Page 80 of Corrupt Game

I bit back a laugh. “Honestly, I’m willing to let it slide tonight. This kink in the plans has to be worked out. I can’t deal with it right now. She did amazing today, and I need to let her have a small amount of victory. I can’t overlook that she has an amazing mind. Most of my employees wouldn’t have realized the problem or come up with a solution in such a short amount of time.”

I’d like to go downstairs and give her a story, but I knew keeping my distance would be best. I was too eager to touch her, and I needed her to ask.

“Boss, just remember that it’s in her best interest to be an asset. We have no idea what her agenda is, but she has one. I can’t figure out how she can gain from this situation. There is something that she wants from all of this.”

“You really don’t trust her?” I waited for him to answer. His opinion was something that I’d come to count on over the years.

“No, sir. I don’t. You’ve never been this lovesick over one of your girls.” He dipped his head. “I hate to say it, but the others you might have come to like or developed a fondness for. Nothing like what you have for her. She’s stolen your heart.”

I sat back in my chair, and eyed him for a moment, then leaned forward again.

“You’re right. I like her a whole lot.” I closed out a few of the programs that I’d had open. He was right, I needed to get some rest before working on the problem with new eyes.

“Night.” Rossi waved and left me with my thoughts.

He was also right. I had missed an opportunity to not only congratulate her, but enjoy an evening of triumph instead of stressing more.

The sex fantasy that I had been planning to tell her would have to wait for another day.

I shrugged, it was how my life worked. The next few days would consist of long hours and we wouldn’t even be able to eat together as the new specs were updated. We needed to get things ready for this no matter our personal wants.

The weekend was looming close, but if things weren’t wrapped up, then we would be working through.

This wasn’t what I wanted for either of us. I would rather enjoy sessions of exploring her body. Releasing all of the stress and anxiety from the day would have been a welcome relief. Instead, I was headed to an empty bed, alone again.

How had I gotten to this point in life?

Alone and with regrets. It wasn’t somewhere I had ever thought I would be. I had carefully cultivated my life, my demands, and my needs. Now with Collette, it had all gone away.

Being by myself had never bothered me in the past, but these days I was longing for someone that could be a partner in all the ways that mattered.

Assuming that I wouldn’t find anyone that would fit the high bar, I had planned to settle for as close as I could. It hadn’t seemed possible until Collette ran into me in the elevator.

Now, I couldn’t imagine a world without her. I was anxious to find out what other tricks she had up her sleeve. There were so many ways that she could be an asset not only to me, but to my company.

Smart and quick on her feet, she saw the world through different ways. Thinking outside the box was one thing, but it didn’t beginto describe the way in which she tackled problems. Hard or easy, she was up for the challenge.

With a sigh, I sat on the edge of the bed, wishing that she were there. Just having her nearby was something I’d gotten used to.

Taking my shoes off, I looked around the much smaller room. It wasn’t what I usually preferred. Even though I’d had it built to my specifications, I enjoyed space.

Growing up, I’d had to spend time in small rooms alone unless I was in class.

Boarding school had been too good for my father. He wanted me close at hand so he could monitor my every action.

Allowed to go to public school, it was only because there were benefits to having his son there. People would have looked favorably on him for being so down to earth even though he had money.

It didn’t matter that I was basically a prisoner in my own home.

When I was younger, playing and outdoor activities were allowed.

If it hadn’t been for sports, I would have withered away in my small room with no social interaction outside of hallway conversations. Track had been my saving grace.

My father couldn’t bribe the coaches to have me play on the team. It was all about what I could or couldn’t do with my abilities.

Using my skills in high school had gotten me scholarships for college. There had been trust funds, but they were tied up and couldn’t be accessed until I reached thirty.

Each thing I added in high school that would allow me a foothold into something of my own, I did it.