I arrive at the restaurant first, which is really more of a power play than anything else. Sylvie wants to think she’s running this meeting because we’re on her home turf at the restaurant she chose, but that’s not the case.
Of course I’m familiar with Pink Agave. It’s my sister-in-law’s favorite restaurant, and I’ve been here with her and my brother countless times.
I’m already seated at the table when she arrives, and I watch as she steps through the door. She’s wearing jeans and another shirt that stretches unforgivingly across those luscious tits. She wears these black-heeled boots that give her a boost in height and simultaneously make her look like a wicked minx.
Does she have any idea what the fuck she’s doing to me?
My dick hardens immediately in my pants.
A woman in jeans is a bit of a weakness for me, and paired with those sky-high heels…Jesus.
I’m still in the suit I wore to her office earlier. After I met with her, I went to my hotel to check in, and then I got stuck working on my laptop until it was time to leave. I barely had time to take a piss, let alone change my clothes.
She glances around and spots me, and I watch as her cheeks flush. She gives me a little wave before she makes her way to the table.
“Hey,” she says.
“Awfully casual for a business dinner,” I say, standing in greeting.
She pulls out the chair to sit. “Don’t care. I wanted to be comfortable.”
“Because you’re comfortable with me?”
She shrugs. “Strangely, I suppose I am. I haven’t slipped a word to a single soul about my father, and you waltz into my office and it spills right out of me.”
I shrug. “Guess the feeling’s mutual.”
I reach for my tie to loosen it, and her eyes go immediately to my throat. She watches my movements carefully, and her lips part when I pull on the knot. She swallows hard and then picks up her menu, trying to appear lost in the selection, but her reaction was exactly what I was looking for.
The waitress comes to take our drink order, and I opt for Dos Equis. I nearly keel over in shock when Sylvie orders a margarita on the rocks.
“What?” she asks when the waitress walks away.
“Tequila? You didn’t even want red wine at our last business dinner.”
“The margaritas here are to die for.”
I chuckle. “Do you come here a lot?”
“Not a lot. William doesn’t like Mexican food.”
“What the fuck is wrong with this guy?”
She presses her lips together and looks down at the table, and I think I’ve struck a chord. I feel a jolt of guilt.
I want her to break up with William, but I don’t want her to be upset.
“Hey, Sylvie, it was a joke.” I gentle my tone.
“I know,” she says, nodding. “I’ve just got a lot going on right now.” She clears her throat. “Tell me about this new structure you mentioned earlier.”
“Before we even place our orders? Before our drinks even arrive? Before I can even thank you for that magic pill that made my last flight home to New York actually bearable?”
“It was Ativan, and especially before our drinks arrive. Once I get a margarita in me, who knows what I’ll remember.”
I chuckle. “That bodes well for me.”
“In your dreams.” She winks at me, and I like this playful side to her. Maybe she feels comfortable on her own home base. “Now talk to me about your reorganization plan.”
“Someone from King will transfer out here to oversee the acquisition and then run the office under new management. Whoever does that will obviously look to your current team for assistance, so I really don’t foresee a lot changing with the exception of titles in the immediate future.”
“In the immediate future—what does that mean?”
“It means we may eventually need to cut or trim, but we’re not going to come in and burn the place down.”
“And my dad?”
“Will still essentially be running the office for as long as he wants, just in conjunction with someone from King and provided he doesn’t start shitting on us because he didn’t want this—but that holds true for anyone in an acquisition.”
“What about salaries and benefits?”
“Our HR department will work with your current department to merge. I’ve studied your financials extensively, and salaries seem comparable and fair. Benefits will remain the same until the end of the fiscal year, and then we’ll reevaluate.”
The waitress drops off our drinks and a basket of tortilla chips. We place our dinner orders.
Sylvie holds up her margarita, and I hold up my beer. “To this merger I don’t want and can’t stop.”
I touch my glass to hers, and we both drink. “I really am sorry about this, Sylvie.”
“I don’t blame you. I should, though.”
“Does William work for Baker?” I ask.
She looks surprised by my question. “He’s our corporate attorney.”
“William Rutherford?”
She nods. “Yeah, that’s him.”
“That’s what I thought. I’ve actually spoken to him before.”
She furrows her brows. “You have?”
I nod. “Months ago, when this whole acquisition started.”
“What did he say?”
“I’d probably be better off keeping that to myself.”
“And letting my imagination run wild?”
I chuckle. “Ask him.”
“I’m asking you.” Her voice is quiet and direct, and it’s honestly just a tad scary.
“He was professional, but I never got the impression he was against the idea of a merger.”
She shakes her head. “I was afraid of that.”
“Of what?”
“Can I ask you a question?”
I nod.
“Where did you first hear the rumors about my father?”
“From my CFO, Paul.”
“And where did he hear it?”
I think to my earlier conversation with Paul. Between us, it came from their legal team. I clear my throat. As much as I want Sylvie to dump the clown and get with me, I don’t want it to happen because I’m throwing the other guy under the bus. I want her to realize it on her own.
“Why do you ask?”
“Because I have this gut feeling that William isn’t who I thought he was. Was it him?”
I shrug. “I can’t say for sure, but Paul did mention something about the legal team.”
“That motherfucker,” she mutters so quietly that I almost miss it.
“What?” I ask.
“He’s been working with the enemy all along.”
“I don’t know that I’d say that, exactly. It might not have even been him. I don’t know who Paul’s been working with.”
“Why are you defending him?”
“I’m not, I just don’t want you to jump to conclusions.”
“Why do you care?”
Isn’t that the goddamn question of the hour. “I don’t know,” I admit honestly. “I guess because I care about you. I don’t want you getting hurt.”
“It’s well beyond too late for that.”
“What did he do?” I ask through gritted teeth. I want to fucking murder this guy and I don’t even know why. These feelings are so damn strong and puzzling.
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Talk to him before you assume the worst.”
I still don’t get why, exactly, I’m sticking up for William. I should be pumping my fist in the air in victory. Instead, I’m acting like a fucking chump.
“You’re right. You know something? You’re kind of a good guy.”
“I don’t know if I’d go that far, cupcake.”
“Why do you have to ruin these nice moments between us?”
I grin, and her cheeks flush again.
“Go to dinner with me tomorrow—not a business dinner.”
“I can’t. I’ve got the Lindor-Hodge Ball. Oh, and I’ve got a boyfriend.”
I have no idea what she’s talking about, but I make a mental note of the names. I’ll figure out the details later, but now that I know where she’ll be tomorrow night, I’ll sure as hell be there, too.
“I’ll wait until you don’t.”
“We went ring shopping. It might be a pretty long wait.”
Ring shopping…that throws a bit of a wrench into my plans. Sounds pretty serious with William, but she’s also not exactly happy with him at the moment. I just have to figure out if she’s the kind of unhappy that’ll lead her to my bed. “I get the feeling you’d be worth it.”
“Not gonna happen. Besides, you’re going to be my boss.”
I shrug. “So? Aren’t you dating a coworker right now?”
The flush in her cheeks deepens. She has no defense to that one, but lucky for her, our meals arrive and save her from having to respond.