Kelly rolled her eyes. "Why would you say no? The whole reason you were there was to help complete this campaign."
I gaped at her. "Have you seen it? Has Ryan seen it? I can't believe that either of you would think that what they had was what would work in Europe."
"Well, maybe instead of offending Hunter, you could have gently suggested some alternatives."
I stared at her for a moment as I worked to keep my hurt feelings in check. Why was she defending him? "Tell me, is Ryan having the same conversation with Hunter? I mean, he essentially called me a loser and untalented because I wasn't selling any of my work. And then he basically called me mouthy and made a vulgar suggestion about a better way to put my mouth to work."
Kelly flinched and I was glad she was able to see the inappropriateness of Hunter's remark. She looked down at her wine for a minute and then up at me. "Is that when you kissed him?"
How did she know about that?
"You were seen on security surveillance. Andi was down checking in with one of the guards as Hunter was walking you out."
It was my turn to roll my eyes. "He wasn't walking me out. He was following me and harassing me. Didn't your cameras catch the audio? That kiss was just to mess with his head because he was being such an arrogant misogynistic jerk."
Kellie set her wine glass down. "Look, I know Hunter can sometimes come off as a beast or a little bit strong —"
"A little?"
She gave me a hard look. "I also know that you're not one to mince words or hold back what you're really thinking. It takes two to tango, as they say. What's most important to consider here is that this job could be helpful in your career. It could look good on your resume. It could open more doors for you."
“And you and Ryan can stop supporting me, because that's what all this is about, isn't it?" I stood up and carried my glass into the kitchen dumping my wine into the sink.
"That's not it at all," Kellie said.
I turned around, leaning back against the corner counter as I crossed my arms. "If you don't want to keep helping me, then just stop. I’ll figure something out. I'm not totally inept. I'm not a child."
Kelly stood. "Then maybe you should stop acting like one. Sometimes in life you have to do things that you don't want to do to create the opportunities that you do want to do."
"So, I have to sell my soul to the devil in order to do my art? Is that what you're saying? I have to put up with Hunter making lewd comments about my mouth?"
Kelly shook her head no. "No. Not at all. And of Hunter's doing that, I'll make sure Ryan puts a stop to it. The truth of the matter is that you would be working in a different area with a different team. You probably won't even see Hunter very often."
I didn't believe that for a minute. If Hunter hired me, he’d probably watch me like a hawk to make sure I was doing the ad his way.
Kelly looked at her watch. "I have to go. Think about what I said about the job and how this could be a good opportunity for you."
I nodded in response, not able to bring myself to answer out loud.
When Kellie left, I focused on cleaning my brushes and then opening my laptop to check the job want ads, thinking there surely had to be a better option for me than going to work for Strong Incorporated. But then it occurred to me that Hunter wasn't likely to offer me the job anyway. So, I didn't have to turn him down.
Still, I looked through the job listings trying to find something that would allow me to live self-sufficiently in the apartment and take care of all my basic needs.
Later, I ate dinner in front of the TV hoping that watching some dumb reality show would get the image of Hunter out of my head. Or more accurately the taste and feel of his lips during that kiss out of my head.
Later that night as I lay in bed, I realized that somehow Hunter had gotten under my skin. I couldn't fully rid him from my mind. It was infuriating how somebody who was so obnoxious and a jerk could at the same time be so appealing and erotic.
5
Hunter
It was bad enough that I woke up the next morning with a raging hard on thanks to Natalie and that searing kiss she'd given me yesterday. Reluctantly and with anger, I jerked off in the shower that morning to images of her smart mouth wrapped around my dick. I was still pissed after I came over the shower tiles because it was so irritating that she could simultaneously piss me off, make me hard, and give me a jerk-off orgasm that was so good.
But now in my office, Ryan was at my desk telling me that I should hire Natalie. It was like I couldn’t escape her.
"Even if I did offer her the job, she wouldn't take it. The interview didn't go well and clearly she doesn't want to work here."
Ryan stared at me for a moment and then he took a seat in my chair like he planned to stay for a while. "I'm sure you didn't do anything to dissuade her from wanting the job."
"She won't fit in here, Ryan. She'd be the first to tell you that." It was still early in the morning, but I was feeling like I could use a drink.
"She's artistic and creative, which is exactly what we need on this campaign."
"There's no doubt that she's artistic, but her art is a different sort of art. This is marketing Ryan. Her boho, free sprite-type isn't going to work in Europe."
His brows knitted together. "Boho is her type?"
"She totally trashed what we already had set up for the line. She suggested some sort of Beach Boy surfer theme. She may have even added cowboys. I don't know. All I know is that it’s not what this campaign needs." I didn't mention the part where she seemed to suggest that the campaign we already started was staid or stale, nor the part where I was concerned that maybe she was right. I could readjust the campaign on my own with the team we had and the new person we hired that wouldn't be Natalie.
"Having an infusion of new and different ideas could help," Ryan said. "And she needs to learn to be open to what we need as well. It’s called compromise, Hunter. It's called teamwork."
"I'm trying really hard not to resent you coming in here and telling me how to do my damn job. If you like Natalie so much, you hire her."
"I'm not trying to bust your balls, Hunter,"
I laughed derisively. "Really? Because that's exactly what it feels like. Do you ride Carter like this? How about Noah? If anybody could use their balls busted in this company, it's him. So why are you here?"
Ryan let out a long sigh. "Natalie has the skills, she's smart, she's creative—"
"And she's your wife’s, sister. Surely you can find another way to make your wife happy without thrusting her on me."
"Making Kellie happy is a nice side benefit, but not the reason I'm pushing for this. We don't have a lot of time and Natalie can do the job."
I scraped my hands over my face.
"We need this done soon, Hunter. You know we’re under a time crunch. Surely you can figure out a way to bring her on board, even if it's just for this one campaign."
"And what if she wants to stay and we continue to butt heads?"
Ryan arched his brow. "Do you really see her staying in a corporate situation?"
No, I didn't. "The thing is, even if I offer her the job, I doubt she'd ever take it." This I was sure of.
"So, you have to sweeten the deal for her."
"What the fuck, Ryan? I can't make her take a job she doesn't want." I wasn’t a miracle worker and to be honest I didn’t want her here. Why was that Natalie and my opinions on this didn’t matter?
"Maybe you can offer her something that will entice her to reconsider. All I'm asking is that you try." He stood.
"Before you ask if I interviewed her, well I did." I said, standing up as well.
"We need this done, Hunter. Get it done. Please." He turned and left my office. I had half a mind to quit my job and go ride motorcycles with Noah. But as much as I resented Ryan acting like he was the boss of the world, I knew that what he was saying was right. We were on a time crunch and we could use an infusion of new ideas. While I wouldn’t admit i
t to her, Natalie did have good skills and a mind towards marketing.
It felt wrong in every bone in my body as I picked up the phone to call Natalie. I prayed that she wouldn't answer.
But two rings in she picked up the line. "Are you calling to apologize to me Hunter Strong?"
I don't know how I managed it, but I kept the few choice words I had in response from spewing out of my mouth. "No, I've called to see if you will meet with me."
"No."
I wished I could accept that answer and hang up the phone. But I knew that Ryan would ride my ass again if I let it off all that easy.
"Let me buy you a meal and say what I have to say."
"I'm not interested in what you have to say."
I wanted for a moment, thinking maybe she’d hang up. Then I could blame her. But, she didn’t hang up.
"You don't know that, do you, because you haven't heard what I have to say. Let me buy you a meal because I think you're going to like what I have to say. If not, we part ways. No harm no foul." I pinched the bridge of my nose, willing the headache that was coming to stay away.
She was quiet for a moment and then she said, "I could always use a free meal.”
"Good. Meet me at Cesare’s at seven." Because there wasn't anything more to say, I hung up the line. I sat back in my chair and let out a breath. How was I going to work with this woman? I'd stroke out or have a heart attack before our time together was done. That's how much she agitated me.
I picked up the phone to make a few other calls to put my plan to hire her in motion.
Before coming into work in the family business, I was involved in my own entrepreneurial efforts. Because I lived fairly modestly and I had no family to care for, I was able to invest my money wisely, which was how I'd come to own several businesses, including an art gallery and an upscale restaurant/nightclub. Tonight, I planned to use them both to, as Ryan said, sweeten the deal for Natalie.
That evening I arrived at Cesare’s early to make sure that everything would run smoothly. I noted her arrival on one of the security cams. I watched as she entered looking out of place in the upscale establishment, and at the same time looking completely like she belonged. I wondered how she did that. She had a style about her that should've looked ridiculous in a place like Cesare’s, and yet she looked very chic, confident and sexy as she made her way to the maître d' stand.
"That's her. Make sure she gets taken up to the private dining area. And bring a bottle of whatever our best red is in the house,” I said to my assistant manager that I enlisted to assist me tonight.
"Yes, Mr. Strong," he said, and he hurried out the door to greet Natalie. My irritation at her grew a little bit as I realized I was trying to show off. I was trying to waive my wealth and influence around. I wanted to impress her, and that rubbed me all wrong. Why the fuck was this woman under my skin?
I waited until I knew she was seated in one of the private dining areas that overlooked the restaurant, and in particular the club dance floor. It was early enough in the evening that that area wasn’t very loud nor very crowded, at least not as much as it would be in a couple of hours. It would make it easy to talk to her and yet at the same time for her to see what the Strong family could offer her.
Of course, she already knew what the Strong family could offer, because it had already brought in her sister Kellie. But Natalie was resistant to anything that would be considered a norm or good sense. So much so that she seemed to be willing to cut off her nose despite her face. I was offering her a great opportunity, and after tonight, once I sweetened the deal, she'd be a fool to walk away from this job offer. Even so, I suspected she was foolish enough to do it. That irked me as well. I wasn’t a man who was used to hearing no in business. When I was done dealing with business tonight, maybe there would a woman on the dance floor who’d be willing to help me work off this frustration I was having with Natalie.
As I walked into the private, she was drinking her glass of wine sitting in the booth looking out over the restaurant. She had to hear me walk in, but she didn't even glance over at me. Did I mention she was stubborn and obstinate as well?
I moved into the booth sitting across from her.
She finally tore her gaze away from the dance floor to look at me. She had a bored expression on her face. Clearly, she wasn't impressed. And I suspected, she knew that that's what I'd been trying to do, which made me feel like an idiot.
"You know, Hunter, you're way too young to be all wrapped up in all this fancy-schmancy gourmet traditional fake assery."
My jaw tightened as I took offense. This was my place. There was nothing fake assery about it.
"I think a man like you would want some spice and variety, some actual real food like they have down in the food trucks along the marina." She quirked a brow and tilted her head. "Or maybe you just like spice and variety in women?"
I held my hands up in surrender. “Hold on there, Attila the Hun."
She flinched slightly, and I was glad that she felt something at my rebuke of the way she led off with an attack on me.
"First, I came here as part of a truce, so it would be nice if we could have a cease-fire, at least for a moment. Second, I guarantee you that the food here is most excellent, as is the wine." I nodded at the half consumed glass of wine in front of her.
She shrugged. "The wine is most excellent."
I let that sit for a moment knowing that it might be the last time we'd ever had an agreement on anything.
But of course the cease-fire and truce couldn't last very long.
"Places like this don't sell real food. Yes, they dress it up real pretty, so that it looks like art, but food doesn't just have to look good on the plate, it needs to taste good too. It needs to have a burst of flavors and a variety of textures."
“I didn’t realize you were a food critic along with being a starving artist.”
“I like to eat,” she quipped.
“Have you ever eaten here?” I asked.
She turned her head to look out the window and I knew the answer was no.
"Perhaps you could reserve judgment until after you've eaten the food." I studied for her for a minute. "Do you go through life swinging your fists first with everybody, or is it just with me?"
Her jaw tensed at my comment. She turned her head and her fierce gray eyes locked onto me. "So, what's this deal you have to offer me?"
6
Natalie
There was no doubt in my mind that I was sitting in this fancy restaurant trying not to feel completely out of place because Hunter was flaunting his power, his wealth, and influence over me. I resented the hell out of it. I hated even more how he was able to turn the tables on me and make me look like the jerk. I would have much preferred to have met in his office or a coffee café instead of having to dress up and look like I belonged with the elite of San Diego. Right now, I was that round peg in a square box I always tried to avoid. I was sure everyone could tell that I did not belong here. At least we were in a private dining area. I had no idea things like that even existed, which just went to show how much I didn’t belong in Hunter Strong's world.
It was clear to both of us that we did not get along at all. At the same time, my hormones couldn't help but get all warm and gooey at the sight of him. The room had been a fairly good size, but the moment he walked in, the immensity of him, of his personality, filled the space until I felt claustrophobic. Raw male energy radiated off him and all my nerve endings tingled at his nearness. My hormones were betraying me. It was another thing to resent him for.
The waiter came in carrying menus. "Would you like to see the menus, Mr. Strong or do you know what you would like to order? We do have some off menu items we can offer."
Off menu items? Was that a thing too?
Hunter looked at me from across the table. “Do you like scallops?”
"Sure." I knew I had scallops before, but being a poor starving artist, it wasn't a regular on my meal plan. I was more of a noodles an
d tomato sauce or Ramen girl.
He ordered something that sounded French and then he turned back to me. "I think you will find this has all the flavors and textures that you require in a meal."
I smirked at him, even though inside I felt like a total bitch for the way I'd attacked him earlier. But of course, my inner bitch wasn't going to be kept down. "Well, if that turns out not to be true, I know of a great taco truck up the street."
"There's a time and place for great taco from a taco truck. This isn't it."
"Are we going to do this all night or are you just going to come out and tell me why it is I'm here?"
He gave a curt nod. "All right, let me cut to the chase. We want to offer you the lead artist job at Strong Incorporated."
My jaw dropped open. "After my interview, I can't believe you didn't set my resume on fire."
His fingers played with the stem of his wine glass. "Who says I didn't?"
"Then how did you get my number?"
He shrugged. I then realized that he didn't want to be here anymore that I did. Just like the interview, we were both here because his brother and my sister put us up to it.
"You and I don't get along. I don't see this working, no matter how much Ryan and Kelly wanted,” I said, figuring I’d work to get us both out of this jam.
"Are you saying you don't think you could do the job?" I knew he was taunting me. He was poking at my ego, or maybe my lack of confidence.
"I know that in theory I can do the job, but I can't produce drivel."
His jaw tightened as he turned to look out the window over the restaurant. Inwardly I kicked myself for being a bitch again. Why did my inner mean girl come out around him all the time?
Finally, he turned back to me, his expression unreadable. "Are you going to take the job or not?"
I stared at him for a moment, trying to figure out what his game was. Why was he going along with Ryan and Kellie on this?
"We can't even get through dinner without sniping at each other, how is it that we would work together?"
Giving In To Love: A Friends with Benefits Office Romance (Strong Brothers Book 2) Page 4