Chapter 9

Valerie sat in her executive chair, staring blankly at the financial reports on her computer screen. The Japanese acquisition was progressing well, stocks were up by 3.7% since Morrey's dismissal, and the board had finally stopped questioning her authority. It should have been a perfect Tuesday.

Yet she couldn't focus.

Her mind kept drifting to thoughts of Rick Cameron and the fact that he would be at her penthouse this evening. She had spent half the afternoon wondering why he'd called about the tire. Was it truly about the wrong specifications, or was it an excuse to see her again? Perhaps he'd had second thoughts about rejecting her proposal.

"Ms. Calder?" Melissa's voice startled her. "The Dubai investors are on line two."

Valerie nodded, straightening in her chair and forcing her mind back to business. "Thank you, Melissa."

The call lasted nearly an hour, during which Valerie negotiated terms that would add another billion to the company's portfolio. Yet, the moment the call ended, her thoughts returned to Rick again.

"This is ridiculous," she muttered to herself, shutting down her computer with alarming force. She was a powerful woman, who had made it to the cover page of the Forbes magazine countless times, not some lovesick schoolgirl pining after her crush. Rick Cameron was just a man - one who had the audacity to reject her, no less.

And yet...

Valerie left the office earlier than usual, instructing her driver to take her straight home. During the ride, she found herself checking her reflection in her compact mirror, fixing her lipstick and smoothing her hair.

"What am I doing?" she whispered to herself, snapping the compact shut in frustration.

When she arrived at her penthouse, Clara was surprised to see her home so early.

"Ms. Valerie, I wasn't expecting you for another hour," the maid said, quickly setting aside the book she'd been reading.

"I decided to call it a day," Valerie replied, dropping her bag on the counter. "I'll be having a visitor tonight to check on the Ferrari. Draw me a bath, would you?"

"Of course," Clara replied, hurrying to the master bathroom.

Valerie stepped into the bath, letting the hot water and scented oils soothe her nerves. She sank into the bubbling tub, her mind racing with thoughts of how the evening might unfold.

Would Rick be cold and dismissive as before? Would he soften when he saw her again? And why did she care so much about a man who had shown her nothing but hate?

She closed her eyes, trying to clear her mind, but instead found herself imagining Rick's hands on her body, those intense green eyes locked with hers as he thrust deep inside her, his tongue trailing down her...

"Stop it," she whispered harshly to herself, splashing water on her face. This was pathetic. She had never obsessed over a man like this - not even during her darkest days with Dominic.

Her phone chimed from the bathroom counter. Reaching for it, she saw a message from Steve, one of her security guards:

"Confirming your instructions regarding Mr. Cameron's arrival at 8PM."

Valerie texted back quickly: "Yes. Allow him access to the garage for the Ferrari. If he wishes to come up afterward, grant him access."

After a moment's hesitation, she added: "And leave the front desk unmanned after he arrives. I don't need anyone monitoring his visit."

She returned the phone to the counter and sank deeper into the water, allowing herself to indulge in the fantasy once more. Maybe tonight would end differently. Maybe underneath all that hostility, Rick felt the same burning attraction she did.

After soaking for nearly an hour, her muscles finally relaxed, Valerie stepped out of the tub and wrapped herself in a towel. She stared at her reflection in the steamy mirror, studying the woman looking back at her.

"You are Valerie Calder," she told her reflection firmly. "The Duchess of New York. You don't chase men. They chase you."

But deep down, she knew she had never wanted a man the way she wanted Rick Cameron.

After dismissing Clara for the evening - she didn't need any witnesses to whatever might happen here tonight - Valerie spent a generous amount of time deciding what to wear. She didn't want to seem like she was trying too hard, not after the humiliation of their last encounter. But she also didn't want to miss the opportunity to show him exactly what he had rejected.

She finally settled on a long silk dress with high slits almost up to her waist. It was a deep golden flair dress that matched her hair and brought out her eyes. She paired it with simple gold jewelry and kept her makeup light - just enough to enhance her features without looking like she'd made a special effort.

Her short blond hair looked exactly perfect, tousled and a little messy but sexy the same time. The overall effect was stunning but casual, as if she had just thrown something on without thinking.

"Perfect," she murmured, satisfied with her reflection. She looked effortlessly sexy. The exact impression she wanted to give.

By 7:45 PM, Valerie had positioned herself in the living room with a glass of wine and a book she wasn't actually reading. The clock on the wall seemed to be moving at an annoyingly slow pace, with each minute stretching into eternity.

She sighed in frustration.

Eight o'clock came and went.

By 8:15, Valerie had moved to the window, peering down at the garage entrance, looking for any sign of Rick's truck. Had he changed his mind? Was he standing her up to humiliate her once more?

By 8:30, she was pacing the room, her irritation growing with each passing minute. She checked her phone - no messages from security announcing his arrival, no calls, no nothing.

At 8:45, she pulled up the security camera feed on her tablet, scanning the garage and driveway. Nothing.

Just as she was about to call Steve and demand an explanation, her phone rang. It was security.

"Ms. Calder, Mr. Cameron arrived about twenty minutes ago. He's just finished working on the Ferrari and is preparing to leave."

Valerie felt like she'd been punched in the guts, with imaginary stars making her dizzy. She gripped the edge of the couch, "What? He's leaving? Didn't you tell him I was expecting him to come up?"

"He declined, ma'am. Said he just needed to replace the tire and be on his way."

Valerie's grip on her phone tightened to the point of pain. "Where is he now?"

"Just getting into his truck, ma'am. About to exit the garage."

Without thinking, Valerie barked into the phone: "Seal the gates. Don't let him leave."

"Ma'am?" The security guard sounded confused.

"You heard me," Valerie snapped. "Close the gates immediately. I'm coming down."