Electric! (14 page)

She sucked in a breath.

Chase shot her a look, his brow crooking at her silent suffering.

McClellan drone on.

Cassidy forced another smile, grateful when the limo pulled
into the resort’s circular cobblestone drive. A valet reached for the handle on
the back door and they exited. McClellan gestured for her to precede him. She
knew the layout well from several luncheons she’d attended here, and they’d
also had a company event on the lawn last fall.

She passed through the arched entryway and stepped into the
Mediterranean-style courtyard. The sound of the fountains filled the air, along
with the chirping of birds. It was a warm spring day, a huge change in weather
from what they’d experienced in Flagstaff just twenty-four hours ago.

Her cheeks burned at the thought of the weekend she’d spent
with Chase. But she was more focused on the mysterious reason for lunch with
the big boss than on what had happened up the mountain.

McClellan moved ahead of her and took the three steps to the
small landing, tugging open the door.

“Welcome to T. Cook’s,” the hostess greeted them.

“We have a reservation for three, McClellan,” the CEO said.

“Of course. Would you like a cocktail in the bar first, or
would you like to be seated?”

“We’ll be seated now,” he told her.

The hostess nodded, consulted her reservation system and
said, “Corner table on the back patio, as requested. Please, follow me.”

Cassidy trailed behind, mulling over the request for a
corner table. A table with privacy for a discreet conversation about office
hook-ups?

She frowned. It’d be damn hypocritical of the company to
take that stance with them, particularly since she’d heard rumor or two of
office affairs. But what other reason would there be for lunch with her and
Chase, when McClellan had already commended them for their efforts
and
had given them hefty bonuses? Granted, Chase’s had likely been a bit more
attractive, considering they were based on percentage of pay. Still. The
gnawing in her stomach didn’t fade.

McClellan, with his impeccable manners, held out a chair for
her and they all sat. The hostess daintily dropped the linen napkins in each
lap and announced that their server would be right with them.

No one spoke and the air crackled with a hint of tension.

Cassidy spared a glance at Chase, across the round table. He
looked equally perplexed but was trying to hide it. Doing a damn good job of
it, she noted, but she knew him well.

Really well.

Intimately
well.

She bit back a sigh.

The crux of the situation sat heavy on her chest, making it
pull tight. She didn’t regret her weekend with Chase. But did it mean enough to
her to ruin her career over a couple nights of really hot sex? A career she’d
worked so hard for?

As she stewed, a busser delivered water and bread with basil
aioli. The server arrived to take their orders. When he left, McClellan dove
into work conversation, most of which related to the state of affairs he’d
addressed at the party, though he ventured into new territory with some
tentative plans for more international growth. The company only currently took
on clients in the U.S. and U.K. Although many of their insureds had global
offices, production and manufacturing plants, the companies themselves were
headquartered in America and London.

Cassidy found the notion of MII branching out intriguing.
Unfortunately, the CEO indicated he and his core team were only in the preliminary
stages of strategic planning and forward movement wouldn’t be happening anytime
soon.

So
that
wasn’t the reason he’d invited her and Chase
to lunch.

The men dug into their meals, but Cassidy merely picked at
her salad. She wasn’t sure she’d be able to keep food down if her head really
was on the chopping block.

Finally—
finally
—McClellan set aside his napkin,
allowed the busser to clear his plate, and then said, “I imagine you’re both
curious as to why I wanted to see you today.”

Cassidy nearly choked on her sip of iced tea. Curious was a
massive understatement!

After the lengthy suspense he’d left them in all during
lunch, he jumped right in. “I have some disheartening news about Elise Doherty.
Her rheumatoid arthritis has become so severe she’s practically immobilized.
She can’t even hold a glass of water in her hands, the poor thing.”

Elise Doherty was the wife of Tom Doherty. Vice President of
Accounts.

Cassidy and Chase’s boss.

They exchanged a look.

Cassidy said, “I hadn’t heard. I know she’d struggled in the
past. She and Tom stopped coming to the company functions because it was
difficult for her to get around, or even sit for periods of time.”

“Apparently, she’s suffering from more than joint pain,”
McClellan explained. “There’s extensive bone damage as well. And while Mr.
Doherty had hired someone to be with her during the day, he’s decided to let
that person go and stay home with Elise instead.”

Cassidy’s brow furrowed.

The CEO said, “They plan to move to southern California
where the weather is more moderate and level year-round, without any severe
highs and lows. Their daughter and her husband are also in the San Diego area.”
McClellan gave Chase a long look, then shifted his gaze to Cassidy. “He’s
tendered his resignation.”

She gasped.

Chase rested his forearms on the table and leaned forward.
“This is pretty shocking news. I’m sorry to hear about Elise’s condition. And
surprised Tom is considering early retirement.”

Their boss was in his early fifties, the reason Cassidy had
not anticipated a promotion in her immediate future. If at all.

“It’s an unfortunate situation,” McClellan said. “But
they’re very close. They’ve been married for thirty years. I admire his
devotion to his family and his marriage as much as I respect the commitment he also
made to MII over the past three decades. The company fully supports his
decision and we’re prepared to offer him a generous pension reflective of his
service.”

“Of course,” Cassidy said with a smile. “That’s magnanimous
of you.” She’d come to expect no less from him and his Board of Directors.

“We take care of our people.”

Both Chase and Cassidy nodded.

With the unpleasant news dispensed, the CEO resumed his
formal, professional tone, saying, “Now, let’s get down to brass tacks. Mr.
Doherty has given his two weeks’ notice and that means I have two weeks to name
his successor. That’s why I wanted lunch with both of you. I intend to hire
from within—there’s absolutely no reason to look at external candidates with
the enormous talent inside our own walls. Yet…this is a very delicate matter.”

Cassidy slid another glance Chase’s way. He gave her a
curious look, clearly having no more idea as to what McClellan was up to than
she.

A few tense seconds passed. The CEO said, “Mr. Logan, you
have an exceptional gift for landing accounts. That gift will serve the company
well as we expand into the global market.”

Chase grinned. “I enjoy new business development.”

“Yes, well, the concern I have is that you have a
twelve-percent turnover rate. So, while your clients are eager to become our
insureds, our products and customer service aren’t keeping all of them from
moving their accounts to our competitors.”

“Duly noted,” Chase said, as professional as could be.

“And Miss Reynolds.” McClellan snagged her attention. “You are
brilliant with accounts management. Your clients praise you and they trust your
recommendations for additional products. The stability you maintain is
unprecedented.”

“Thank you, sir.” She wasn’t fool enough to miss the
but
in his voice.

“Unfortunately, you haven’t brought in a new account in over
six months.”

“That’s correct, sir.” What else could she say? The man
didn’t lie.

He sat back and sipped his tea.

Cassidy resisted the urge to steal yet another look at Chase
to try to assess his take on this situation. Rather, she waited with bated
breath for their fearless leader to continue. She’d never taken McClellan for
the type to enjoy leaving his subordinates in agonizing suspense, but maybe he
really wasn’t taking quite so long to deliberate his course of action. It just
felt as though a million seconds dragged on.

With no further ado, he flattened his palms on the table,
eyed each of them, then dropped his bombshell.

“I have ample reason and just cause to tell the Board I want
Mr. Logan to fill Mr. Doherty’s position of vice president.”

The bottom literally fell out for Cassidy.

She sat perfectly still, dumbfounded, shocked.

Devastated.

A slight buzzing filled her ears and she suddenly felt
lightheaded. Her stomach coiled and her lungs burned.

All those hours she’d logged… All that she’d sacrificed…

It all came down to this one moment where the prospect of
the hard-earned potential at a promotion had been ripped out from underneath
her within minutes of it being presented.

Her mind whirled. With the snap of a finger, her
professional fate had been decided.

Holy hell.

That was quick.

And not the least bit painless.

She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out.

Chase fared a bit better.

“Mr. McClellan—”

He was silenced by the lifting of McClellan’s hand.

He said, “Mr. Logan, I have every confidence you’re about to
refute my statement and contend that Miss Reynolds is more qualified for the
position, based on her tenure. She has been with the company for five years,
whereas you only joined us two years ago.”

Chase nodded.

Cassidy willed herself to say something. This was the time
to speak up! To plead her case. To convince McClellan to change his mind and
choose
her
instead!

But the right words didn’t pop into her head. In fact, her
tongue felt as though it’d turned to lead. She couldn’t form a coherent
thought, so jumbled were they with disappointment and dread.

Failure.

Fuck.

If ever in the world there was a
speak now or forever
hold your peace
moment, it was right this very second!

Instead, she reached for her water glass and sucked down
half of it.

McClellan continued, clearly unaware of her extreme mental
meltdown. “I know the Board will accept my nomination of Mr. Logan. However, I
have equal justification to appoint Miss Reynolds to the position.”

She gaped.

Chase said, “That’s understandable.”

She pinned Chase with a look.

What. The. Fuck. Was. Happening?

McClellan sat back in his chair. “I’ve paid close attention
to both of your careers. You each have distinct skills advantageous for taking
over Mr. Doherty’s position and office.”

An office on the top floor. The executive wing. Mahogany
Row.

Cassidy all but salivated over the mere thought of having
her name stenciled on one of those doors.

The CEO said, “The truth is, you’d both fill the slot well.
I wouldn’t have regrets either way, I’m sure. Which is why, as I said earlier,
I consider this a delicate situation. I’m equally torn between the two of you.
That means…I need to see what you’re truly capable of.”

He actually did look dismayed over not being able to choose
one over the other. As though being asked to pick a favorite child, knowing
there was something unique about each one that precluded him from loving one
more than the other. Cassidy could see that he really did struggle with this
challenging predicament.

“Can you explain what you’re looking for from us?” she
ventured.

“It’s really quite simple,” he said. “I need to present my
decision to the Board within two weeks, Miss Reynolds. You know your strengths.
You know your weaknesses.
I
need to know which of you is best suited for
this opportunity.”

“Un. Real.” Cassidy stalked past Meg’s desk, muttering under
her breath.

Her assistant snapped to attention and followed Cassidy into
her office at a clipped pace. Meg shut the door behind her. “What’s wrong?”

Cassidy drew up short in front of her desk and stared at the
enormous bouquet of velvety red roses accented with baby’s breath and vibrant
green foliage. Thoughts of McClellan’s bolt from the blue vanished.

“Where did these come from?” she asked.

“Delivered just after you left for lunch. Stunning, aren’t
they? And two dozen stems?” Meg whistled under her breath. “Someone must really
like you, because I know it’s not your birthday.”

Cassidy continued to admire the gorgeous arrangement, her
jaw falling slack.

Meg reached around and lifted the small envelope from its
holder. “Secret admirer? Or do we know who sent these to you?” She wagged her
brows suggestively.

Snatching the tiny packet, Cassidy said, “I’m sure they’re
from my father. He knows I like fresh flowers.”

She rounded her desk, dropped her small clutch on the
credenza and then pondered the sender’s identity. Despite her hope of throwing
Meg off the scent, her dad didn’t send roses. He knew she liked calla lilies.
She didn’t have any secret admirers. So that left two culprits. McClellan,
congratulating her on making it to this stage of the game, was her first guess.
Yet he wouldn’t choose roses either. They were much too romantic. Intimate,
even.

That left Chase.

Her heart fluttered. He would certainly select roses,
following their weekend in Flagstaff. That had definitely been intimate. And
Chase had proved to be romantic, what with the fire, the wine, the candles, the
bath… Making breakfast for her. Wrapping that hunky body of his around hers in
the middle of night, snuggling close.

Yes, surprising her with a breathtaking bouquet was right up
Chase’s alley.

She set aside the envelope, not wanting to open it in front
of Meg. She didn’t trust her reaction if the arrangement had come from Chase.
It’d border on giddy, she had no doubt, and that would raise suspicion in Meg,
whom Cassidy had not yet enlightened about hers and Chase’s dating status.

Changing the subject, she asked Meg, “Did you hear from
Grace that Chase was having lunch with Mr. McClellan and me today?”

“Yes. Very curious. What happened?”

“We’re both up for a promotion. Tom gave his two weeks.
McClellan can’t decide between me or Chase to fill his shoes. He’s issued
a…challenge.” Her lips pressed together, then she shook her head, a bit
confused—and her mind still reeled. “Honestly, I don’t know what the hell he
just issued. He’d put either one of us in the position. He’s just not sure
which
one.”

“Yikes.” Meg cringed, momentarily forgetting the roses and
their mysterious sender. “Are you telling me you and Chase are now in
competition for Tom’s job?”

Cassidy sank into the plush white sofa tucked into the
corner of her office. “Apparently.” She gave even further thought to the
predicament—not like she hadn’t agonized over it the entire way back to the
office. Thank God McClellan had taken an urgent call on his cell, leaving her
and Chase to their inner ruminations over the extreme turn of events.

Completely unsettled, she jumped from the couch and began to
pace. There was a bigger picture here she wasn’t seeing. She knew Archer
McClellan well enough to know he wouldn’t toy with her and Chase. He had a very
specific reason for pitting them against each other.

“Shit.” She tapped her fingers lightly against her forehead.
“Of course!”

“Of course, what?” Meg asked, clearly intrigued.

“He’s not looking for a rivalry between us. He specifically
said he wants to see what we’re truly capable of.”

Meg frowned. “Come on, Cassidy. You already log a ridiculous
amount of hours every week. What more does he expect from you?”

“Balance,” she whispered. Sinking back onto the cushion
she’d vacated, she added, “Chase and I have both created a niche for ourselves.
We focus primarily on one particular thing that we excel at. Although we can
maintain our other duties, we each have one specific talent that makes us stand
out.” She glanced up at Meg. “He’s not going outside the company for someone
with more experience and a more proven track record. He wants both of us but
can only choose one. He doesn’t know who that one is going to be just yet,
because Chase and I are a draw.”

“Equals,” Meg stated with a smug smile. “Wow, that must rock
the old goat’s world. A young female executive who’s just as competent in her
work and deserving of a promotion as a man. Suck it, boys,” she added with a
wink.

Cassidy laughed. “He might be older, but he doesn’t miss a
step.” She leaped to her feet again, a thought sparking her. “Chase and I need
to talk about this.”

“Yeah…about you and Chase…” Meg’s brow jerked up. “He bailed
on the party not long after you did. And then you went all text-silent on me.
So I’m thinking… Secret rendezvous?” Her green eyes sparkled with mischief.

“Later, Meg.” Cassidy fought the zings humming through her
veins. “We’ve got serious business to address.”

“But I will get the scoop, right? I mean, if the two of you
hooked up… Cassidy, you absolutely have to tell me!”

Her cheeks burned. She marched toward the door, though she
pulled up short. Changing the subject, she said over her shoulder, “Hey, it’d
be okay if you called me Cass.”

Meg’s pretty face lit up. “Really?”

“Sure. I mean…we’re friends, right?”

Emotion flickered in her gaze. “Yeah. We are. If that’s okay
with you.”

“More than okay.” Cassidy smiled and then left the office.

* * * * *

Chase kicked back in his exec chair, propped his feet on the
edge of his desk, wadded a ball of paper and tossed it toward the hoop attached
to his recycle bin.

Swoosh.

He crumpled a couple more sheets and dropped them just as
cleanly.

On his fourth shot, Cassidy came barreling through his
office door and he missed miserably.

“Losing your touch?” she teased.

“For the record,” he said, “I made the first three before
you came in. Those long legs in that short skirt distracted me. By a lot.” He
had no doubt his grin was a lascivious one.

“I think we should institute a rule that we don’t flirt at
the office so people aren’t onto us.”

He laughed. “Babe, the second we
stop
flirting in the
office, they’ll be onto us.”

She scowled, albeit playfully. “You have a point. It’s
pretty much expected between us.”

“Yes, and I’m already going through withdrawals.”

“You sent the flowers, right?”

He grinned. “Like ’em?”

“Love ’em. But I didn’t want to open the card in front of
Meg.”

“However you wanna play it. I’ll follow your lead on this
one.” He eyed her with a firm look, adding, “For a little while. But if you
crawl back into your cave, Cassidy Reynolds, I’m—”

“Chase.” Her expression turned serious as well. “We have a
dire situation to discuss.”

He reached for another piece of paper, balled it and tossed
it. “Nothin’ but net,” he muttered. Returning his attention to Cassidy, he
said, “McClellan wants us to bring our A-game.”

“Yes.” She crossed her arms over her chest. Her very
enticing chest. He wasn’t sure what distracted him more—her legs or her
breasts.

He grunted. Hardly the time to get all twisted up in lust.

His feet dropped from the desk and he stood. “Don’t you
think it’s bullshit? I mean, we bust our asses as it is. You’re always in the
office and I’m traveling all over the damn place.” With a shake of his head, he
added, “I’m missing something here.” Crossing to the wet bar, he asked,
“Drink?”

“Absolutely. Martini. Extra dirty.”

He shot her a look over his shoulder.

Cassidy smirked. “Make it downright nasty.”

Adrenaline shot through him.

She has something up her sleeve.

Chase prepped and poured her drink, adding extra olives. He
fixed a scotch for himself. He joined her on his black leather sofa, handing
over her cocktail.

Cassidy took a tentative sip, sampling. Then took a deeper
sip. “Nice,” she said with a smile and a twinkle in her amber eyes. “You do
dirty well.”

So much for
no flirting
. He bit back a smile and
instead mused, “You’re totally baiting me.”

“Yes. But for a good reason.”

He drank some scotch, then asked, “Such as?”

“I can see you’re pissed that McClellan wants more from us,
when we’re already busting our asses, as you say. But read between the lines,
Chase. He’s challenging us to see a bigger picture. One beyond our individual
scope.”

He’d considered this as well. Maybe that was why he was so
keyed up. “You’re saying I need to improve my customer-service skills and
strengthen my client relationships and you need to farm for more business.”

She nodded.

After a healthy gulp, he asked, “What about the VP
position?”

“Million-dollar question,” Cassidy deadpanned. She set her
glass on the coffee table and stood. Pacing, she added, “We both want that job
and the coveted office on the top floor. We’ve both been working toward that
goal, even though it wasn’t a possibility until today. The slot shouldn’t be
vacant for another ten years or more. Tom wasn’t previously planning on early
retirement nor was he going to be lured to another company, because he’s always
been devoted to MII. This shouldn’t even be a topic of discussion between us,
but now it is. And now we’re competitors for that position.”

He stared up at her, “Both willing to do whatever it takes
to win.”

Cassidy halted. She propped her hands on her shapely hips,
and didn’t it just ratchet the lust factor? Damn, she had some body. It was
tough to maintain a little distance at the moment, but she was right. They
really did have a serious problem on their hands.

What shitty-ass timing for McClellan to pit them against
each other for something they both badly wanted. Right as they’d finally made
that major breakthrough and had agreed to try dating.

Christ, it was as though they’d been doomed from the start.

Sure enough, Cassidy said, “It’d probably be best if we
backburner
us
until the dust settles.” She nibbled her lower lip,
clearly not liking the idea any more than he did. “And it wouldn’t hurt to
consult HR if we proceed after the promotion is announced.”