BooksBarbecue
Back First Comes Love
Chapters (92)
  1. First
  2. Love Connection
  3. Zero
  4. One
  5. Two
  6. Three
  7. Four
  8. Five
  9. Six
  10. Seven
  11. Eight
  12. Nine
  13. Ten
  14. Eleven
  15. One Month Later
  16. Twelve
  17. Thirteen
  18. Fourteen
  19. Fifteen
  20. Six Months Later
  21. Sixteen
  22. Seventeen
  23. Eighteen
  24. Nineteen
  25. Twenty
  26. Twenty-one
  27. Twenty-two
  28. Twenty-three
  29. Twenty-four
  30. Six Months Later
  31. Twenty-five
  32. Twenty-six
  33. Twenty-seven
  34. Twenty-eight
  35. Twenty-nine
  36. Thirty
  37. Thirty-one
  38. Thirty-two
  39. Thirty-three
  40. I Have Never
  41. One
  42. Two
  43. Three
  44. Four
  45. Five
  46. Six
  47. Seven
  48. Eight
  49. Nine
  50. Ten
  51. Eleven
  52. Twelve
  53. Thirteen
  54. Fourteen
  55. Fifteen
  56. Sixteen
  57. Seventeen
  58. Eighteen
  59. Nineteen
  60. Twenty
  61. Twenty-one
  62. Twenty-two
  63. A Christmas Date
  64. One
  65. Two
  66. Three
  67. Four
  68. Five
  69. Six
  70. Seven
  71. Eight
  72. Nine
  73. Ten
  74. Eleven
  75. Twelve
  76. Thirteen
  77. Fourteen
  78. Fifteen
  79. Sixteen
  80. Seventeen
  81. Eighteen
  82. Nineteen
  83. Twenty
  84. Twenty-one
  85. Twenty-two
  86. Note from the Author
  87. Sneak Peek – To the Stars and Back
  88. Two
  89. Three
  90. Four
  91. Also by Camilla Isley
  92. About the Author

“Now,” the boss adds in a more practical tone. “Can we manage the extra traffic to our website?” he asks, looking at the techies.

“I’ll make sure we get some extra server capacity,” one says.

The entire tech team scurries back to their computers.

“All right,” Richard says, addressing the whole office. “Let’s make sure we run a tight ship today and then we can all go out to celebrate tonight!”

Everyone shouts their approval and even Chevron contributes to the general enthusiasm with a loud howl.

***

By the end of the day, I have a better understanding of what “going viral” means. The hashtag #MaisonVanderFraud is trending on Twitter, we’ve reached over a million views on YouTube, and the story is all over the media. Both traditional and social.

At six thirty, Richard walks to the center of the open space and claps his hands to get everyone’s attention.

“All right, people.” The office quiets down. “This week has been incredible, and today has been an unprecedented success. It couldn’t have happened without your combined effort. Blair, thank you for bringing in the story and pulling off a magnificent piece of investigative journalism. Zane, thanks for handling the TV rights.” Each announcement is followed by thunderous applause. “Saffron, for fueling the Social Media craze. Our techies, for making sure our website didn’t crash. Everyone else, for your support.” Richard lets the applause die before speaking again. “Now it’s Friday night, and I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait for the weekend to get started. So what do you say we all go out for a drink to celebrate?”

Richard’s proposal is approved by a standing ovation.

He lingers by my desk. “Walker, are you coming?”

“I’m not sure.” The boss seems disappointed, so I add, “It’s just that I don’t know if a bar is a good place for Chevron.”

“Right, I hadn’t thought of that. What if I take Chevron to my house and join you guys later?”

“Are you sure it’s not a problem?” I ask.

He kneels down to pet her with both hands, and I swear I’ve never seen a dog so ecstatic. “Nah, I’m sure this beauty won’t wreck the place, and anyway, I can give you a lift home afterward. You can’t walk home alone in the middle of the night.”

“Okay.” I surrender the leash and the duffel bag.

As we queue in front of the elevators, Indira leans in and whispers in my ear, “Smooth.”

I scowl at her without replying.

Outside the building, I pat Chevron goodbye and say to Richard, “See you at the bar.”

As I watch the two of them go, a million scenarios start playing in my head at once. Richard kissing me goodnight in his damned sexy car, or even better, him inviting me in before he takes me home…