CHAPTER 6
Ethan
Tuesday
I wanted to delay the meeting with Miss Nakamoto, but it was too late. She was already in route to meet about our expansion into the Japanese market. Japan is all about relationships and customs whereas the States are all about deals. If Stone Solutions was to expand into the Asian market there was no better person to lead the expansion than Yui Nakamoto.
I tried to focus on her proposals and suggestions from my desk, but I was just too distracted. I knew Olivia would be in at eight at the latest. She struck me as the type to be ten minutes early, and I wasn’t about to keep her waiting.
I couldn’t wait to see her again. And I was ready to get her working in a place where she belonged. Next to me.
The button on my desk flashed indicating someone was using my private elevator. I’d left instructions with the doormen to show her the way. I looked at the clock. Fifteen ‘till eight. She was early just as I expected.
“Distracted, Mr. Stone?”
“I have another appointment who just arrived. Unfortunately we’ll have to be wrapping up. I’ll digest all this information and get back with you.”
“Since we’ll be working together so closely I was hoping you might want to…get to know each other a little better before I fly back to Tokyo.”
Yui leaned forward in her chair allowing her ample breasts to spill out of her top even more. She really could have buttoned up another button, if not two.
“That’s not the way I do business, Yui. You know that.”
She’s been trying to spark something between us for years, but I just have no interest. I don’t sleep with employees and I certainly don’t sleep with would be business partners. Those are the rules, or at least they used to be until Olivia.
“Maybe if you let me show you just how much we can do for each other than you’d reconsider.”
She opens her mouth like a circle and looks down my body to where my groin would be if there weren’t a desk in front of me.
“Miss Nakamoto, if you persist I’ll be forced to call the whole thing off.”
I look down at the CCTV camera knowing Olivia will be exiting at my floor now. I have to be there to meet her.
I stand from my desk and motion towards the door with an outstretched hand.
Fortunately Yui gets the hint. She leans back in her chair, straightening out her clothes and stands as I show her out.
The minute I open the door I see her. Olivia is there and damn she looks incredible.
She looks at me and then looks at Yui. I definitely don’t want her to get the wrong idea.
“Yui, this is Olivia. She’ll be working with me going forward.”
“Olivia this is Yui from Tokyo.”
“Nice to meet you, Yui,” Olivia says. She extends her hand and gives Yui a firm and professional handshake while adding a touch of realness with her genuine smile.
“Nice to meet you, Olivia,” Yui says.
I show Yui out, hoping she finally got the message this time. I’m not fucking around. If she keeps this up the deal’s off and I’ll delete her contact from my phone forever.
And the worst thing would be if Olivia sensed there was something between us. Olivia’s not the kind of girl who will try and steal a guy. I can tell. But there will be no stealing of this Stone. I’m going all in for her.
But with Yui, I’ve told her plenty of times I’m not interested, but I think that just makes her want something to happen between us even more.
It never will. If I needed to get off I’d jerk off. I don’t give myself to anyone unless I’m fully committed for the long term.
Like I am with Olivia. She’s just so entirely different than anyone I’ve ever met. It seems crazy to think so especially considering how many people I’ve met in and out of the office over the course of my life. But when you know, you just know.
She was just what I needed…and wanted.
I didn’t need to know anything else about her to know that I would make her mine, but there was one other opinion that mattered.
I motioned with my hand for Olivia to walk towards the concealed door I have in the side wall. She seems confused until I reach the wall just as she does and I press on a piece of slightly indented marble which causes the door to slide sideways. It’s a neat trick that very, very few know about.
“Rule number one,” I say. “You will never tell anyone about your office,” I say.
She turns back and looks at me realizing the space I’m referring to is her office.
I motion for her to step inside the room. It is her office after all.
I can see the shock on her face and know there is more than one reason why she can’t believe what she’s seeing. But just as she’s feeling amazed, I’m feeling amazed too. I’m so glad I’m able to provide her with an incredible working environment and equally happy to see just how much she appreciates it.
But the surprises aren’t done.
As soon as we step inside she sees my daughter Leah who’s quietly working on a crossword puzzle for kids on the couch.
“Rule number two. You will never tell anyone about Leah.”
Leah looks up when she hears her name. Sometimes she gets so engrossed in what she’s doing she blocks out everything around her. She looks at Olivia and smiles. Just as I expected. She can sense Olivia’s genuineness just as quickly as I did.
Leah gets up from the couch and approaches Olivia.
“Hi. I’m Leah. Nice to meet you.”
If there’s one thing I’m proud of in this world more than anything else it’s Olivia’s manners. No amount of money can buy class and I’ve done my absolute very best to teach her that since day one.
“Hi Leah. I’m Olivia. It’s nice to meet you too.”
Olivia’s tiny hand shakes Leah’s even tinier hand. It’s a moment I’ll never forget. The one girl in my life meeting the only other girl who will ever mean as much to me as she does.
I know this about Olivia just like I know how to evaluate a business deal or anything else in life. But this is personal. This has ramifications beyond dollars and cents.
This is my life. This is Olivia’s life. And this is Leah’s life. And when I make her mind this is going to be our life.
“Leah, could you excuse us for a minute?”
“Yes, dad,” she says as she scurries off into my office.
I motion for Olivia to join me by the windows. This will be her view from now on. It’s the best view in the entire city, except for my view. I’ll have her in my sights now day in and day out.
“I won’t beat around the bush,” I say.
I watch as her lips part slightly just before she bites her lower lip.
“I’m offering you a position we’ve never had at Stone Solutions. I’ve created it just for you.”
“Okay,” she says softly.
“I want you to work directly with me, not for me. And by with me I mean in every way. You’ll be my right hand and that includes family matters.”
She nods.
“Leah is my daughter. I’ve invested considerable time and money to keep her out of the press. It’s the last thing someone at her age needs. I want her to grow up with a normal childhood. It’s one of the reasons I never applied to change her last name to Stone.”
“Okay,” she says again.
“So you’ll work with me on business and personal matters. I’m asking you to be the positive role model that Leah needs day in and day out. I need to make myself clear now so you know exactly what you’re getting into should you agree.”
“I—”
“There’s one other thing,” I say as I interrupt her. “I don’t want you working with anyone else in the company but me.”
“But how would I be able to carry out my day-to-day duties?”
“In those circumstances of course you’ll need to interact with other members of the team, but you’ll be the lead on projects that I give you or that you work on by yourself.”
“I understand. Confidentiality is a must.”
“That’s true, but that’s not the main reason.”
I watch as her chest rises and falls in that blouse she’s wearing. I can see she’s still not sure what’s really being offered here.
“I want you all for myself.”