Free Truth or Dare by Janis Reams Hudson

and Rachel turned.  Instead of the waiter with the orange juice, it was Jared.  She straightened her spine and met his gaze, refusing to let what had happened last night control her any further.  She couldn't let it interfere with her job.  She wouldn't let her past rob her of a future.
    A brief picture of the two ladies in the hall destroyed her calm look.  Her hand flew to her mouth, but not before a giggle escaped.
    One corner of Jared's mouth twitched.  "Good morning to you, too."  He pushed his jacket back and stuffed his hands in his pants pockets as he strolled over to stand in front of her.
    His smile faded.  "Are you all right?"
    "I'm fine."  She made herself hold his gaze.  "If it's all the same to you, I'd just as soon not talk about last night."
    "Pretend it never happened?"
    "Exactly."
    "All of it?" he asked softly.
    Rachel felt heat sting her cheeks.  "Considering the way it ended, I think that's best."
    His shoulders rose and fell on a deep breath.  "As long as you realize I never meant to hurt you," he said.  "I would never intentionally cause you pain, Rachel.  I hope you believe that."
    Rachel swallowed.  "I do."
    A moment passed, then his eyes narrowed and looked her up and down, spending an undue amount of time on her wig and glasses.  Rachel lost all urge to laugh.  It was plain by the look on his face that he didn't approve of her being back in disguise today.  His next words confirmed it.
    "You look like hell." 
    Rachel stiffened.  "You never seemed to mind before how I looked."
    Jared shrugged.  "Actually, I was referring to the dark circles under your eyes.  But now that you mention it — "  Before she could stop him, he reached up and removed her glasses.  "At least don't ruin your eyes by looking through these damn things."
    Rachel made a grab for the glasses, but he moved away and tucked them into his coat pocket.  Any reply she might have made was cut off when a waiter came in carrying a large bowl filled with crushed ice and small plastic jugs of orange juice.
    "Sorry about the oversight, ma'am," the waiter said.  "I'll be sure and have it here in the morning."
    As he set the bowl down next to the donuts, three other men entered the room and called out greetings to Jared.  When everyone had arrived, Jared introduced Rachel to his fellow general managers.  She noticed some of them giving Jared strange looks, and two men even smirked when she was introduced.
    Rachel bristled.  How dare these men judge her solely on her looks.  She began to develop a strong empathy for plain looking women everywhere.
    The man named Holt, from Salt Lake City, punched Jared in the arm laughed.  "What happened to the lady in gold I saw you get off the elevator with last night, Morgan?"
    Rachel, who had her back to the two men, stiffened.
    "I wish I knew, Holt.  I wish I knew."
    Rachel clenched her teeth and shot Jared a murderous look.
    "You mean she got away?" Holt demanded.
    Jared grinned.  "Only temporarily, my friend.  I'll find her again.  You can bet on it."
    Before Rachel could do or say anything stupid, Harve Kennedy, the corporation's President of Broadcasting, called the meeting to order.
    At first, Rachel took notes fast and furious, until she became more familiar with the different voices her recorder was capturing.  One voice in particular she knew she'd have no trouble recognizing.  Jared's.  Every time he spoke, she had trouble concentrating.
    She did manage to pay attention, however, when Jared mentioned his proposed program change.  That was one of the things they'd researched for days.  He'd said he wanted enough statistics to back up his rather unorthodox request.
    Harve Kennedy looked at Jared skeptically, then glanced at his watch.  "I assume you're prepared to argue your case," he said with a smile.  When Jared smiled back and nodded, Harve continued.  "Then let's break for lunch and take it up as soon as we get back."
    The men rose from the table on cue,