Chapter One
This can’t be happening.
My phone, still lying at my feet, dinged with a new voicemail. I reached down to pick it up, my gaze never leaving the man entering the room. I slowly approached the conference room table. Keep focused, Jennifer.
Cain, my recent mystery man, lover—and the person I now hated more than anyone else—stood in front of me in all of his masculine appeal. He looked more serious than I had ever seen him and, after a momentary glare, he showed me his million-dollar smile, which lit up the room. I slowly shook my head from side to side and plastered a fake smile on my face. Anger and nervousness battled inside my body.
Cain extended his hand. “You must be Jennifer, I’ve heard a lot about yo u from Dylan. I’m Cain Parker.”
“Yes, I’m Jennifer Dunning.” I extended my hand in a robotic manner and shook Cain’s strong, soft hand. I quickly pulled it away and pointed to a nearby chair. “ Please, sit.” I could feel the small gathering watching us, including my father, Jack Dunning. “I’m curious, why does everyone refer to you as ‘Trey’?”
Dylan immediately jumped into the conversation without missing a beat. “He’s the third. Cain Parker, III. I always thought it was funny calling him Trey, as in three in Italian. It stuck.”
Cain shook his head and looked down at the floor. “Lucky me, but I prefer Cain.”
A slight echo of laughter from the group resounded in the large conference room. I couldn’t manage a smile. The burning anger and resentment still overwhelmed me from the last time Cain and I were together.
I attempted to cut the laughter short and begin the meeting. “Shall we get started?” I pulled out my seat at the large table, flanked by my father. Cain joined the group at the table sitting next to Dylan, the CIO of Vawter Corporation.
The petite blonde who had preceded Cain into the room quietly took a seat next to him. She laid her crocodile portfolio on the table and unpacked her meeting supplies. Once settled, she inched her chair a little closer to Cain. My eyes burned holes in her. I shouldn’t care, but seeing the attractive blonde with her porcelain complexion, hazel eyes, and tight skirt suit, brought an instant jealous feeling over me. Why is she sitting so close?
Cain immediately broke up the side conversations in the room and pulled my attention from the girl. “I’m sorry. I don’t believe everyone here knows my assistant. This is Ashley Murant.”
Ashley smiled and waved at everyone around the table.
So this is who Cain is sleeping wit h. I flashed another fake smile and looked down at my notes. I could feel my face getting red. Jennifer, get it together. The thought of lying in Cain’s bed the other night still haunted me. The message he had received from Ashley at midnight was etched in my brain.
I took a deep breath, looked around the room and began the presentat ion.
“We’ve had the opportunity to review the files that were sent over, in addition to the files that Dylan brought over himself. We felt that it may make more sense for us to start with both of you before delving deeper into interviewing the staff beneath you.”
Cain leaned forward in his chair. “Anything we can do to help. I’m glad Dylan was able to personally get those files over to you so quickly.” He glanced to his right and shot Dylan a look. “Usually we use a courier service, or at least get one of the interns take care of things like that.”
Dylan squirmed in his chair and leaned forward to join Cain. “I knew they were important. Besides, I felt it would give Ms. Dunning the opportunity to ask any questions while I was there.”
“They were helpful. Thank you. If I can continue…” I could sense the tension rising between Cain and Dylan. An uncomfortable, almost competitive tension. “We weren’t initially aware of the scope of Vawter Corporation, but quickly found that of the twenty-five companies under the Vawter umbrella,
This can’t be happening.
My phone, still lying at my feet, dinged with a new voicemail. I reached down to pick it up, my gaze never leaving the man entering the room. I slowly approached the conference room table. Keep focused, Jennifer.
Cain, my recent mystery man, lover—and the person I now hated more than anyone else—stood in front of me in all of his masculine appeal. He looked more serious than I had ever seen him and, after a momentary glare, he showed me his million-dollar smile, which lit up the room. I slowly shook my head from side to side and plastered a fake smile on my face. Anger and nervousness battled inside my body.
Cain extended his hand. “You must be Jennifer, I’ve heard a lot about yo u from Dylan. I’m Cain Parker.”
“Yes, I’m Jennifer Dunning.” I extended my hand in a robotic manner and shook Cain’s strong, soft hand. I quickly pulled it away and pointed to a nearby chair. “ Please, sit.” I could feel the small gathering watching us, including my father, Jack Dunning. “I’m curious, why does everyone refer to you as ‘Trey’?”
Dylan immediately jumped into the conversation without missing a beat. “He’s the third. Cain Parker, III. I always thought it was funny calling him Trey, as in three in Italian. It stuck.”
Cain shook his head and looked down at the floor. “Lucky me, but I prefer Cain.”
A slight echo of laughter from the group resounded in the large conference room. I couldn’t manage a smile. The burning anger and resentment still overwhelmed me from the last time Cain and I were together.
I attempted to cut the laughter short and begin the meeting. “Shall we get started?” I pulled out my seat at the large table, flanked by my father. Cain joined the group at the table sitting next to Dylan, the CIO of Vawter Corporation.
The petite blonde who had preceded Cain into the room quietly took a seat next to him. She laid her crocodile portfolio on the table and unpacked her meeting supplies. Once settled, she inched her chair a little closer to Cain. My eyes burned holes in her. I shouldn’t care, but seeing the attractive blonde with her porcelain complexion, hazel eyes, and tight skirt suit, brought an instant jealous feeling over me. Why is she sitting so close?
Cain immediately broke up the side conversations in the room and pulled my attention from the girl. “I’m sorry. I don’t believe everyone here knows my assistant. This is Ashley Murant.”
Ashley smiled and waved at everyone around the table.
So this is who Cain is sleeping wit h. I flashed another fake smile and looked down at my notes. I could feel my face getting red. Jennifer, get it together. The thought of lying in Cain’s bed the other night still haunted me. The message he had received from Ashley at midnight was etched in my brain.
I took a deep breath, looked around the room and began the presentat ion.
“We’ve had the opportunity to review the files that were sent over, in addition to the files that Dylan brought over himself. We felt that it may make more sense for us to start with both of you before delving deeper into interviewing the staff beneath you.”
Cain leaned forward in his chair. “Anything we can do to help. I’m glad Dylan was able to personally get those files over to you so quickly.” He glanced to his right and shot Dylan a look. “Usually we use a courier service, or at least get one of the interns take care of things like that.”
Dylan squirmed in his chair and leaned forward to join Cain. “I knew they were important. Besides, I felt it would give Ms. Dunning the opportunity to ask any questions while I was there.”
“They were helpful. Thank you. If I can continue…” I could sense the tension rising between Cain and Dylan. An uncomfortable, almost competitive tension. “We weren’t initially aware of the scope of Vawter Corporation, but quickly found that of the twenty-five companies under the Vawter umbrella,
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