Get your head in the game, Brielle.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t catch that.”
Pam smiles a Cheshire cat grin. “What about you two? You must have some fun stories to tell.”
I lean into him, the spicy scent of his cologne tickling my nose.
Okay, I can do this. Flashbacks to fourteen-year-old me standing on that stage dressed as a bale of hay come to the forefront of my mind. I turn to face Damian, hoping he’ll take the lead.
The only thing we rehearsed was that we met six months ago at a party. I have nothing else to work off. And if acting isn’t my forte, then improv really isn’t in my repertoire. Once again, I am rethinking every decision that brought me to this point, as I have since the moment Damian showed up at my door instead of texting like I told him to.
Evelyn better be suitably happy that I managed to get that extra day off for her, I know that much.
“What aboutus? Oh, that’s sweet,” I say. My mind is racing so fast, but I can’t seem to pin down any normal relationship behaviors.
“We’ve been together for six months,” Damian says matter-of-factly. He couldn’t sound more rehearsed if he tried.
I stop myself just shy of rolling my eyes and plaster a smile on my face as I lean into him. “It’s actually our six-month anniversary today,” I add.
Damian hugs my shoulder, pulling me closer to him a little too tightly. My brain catalogs how good he smells and stores it in the backof my mind. All the while, I try to look like this isn’t the most awkward moment of my life.
In fairness, it’s not. I have my lovely cousin Cassie to thank for that honor, but it is still very clearly unnatural the way Damian and I are acting.
I pat his chest and pull back a little. He squeezes my shoulder, and for a second, I’m not sure if he’s going to let me go. “Brielle is an accountant at CreativEdge. She makes sure all of the financial stuff is taken care of so I can spend my time focusing on what really matters. You.”
I freeze. My blood turns to ice in my veins as Damian pitches Leon on all the ways CreativEdge is outperforming its competitors and how their client-focused approach extends throughout every level of the organization while we wait for our meals.
Watching Damian in his element is a sight to behold. He speaks intelligently, listens intently, asks relevant questions that prompt Leon to keep talking. I don’t know why it surprises me so much, but it does. He’s a businessman, and a successful one at that. Of course he knows how to talk to people or, better yet, get them to do the talking.
Fire still bristles beneath the surface though.
Why did he have to tell them that I worked for him? We didn’t discuss that particular point coming into this, but I thought it was obvious. No one respects the woman they think is climbing the corporate ladder the hard way. Damian is so focused on his own agenda, making sure he highlights all of the ways CreativEdge can benefit the Vitales. He couldn’t care less that he just destroyed my reputation oh so casually.
I sit with my head held high as Leon picks up the thread of the conversation. He clearly loves what he does, both in their stores andwith their adventure tours. His animated expressions and hand gestures could tell the story without any words.
Honestly, things seem to be going really well for Damian, at least with Leon.
Damian can feel it, too. This contract is basically his with the rapport they’ve built over dinner. He glances at me and, ever so subtly, winks.
My blood heats from that one little gesture, thawing some of the ice from earlier. When I look away from his heavy gaze, I find Pam watching us.
She’s been quiet through most of the dinner, giving Damian and Leon the floor to discuss business, but this isn’t the first time I’ve found her eyes on us. Watchful. Scrutinizing.
At the first lull in conversation, Pam speaks up.
“Leon, let’s park the work talk for a minute. I want to hear more about you two.”
“Oh my goodness. I’ve run away with the conversation again, haven’t I? I can do that sometimes. Just kick me under the table next time to shut me up,” Leon laughs. “Go on, let’s hear more about Damian and…”
“Brielle,” Damian answers. My name on his lips does something to me that I don’t like… but that I don’t hate either. I’m still mad at him for flippantly disregarding my reputation, but he wasn’t doing it in some male-ego battle of pride. And Leon and Pam didn’t even bat an eye at the admission, which makes me feel like I have at least a shred of dignity left.
“Brielle, that’s right. Beautiful name.”
“Thank you,” I say.
“I’d much rather hear your stories. Bri and I live a boring, quiet life compared to you,” Damian says.
“Work, work, work, am I right?” I add with a laugh.
