Chapter 57
We got back to the underground parking garage after lunch. Adam circled around to my side of the car, his hand already reaching for the door handle.
I stayed put in my seat.
He pulled the door open. "Maya—"
"You should head up first," I said, keeping my tone light. Professional. "I'll catch the next elevator."
His hand froze on the door frame. "Why?"
"I just—" I fumbled with my seatbelt. "I don't want people getting the wrong idea. You know. Seeing us together."
The muscle in his jaw twitched. He stared at me for a long moment, his eyes unreadable.
"No need to worry about that," he finally said, his voice tight. "I'll take my private elevator. You can use the regular one."
Oh. Right.
"That's—that works better anyway."
---
The elevator doors slid open. I stepped inside alone.
When I reached the conference room floor, Julian was already there. He stood by the window, his back to the door, phone pressed to his ear. He turned when he heard my footsteps.
"I'll call you back," he said into the phone, then pocketed it.
I slid into my seat behind him, feeling oddly guilty. When he'd called earlier asking where I was, I'd hesitated. For a split second, I'd considered lying to him.
But then I caught myself.
What am I doing? I don't owe him an explanation about my lunch break.
"Mr. Garrison," I said, pulling out my notebook. "You said you had some questions for me earlier?"
Julian studied me for a moment.
"Already resolved," he said.
"Oh. Good." I cleared my throat. "Did you get lunch?"
"No."
I glanced at the clock on the wall. We had maybe ten minutes before the afternoon session started.
"There's no time to go downstairs now," I said quickly. "But let me check Sterling Global's breakroom. They must have something—snacks or coffee at least. I'll grab you a few things to tide you over."
"That would be helpful. Thank you, Miss Bennett."
---
The breakroom was sleek and modern. Stainless steel counters gleamed under recessed lighting. Coffee machines lined one side, glass jars filled with protein bars and nuts sat beside them, and the mini-fridge was stocked with yogurt, juice, and sparkling water.
I grabbed a chocolate-flavored protein bar and a small bag of mixed nuts from one of the jars. Then I fed a coffee pod into the nearest machine and hit the button for an Americano. The machine whirred to life, filling a paper cup with dark, bitter-smelling coffee.
I was juggling the cup and the snacks in both hands when I heard the elevator ding behind me.
The doors slid open.
Adam stepped out, James Cooper at his side.
Adam's gaze locked onto the items in my hands. "Still hungry?"
"No," I said quickly. "These are for Mr. Garrison. He didn't get lunch."
The air between us turned ice-cold.
Adam's jaw clenched. His eyes went cold and flat. "You're taking my food to give to another man?" He took a step closer. "Maya, you've got some fucking nerve."
I actually laughed. I couldn't help it.
"Your food?" I tightened my grip on the coffee cup. "Let me break this down. Mr. Garrison is my boss. Keeping him fed during a six-hour meeting? That's my job. Not 'pleasing' him—just doing what I'm paid to do. And even if I was trying to please him, what's it to you? He signs my checks, not you."
Adam's nostrils flared.
"And," I continued, "we're guests at your company for a business meeting. Offering snacks to attendees is basic hospitality. Are you seriously this worked up over a protein bar and some coffee?"
"I—" He opened his mouth, then snapped it shut.
Before I could react, he lunged forward and yanked the coffee cup out of my hand.
"Adam—!"
He tilted his head back and drank. Half the cup disappeared in three long gulps.
I gaped at him. Beside us, James had gone very still, his eyes wide.
Adam shoved the half-empty cup back at me, his face twisted in disgust. "What the hell is this? It's so bitter I can barely swallow it."
I was too stunned to respond.
His gaze dropped to my other hand—the one holding the protein bar and the bag of nuts. He snatched them away before I could stop him.
For a second, he just stood there, staring at the items like he wasn't sure what to do with them.
Then he turned and thrust them at James.
"Here. You eat these."
James fumbled to catch the food, his expression somewhere between horror and amusement. "I—thank you, Mr. Sterling."
My chest was heaving. I forced myself to take a deep breath, then spun on my heel and marched back toward the breakroom.
I am going to get Julian his damn snacks if it kills me.
Behind me, I heard the crinkle of a wrapper being torn open.
"Miss Bennett."
I stopped, my hand on the breakroom door. Turned.
James stood there with the half-eaten protein bar, looking uncomfortable. "Mr. Garrison told you he hadn't eaten?"
"Yes," I bit out. "Why?"
"Well—I was at Giulia's for lunch. That Italian place across the street." He glanced at Adam, then back at me. "I'm pretty sure I saw Mr. Garrison at the next table. He had salmon, salad, soup, tiramisu—finished all of it. Guy ate like he was starving."
---
I walked back to the conference room empty-handed.
Julian looked up as I entered. His expression shifted—confusion, then something like guilt.
"You were gone a while," he said carefully. "Did they not have anything in the breakroom?"
I sat down. Said nothing.
He shifted in his seat. "If they were out of snacks, it's fine. I'm not that hungry anyway." A pause. "Although it's surprising that a company like Sterling Global would let their breakroom run empty. At Garrison Industries, we keep ours fully stocked at all times—"
"Mr. Garrison." My voice came out flat. "Did you eat lunch today?"
The silence stretched.
Julian's face flushed.
"Are you serious?" I leaned forward, my hands curling into fists on the table. "You lied to me? You made me run around looking for food for you when you'd already eaten?"
"Maya, I—"
"Why?" I demanded. "Why would you do that? Do you think this is funny? Playing games with me?"
"I don't think it's funny." His voice was quiet. Strained. "And I wasn't trying to—I didn't mean to—"
"Then what? Why tell me you were hungry when you weren't?" My throat felt tight. "I thought we had a good working relationship. I thought you respected me."
"I do respect you." He looked miserable now. "Maya, I wasn't—"
His gaze drifted past me toward the door.
I turned to follow his line of sight.
Adam stood in the doorway, James beside him. Adam's expression was smug, almost triumphant.
"Ladies and gentlemen," James announced, his voice carefully professional. "Let's resume the meeting."