“Thank you,” she said, giving him an appreciative smile.
“No problem. Where you headed?” He walked toward the elevator, glancing at her.
“217.”
He nodded, pressed the up arrow. “CoreTech.” He pointed to the ceiling then stretched his arm out. “Get out, turn right, go down to the end of the hall.”
Hailey hoped her face gave nothing away but as she stepped onto the elevator, her stomach cramped uncomfortably. It was a coincidence. That’s all. Ana may not even have placed the order. If she did, she’d have no way of knowing that Hailey would deliver herself.
The tub of salads felt unsteady in her hands. The elevator doors opened. She took an extra second to take a deep breath, let it out. She turned right and walked down the hall. When she reached the end, the glass door was open. There was no one at the reception but Hailey caught sight of a windowed room with several people around a table. Ana caught her gaze through the glass, smiled, and opened the door.
“Dinner as promised, guys. Come on in, Hailey.”
Hailey gritted her teeth, walked past Ana, set the box down on a side table near a mounted whiteboard with information written all over it. She turned, ready to leave, when she saw Wes. He stood from the end of the table and hurried toward her.
Looking at Ana, she wasn’t surprised to see a look of satisfaction on the woman’s face. She’d seen it many times in her life, particularly when she lived with Dorian.
Wes approached, put a hand on her arm. Ana turned before he could say anything.
“Aidan, can you pay the salad girl, please. Don’t forget to add a tip.” She turned to Hailey. “Thank you so much for coming all this way. My brother will take care of the bill.”
Ana’s brother joined them. Hailey could feel Wes seething beside her. Tension emanated off him like steam from a boiling pot. Aidan frowned at his sister.
“Hailey. Lovely to see you again,” he said, taking in the scene before him. To his credit, he sent his sister an unfriendly look.
Biting her tongue, refusing to let the woman bait her, she simply nodded curtly then gave him an amount.
“Wes, you look upset. I thought you’d be happy to have Hailey get some business,” Ana said.
“Hailey’s business is none of your concern. This crosses a line, Ana.”
Murmurs started behind them as people came to choose salads.
“Jesus, Ana,” Aidan said under his breath, pulling several bills out of his wallet before passing them to Hailey. “What did you do?”
“I didn’t do anything. Other than attend an event with a date,” Ana said.
Wes’s cheeks went pink and Hailey felt horrible. He hated confrontation, scenes, being the center of attention. Stepping toward the door, knowing the others would move with her, she swallowed down the hurt and anger she felt.
“It wasn’t a date,” Wes said.
Hailey put a hand on his arm and he stepped closer, wrapping his arm around her shoulder. She looked at Ana, whose gaze was filled with empty satisfaction.
“This isn’t the time or place. And really, there’s nothing to discuss.” She waited until Ana looked at her. “I’ve done nothing to you. I’m sorry you feel slighted but you’re a strong, beautiful woman. I’m not sure what your goal tonight was but you’re better than this. Wes wasn’t with you. I didn’t steal him. It doesn’t matter if you get more friends to cancel their contracts with me, it won’t change anything. Do you even like Wes or is it just that he chose me?”
Shock widened Ana’s gaze.
“What contracts?” Wes looked at her.
“Goddamn it, Ana. Wes, Hailey, I’m sorry.” Aidan shoved his hands in his pockets.
Ana stiffened her shoulders. “I’m not sure what everyone is upset about. I ordered salads. You guys eat, she gets business. Win-win.”
Hailey nodded. “Keep telling yourself that. Thank you for your business. Aidan, nice to see you. Wes.” She took a second, not caring that Ana stood before her in a freaking designer pantsuit while she wore oil-stained jeans. Whatever else Hailey might be unsure of, she knew, without a doubt, Wes wanted to be with her. She ran her hand up Wes’s chest, into his hair, and kissed him. “I’ll see you at home.”
With that, she turned and left. Proud of herself, she waited until she was in the elevator to collapse against the wall and let out a string of swear words.
38
Wes’s pulse scrambled, like it was short-circuiting. The last time he’d been this mad was because of her ex. This time … it was Ana. When he saw Hailey walk into that room, his heart had leaped, scaring the hell out of him. He didn’t understand emotional games, didn’t play them, but he was smart enough to recognize them in the slyness of Ana’s smile.