Shit. Shit. Shit.
Was I really the last one here? It was like I missed some imaginary memo that said arrive early. I knew it wouldn’t look good. It was hard enough being the next of kin in this business, but then you throw in being a woman. I had twice as much to prove.
“Ah, there you are,” said my father as I stepped through the open glass door. His brown eyes looked at me and I swore there was a flash of disappointment before he blinked it away. I couldn’t help but feel like I had embarrassed him by showing up last and in my current state. I swallowed down the lump in my throat.
I rushed toward him and plucked his black iced coffee from the cardboard carrier. Thepopthe only sound that filled the room.
“Here’s your coffee,” I said, hoping my voice didn’t sound as shaky as it felt.
Calm down.I said to myself.
But I couldn’t help but feel like a newbie, like I hadn’t worked for the company for the past ten years. Right now, I felt more like a foolish intern eager to impress, and not the strong badass I knew I was. I tried to remind myself of that now as my father’s eyes took in my ruined skirt suit. His eyebrow raised a tick.
Before he could say anything, I cut in. “Some smug asshole bumped into me at the coffee shop. I didn’t have time to change.”
I heard someone loudly clear their throat behind me.
“I’ve been called worse before,” said a deep voice.
I knew that voice. I had heard it before…
A pool of dread began to form in my stomach as I slowly turned around. My face drained of color when I spotted the jerk from the coffee shop sitting at the table, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. I tried not to stare at that mouth. Instead, my eyes took in the fact that he was in a brand new suit. No sign of any coffee stains. He somehow looked even better than he did half an hour ago.
Asshole.
“And if I remember correctly,youbumped into me.” He shrugged.
Asshole.
Chapter 4
Chandler
I did my best to hide my surprise, as I looked up in amusement at the woman I never thought I would see again. Her hazel eyes looked as if they were on fire and I wondered if there was a good chance I would see smoke come from her ears. I leaned back in my black leather chair and crossed my arms, studying her face that was pinched into a pissed-off expression.
I took this opportunity to study her face more closely. She had a sprinkle of freckles over the bridge of her nose that barely kissed just under her eyes. Her lips were full and shiny from a glossy lip product, emphasizing their rosy pink color. Her nose was slender, tipped up at the end in a small point. Her features were dainty, yet prominent at the same time.
She seemed uncomfortable under my gaze, but held her ground as best she could. She was still wearing her coffee-stained outfit, but she had buttoned up the blazer out of modesty I was sure.A disappointment, but probably best to not be distracted by the white lace of her bra at this moment. I wondered what she was doing here. Maybe she was Mr. Howard’s assistant. Lucky dog. Although I remembered I got shown in here by an elderly woman who was sitting just outside his office.
If she wasn’t his assistant, then an employee. Still, that surprised me because she was so easily able to drop a curse word in front of the boss. No one seemed to bat an eye either. I wondered if she was always this fiery. My intrigue was growing. I couldn’t figure out what she was doing here. And clearly, she couldn’t figure out the same about me.
Her eyes were still on me, as if she was willing something awful to happen to me. I had to bite back a laugh at her blatant disregard of giving a shit. But there was also something else in her eyes. Something distrusting. I bristled at that of all things. Not the scowl on her face or the daggers she was shooting my way. I hated that she was wary of me. She had no reason to doubt me. She didn’t even know me.
Although, I probably didn’t give her the best first impression this morning. I never really did leave a good impression on women, so it wasn’t surprising. I was an asshole. Admittedly so. But how was I supposed to know I would run into her again? And here, of all places.
I picked up my clear plastic cup of espresso on ice and took a long, slow slip, fully entertained in the fact that I was in a fresh suit drinking my cup of coffee that had gone unscathed. After swallowing down the semi-sweet, strong liquid, I tilted my head slightly. I was not about to break the strong eye contact she wasstill bringing. I was aware that this thing between us was on full display in this full conference room, but I refused to back down. I wondered who would break first.
She finally let out an exasperated sigh and shook her head slightly, her long brown hair swaying with the movement. She turned to Mr. Howard, who sat at the head of the table curiously observing the two of us during our stand-off. My eyes fell momentarily to her ass, which I hadn’t gotten a good look at earlier.
Perky. Plump. Perfect. The three Ps.
That blue skirt did wonders for her. I noticed no one else was looking. Were they all blind?
“What’shedoing here?” she asked loudly, making my eyes snap back up.
I jerked my chin back, taken aback by her brashness. I couldn’t believe she was making a big deal out of nothing, and in front of the board of one of the largest companies in New York. Hell, on the East Coast. She had balls, that was for sure.
Everyone in the conference room shifted in their seats slightly as they looked from her to me and back to their boss. Surely, they hadn’t expected this sort of entertainment when they woke up this morning. Them and me both.
