Chance on Love (27 page)

It had always worked before, with other men. His door was slightly ajar and she heard him speaking.
Ugh.
He was probably talking to that grumpy ass—

Carly peeked in to see him pacing as he held his cell phone up to his ear. Whatever he was yapping on about couldn’t be that important. And it surely wasn’t more important than she was. She squared her shoulders.

“I’m a little busy right now,” Chance said, clearly exasperated with whoever was on the other end of the line.

She raised her hand to knock on the door.

“Don’t worry about Love. I’ll take care of her.”

Immediately dropping her hand, she eased closer.

“Look, we’re talking about firing the woman,” he whispered furiously. “Give me time to figure out the best way to do it.”

Her jaw dropped. She mouthed, “Oh my God,” slowly before turning around and heading straight for Stephanie’s office. She was grinning from ear to ear now. Losing her job would be just the thing to take the wind out of that bitch’s sails—maybe even permanently. Her whole sad life was her career.

It took all Carly had not to rub her hands together in glee. Stephanie Love wouldn’t be such a tough little cookie now. Maybe she’d even end up like her dad, drunk and useless. Carly couldn’t wait to see it for herself.

As she neared Stephanie’s office, she heard voices filtering through the slightly cracked door. And even though they were keeping them low, she could still make out Stephanie’s voice and the owner of the other, that perky nitwit, Amber.

Carly rolled her eyes, preparing to push the door open.

“This whole thing started as a way for me to use Chance and now...”

Widening her eyes, she leaned in to hear better.

Stephanie sighed. “I don’t know what I’m doing anymore.”

“You still want your promotion, right?”

“Yeah, but using him to get it. I—I just don’t know.”

Carly clamped her hand over her mouth to keep from laughing. She hurriedly turned and walked a safe distance away lest one of them emerge from the office. Pacing the floor, she put the pieces of this twisted puzzle together.

He’d just been using Stephanie for sex. That much Carly had figured all along. But he’d been planning to fire her the whole time. That was so
sick!
She loved it; it served that bitch right.

And
as
for the bitch—wow, what an idiot. Instead of using Chance for an engagement ring and a better life, she’d only been using him for a promotion. Carly shook her head in disgust.

Common sense should have told Stephanie that had she landed him, she wouldn’t need a damned promotion because she wouldn’t have had to work. Carly patted her hair. Some people really didn’t know a thing about thinking practically.

Practical thinking was what it was all about. For instance, she couldn’t wait to break Stephanie’s frozen, pea-sized heart in half, but it was going to take some finesse. If Chance knew she’d been purposely eavesdropping with the intention of blowing his little plan to hell, Stephanie wasn’t the only one who’d be in an unemployment line.

She knew she should just sit back and wait for him to kick the bitchy grump to the curb all on his own, but she was impatient. If she acted fast, there might even be a shot at going to the Valentine’s Day gala with him after all. There had to be some way to get the ball rolling much faster. She’d just have to find it.

The door to Stephanie’s office opened. The two women came out and walked toward the break room. Carly crossed her arms while she watched Stephanie go. So confident, so tough, so untouchable. Carly smiled.
Well, you’re about to be touched, bitch.

Stephanie said Carly couldn’t hurt her.

Stephanie was wrong.

Chapter 32

The next afternoon, Stephanie knocked on Chance’s office door and poked her head in. She struggled to keep her voice serious. “You wanted me, sir?”

He turned from the window and gave her a slow, sexy grin. “I always want you, Love.”

She came in, closing the door behind her. “Is that so?”

“It is.” Chance crooked a finger at her. “Get over here.”

She smiled as she neared him. “Am I in trouble...sir?”

“Why would you think that? Maybe you’ve even been good.” His eyes held a mischievous glint as he considered that. “Not likely, but possible.”

“That’s a relief,” Stephanie said, bringing a hand to her chest. “For a second there, I thought I was about to get it.”

Chance put his arms around her waist, pulling her close. “Oh,” he said, bending down to speak next to her ear, “you’re still gonna get it.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck. “Promise,” she said softly.

He gave her a long, slow kiss. “Promise.” Pulling her with him, he leaned back to grab something off the desk.

Stephanie frowned. “What’s going on?”

He held the remote out toward a small CD player he’d set up in the corner. Music—undoubtedly something from the sixties—started to play. He tossed the control back on the desk.

“You called me in here to dance? I have work to do, crazy man.” She turned to go, but he hauled her to his chest.

“This
is
work. Just consider it research for the party.” He grabbed her hand, spinning her around before bringing her in close.

“You’re still planning to play this stuff aren’t you?”

Chance frowned at her. “Uh, yeah.”

Stephanie laughed as he twirled her around again. “What about that one song?”

“Which one?”

“The one we danced to that night at Mister’s. ‘Bring It—” She cocked her head when she noticed the look he was giving her. “What?

He was nodding slowly, sporting a big grin on his face. “You liked it.”

She did, actually. “It was okay,” she said casually.

Holding her tighter, he chuckled against her neck. “You like it, admit it. You even remember the name of the song.”

Smiling reluctantly, she placed her arms back around his neck. “Fine—I like it.”

Chance eased his hands down to press her to his growing erection. “You want to hear it at the party?”

She bit back a moan. “Maybe.” He pinched her ass, and she gasped. “Hands above the waist, Valentine.”

“Funny,” he said, tilting his head, “you’ve never said that before.”

“Shut up,” she laughed. She rested her head on his chest while they swayed to the music.

“Actually, there’s something else I wanted to talk to you about,” he said.

“What’s that?” she asked, completely content as they danced.

“I wanted to think of an interesting, romantic way to ask...”

Her pulse began to race, and she pulled back to look at him. “Ask what?”

“As much as I’d miss having you as my assistant, how would you feel about taking that News Director position after all?”

A rush of disappointment surged through her. She was losing it, big time. Had she really wanted a different question? This was supposed to be the best thing he
could
ask.

His eyes widened. “You don’t want it anymore?”

“No,” she said lightly, “it’s not that. I just, uh...” She released a long breath. “This is unexpected.”

“Then, say yes.” He leaned down, planting little kisses along her jaw. “I’m good at making you say yes, right? And scream it, whisper it, moan—”

With steadier nerves now, she laughed. “Yes, Valentine, yes.”

He placed his hands on her face, tilting it up to him. A low growl rumbled from his throat as he studied her. Pulling her to him roughly, he slid his tongue between her parted lips. Her legs trembled slightly from the way he began to make love to her mouth. She clutched his shoulders, wanting to bring him closer, never wanting any of this to end.

They ignored the knock on the door until it became clear the person wasn’t going to go away. Chance groaned as they stepped away from one another. Grabbing the remote off the desk, he flipped the music off.

“Yes?” he said.

The door opened and the station harlot appeared. “Chance, I really need to tell you—” She glanced at Stephanie. “Oh,” she said quietly. “Sorry to interrupt. I’ll just come back.” She turned to go.

“Carly,” he said wearily. “Whatever it is, tell me now. I might be,” he looked at Stephanie, “busy later.”

Stephanie suppressed a smile.

“I don’t think it’s best to talk in front of...her.” Carly crossed her arms.

“And why not?” Chance asked.

“It’s just...this—what I have to tell you—involves her and I’m not sure—”

“For God’s sake, piss or get off the pot, Carlene,” Stephanie said, tracing her finger along the edge of her lower lip to fix what was sure to be smudged lipstick. “By all means, share whatever the hell it is you came in here to share.”

“In that case,” Carly said, turning to Chance, “I happened to overhear something yesterday that I think you’ll be interested in.”

He smiled. “You came in here to tell me about some office gossip, Carly?”

She shook her head. “This isn’t gossip. I heard this with my own ears.”

Pinching the bridge of his nose, he squeezed his eyes shut. “What is it?”

Carly glanced behind her before walking in and closing the door. “I was waiting outside Stephanie’s office yesterday to meet with her and just when I was about to knock...”

“Yes?” he asked slowly.

She rubbed her bare arms as if suddenly chilled. “I don’t want to be involved in this, but I’d feel horrible if I knew and didn’t tell you.”

Stephanie stifled a yawn as she waited for Carly to share her big revelation. Fortunately, Chance had grown tired of her stall tactics too.

“Carly, just tell me, please.”

“Well, she—Stephanie—was talking to Amber about you.”

Stephanie furrowed her brow. What the hell had this maniac overheard?

Chance shrugged. “She called me an asshole, a bastard, talked about how much she despises me... Yeah, that’s kind of our thing.” He smiled. “I appreciate you letting me know, Carly. Thank you and—”

Walking farther into the office, she shook her head again. “If that were all, I wouldn’t be so upset. I mean, I’m used to her disrespect and rudeness. She’s like that to everyone.”

Stephanie sighed. “And I’m used to you wasting everyone’s time. Goodbye, Carlene.”

Ignoring her, Carly gave Chance an earnest look. “She was talking about using you,” she said softly. “For a promotion.”

He laughed. Then, the smile slowly left his face. “What?”

She nodded. “I’m so sorry. I can’t believe she was just stringing you along this whole time. It’s absolutely awful.”

Chance looked at Stephanie. A flicker of pain crossed his eyes before they went cold.

Stephanie inwardly cringed. “Chance, it’s not—”

“Thank you,” he said, glancing at Carly. “If you’ll excuse us...”

“Sure,” she said, giving one of her fake sorrowful looks complete with wide, shimmering eyes. “No one deserves to be treated this way, especially not a wonderful man like you.”

Stephanie had had enough. “You’re so pathetic.”

Carly looked at her. “I’m sorry?”

“You heard me. You’re pathetic, coming in here with this melodramatic performance piece.” Stephanie shook her fist at the ceiling. “‘Oh my God, how
could
she!’ When using men is not just your hobby—it’s your way of life.”

“If you’ll excuse us, Carly.”

Carly ignored him. “You deserve every bit of this.
Your
way of life—treating people like crap—is finally catching up to you and not a moment too soon.”

Stephanie took a few deep breaths. “Leave or I
will
hurt you.”

“I don’t blame Chance at all for planning to fire you, you miserable—” Gasping, Carly brought her hand to her mouth.

Stephanie smiled. “What?” she asked, glancing at Chance. “What the hell is she talking about?”

He looked up at the ceiling. “Carly...”

“I am so sorry. I never meant for her to find out,” Carly cried. “She’s so horrible, though, and I just blurted it out without thinking.”

Stephanie’s smile faded. She didn’t know how she managed to stand there when she felt as if she’d had the wind knocked out of her.

“I just—well, I’d come here yesterday to ask you about one of the segments I was planning, and your door was ajar. I overheard you on the phone.”

“You overheard quite a bit yesterday, Carly,” Chance said quietly as he stared down at the floor. “That will be all, thank you.”

She grimaced. “Sorry.” After walking toward the door, she turned back to give Stephanie a tiny smile. “Sorry,” she mouthed before closing the door behind her.

Stephanie was on the verge of pummeling her face in, but there was only one person she felt betrayed by, and Carly wasn’t that person. She turned to Chance. “Fire me?” she asked weakly. She couldn’t even make herself believe it, even though he’d basically admitted to it by not denying what Carly had said.

“I can explain—”

“
Fire
me?” she asked louder. And after getting her hopes up about being News Director? He’d probably have a good laugh about that later.

Folding his arms, he sat on the edge of his desk as he glared at her. “You’re not allowed to play the injustice card.” He clenched his jaw. “Not when you were playing me for a fool this whole time.”

“It’s not even remotely the same,” she snapped.

Chance gave her a humorless laugh. “Right, and that’s because
you
say it isn’t.”

She nodded. “So I was going to use you to get a promotion I should have gotten in the first place. That’s not what happened, though. It was my original plan, yes, but that’s nothing compared to what
you
were doing. You were sleeping with me, all the while planning to destroy my life, you son of a—”

“That’s not what happened” he said, his voice shaking with anger. “You want to talk about plans? Well, this wasn’t mine originally, okay?”

Stephanie walked up to stand right in front of him. “So you fucked me first and
then
decided to destroy my life? That’s twisted and cruel, even for you.” She clapped. “Kudos.”

He leaned forward to get right in her face. “You’re awfully self-righteous for a woman who set out to use me for a goddamned promotion.”