7
Enya Williams was going to be a tough nut to crack. Thomas Silversson had known it from the moment he saw her, really saw her, by looking straight into her soul through those stubborn hazel eyes. He was glad that he had not let himself be deceived by the first impression he had gotten from his glance. He would’ve basically ignored her then and never known what an amazing creature she was.
Thomas knew he was smiling like a fool. One day, maybe he would have the chance to tell her about those first impressions. It amused him that she still thought their first meeting was in the elevator. As much as he enjoyed the innocent teasing and how she blushed when caught staring at him, he did want her to remember the first time she saw him. He wasn’t going to tell her today, though. It was the show time.
Thomas L. Silversson, the devil himself as some called him, pushed open the door and stepped into “Yum & Fun”. He couldn’t wait to see her reaction. He imagined her eyes widen with surprise, the freckles on her cheeks get a shade brighter as she desperately searched for words.
“Hi,” a cheerful voice greeted him. She sounded nice but not like Enya. It was surprising how the momentary disappointment made his heart sink. “Welcome, to Yum and Fun!”
The very beautiful blond with curly hair was standing behind the counter. The sweet, perfect scent of cinnamon and ginger filled his nostrils. Thomas did not have a sweet tooth. Yet, his mouth watered and he knew there was only one thing more sweet and delicious to be found in this show, Enya Williams herself.
“Hi,” he finally recalled his manners and greeted the cheerful shop assistant. “I am...” Thomas paused, realizing who he was wasn’t important in this interaction. “Who cares about names? Just came here to try your best dessert.”
“Oh, dear Mr. Handsome, all of them are the best,” the cute blonde giggled. “How about you take a seat and I’ll make a selection of something you might enjoy?”
“I’ll trust your choice then,” Thomas gave her another smile, knowing she was melting under the heavy gaze of his bright green eyes. Then, he looked around to find the best place for him to sit so that he would notice Enya as soon as she entered the store.
“Yeah, you can have any table you’d like, haven’t been too busy lately,” he heard the cute girl’s comment which sounded to him a bit sharp for a small talk. “Not since all the local shops closed one after another. They loved to come to this place after lunch, or even for lunch. Who wouldn’t enjoy a meal full of healthy sweets, right?”
She placed a plate of desserts on the table she seemed to have chosen for him.
“Would you like to have tea or coffee with your dessert, Mr. Silversson? I believe you might like to taste our special healthy chocolate coffee before we close for good,” she placed her hands on her hips, trying to look dangerous.
“If you know who I am, how about you tell me your name as well. That would be only fair,” he did his best to give her his nicest smile.
“Karoline Kvinck,” she put him out of his misery and invited him to take the seat she had chosen for him by the window.
He was about to say how happy he was to meet her, maybe compliment her hair or the beautiful plate of sweets she had put together for him, but she turned abruptly and disappeared through a door which Thomas believe led to the kitchen.
Deep in his heart, Thomas hoped Enya would be back soon for more than one reasons now. The invitation he had decided to deliver to her in person was only a cover story for him to meet her again. Now, he needed her for his safety as well. Ms. Karoline Kvinck looked charmingly hostile.
Moments later, Karoline was back carrying two huge mugs.
“Chocolate coffee,” she placed one in front of him and took the seat on the other side of the table hugging her own mug. “So what brings you here?”
“Curious are we?” Thomas could not help to tease her a little bit.
He had learned to read people’s body language while watching them at work. One could learn a lot about the employee’s motivation and loyalty. Ms. Karoline Kvinck was a fierce warrior who believed in Enya’s business. She was not one of those employees who was already sending her resume to other potential employers, she was here to stay to the very end; an end which was soon to happen. Even if Thomas knew about Enya and her little charming shop months ago, the project of the elite shopping district had been in work for over a year. Neither the municipality nor his investors would’ve agreed to let go of such a great deal to save one little shop, or even the dozen that lined the street.
“I’m here to see your boss,” he tried to sound as business as he could.
“I can call Enya and see when she’s coming back,” she quickly went to the counter and returned with a phone in the hand that looked more like a giant strawberry than the gadget it was supposed to be.
Thomas could not hide his amusement. Usually, cuteness was never his thing. He preferred to keep things more elegant and simple. Still, everything about this place made him smile. He made a mental promise to bring his grandma here before the place was closed. He didn’t spend much time with her recently and he knew how important it was for her, and for him. She was the only person whom he trusted. The only person who stood by himself from the time when he was a lonely, angry teenager. The only person who believed in him when he quit university and decided to start his business at the age of twenty. And the only person, who could still kick his ass if she thought he wronged someone with no good reason.
He knew she would want to kick his ass for this project most probably. Still, he was ready to take that risk. The reward was simply too great.
Karoline cleared her throat and Thomas realized he had been carried away.
“She’s on her way back. But she said you can leave a message with me if you don’t want to wait.” Karoline gave him the stern look that spoke volumes.
To show he was determined to stay, he pulled the huge place of sweets closer and started tasting them one by one. “I’ll wait.”
He enjoyed watching from the corner of his eyes the cute little assistant’s flushed face and wide eyes as he made moans devouring the sweets. Yes, he was guilty of trying to make her like him in every way possible. That was one tool Thomas knew always worked with women. He needed Enya’s assistant on his side for the battle to come.
He had devoured half of the desserts Karoline had offered him, and was sure he would’ve exploded if he took another bite, when the bells hanging above the doorframe rang. Both Thomas and Karoline turned toward the door. His heart skipped when Enya entered the shop and her deep, stubborn eyes met his. Reflecting the sunlight, her freckles were turned into a much brighter, coppery shade. He knew she was trying to hide her surprise at his visit.
“Mr. Silversson,” she greeted him coldly.
Thomas knew it was foolish to expect anything else but a cold, polite handshake. His gritted his teeth as he knew his mind betrayed him, filling his head with memories of her lips.
“Ms. Williams,” he mirrored her greeting in a similarly formal manner. “I hope you are doing well.”
“You can see it for yourself,” she took Karoline’s now vacant seat.
“I’m here to deliver an invitation to you,” he started.
He placed both his hands on his thighs below the table and strictly forbade himself to even think about touching her. He did not have the benefit of being anonymous anymore and couldn’t afford to be playful as he did in the elevator.
“Have you also purchased and closed all the postal services in the city?” Enya cocked a brow at him.
Thomas loved the sarcastic, sharp tone in her voice.
“Well, since you are the only shop that has refused all the business offers my lawyers have sent to you, you get a special treatment and the pleasure to meet me one-to-one again. I promised you we’ll meet again and if nothing else, I am a man of my word.”
He chuckled as she rolled her eyes at him. All sorts of emotions were hidden in that very simple gesture that could look arrogant to many, but he knew was simply her way of looking for words when confused.
“I see that Karo is spoiling you again with sweets,” she was now playing with a very rebellious strand of her auburn hair that had escaped her ponytail.
Thomas groaned as he remembered the feel of that silky hair. He wanted to run his fingers through them. He could not, though. Strictly business, he reminded himself.
“Yes, at least one person in his shop is kind to me,” he said.
“Do not even hope, Mr. Handsome,” Karoline yelled from the kitchen.
“Ah, I see nobody is kind to me here. I cannot hold business negotiations in such an environment. How about me meet in neutral territory?”
“Neutral territory? Are we at war?” Enya narrowed her eyes on him and that was a declaration of war on its own.
Thomas filled his mouth with more sweets. He had rehearsed this very episode several times while driving here. He knew she was going to react exactly like this. Karoline’s participation from behind the war was an added challenge, of course. Still, things were going according to his plan.
“I could always invite you to continue our conversation in our headquarters. I believe you enjoyed the elevator ride.”
To add more flavor to his words, he took another bite of what looked like beet and chocolate candy, and then licked his fingers. That was all he had planned for his little seduction scene, but the candy was too good, so despite his best efforts, he felt his head drop back, eyes close and he let out a happy groan as he chewed on the delight. He was glad Enya’s assistant could not see them. As he opened his eyes, he observed two very angry, narrowed eyes staring at him with an open mouth.
“You doing it again, staring at me,” he laughed, this time slightly nervous and his palms sweaty.
“Stop it! I am at work,” she hissed, throwing a careful glance at the kitchen door, well aware that Karo was eavesdropping.
“Finally we agree on something. Business negotiations should not be carried at workplace. Dinner tomorrow at eight. Here’s your invitation,” he placed the white envelope with Silversson Industries letterhead on the table.
“I don’t know...” Enya hesitated.
For a moment, Thomas thought she was going to say no. As much as he liked challenge and stubborn women, he was not up for rejection.
“She’s coming!” Karo’s voice from behind the door came to his help.
Thomas quickly sneaked one last piece of candy he had not tried yet and placing a quick kiss on Enya’s temple, an unplanned reaction for which he would lecture himself later, and quickly left the shop before she had time to change her mind.