All Chapters of Counterbalance: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

"Your last appointment is here, Mr. Gaines."Xavier glanced from his computer monitor to where his secretary's tinny voice emitted from his desk phone and hit speaker. "Wait five minutes and send her in. Thank you.""Yes, sir."Five minutes, and he'd finally have the meeting he'd been waiting weeks for since securing. Longer, if he accounted the past year when he'd last seen her at a charity function. He'd had to hold out for a break in her schedule to even get her to come in, and it had taken a lot of coaxing from his staff to accomplish that much.Anxious, he shoved from his desk and stood to face the wall of windows in his top floor high rise office in San Francisco's Financial District. Gaines Industries was among many Fortune 500 companies that occupied the clean, angular skyscrapers in the triangular area east of Kearny Street. Dusk was descending, turning the Bay in the distance pink and purple through a haze of fog. Unlike many metropolises where the fiscal wards went quiet

Desperately needing a caffeine boost, Peyton stopped at a vendor to grab a coffee on her three-block walk to Xavier's office. Thinking about his job offer had kept her awake all night and she was dragging this afternoon.She breathed in salty, damp air from the Bay and smiled as she passed others strolling by. The Financial District was alive with business people and tourists alike, and she enjoyed the buzz. Restaurants, shops, and skyscrapers blended together in a mishmash of unique. Sunshine filtered through a thin cloud cover, and she got a little more pep in her step. It was a gorgeous day and, despite leaving work early to meet with Xavier, she was free tonight. She had a date with Thor and her couch via Netflix. Maybe she'd make it a threesome by adding Ghirardelli. Though she'd been shocked by Xavier's offer, it couldn't have come at a better time. With Harrison announcing his senate bid next week, it was now or never to get out. She'd loved working for him and his wife, plus

Two Years Later...Finished with his late-morning meeting, Xavier strode across the hall and into Peyton's office, only to stop short. More than half the room was littered with balloons and flowers. Since her domain was a mirror to his and roughly five-hundred square feet, that was saying a lot. And, best he could tell, she wasn't here.Just as he was about to search through the rubble to see if she was buried underneath, she walked in. The clack-clack of her black heels hit the floor and he followed the path up her toned legs, past her fitted red dress to her hair. At the office, she always had it pinned up in a severe knot, which made him long for another charity event to see the champagne waves trail down her back. She glanced over the rim of her glasses at him. "Hey, favorite boss."He ran his fingers through his hair, trying to ignore the naughty librarian fantasy she evoked. "I'm your only boss and what the actual hell is all this?" It looked like Valentine's Day had throw

Peyton unlocked her apartment door and went to step inside, but Joseph put an arm in front of her. "Hold up. Wait here." He strode into her tiny living room, set his large black duffel bag on the floor, and glanced around, then moved into the adjoining kitchen. Seemingly satisfied no one was lurking, he disappeared down the hall. "Clear. Come in. Lock the door."Biting back a sigh, she did as he asked and dropped her purse on the small entry table. Heading to the kitchen, she checked her cell for calls. A solid set of arms wrapped around her from behind and a hand clasped over her mouth. The phone fell from her numb fingers. Heart pounding, she wiggled to get free, but he had her trapped. Panic clutched her throat. "Breathe, Peyton. Get out of the situation."Right. Closing her eyes, she channeled what Joseph had taught her. With a feral cry, she jabbed her elbow into his ribs, stomped on his in-heel, and thrust her foot toward his ankle. Using the full weight of her body, she

With Joseph assisting a very inebriated Kate off the elevator, Xavier hoisted a tipsy Peyton closer to his side and followed. She staggered and he nearly went down, but caught them both in time.Outside the gals' respective apartments, Joseph glanced between the two doors as if torn. "Let me get her inside and I'll be right back.""Take your time. I'll be with her." Xavier nudged his chin at Peyton.Kate giggled and buried her face in Joseph's chest. "You're not staying?"He glanced at the top of her auburn head. "Not while you're three sheets, Red. Another time, definitely."Both women laughed and swayed. Peyton pointed at Joseph. "He's got a thing for redheads. He told me so."Xavier ran his tongue over his teeth and glanced at his bodyguard. "At least they're happy drunks.""Rodger that." Somehow, Xavier managed to dig Peyton's keys from her purse and unlock the door, while Joseph did the same with Kate's. Peyton halted over the threshold. "How did these get here?" Her he