𝐅𝐈𝐅𝐓𝐘 𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐃𝐄𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐘//𝐁.𝐄

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐄𝐄

Olivia is ecstatic.

"But what was she doing at Clayton's?" Her curiosity oozes through the phone. I'm in the depths of the stockroom, trying to keep my voice casual.

"She was in the area."

"I think that is one huge coincidence, Bil. You don't think she was there to see you?" My heart lurches at the prospect, but it's a short lived joy. The dull, disappointing reality is that she was here on business.

"She was visiting the farming division of WSU. She's funding some research," I mutter.

"Oh yes. She's given the department a $2.5 million grant." Wow.

"How do you know this?"

"B, I'm a journalist, and I've written a prole on the woman. It's my job to know this."

"Okay, Carla Bernstein, keep your hair on. So do you want these photos?"

"Of course I do. The question is, who's going to do them and where."

"We could ask her where. She says she's staying in the area."

"You can contact her?"

"I have her cell phone number." Olivia gasps.

"The richest, most elusive, most enigmatic woman in Washington State just gave you her cell phone number?"

"Er ... yes."

"Billie! She likes you. No doubt about it." Her tone is emphatic.

"Liv, she's just trying to be nice." But even as I say the words, I know they're not true- Anastasia Grey doesn't do nice. She does polite, maybe. And a small, quiet voice whispers, Perhaps Liv is right. My scalp prickles at the idea that maybe, just maybe, she might like me. After all, she did say she was glad Olivia didn't do the interview. I hug myself with quiet glee, rocking from side to side, entertaining the possibility that she might like me. Olivia brings me back to the now.

"I don't know who we'll get to do the shoot. Levi, our regular photographer, can't. He's home in Idaho Falls for the weekend. He'll be pissed that he blew an opportunity to photograph one of America's leading entrepreneurs."

"Hmm ... What about José?"

"Great idea! You ask him-he'll do anything for you. Then call Grey and find out where she wants us." Olivia is irritatingly cavalier about José.

"I think you should call her."

"Who, her?" Olivia scoffs.

"Grey."

"B, you're the one with the relationship."

"Relationship?" I squeak at her, my voice rising several octaves. "I barely know the woman."

"At least you've met her," she says bitterly. "And it looks like she wants to know you better. Bil, just call her," she snaps and hangs up. She is so bossy sometimes. I frown at my cell, sticking my tongue out at it. I'm just leaving a message for José when Paul enters the stockroom looking for sandpaper.

"We're kind of busy out there, Billie," he says without acrimony.

"Yeah, um, sorry," I mutter, turning to leave.

"So, how come you know Anastasia Grey?" Paul's voice is unconvincingly nonchalant.

"I had to interview her for our student newspaper. Liv wasn't well." I shrug, trying to sound casual and doing no better than him.

"Anastasia Grey in Clayton's. Go figure," Paul snorts, amazed. He shakes his head as if to clear it. "Anyway, want to grab a drink or something this evening?" Whenever he's home he asks me on a date, and I always say no. It's a ritual. I've never considered it a good idea to date the boss's brother, and besides, Paul is cute in a wholesome all-American boy-next-door kind of way, but he's no literary hero, not by any stretch of the imagination.