“That’s a lot.”
“I mean, no need to deciderightnow.” But please drop some money through us; I have to eat. “After seeing your offices, I can walk you through the show again back at the offices, this time pointing out what pieces will go with the themes I mentioned.”
Soon we’re pulling up to one of Manhattan’s many office buildings. Beau takes me up the elevator to an office suite that is completely devoid of furniture. No, that’s not true. There’s some folding furniture set up in one room.
“Wow. We really are starting from scratch.” I should have brought a bigger notebook.
“We’ve been focusing on hiring employees. We haven’t spent too much time on...anything else.”
“I see that.”
“Are the money signs flashing across your head right now?”
“Oh yeah,” I say before I think it through. “But I’ll find you some good deals in the process too. But. Well. It’s going to be five rooms of furnishings?”
“Yeah. The research, product development, and manufacture are all going to be done in New Jersey, but we’re keeping these offices to impress investors and clients, and for our sales team.”
“Right. What are you guys doing exactly, again?”
“Selling equipment for alternative energy, specifically solar panels. We’ll also be researching making better panels and more efficient batteries to store energy.”
“Okay.” I take notes as we walk the space. “The building lends itself to a more traditional approach because it’s a historic building. But that wouldn’t stop us if you wanted to go contemporary.”
After a few walk-throughs, done mostly in silence while I let my mind wander into decorating magic, I call it a day. “I’ve got a good sense of the space now. I can prepare some ideas for you tomorrow.”
“Great.”
“Cool.”
Beau clears his throat as we wait for the elevator. “Can I take you to dinner? As a thank-you for the giant job you’ve taken on?”
I pause, not sure I should be around this attractive man outside of work. My reaction to him is already too strong and if I didn’t see this as a work opportunity, I would be running so fast in the opposite direction I would be a speck in his vision on the horizon. Because he’s too distracting.
When the silence goes on too long, Beau says, “Maybe we can talk more about this decision I’ve got to make. So you don’t waste time researching in the wrong direction.”
Oh. This guy is as ruthless as Priya. Finding my weak spot and ruthlessly exploiting it like a Southern Niccolò Machiavelli. And instead of reacting to that like a normal human, I’m intrigued.
I blame the Gupta genes: we’re a contrary family.
Why not? It won’t be the first time I’ve had to take clients to dinner.
“We’re doing an informal cousin/coworker holiday party at Rolf’s, before work gets too busy. It’s a German restaurant that does the best Christmas meals in the city. We usually go before the holiday auction prep gets too hectic. You can come, if you’d like.”
“Oh, I can’t impose.”
“No, please. It’s my responsibility as a New Yorker to show you the city and my responsibility as an auctioneer to help you with art.”
“Daniel always says I love responsibility so I can’t turn that down. I’d love to come. I can call a car, as thanks for letting me intrude on your plans.” Beau gets out his phone and I let it happen. I have to keep the client happy, and my phone is somewhere in the bottom of my purse.
I shiver in place as we wait, wrapping my arms around myself to keep in what little warmth I make. The closer we get to the holiday, the colder it gets, but the closer the city comes to giving me a white Christmas.
It’s rare, since our snow doesn’t get heavier until January, but it can happen. Especially with some Christmas magic.
Or you know, a convenient mass of moist air rising after meeting a mass of cold air and releasing its moisture. But science is basically magic anyway.
“Here,” Beau says as a soft coat still warm from his body envelops me and my nose is inundated with the faint smell of cinnamon.
“Oh.” I savor it for a second before trying to shrug out of it. “It’s not necessary...”
