4
1208 Words
TERMS & CONDITIONS
Christa
By nine in the morning, I had already considered suing three people.
The first was whoever had taken that photograph.
The second was whoever had decided to call it chemistry.
The third was whoever had written that I looked “dangerously captivated” by Grayson Blackwell.
I was not captivated.
I was irritated.
There was a difference.
“Stop staring at it.”
Elena’s voice pulled me away from my laptop.
I looked down at the screen again.
The photograph was still there.
Grayson and I, standing far too close, staring at each other like we were one argument away from either murder or something much worse.
The headline beneath it was even more irritating.
CEO RIVALS: BUSINESS WAR OR SOMETHING MORE?
I closed the page.
“I’m going to pretend yesterday never happened.”
“You can’t.”
“Watch me.”
Elena dropped a folder on my desk.
“Unfortunately, your pretending won’t fix this.”
I opened it.
The smile disappeared from my face.
“What is this?”
“Your expansion proposal.”
“I know what it is.”
“The investor postponed the meeting.”
I looked up sharply.
“Why?”
“He’s concerned about the media attention surrounding you and Blackwell.”
My jaw tightened.
“So because some i***t took a photograph, an investor is questioning VELLORA?”
“He says he doesn’t want instability attached to the project.”
I pushed the folder across my desk.
“There is no instability.”
“I know.”
“Then fix it.”
“I’ve tried.”
I leaned back in my chair.
“Who is the investor?”
Elena hesitated.
That was never a good sign.
“Adrian Vale.”
I went still.
Adrian Vale didn’t postpone meetings.
He either wanted your business or he didn’t.
“Where is he meeting today?”
Elena looked at me.
“Blackwell Holdings.”
Of course.
I stood.
“Get the car.”
“Christa—”
“Now.”
⸻
By two in the afternoon, I was standing in the lobby of Blackwell Holdings.
I had no intention of asking Grayson for anything.
I was there to protect my company.
There was a difference.
The elevator opened.
And there he was.
Grayson stepped out wearing a black suit with no tie, his sleeves slightly rolled up.
His eyes landed on me.
He stopped.
Then that irritating smirk appeared.
“You came to see me.”
“I came to see Adrian Vale.”
“Disappointing.”
“I wasn’t aware I was supposed to care.”
“You usually do.”
I walked past him.
“Don’t flatter yourself.”
He followed.
“That’s not what I do.”
“You’re doing it right now.”
“I was actually going to ask if you missed me.”
I stopped and turned.
“I’ve known you for two days.”
“Exactly. And you’re already following me to my office.”
“I came for business.”
“So did I.”
“Good.”
We walked into the conference room.
Adrian Vale was already sitting at the table.
He stood when we entered.
“Miss Smith. Mr. Blackwell.”
I shook his hand.
“Mr. Vale.”
He smiled politely.
“I assume you’re both wondering why you’re here.”
“I am,” I said.
Grayson pulled out a chair beside mine.
“I have a feeling I’m about to enjoy this.”
I gave him a warning look.
Adrian sat down.
“The project has changed.”
I frowned.
“What does that mean?”
“The development will no longer be awarded to one company.”
Grayson leaned forward.
“And?”
Adrian looked between us.
“I want both of you.”
Silence.
I thought I had misheard him.
“You want VELLORA and Blackwell Holdings?”
“Exactly.”
Grayson glanced at me.
I ignored him.
“What would the arrangement look like?”
“You’ll work together on the project.”
I almost laughed.
“No.”
Adrian raised an eyebrow.
“Why?”
“Because I don’t work with him.”
Grayson looked offended.
“You make me sound unpleasant.”
“You are.”
“I’ve been called worse.”
Adrian leaned back.
“Then perhaps you’ll both be interested in knowing that the project is worth several hundred million dollars.”
My mouth closed.
He continued.
“Neither company can execute it alone without making significant compromises. Together, you have everything required.”
I looked at Grayson.
He was already looking at me.
That was the problem.
I knew exactly what he was thinking.
He knew exactly what I was thinking.
Neither of us liked it.
But neither of us was walking away.
“What’s the catch?” I asked.
Adrian smiled.
“Six months.”
My eyebrows drew together.
“You’ll remain partners for six months. If either of you withdraws, the contract goes to the other party.”
Grayson leaned back.
“That’s cruel.”
“It’s business.”
I looked at the proposal in front of me.
Six months.
Six months of meetings.
Six months of dealing with Grayson.
Six months of pretending I wasn’t bothered by the way he looked at me.
I picked up the pen.
“Fine.”
Grayson looked at me.
“That’s it?”
I signed.
“You’re welcome.”
He took the pen from my hand.
His fingers brushed mine.
It was barely a second.
But I felt it.
A strange little spark moved up my arm.
I immediately pulled my hand away.
Grayson noticed.
Of course he did.
His eyes flickered to mine.
For once, he didn’t smile.
He signed the agreement.
Adrian looked satisfied.
“Congratulations. You two are officially partners.”
Partners.
The word sounded wrong.
Dangerously wrong.
Outside the conference room, I walked ahead of Grayson.
“Don’t get comfortable.”
His footsteps followed behind me.
“I wasn’t planning to.”
“Good.”
“Although…”
I turned.
He was standing closer than I expected.
His voice dropped.
“I hate how good we were in there.”
I stared at him.
“We weren’t good together.”
“We were.”
“We were tolerable.”
His lips curved.
“You finished my sentence twice.”
“You were saying obvious things.”
“And you knew exactly what I was going to say.”
I stepped closer.
“Don’t mistake professional compatibility for anything else.”
His eyes held mine.
“Who said anything about anything else?”
I opened my mouth.
Nothing came out.
His smile widened.
I hated him.
I hated the way he could make me lose my words.
I hated the way my pulse reacted whenever he stood too close.
Most of all, I hated that a small part of me was already wondering what six months with Grayson Blackwell would feel like.
I stepped back.
“Six months.”
He nodded.
“Six months.”
“Don’t make me regret this.”
He smiled.
“Christa…”
“What?”
“You already do.”
I walked away before he could see me smile.
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