She carries herself with poise, but there’s a stealthy catlike resemblance to the way she moves that has me intrigued. Though she’s focused on her presentation and she rotates eye contact to watch us for cues ensuring she has our attention, her predatory gaze scans her surroundings, drinking everything in with a subtle cunning lens that implies there is a lot more to her than meets the eye. Confidence infuses every movement of her body, but there’s a stiffness there too, like she’s primed and ready for an ambush and jonesing to take any detractor down.
She fascinates me more than any woman has in a long, long time.
She definitely has to go.
When Athena brings her presentation to a close, I join our CMO in asking her questions, but I don’t drill her like I have the other candidates who pitched for our business because I’m too busy to waste any more time on this. I plan to leave early tonight, to get ready for my meeting with Charlie.
“I think we’ll leave it there,” I say, locking eyes with her gorgeous blue ones.
She truly is stunning with the most exquisite face and a body made for sin. The suit she’s wearing is expensive and elegant and not overtly sexy, but it hugs sumptuous curves begging for a man’s touch. Images of paddling Vixen’s ass resurrect in my mind, and for a fleeting second, I replace the memory with Athena, imagining her spread out on a spanking table, her ass cheeks flushed from my touch.
I meet plenty of hot women in my line of work, but I can’t say I’ve ever visualized paddling their asses in a business meeting.
I’m surprised at the strength of attraction that ignites the space between us, and I wonder if she’s felt it too. Charlie would say it’s because she reminds me of my love, but that’s not it. Usually, any resemblance to Jane sends me running for the hills, but she has the opposite effect on me. For the first time in a very long time, a woman has sated my curiosity, and I’m tempted to find out more. She might share some physical traits with Jane, but that’s where the familiarity ends. If I had to guess, I’d say Athena Lewis is a career ballbuster who eats men for breakfast, chews them up by lunch, and spits them out by dinner.
The power play would be intense, but I don’t mix business with pleasure, and I don’t bring complications into the workplace. Besides, I sense there’s something she’s hiding, and I think Ms. Lewis would be nothing but trouble, and I need that like a hole in the head.
“If you have any follow-up questions, feel free to email me directly,” Athena says, yanking me out of my head. She passes a business card to all of us.
“Thank you for your excellent presentation. We’ll be in touch.” Chairs are pushed back as we all stand. I lean across the table and shake her hand one final time.
“I would love the opportunity to work on this project for your company, Mr. Manning. I guarantee, if you award me the contract, I will pull out all the stops to ensure the delivery is exemplary and the project comes in on time and within budget. No one will work harder for Manning Motors than me.”
I can tell she means that, but it’s too slick, too practiced, and it only confirms my suspicions.
“I appreciate that,” I say, offering her a tight smile as I dismiss her. “Ms. Markham will see you out.”
Hilary leaves to go back to her desk to begin typing up the notes while I discuss the presentation with our CMO. Belinda returns five minutes later, and it’s like a two-for-one assault as they push me to hire her, but I’m adamant she’s not the one for the job. After a very heated discussion, I tell them my preference and request they get the paperwork drawn up, and then I leave them with scowling faces to return to my desk.
A couple of hours later, I’m finishing up a review of the monthly departmental budgets for next month when Hilary rings through to my office.
“I’m sorry to interrupt you, Drew, but Ms. Lewis is here to see you.” She lowers her voice. “I told her you’re tied up all afternoon, but she said she was fine to wait, and she’s just sitting out here. What do you want me to do?”
I assume she’s been told she didn’t win the contract and this is some last-ditch attempt to convince me to hire her. “Tell her my schedule is full, I don’t have time to see her, and stalking me will not win her any favors.”
“Okay. I’ll tell her, boss.” Hilary emails me a few minutes later to confirm Athena has left.
I’m later leaving than planned, so I’m rushing to my car in the underground parking lot under the building, slightly distracted with dark thoughts of tonight’s meeting, which is why I don’t spot the blonde bombshell waiting by my car until I’m almost on top of her.
“I believe my assistant relayed my message,” I grit out, clicking the fob and opening the rear of my Lexus SUV.
“I apologize for cornering you like this, Mr. Manning,” she says, striding toward me as I deposit my coat and briefcase inside the cargo space alongside the two sturdy gray boxes containing various supplies.
I close the door as she stands beside me, looking only mildly apologetic.
“This is extremely unprofessional. The decision has been made. Act gracious and accept it.”
“I think you’re making a mistake.”
I snort out a laugh. She’s got balls, all right. “I think I know my business better than you.”
“Of course, you do, but you don’t know mine. I’m sure you think I’m small fry compared to Genesis Marketing, but they won’t give you the dedicated focus a project like this needs. They’ll assign a large team who will spend more time pushing paper and talking about strategies instead of getting the job done. They rotate teams around several clients, and you’ll have different people coming and going. It’s not an efficient process and they won’t bring the project to conclusion on time and within budget. I guarantee if you hire me you will be my sole focus. My team’s too. I won’t take on any other big projects. This contract will have our complete attention. I’m prepared to put my money where my mouth is.”
I quirk a brow, trying to decide if this passionate display is genuine or all part of the setup.
“If I don’t complete the project on time and within budget, I will forfeit my fee. My entire fee.”
She comes from money. The suit and the pearls confirm it. She can afford to work for free, so it’s not exactly selling it to me. “Why do you want this contract so bad?”
