After shaking them, he spoke with his head receptionist. “All good?”
“Yes, sir,” she replied.
“What VIPs are here?” he asked.
“The CEO of Corpo Bellissimo. She’s meeting with your exec team in the exec conference room.” She rattled off a few more guests before her phone rang. “Excuse me,” she said before answering. “Santini International, how can I help?”
Gabriel and his cousin walked to the elevator bank. There, he said hello to a few more employees. As they rode upstairs, he checked in with them. Nothing but sunshine and rainbows. He appreciated that they didn’t get into the weeds or dump their work problems on him. He’d trained them well. At Santini Euro, they loved what they did, and they found viable solutions whenthey hit a roadblock. If they didn’t have positive attitudes or they weren’t team players, they were gone.
Here, life was simple.
Everywhere else, it was a complicated maze of walking on eggshells or fighting over turf.
After dropping Monroe off with his lead designer, Gabriel poked his head into the executive conference room. “Good morning. I’m in town for a minute, had to stop in and say ciao.”
Everyone stood, their too-big smiles had him shaking hands with his team and saying hello to Claudia, the CEO of Corpo Bellissimo—Body Beautiful—and her group.
“Let’s take five,” said Gabriel’s VP of Worldwide Distribution.
Most stayed in the room, chatting amongst themselves or checking emails. A few wandered into the hallway to make a call.
“Gabriel, good to see you,” Claudia said. “Time for a drink later?”
“That Santini Original suit was made for you,” he said.
She leaned close. “You can strip me out of it later.”
Gabriel had a reputation for being a wild one, but never with Claudia. Over the years, he’d done the razzle dazzle with a few vendors but since the relationships never ended well, neither did their business partnerships. After learning his lessons the hard way, he kept his Little General out of business… but his reputation lingered long after he’d cleaned up his behavior.
He offered a tight smile. “I’m flattered, but I have to pass.”
“Maybe next time,” she pushed.
He needed to shut this down. Stringing her along wasn’t his style, plus she needed to know that sex wasnotpart of the deal.
He leaned close, whispered, “I’m sorry, Claudia, but no.”
Her eyes turned cold. “We might walk.”
“Partnering with Santini Euro is smart business. You know that.” He thanked everyone, flashed his team a big smile beforesignaling for his VP of Worldwide Distribution to join him in the hallway.
Once there, he murmured, “She propositioned me. I refused. She threatened to walk.”
Up went her sculpted eyebrows. “Good to know,” said his VP.
“What’s their pitch?”
She relayed their proposal, finishing with, “I came in high on purpose.”
He smiled. “Brilliant as always.”
“That’s why you hired me.”
“Expect her to play hardball or walk.”
“How do you want me to manage this?”
“We won’t be manipulated, especially by sex,” Gabriel said.
