Barbara Dunlop - Seduced by the CEO

“Not to worry,” said the woman. “Give me a call when you get to it. It’s all good news. The international stations are getting rave reviews, and we’ve had inquiries from two national food magazines about interviews. Can I tell them you’ll be available?”

“Can I, uh, get back to you?” Kalissa asked weakly.

The woman peered at her. “Are you okay?”

“Just fine.”

“You’re not getting that flu are you?”

“I do have a bit of a headache,” Kalissa replied honestly.

The elevator came to a halt, pinging at the twenty-first floor. The doors slid smoothly open.

Kalissa stepped out, not sure whether to go left or right. There was a small reception desk in the foyer, but she didn’t want to ask which way it was to her office.

“Mrs. Colborn?” A woman came worriedly to her feet from behind the reception desk. She glanced down a hallway behind her, then she looked at Kalissa again. “I didn’t see you leave.”

Kalissa breathed a sigh of relief. At least she knew which direction to go.

“Your clothes,” said the woman, bustling out from behind the desk. “Did something happen to the Farsen Kalick jacket? Do you need me to call the cleaners?”

“It’s fine,” said Kalissa, picking up her pace, heading for the hallway where the receptionist had looked. “I’m fine. I’ll let you know.”

She cleared the reception area, leaving the women behind her. She passed several closed doors. Two had nameplates on them, both belonging to vice-presidents.

At the end of the hall, she came to a set of double doors with brass handles, Shane Colborn, President. Her legs nearly gave way, and she put out a hand to brace herself against the wall. She did not want to run into Shane before she found Darci.

For a second, she considered turning back. But then she’d have to face the receptionist again, and she couldn’t see how she’d make it out of the building without being approached by other employees.

She straightened from the wall and took the right turn. A few moments later, she breathed a sigh of relief. She’d found it, her sister’s office door: Darci Colborn, Director of Staff Services.

It was open about six inches, and she could hear Darci’s voice inside. “I’ll be down to the cafeteria later on.”

Kalissa’s stomach clenched hard, but she couldn’t help a nervous smile. Darci sounded just like her.

“Okay,” said Darci. “Yes, I can.”

Kalissa gave a tentative knock, and the door swung further open.

Darci looked up from where she was still speaking on the phone. She leaned over for a better view, and her jaw snapped shut.

“I...” said Kalissa, not knowing where to start.

“I’ll call you back,” Darci said into the phone, replacing it on its cradle.

She moved around from behind the desk, taking several swift steps forward.

“I didn’t mean to disturb you,” said Kalissa.

“What on earth?” Darci stopped about ten feet away.

Voices sounded around the corner of the hallway, coming rapidly closer. Kalissa quickly stepped inside the office so they wouldn’t see her.

“I’m so sorry,” said Kalissa, regretting her decision to show up unannounced. “I thought this was the best way. But I didn’t think...I didn’t know...I realize this must be a bombshell for you.”

“Who are you?” asked Darci.

“My name is Kalissa Smith. I saw your wedding pictures, and well...I guess you can figure out why I’m here.”

“You look just like me.”

“I know.”

“I mean exactly like me.”

“Weird, isn’t it?”

Darci moved closer, peering at Kalissa.

Kalissa knew she was doing the same thing back.

Darci’s eyes might be a slightly paler shade of green. But their mouths were identical, so were their chins, their noses, even their hairline. Kalissa had never come across anyone with that little swoop at their part, never mind the exact shade of auburn in their hair.

“Are we twins?” asked Darci.

“I think we must be. My birthday is October third.”

Darci’s eyes widened. “Holy cow.”

“I didn’t want to bother you,” said Kalissa. “I wasn’t going to say anything. I mean, I know you must be busy, being a newlywed, and with this huge company and all. But I’m going on a date tomorrow night, and there were these girls in Annabelle’s Discount Boutique, and they thought I was you, and they took a photo, and I realized it could happen again, somewhere else, like the Navy Pier, while I was on a date, and people might think it was you.” Kalissa clamped her mouth shut. “I’m rambling.”

“We’re twins,” said Darci in obvious astonishment. “I don’t understand. How did that happen? Were you raised by our mother? Why didn’t she bring you back? And why didn’t dad ever tell me that—” Darci smiled. “Now, who’s rambling?”

“It’s unbelievable,” Kalissa whispered.

She hadn’t expected to feel this way, this ache deep down in her heart. She wanted to grab Darci and pull her into a hug. She had a sister. Tears started to tingle at the backs of her eyes.

The door whooshed open behind her.

“Sweetheart,” came a man’s voice. “Tuck is asking if...Oh, I’m sorry.”

Kalissa turned.

The man, obviously Shane, instantly froze in place.

“Darling,” said Darci, a tremor in her voice. “It appears there’s something more my father neglected to mention.”

“What on earth?” Shane started to circle Kalissa.

“We have the same birthday,” said Darci.

“Is this a con?”

Kalissa couldn’t help but smile. She didn’t blame Shane one bit for his suspicions. She’d have worried about him if he had accepted this at face value.

“Is she asking for money?” asked Shane.

“No,” said Darci.

“I’m not,” said Kalissa. “You couldn’t get me to take money if you tried.”

His eyes narrowed. “That’s how all the best cons start off.”

“Look at her,” said Darci.

“We’ll want DNA,” said Shane.

“Take it, if you want it,” said Kalissa. “But it’s not necessary. I’m not going to hang around. I only wanted to warn you, well, warn Darci. Since your wedding, people have started to mistake me for her. I’m out in public. I shop at discount stores. Sometimes I swear, or get angry with a store clerk or, and this is the big one, go out on dates. I have a date tomorrow night, and I was worried I’d be mistaken for Darci. That might look bad on the two of you, and I didn’t want to cause either of you any trouble.”

Shane stared at her in silence.

“Thank you,” said Darci. “That’s very considerate of you. But seriously.” She broke into a grin. Then, without warning, she rushed forward, opening her arms to pull Kalissa into a hug. “I have a twin sister.”

Kalissa closed her eyes, unexplainable feelings coursing through her.

Darci drew back, cradling Kalissa’s cheeks with her hands. “You are beautiful.” Then she laughed. “Didn’t that sound conceited.”

Kalissa took in every contour of Darci’s face, settling on her left cheekbone. “You have a freckle.”

“You don’t.”

“I don’t,” Kalissa agreed.

Shane cleared his throat. “I’m cancelling everything for the rest of the day.”

Kalissa turned to him. “Oh, no. Don’t do that. I didn’t plan to mess up your day.”

“Of course I’m doing that. You two have a million things to talk about. We’ll go to the penthouse, order some dinner. And wine. We’ll need some really good wine.”

“For a toast,” said Darci.

Shane gave a disbelieving shake of his head. “A toast is the least of why we need the wine.”

* * *

Riley could have happily done nothing but stare at Kalissa all night long. Her hair was full and shiny tonight, bouncing around her bare shoulders. Makeup brightened her beautiful face. While her tight jeans and the breezy little tank top were already giving him fantasies.