“It’s just sex.” His words catch me off guard. He shrugs our evening off as ‘just sex?’ Well, it is just sex, but for the first time since I started my parade of men years ago, the words ‘just sex’ actually hurt. When they aren’t supposed to bother me in the least.
“Yes, Levi. That is all it is. Just sex.” I pause for a moment, re-thinking everything I’d wanted this night to be. “And this was it for us. Club or no club, we won’t sleep together again. This was a momentary lapse in judgment on my part, and because of our extremely close professional connection, I just can’t risk this happening again. I’m sorry.” I find my skirt and pull it on, following it with the boots I wore. I try and ignore him, but I can feel his gaze on me, as he works to find his own clothes, somewhere within the walls of the sprawling blue room.
“I guess I will see you Monday morning?” he questions, as I pull my jacket up off the bench next to the door. I shouldn’t turn to look at him, but I do anyway. He looks like a wounded animal, and the typical ‘I don’t give a fuck’ attitude that I carry is thrown out the window. I actually feel bad for him; his broken look mirrors the broken pieces of his heart, and I actually care for once.
“Yes, bright and early; we have a meeting at nine.” Like that, I walk out of the blue room, and head straight for my waiting car.
CHAPTER 4
Sunday, I spent the day sulking around the penthouse. I pulled my laptop out and cleared every last fucking email I had. All six hundred and seventy-three. One-by-one, I read, deleted, or acknowledged every last electronic letter. Then I took a bath, a really long bath, full of bubbles, and some strange homeopathic herb shit my parents got me, insisting I needed it to relax more. I gorged on unhealthy street-cart food from the Halal cart at the corner, and crashed, but not before downing a bottle of white wine, alone. That makes me an alcoholic, huh?
My car pulls up to the curb, outside the Alexander Mobile building, and I let out a sigh before exiting the safety of my uncomplicated car and heading back into the best and worst fucking business deal I’ve ever made. This morning, Olivia will be joining me, finally.
I brush down my black pencil skirt, while I make sure the aqua blouse is still neatly tucked in. My black Manolo heels echo through the prodigious lobby as I wave to the security guys, and catch the available elevator before the doors close.
Over the weekend, Olivia had my interior designer in to overhaul the outdated office. Mr. Stern was officially gone, so they politely packed up all he’d left behind, which will be removed before the close of the day. The elevator doors open to my floor, and I make a beeline for my office. I have half an hour to catch up, and to ensure Olivia is comfortable, before I have to deal with my Monday morning board meeting.
As I round the corner, I spot Olivia sitting at her desk, flanked by a balding asshole, flirting with her. None other than Daniel Alexander, of course. Just goes to show the kind of creep he apparently still is.
“Good morning, Olivia.” I whisk past, completely ignoring Daniel, and slam my office door closed.
My anger can’t hold long, because the office is everything I always wanted. Mikal completely knocked this impromptu project out of the park. The slim white desk sits center on the far glass wall, looking out over the city. The colors mesh perfectly. Feminine without looking like Victoria’s Secret vomited all over the modest space. The carpet is black, the accent chairs are a classy, vintage shade of turquoise, and by God, the couch looks comfortable enough to sleep on. Which I will probably be doing often enough.
A note sits on the desk, with a single pink daisy.
Seven,
I hope you enjoy the office. I had fun with this project, despite your usual, unreasonable time-frame. Always a pleasure.
“Damn, if that man wasn’t gay, I would marry him,” I mumble under my breath.
My intercom buzzes and Olivia giggles on the other end, not realizing the intercom has connected yet. “Miss James?” she asks hesitantly through the line, clearly sensing I was pissed off when I bound into the office a few moments ago.
“Yes, Livie?”
“You have an urgent message. Can I bring it in?” Urgent? Great. All I need!
“Yes, Livie,” I say and kill the intercom. I set up my laptop while I wait for her to make her way in. The door opens, and she stands on the threshold. “Come in; who is the message from?”
She starts to read the notice, making her way across the room to hand it to me. “It is a message from the London manufacturing office. There is a problem with Alexander Mobile production.” The last fucking words I want to hear. Ever. She hands the note over with the full details of the problem. I eye it, while she fidgets with her chin length blonde hair, brushing it down with her hands, before doing the same to her cream-colored business suit.
“Okay, I need travel set up. Book accommodations for two. I’ll get back to you in an hour as to what board member is coming with me. I want the Empire Suite at the Cafe Royal hotel in London. If it is unavailable, I’ll settle for the Club Suite.”
I pick up the phone, dialing the president of operations in London as Livie exits quickly to prepare my arrangements. Damn it all to Hell. I don’t want to go anywhere, especially with any of the fucking board members.
“I can’t travel, doctor’s orders,” one of the older gentlemen says, excusing himself from the travel obligations.
“I have a three day vacation booked,” Daniel jumps in thankfully, because the idea of traveling anywhere with him, especially overseas, has my blood absolutely boiling. What a fucking sleaze-ball. Drooling all over poor Livie, and she’s eating it up. Note to self - have a talk with her about Daniel, or fire her. Either way, both may be a little fun.
“I’ll do it.”
The voice sends a shock through my system, and I look up to meet Levi’s gaze. His hair is styled perfectly, a grey custom suit adheres to all the right places on his body, and I can’t help but ogle him across the table. Without showing my nerves, I try to speak above the side conversations around the table.
“No one else?” I scan everyone’s faces; they all look like they just dodged a bullet.
“If that is settled, I have someplace to be.” Daniel stands to walk from the table. I still have a laundry list of shit I need the board to discuss, but no one seems interested at all.
“Ah, he who cares so little about the company that bears his name.”
The conference room falls silent; all the men stare at me with shock. Clearly, Daniel walks around here like he is untouchable, but that will come to an end, now.
“What did you say?” He turns around mere inches from my face, questioning me like I have to answer to him. Wrong.
“I said, Mr. Alexander, for someone who actually bears the name of this company, you surely show little interest in its well-being and business. But I don’t believe I stuttered.”
Still silent, the men watch as I enter into a pissing match; I am sure to win.
“I have an appointment.” He is short, to the point, but I can see he’s pissed. His face clearly shows frown lines as his mouth sets into a straight line, his brows furrow, and as he turns to leave he lets out a fucking huff. Did he just fucking huff at me?
He turns to walk from the room, but I have the last word. “Hey Daniel, next time you miss a board meeting for an ‘appointment,’ you can pack up your office, and get the fuck out.”