Sophia

 

 

Nicholas sits in the corner of our booth with an untouched tumbler of scotch on the table in front of him. He hasn't said a word since I pushed the money he gave Joe into his pocket. I brought him here to show him that I'm one woman who is more than capable of finding her own way to pay for a website overhaul.

"After I met Joe yesterday, I realized that Foster Enterprises has been looking for someone to helm the tech department for over a month. Mr. Foster and his brother haven't been impressed with any of the applicants, so I asked Joe to clean himself up and come in for an interview."

It's the truth, mostly the truth.

I did think of Joe when I saw yet another interoffice memo about all the available job openings at Foster. It was waiting for me in my inbox when I got back to my desk after lunch. Since the listing at the top was for the tech department, I immediately thought of Joe. I sent him a brief text message asking if he would be interested in a full-time gig with great benefits and an even better salary.

He texted me back almost immediately saying he might be since the money Nicholas gave him was all he had to his name. It was the second time that he'd mentioned his cash flow problem to me so I told him I'd arrange an interview but I expected a favor if he landed the job.

Knowing exactly what I was after, he agreed. Three hours later he arrived at my desk, clean-shaven and dressed in a suit. Mr. Foster gave him the job on the spot and before Joe left the building, we had an agreement in place that he'd build me a new website, and maintain it on a monthly basis, at no charge.

"I take it the price for helping him land the job involves him doing side work for your design business for free?" Nicholas finally picks up his drink.

I nod as I sip on the glass of red wine I ordered. "It's not that I didn't appreciate you hiring him to help me. I did, but it felt like too much too soon."

He puts the tumbler down without bringing it to his lips. "I wanted to help you. You have so much potential, Sophia. I saw it as a sound investment in you. I have no doubt you're going to rule the New York fashion scene one day."

I smile brightly at the compliment. "It's not an actual investment if there's no legal contract drawn up. You were doing me a favor. It's too generous a favor for anyone to do for a person they just met."

I can tell by his reaction that my words sting. "Should we get a legal contract drawn up? I have some funds I'm looking to invest. I'd gladly buy some shares in your company."

It's not technically an actual company. I took the preliminary steps to get everything set up a few months ago when I thought I might be able to sell some pieces in a store owned by the husband of a woman Cadence worked with. That never panned out, so I used the money I'd set aside for lawyer fees to buy more supplies.

"I'm not at the point where I'm looking for investors yet," I say as I make a mental note to check in with Zoe Beck, a friend of a friend who happens to be an attorney.

"You should be." He finally takes a long drink of scotch. "If you worked out a deal with an investor or two, your business would be on its way. You need money for marketing and promotions. You can't expect to sew every design yourself forever. You have to start looking at the big picture."

His words don't sting. Tyler and Cadence sat me down a few months ago and gave me the same speech. They want to invest too but I've been wary of mixing business with such a close and important friendship. I consider them my New York family and if I were to lose the money they invest in me, I'd never forgive myself.

"You want to work at this full-time one day, don't you?" He presses on when I don't respond immediately. "If you keep waiting, you might miss your chance to hit it big. Your tomorrow can be today, Sophia. I can help make it happen."

His words are encouraging even though the idea of having his money backing me feels like a recipe for relationship disaster. "It wouldn’t be good for us."

"For the dating us?" He cocks his left brow as a smile ghosts his lips. "Our business arrangement would have nothing to do with that."

It's not that cut and dry. I know all about what happened to Evlin Dawn and her husband when they launched Bluenix. Six months later her brand had a spread in Vogue and her husband was in the Caribbean with a model they'd hired for their print campaign.

"I don't think we can separate the two, " I say honestly. "What happens when we break up and you have to come to shareholder meetings?"

His smile fades. "We're adults, Sophia. We can handle it. If we can't I'll send a liaison in my place."

"A liaison?"

He eyes the people seated at the bar. "My sister. Nyx will take over controlling interest of my shares if it ever gets to that point."

I don't know much about his family other than what I found online. There was mention of his sister, Nyx, in one article but I only skimmed it looking for details about the man sitting next to me. "Does she have better fashion sense than you?"

His gaze skims the jeans and blue button down shirt he's wearing. He'd slid out of his wool coat once we sat down. "What's wrong with my fashion sense?"

"Joe won the best dressed contest tonight," I point out wryly. "At least he wore a suit to meet me."

"He was meeting us," he corrects me. "I assume he came here straight from his first day of work at Foster. Besides, I had no idea if we were hanging out here or in a room."

I lower my voice to a purr. "The night is still young, Mr. Wolf. If you play your cards right, I might be able to show you a luxury suite."

He finishes the last swallow of scotch in the bottom of the glass. "You're very resourceful and multi-talented. Speaking of which, tell me you'll think about my offer to invest. We can have Nyx sit in on our business meetings if you want. She's a lot like you. Her entrepreneurial spirit is on overdrive."

I focus my eyes on his. "Does she own her own business?"

"She does," he doesn't elaborate. "You two need to meet. I'll make that happen, but first show me that luxury suite."