Chapter 19

Again, what?

I don’t even know how to respond to that.

“You are going to be his number two today. Everyone knows I’m his PA, whereas you, my dear, are new blood.” She smiles encouragingly, but it does nothing quell to my inner concerns. Panic raises its ugly head from the depths of my being.

“We’re up to no good,” he smiles at me in a disarming way as I try to gauge their expressions, not convinced they’re being serious, while I also try to remember how to inhale.

“No, I don’t have any other clothes here,” I answer quietly, the irritation rising within me.

“Maybe we can stop at your apartment and let you change?” Jake’s looking at me closely now, and I frown in confusion, my hands cold yet somehow getting clammy.

Why would I?

“Change?” I say icily, my stomach dropping at speed.

“Yeah.” He stands and walks toward me, eyeing me up as though trying to picture me in less formal clothes. He pushes his hands into his jean’s pockets, further emphasizing his muscular body and lack of formality. It’s distracting. “Something more casual,” he says, chewing his bottom lip while thinking and staring, a lot of staring. I glance down at my tailored cream trousers and spiked heels. I think I look exactly as I should.

“What? Like jeans?” I try to control the edgy tone in my voice this time but sarcasm oozes heavily.

“I was thinking more … feminine … a dress.” The humor in his voice grates on me; I thought I was done being Barbie already. This is obviously funny to him.

Why does my being in a dress amuse him? Am I that un-feminine?

“If that’s required, then yes, I have access to dresses,” I respond. Sarah has a closet full of them, the kind of romantic clothes I avoid like the plague.

“We’ll go there first then. I need this meeting to look like a breakfast date between friends.” He straightens up, pulls his hands free and crosses them across his wide chest instead, eyes still glued to my figure and boldly looking me over.

“Am I to be enlightened on my role in this?” I ask stiffly. I didn’t think I would be subjected to dress-up. I try and outstare him, but he ignores it.

“I’m meeting with Daniel Hunter. He’s a major player in his family business.” He keeps his voice low despite being closed in his own office. “I’ll not say why until we work out a few particulars, but thanks to his very public break up, the media is all over his ass and he can’t shake them to meet in private.”

“You’ll be his fake date!” Margo cuts in. “Daniel will have a girl with him too, so it will appear as though four friends are having breakfast at the Waldorf. You’ll need to take notes and get acquainted with the particulars of the proposed merger, Emma. This is your first big responsibility; I’m taking a back seat on this.”

Crap.

I’m to do this while being stripped of all that makes me comfortable and confident.

“I see.” My insides turn icy-cold and my face numbs.

“All you need to do is smile and look adoringly at me until we get into the suite where Daniel is staying,” Jake shrugs with one shoulder; he really sees no issue at all.

Yes, I’m sure that’s going to be easy.

“When are you leaving?” Margo presses, turning Jake’s hazy green eyes away from the scrutinizing he is doing over me.

“Right now, if she needs to go home first. Where do you live, Emma?” he asks with his eyes back on mine, once again making me uneasy as he scans my attire.

I tell him where in West Sunnyside, and he nods before moving off to call his driver. I hear him telling him to meet us at the rear of the underground parking garage as I try to pull myself back together.

“Take a notepad and pen in a handbag, anything else will look odd. It’s a preliminary meeting to thrash out the proposal, so take notes,” Margo says, bringing my attention to her and soothing my nerves with a warm smile.

“Yes, Margo,” I answer blankly, head reeling with all of this and feeling overwhelmed suddenly.

“Emma?” She halts me with a gentle hand on my arm.

“Yes?” I pause at her sudden intense look.

“Try to relax around Jake. He’s actually very easy to hang out with,” she grins, but it does nothing to remove the tension building up inside of me.

I don’t want to hang out. I want to do my job.