Surprise Seduction by Jana Mercy

corner.   Adrienne would bet her eyeteeth Mel was still within ear shot, though.
    “No.   Not when it comes to your going out with Mel.   The only thing he wants is to get you in the sack.”
    “Oh, that’s rich coming from you,” Adrienne taunted, then added for Mel’s benefit, “Besides, I know exactly what Mel wants from me.   And guess what?   He might just get what he wants.   I made a mistake in thinking I wanted you when Mel is so much more appealing.”
    Both of Chase’s eyebrows rose.   His lower jaw hit the floor.   “No.”
    She laughed.
    “Did I ask for your permission?”   She gave him a pointed look.   “I think not.   Goodbye, Chase.”
    She picked up the last of her things and left the office with her head held high, her heart breaking that she’d had to once again go back on what she’d told Chase.
    She was tempted to turn for one last glimpse, but knew his eyes watched, so she didn’t.
     
    Adrienne caught her reflection in a mirror while she waited in the entrance of the Monarch for Mel to arrive.   She still had difficulty recognizing the change in her outer appearance after having been ‘Adrienne Morris’ for several weeks.
    Sheila had helped style her hair.   Although a bit higher and in more wild disarray than Adrianna would have chosen, it looked good.   The royal blue color of her dress made her eyes take on a sapphire appearance.   The dress screamed excitement.   Silky, short, and tight.   Appropriate for an evening of dancing and fun with a gorgeous man she planned to convince she was out to get Chase and Weston Pharmaceuticals.
    But where was the gorgeous man?   Mel should have been here twenty minutes ago.   Was he standing her up?   Maybe his sole interest had been because of her access to Chase and restricted information.
    After all, she had handed him the key to Chase’s office and not realized she’d never gotten it back until George revealed his concerns about the man he’d hired a few months prior to her father’s death.
    She looked around the entrance.   Around twenty people stood in the entryway.   None of them Mel Sheppard, but one man warranted a second look.   A tall man dressed in dark slacks and a blue shirt that bore a striking similarity to the color of her dress.   A man who stole her breath with his intense green eyes watching her in wry amusement.
    Chase.
    Her heart rate doubled and her entire body tingled with excitement.
    Why was he here?   What had he done to Mel?   She sent him a warning look then felt a burst of rebellion replacing the elated desire she’d felt upon spotting him.
    She couldn’t pursue her feeling for Chase—not until she had revealed Mel’s true character.   How was she going to keep him away?   Especially when what she’d like to do is invite him into the dim club and have his body pressed next to hers on the dance floor?
    She swallowed, and desperately looked around the entryway.   Her gaze landed on a group of young men dressed in casual business wear.   With a mutinous flip of her teased hair, she headed toward them.
    “Hi, I’m Adrienne.”   She introduced herself to the trio who seemed eager to make her acquaintance judging by how they sized up her figure.   “It seems my party has been delayed, maybe permanently. May I join you?”
    “Sure,” the tallest answered.
    “I’m Steve,” another said.
    “Jeff Williams,” the cutest of the bunch introduced himself as he stretched his hand out to her.
    She placed her hand in his to shake, but instead he brought it to his lips and placed a kiss in the center.   She gave him a flirty smile before tossing a defiant look over her shoulder at Chase.   She had to convince him she wasn’t interested if she was to convince Mel she was interested in him--which she had to do.
    “Jeff,” she said, turning back to him.   He seemed to preen beneath her gaze.   Adrienne looked into the man’s eyes and lifted one of her new shapely eyebrows.