Entangled To The CEO

Tasha’s [POV]

I congratulated myself on getting to my office without breaking into a cold sweat. I expected to see Rainer around every corner, and, no matter what I told myself, I wasn’t ready to face him.

The rest of the weekend I had assured myself that I’d done the right thing. Now, maybe Rainer had gotten an idea of how his one-night stands felt, and I had gotten him out of my system.

I made it to my temporary assistant’s desk before my stomach dropped to the floor. On her computer was an entire photograph album from Berger’s yacht party and Rainer was featured in many of the glamorous shots.

“Isn’t he dreamy,” Amy said? She noted that I was rooted to the floor next to her desk and jumped at the chance to give me her full opinion.

“Ellison Ramsey has to be the most elegant woman I’ve ever seen. And she’s going to marry Mr. Maxwell – that practically makes us family!”

“I’m not sure you should believe all the rumors,” I said. Amy shook her head.

“No. They are a power couple. Check this picture out.” I took a deep breath and held it before I faced my assistant’s computer screen.

Ellison did look glamorous, her perfect smile and stunning jewelry out-sparkling the San Francisco skyline behind her. Rainer was next to her, and I forced myself to look at his face.

His public relations smile was set in place, but his gaze was far off-camera. Was he searching the crowd for me? My stomach did a funny little hop, and I bolted into my office.

“Busy day for me,” I told my assistant. “No calls this morning.” I dropped into my desk chair and stared at my blank computer screen. I only turned it on so I wouldn’t see my own sullen face anymore.

How was I supposed to convince Rainer that was fine when I couldn’t even smile? I distracted myself by meticulously combing through my emails. It was cathartic to start at the bottom and delete all the old business that was already tied up.

Then I got to the top of my inbox and saw the email from Stan about the community garden funding.

Someone had donated enough money to spread the campaign through the entire East Bay. I snatched up my desk phone and dialed Ivy’s number.

“Are you the anonymous donor?” I asked as soon as my friend picked up.

“No, but it sounds intriguing. Tell me more,” Ivy said. My mind veered away from the obvious suspect, but I just had to ask, “Have you ever had sex with someone to get them out of your system? And did it work?”

“Oh, Tasha!” Ivy burst into laughter and gave herself a moment to calm down. Then she gave a rueful sigh and said, “Do you want my honest answer?”

“Yes, of course,” I said.

“Fine. Then you’re going to have to tell me who and what this is all about.” Ivy’s laugh bubbled through again.

“The last time we talked you were going on a date with that hunky landscaper.” I groaned and leaned as far back as my creaky office chair would allow.

“Yeah, that didn’t really work out so well. He told me he didn’t think I was over Rainer, and we left as friends.”

“Yikes,” Ivy said. “So, let me guess: this is about your dashing co-worker?”

“We’re not even on the same project anymore. I mean, maybe we are now that someone funded community gardens for the entire East Bay,” I said.

“So, you thought you’d sleep with him and that would be the end of it?” Ivy asked.

“Maybe it just hasn’t set in yet.” I tried to be hopeful. “You never did anything like that to get someone out of your system?” Ivy smothered another laugh.

“I tried, but it didn’t work.” “Really, who?” I asked.

“My husband,” Ivy said. I sat up and then dropped my forehead to my desk.

“Great. And now I might end up working with Rainer again. Are you sure you didn’t fund the gardens just to play cupid?”

“Oh, wait. What if Rainer funded the campaign to keep working with you?!” “Ivy, you’re not helping,” I said.

“Well, track the money and get back to me. Good luck, lady!” Ivy hung up the phone and left me speechless.

I went to work right away, trying to uncover who the anonymous donor could have been.

My contacts in every Hyperion office tried to help out, but there was no tracing the source. Most people never imagined not-knowing would be a problem.

They kept highlighting how great it was that my work with Rainer could continue. I gave up after an hour and let my forehead sink back down to the cold surface of my desk.

“Oh, sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt your, ah, nap?” Amy bounced from one foot to the other in the doorway.

“It’s just that I read the email about the big donation and I wanted to see if we should celebrate.”

“Thanks, but not now,” I told my assistant. She raised an imaginary glass anyway.

“Well, here’s to a great start. First the East Bay and then the whole world!” I didn’t want to admit it but my hapless, temporary assistant had given me a great idea.

Amy swooped back out the doorway with a dramatic bow and went back to her internet surfing and gossiping.

I sat up and poised my fingers above my keyboard. I needed to pitch a new idea to Stan by the end of the day, and I’d been up all night trying to think of something I wanted to do that had the same positive impact as the GroGreen application ended up having.Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

Exactly what would I need to stretch the funding and expand our community gardens idea into a national campaign?

Brainstorming, problem-solving, and filling in the details gave me a few blissful hours of productive work. It felt like a tonic.

When I was busy at work, my disastrous personal life could not intrude.

Yes, I thought of Rainer every minute or so because he had been so integral to the original campaign, but I was able to stay focused on the work side of it through sheer will.

Once I had a working proposal, a list of critical questions, and detailed action steps, I sat back and let my mind drift for one moment.

To the exact moment that Rainer lost control. We were at the foot of the queen-sized bed in the private cabin of Berger’s luxury yacht, but it felt like a tsunami had hit me head-on.

Rainer’s ragged moan had reverberated through my body as well fell together onto the silken bedspread.

It was so vivid in my memory that, for a moment, I didn’t understand how my pregnant sister could be standing in the doorway.

I blinked hard and came back to reality in my office.

“Daydreaming?” Barbie backed out and checked my name on the door. “No. I have the right office, but what have you done with my sister?”

“I’m fine,” I said.

“That’s what everyone who isn’t fine says.”

“How are you?” I asked Barbie. She waddled over to one of the chairs that faced my desk and sank down.

“Fine,” she said, slightly out of breath. I jumped up.

“I’m sorry, Barbie. I can’t believe you came all this way. And our office building must feel like one giant obstacle course. How are you doing, really?” My sister slapped my hand away.

“The baby’s fine; I’m fine. Just uncomfortable.” I moved the other chair and then lifted her feet onto it.

“I don’t think you should be here. Big building, long elevator rides, all the crowds and the work and the stress. Are you sure you aren’t overwhelmed?” Barbie glared up at me.

“Yes, yes, you work in a big, busy, impressive office building. I’m just so common that I can’t even navigate the elevators.”

“That’s not what I meant,” I told my sister.

“You know I’m impressed with you, but the rest of this? Who cares? I just came to get the scoop on Seth,” Barbie said. I groaned and retreated back around my desk to slump into my chair.

“You could have just called.”

“We both know you would have hung up on me,” Barbie said. She gave me her best impish smile.

“Now, give me all the juicy details.” I had never been so glad to see James Berger burst through my office door.

“Oh, Berger. This is my sister, Barbie.” Berger’s eyes grew big.

“Sister? You have a sister?” Then he spotted Barbie’s round stomach.

“And you’re going to be an aunt? Whoa, have you let HR know you might need time off?” Barbie snorted.

“It’s not like she’s going to push this thing out and need recovery time.”

“True, true.” Berger strode over and gave my sister his most gracious handshake.

“You know, I didn’t think the whole ‘glowing’ thing was real, but you look wonderful.” His gold Rolex flashed as he gently laid my sister’s hand back down. Barbie looked at me and rolled her eyes.

“So, these are the kind of big shots you’re up against?” Berger adjusted his suit coat with a not-so-modest shrug.

“I am one of the top junior executives.” Barbie laughed.

“And my sister is going to be your boss someday soon. Now, if you’ll excuse us, we have family business to discuss.” Berger could not believe he was being dismissed.

He opened his mouth but realized the reason he’d stopped in, most likely to brag about his yacht party, wouldn’t hold up against Barbie’s edict. He slunk out the door, and Barbie rolled her eyes.

“You know, he makes your annual salary in two months,” I told my sister. She yawned and scratched her extended stomach.

“Impressive. Do you know what’s better? Your darling brother-in-law is mastering the art of the lasagna so we won’t starve through the sleepless newborn phase.” I laughed.

“Now, that is impressive.” It was impossible not to feel a twist of jealousy when I looked at my older sister.

She was so at ease, despite how far along she was, and so content with her life.

Nothing could shake her belief that she had the best life could offer: a comfortable home, a loving partner, and an expanding family.

I had to admit that I was jealous. Where I was always looking for the next thing, Barbie was simply enjoying where she was.

“Do you think I’ll ever be as content as you?” I asked my sister. Barbie patted her baby bump.

“Not if you keep blowing off dates. Now, are you going to tell me what happened or not?” I stood up.

“You know, I’m actually really busy. I have to make a big pitch to Stan today.” Barbie heaved herself out of the chair.

“All right, I get it. You’ll tell me over dinner this week. Remember, lasagna.” I walked her out of my office and to the elevator.

While we waited, my big sister was nice enough to talk about innocuous things like what was blooming in her garden, but it all just made me think of Rainer anyway.

As the elevator doors slid open, I felt my equilibrium spin. Rainer stepped out and held the doors open for my sister.

“Beautiful as always, Ms. Barbie,” he said. My sister patted his cheek.

“Handsome and charming. No wonder I keep seeing your picture everywhere.” Barbie was about to wave goodbye to me, but I panicked and jumped onto the elevator with her.

Rainer raised an eyebrow but the doors closed. We rode down two floors alone before my sister cleared her throat.

“I’m going to guess that he was part of the reason your date with Seth fizzled,” Barbie said.

“Lasagna. Can’t wait,” I said. Barbie laughed and hugged me as the elevator opened on the lobby floor.

“Love you, Tasha,” she said.