Does he know Luka Caruso? Do they work together in secret?
No, if that were the case, he’d have convinced Jace to hire me. And I get the feeling he isn’t on my team at all.
Does he know about the surrogacy arrangement?
“Thanks,” I say. I consider asking Matteo to let Jace know that I stopped by, but that would only arouse further suspicion. It’s best if I text Jace myself.
I pull out my phone and head back to my desk. I want to grab a cup of coffee, but I had promised Jace that I would give up caffeine, especially coffee, the moment I found out I was pregnant.
That damn contract!
Decaf doesn’t seem worth the hassle, plus it still has a minute amount of caffeine. I slump into my desk chair and fumble with my phone.
I search through my contacts and find Jace. I text him a quick message.
Can we meet up tonight?
It feels like torture waiting for him to respond. I’m not a patient person. My foot taps nervously against the floor.
I can’t tell whether he’s read the message or not. But he hasn’t responded or attempted to answer—no three blinking dots.
It’s silent.
I put my phone down on my desk and boot up the computer. I have work to do, and when he comes into the office, he’ll have to step off the elevator, at which point I’ll see him. Assuming he doesn’t respond to my text first.
* * *
Jace doesn’t come into the office.
He doesn’t answer my text.
I know I shouldn’t be worried. Maybe he’s out of town on business. It’s not like I’m his keeper. He doesn’t have to tell me his schedule. I’m not his girlfriend or wife.
But I would appreciate it if he answered his text message. Even if he’s out of town, he could still respond.
Matteo rushes past my desk for the elevator in quite a hurry. He repeatedly taps the down button of the elevator in haste.
“You know, that doesn’t make the elevator car come any quicker,” I say.
He shoots me a look. It’s the same look of disbelief that I’ve seen on Jace once or twice. Except with Jace, it’s not laced with annoyance.
Matteo storms over to my desk. “I don’t know what game you’re playing, but Jace will never want to be with you. Ever.”
What is he talking about?
“Excuse me?” I cough, embarrassed by his suggestion.
Has he lost his mind? Jace and I aren’t anything more than professionals. We haven’t spent much time together since the initial contract was signed.
Jace checks in on me, brings me healthy snacks, occasionally takes me out to lunch, but we’re colleagues at work. Maybe the snack’s part is a little unusual, but I’m also trying to get pregnant, and he’s made it known that he wants me to eat healthy.
The elevator dings, and I’ve never been so relieved to watch someone step inside and the doors shut behind them.
What the hell was that about?
Did Jace tell him something about me?
I grab a bottle of water and take a swig—my heart pitter-patters in my chest when my cell phone lights up with a text message.
Swing by my place after work.We need to talk.