to see you soon.”
“Sure thing,” Ariel lied.
Chapter Seventeen
January was starving. She went into the break room and opened the refrigerator to get her brown bag lunch, which had been shoved to a back corner. She moved a few items aside and reached for it.
It’d be so much easier to go out to lunch every day.
But January had a full list of goals to achieve, including buying a new car when she graduated.
Someone cleared his throat.
January turned and was startled to see Scotty once again. She’d enjoyed their brief conversation the hallway earlier.
"I just came in here to get some water. This place is so large and complex, I had to be directed.” He smiled. “I thought I’d get a drink before venturing across that huge parking lot outside.”
“Where did you park?”
“Somewhere on the northern end,” Scotty teased.
There was always something playful about the man. But January was sure he wasn’t always so jovial.
“You act as if this building’s some sort of country.”
“With the money that it produces, it could be.”
He came closer and her fingers tightened on the brown bag she held. His cologne smelled awesome—musky and masculine.
“Excuse me.”
January turned to see she stood now in front of the water fountain. “Sorry.”
“A couple minutes ago when I asked you out, you declined and said ‘another time.’ Well, I'm going to a nice restaurant for lunch.” He took a cup and filled it. “Looks like you have a brown bag lunch there. I think steak tastes so much better than a sandwich.”
January shifted her weight onto her left foot.
“Care to join me?”
January thought there was something seductive about the man. “Okay.”
He smiled widely.
January admired his white teeth and dimple. For a second, Ariel’s face flashed across her mind. But she decided that since she was not in a relationship with Ariel, she could eat with whomever she pleased.
They left the break room together.
As they rounded the corner toward the elevator, January was surprised to see Ariel and a woman in conversation. She recognized the woman as someone from human resources, but she didn’t know her name.
Though they stood a couple feet away, she could see the displeasure on Ariel’s face as he looked at her and Scotty.
Their eyes connected.
Scotty touched her back and leaned toward her. “The place I’m taking you to has the most amazing food.”
She pressed the elevator’s call button, and then glanced again at Ariel. His face hardened like stone.
January wished they had taken the stairs. She couldn't help but look at Ariel once more. His eyes were still focused her.
Now I have your attention.
She tried to stifle the smile that wanted to creep across her lips. Scotty voice snapped her to attention.
“Here’s the elevator. After you.” He held the elevator open for her.
Should I go?
January could tell Ariel was upset. But she didn’t know why.
Do you want me or don’t you? She was tired of things going at Ariel’s pace.
As January stepped toward the elevator, she glanced at her boss. His eyes remained unreadable, but his lips were downturned at the corners. He felt something, January was sure of it.
In some way, she was glad Scotty had showed up. She wanted Ariel Cunningham, CEO, power dealer, or whatever title he was that day, to feel how she’d felt when he’d walked out on her.
But as she walked away with Scotty, her heart betrayed her by
Ariel reminded himself that he had to be professional.
Check your attitude.
He cleared his throat and stood. “Well, thank you for coming by, Scotty. I’ll get back to you by the end of the week.” Ariel’s stomach growled. He had to get something to eat. It wasn't too often that he needed some fresh air or went out at lunch. But today was one of those days.
Scotty nodded. “I hope to see you soon.”
“Sure thing,” Ariel lied.
Chapter Seventeen
January was starving. She went into the break room and opened the refrigerator to get her brown bag lunch, which had been shoved to a back corner. She moved a few items aside and reached for it.
It’d be so much easier to go out to lunch every day.
But January had a full list of goals to achieve, including buying a new car when she graduated.
Someone cleared his throat.
January turned and was startled to see Scotty once again. She’d enjoyed their brief conversation the hallway earlier.
"I just came in here to get some water. This place is so large and complex, I had to be directed.” He smiled. “I thought I’d get a drink before venturing across that huge parking lot outside.”
“Where did you park?”
“Somewhere on the northern end,” Scotty teased.
There was always something playful about the man. But January was sure he wasn’t always so jovial.
“You act as if this building’s some sort of country.”
“With the money that it produces, it could be.”
He came closer and her fingers tightened on the brown bag she held. His cologne smelled awesome—musky and masculine.
“Excuse me.”
January turned to see she stood now in front of the water fountain. “Sorry.”
“A couple minutes ago when I asked you out, you declined and said ‘another time.’ Well, I'm going to a nice restaurant for lunch.” He took a cup and filled it. “Looks like you have a brown bag lunch there. I think steak tastes so much better than a sandwich.”
January shifted her weight onto her left foot.
“Care to join me?”
January thought there was something seductive about the man. “Okay.”
He smiled widely.
January admired his white teeth and dimple. For a second, Ariel’s face flashed across her mind. But she decided that since she was not in a relationship with Ariel, she could eat with whomever she pleased.
They left the break room together.
As they rounded the corner toward the elevator, January was surprised to see Ariel and a woman in conversation. She recognized the woman as someone from human resources, but she didn’t know her name.
Though they stood a couple feet away, she could see the displeasure on Ariel’s face as he looked at her and Scotty.
Their eyes connected.
Scotty touched her back and leaned toward her. “The place I’m taking you to has the most amazing food.”
She pressed the elevator’s call button, and then glanced again at Ariel. His face hardened like stone.
January wished they had taken the stairs. She couldn't help but look at Ariel once more. His eyes were still focused her.
Now I have your attention.
She tried to stifle the smile that wanted to creep across her lips. Scotty voice snapped her to attention.
“Here’s the elevator. After you.” He held the elevator open for her.
Should I go?
January could tell Ariel was upset. But she didn’t know why.
Do you want me or don’t you? She was tired of things going at Ariel’s pace.
As January stepped toward the elevator, she glanced at her boss. His eyes remained unreadable, but his lips were downturned at the corners. He felt something, January was sure of it.
In some way, she was glad Scotty had showed up. She wanted Ariel Cunningham, CEO, power dealer, or whatever title he was that day, to feel how she’d felt when he’d walked out on her.
But as she walked away with Scotty, her heart betrayed her by
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