Page 16 of Power Move

“Correct,” he said. “You’re not a girl. So, I’d not date a girl, right? But you aren’t one.”

“Don’t lay into me with semantics!”

“Yes, I forgot you were an Oxford-educated attorney. If so, why did you tell me that you were doing admin work when I was complimenting your karaoke stylings? You lied, Eva!”

There was a knock. I saw a woman at the door.

“David, Leighton Donaldson is here in the lobby for your ten. Should I get her a coffee?”

“Yes, but I think this will be a short meeting,” David snarled at me.

“Alright…” the woman said awkwardly. “I apologize for being out when Ms. Pavlak arrived. Ma’am can I get you a drink?”

Before I opened my mouth, Davey flatly said, “No. She will not be staying long. Please close the door as you leave. Thanks.”

She followed his orders, leaving fast.

“I was honest with you,” I continued our conversation.

“Then why did you oh-so-clearly lie?”

I groaned. “Because men—men like you—are intimidated by educated women in technical fields. If I told you, your eyes would have glazed over all because your little peabrain couldn’t handle a woman with a better education or math skills.”

Davey’s nostrils flared in anger. I braced, afraid he’d yell as I talked back in the most insubordinate way. I’d forgotten myself in a fit of rage directed at a man who could fire me in an instant. What happened to the giving man I met at that bar?

“I am glad you think I am so narrow-minded that?—”

“I didn’t say that,” I sighed, done with this conversation.

There was no winning with men like this.

“Look, obviously we must co-exist,” Davey said. “And no one needs to know?—”

“Yes, that’s for the best,” I said. “Specifically, for you. Because you wouldn’t want anyone to know you bothered so much aslookat me, right?”

It felt like a dirty little secret.

“I texted you several times to let you know I felt bad about how it ended,” Davey said. “You never responded. So, don’t give me this pity-party about how I was some sort of liar who didn’t care.”

I didn’t know how to respond.

“You could have at least given me a ‘no thanks’, Eva.”

“Yeah, well, I did. In the…” I lowered my voice, “the hotel room. But you didn’t want to hear me.”

Davey

Eva’s harsh words led our conversation, but her face signaled they were a brave front. While I wanted to lash out for hurting me and being completely insubordinate, I knew that was a legalliability. She was a younger woman I’d not only slept with but put at risk with a broken condom. This woman—one I would now oversee—was, unfortunately, the one I’d thirsted over. This was the woman whose body I’d put to memory, even if I wished to forget her. And while I could be angry, I still wanted her. Why did she singularly make me act like a buffoon?

“Uh-huh,” I sat back in my chair and looked at my broken laptop. “So, I’m guessing you can’t help fix my broken PC?”

“You really are an asshole!” Eva scoffed, standing. “Let’s see as little of each other as possible, okay?”

“Sounds great!” I called.

As she left my office, the sway of her hips tortured me. Why in the hell did she think I wasn’t interested? What hadn’t I done to show I cared? I was one of the good guys, right? She acted as though I treated her like shit from the beginning. Bewildered, I called in my ten o’clock.

As I discussed legal matters, I couldn’t give a flying fuck. I cursed my sister for sending Eva to us. Maybe the woman was competent—she seemed whip-smart—but she was a thorn in my side. She was also a legal liability. So, with the head of general counsel in my office, I changed the subject.