Lucas pushed up his brow. His eyes were drawn to her lips as well and he was momentarily rendered silent. It was a glorious moment and Avery felt a twinge of power course through her body. If she could distract this man, if she could make him speechless even for a moment, that had to mean something. That had to mean she was much more powerful than she originally gave herself credit for.
"And I think you know this," he finally said, forcing his eyes up so they locked with hers. It was quite an effort, however. Like pulling two magnets apart. "I think you know who he really is. What I don't understand is why you put up with him." His eyes dropped to her lips again. He didn't even try to hide it. He traced the edge of her jaw with his dark irises, carving out a trail only he planned to take. She felt the inside of her cheeks get warm under his scrutiny. "He doesn't deserve you."
"You don't even know me," Avery said, and for some reason, her voice was hushed, a breath above a whisper.
The room was buzzing with electricity.
Lucas shook his head once. "No," he agreed. "I don't."
Before she could say anything - though she had no idea what she was going to say in the first place - the door opened to the back and a man, maybe a couple of years younger than she was – fresh-faced and probably right out of college - smiled.
"Oh good," he said, looking between them. "You've met. Why don't we head back and the meeting can begin?"
Avery stood faster than she should have and she felt her head get dizzy in response. Lucas placed her hand on the small of her back - Avery didn't know if it was to steady her or if it was to usher her in the back or maybe it was just an excuse to touch her - but she got a hold of her senses, took a breath, and walked through the doorway to her first business meeting.
2
“So,” Marlene Montgomery said, her short fingers pinching the spine of the flute of champagne she held, her voice just as pinched as the gesture, “how are things between you and Rick? Have you set a date yet?”
Avery nearly choked on her own sip of wine. She didn’t like alcohol all that much, and while wine had a good amount of it, she loved the drink with a particular group of food. Mimosas and wine during brunch were the only couple of times she actively drank. Other than that, she was a diet soda kind of girl, even though the carbonation always made her burp.
“You’re asking me about Rick?” she asked, furrowing her brow.
“Honey, don’t do that to your forehead,” Marlene said in a gentle scold. “You’ll need Botox in a few years if you keep doing that. I’ve already told you this. I don’t know why you must be so stubborn.”
She took a dainty sip of her champagne, but Avery knew her mother. This was her fourth glass and it wasn’t even noon yet. The difference was, Marlene knew how to pace herself, and that was why no one considered her an alcoholic. It also helped that she considered image as the most important thing in the world. There was no way she would ever let someone see her as uncontrolled and vulnerable as being drunk would portray her as.
Avery rolled her eyes. “You’re right, Mom,” she said. “I’m sorry. My facial reactions are trying to offend your delicate senses. I should have more control over them. I’m sorry.”
“Sarcasm is so déclassé,” her mother said with a tight frown and disgust in her blue eyes. “You know better.”
Avery had to clench her jaw to keep from saying something stupid. She knew her mother would be like this – this was who her mother was and Avery knew she couldn’t change her – and even though Avery was an adult and did not need to deal with her mother ever again if she didn’t want to, she chose to do so because she still loved her mom, it meant the world to her dad, and it improved her patience.
“Now,” her mother continued, flicking her eyes over to the untouched salad on her plate. Marlene was not a fan of salads but ordered one with her meal over soup so she wouldn’t have to slurp and people would think she cared about her nutrition. It bugged Avery to no end what a waste of food that was, just to put on a show for people. “Why would you think I wouldn’t ask about your relationship with Rick? Everyone is talking about when you’ll finally tie the knot. I care about your happiness. I want to know what’s going on in your life.”
This time, Avery did snort. “If you cared so much about my life, you would ask me about my business meeting,” she pointed out and started to twirl some of her chicken pasta against her spoon so she did not look completely juvenile. “And why do people think Rick is a jerk?”
This caught her mother by surprise. She took a small sip of her drink before interlocking her fingers and placing them flat on the white tablecloth. Her blue eyes fixed on Avery. “Who says Rick is a jerk?” she asked.
Avery told her mother about Lucas Cruz, how he was at the business meeting as well, how they were the last two investors in the LunaApp running, and how Lucas thought little of Rick but didn’t go into detail why he felt that way. Avery didn’t talk to her mother very often, not like this. She tried to avoid deep, meaningful conversations because her mother was good at voicing her opinion even though she had little to no experience in the field. However, there were things her father did share with her mother and Rick might be one of them, especially since he was going to be family.
“Well, first off,” her mother said once Avery had finished. It surprised Avery that she hadn’t been interrupted with incessant questions and commentary. “Why would you take anything that dog says seriously?”
“Mom…” Just because Avery didn’t like Lucas all that much did not mean she was going to resort to calling him vile names.
“What?” Marlene seemed surprised and then took another sip of her drink. “It’s the truth. That’s what he is. And I don’t mean with the ladies.”
“I know what you mean,” Avery said in a hushed whisper.
“Rick is a beast,” Marlene said with a smile. “A human one, but ferocious nonetheless. He has this charm about him that tends to woo clients in his favor, even if they’ve already committed to other people. I’m sure Cruz was one of the casualties in this war they call business.”
Avery gave her mother a look at the unnecessary and inappropriate comparison. Instead, she picked at the pasta that had gone lukewarm during their conversation. “He insinuated that Rick blackmails potential clients,” she said. Now she did whisper, afraid someone might overhear and assume her father supported such tactics.
“Honey, please!” Her mother’s fork clattered to the plate, causing a couple of nearby restaurant patrons to turn and look at the two. “You can’t possibly tell me you’re actually going to give credence to what he’s saying? He’s trying to intimidate you. He’s trying to get into your head and he’s doing it by using Rick against you. Sexist, let me tell you. Do you think anyone even questions his love life? The number of partners he’s had? The women he’s stolen from nice, human boys? No. And you’re letting him. Avery, my dear, don’t fall for his tricks. And don’t buy into his sexist intimidation. Stand your ground. Has Rick given you any reason to doubt him? To doubt his abilities?”
Avery shook her head. She couldn’t quite believe it, but her mother was actually making sense.
"See? Don't worry about what that mutt is saying."
"Mom." Avery felt her face turn an unseemly shade of red. Her mother was making sense, yes, but that didn't mean she had to call him derogatory names. It made her stomach queasy with discomfort. Avery didn't think she had ever said that word in her entire life. She had never said leech before either, except when in science class discussing the actual bug and not the vampires.
"What?" Of course, Marlene wouldn't get it. She took a sip of her mimosa and shrugged her shoulders. When she finished, she gave her a blank look. "Well, that's what he is, isn't he?"
"Mom, you can't say that."
Avery's mind flashed to Lucas Cruz. He had nice eyes and a warm smile. But something about him was cocky. Something about him was predatory. He was Somerset's darling, a resident bachelor the media outlets were waiting for to
finally start dating someone steady. He looked sharp in his hand-made suits tailored perfectly to his five foot ten frame. It didn't even matter that he wasn't particularly tall. It didn't even matter that he wasn't full of muscles. The guy was a masterpiece. Even thinking about him made her face flush and her heart start beating faster than it normally did. He was a celebrity in his own way and she wasn't good at hiding her swoon. Except once he opened that mouth of his, her swoon vanished and she was annoyed. Dazzled, but annoyed. Regardless, he didn't deserve to be called a mutt. There was no reason for that nastiness.
"Mom, can I ask you a serious question?" Avery asked. She could feel the tips of her ears turn red, staring at her plate rather than looking at Marlene. She could not believe she was going to ask her mother this question but she needed to talk to someone about this and her mother actually knew what she was talking about when it came to this sort of thing.
"Of course, dear," she said with a smile. "You can ask me anything."
"Mom, when you and dad got married, were you..." Her face turned redder and she couldn't get the words out. She was a grown adult, a graduate of a prestigious college with honors and multiple recommendations and a trust fund that made Bill Gates pause. Why was it so hard to say the words?
"What, Av?" Marlene asked.
"Were you a virgin?"
Avery felt her face catch fire and she took a quick sip of her drink in hopes it would help cool her down. She couldn't look her mother in the eye yet, not right now, and she needed something to distract herself with.
In all honesty, she felt exposed. Vulnerable. Like one of her deep dark fears had come to play out in front of her. This was the last thing she wanted to speak to her mother about. It was the last thing she wanted to admit to. She didn't like thinking being a virgin was a flaw but the way Lucas made it seem, Rick would definitely think so. She was nearly twenty-five and the most she had done was make out. Nobody even tried feeling her up. Maybe they were intimidated by her father and his wealth. She didn't know and that was what she didn't like. She didn't like this not knowing, this inexperience. She had always been the type to study a subject thoroughly, especially if said subject piqued her interest. The problem was, sex demanded on-hand experience in order to thoroughly conduct research regarding what sex was, why it was so good, and what she could do with it. And Avery had not found anyone worthy conducting such experience with.
"A virgin!" Her mother looked around, worried somewhat might overhear. Avery furrowed her brow. It was odd to her that she had no problem using a derogatory term in polite company but god forbid someone insinuate she was a virgin. "Of course I wasn't a virgin." She looked at her daughter. "Are you still a virgin? Honey, you cannot go into a marriage without some sort of sexual experience. Rick will be expecting it. He doesn't want to spend his honeymoon teaching you how to please him."
"What about him pleasing me?" Avery said without thinking.
"Avery, if you're a virgin you need to please yourself first," she said seriously. "You'll need to learn about yourself. A man will not be able to do anything for you unless you can do it for yourself. I'm being serious. Figure it out. It will make your first time all the better for both you and Rick." She leaned forward, being careful not to knock over her drink. "I'm not advocating cheating, darling, but do consider the benefits in being fluent in the art of making love, hmm? I know your father certainly enjoyed our honeymoon. And you know what? So did I."
She took her flute in her hand and tipped it toward Avery.
Avery chewed her bottom lip and let her mother's words sink in. As much as she hated to admit it, her mother actually made sense.
3
Avery was actually nervous during her next business meeting. Instead of meeting at the small office space, they were going to a small restaurant with food priced moderately rather than too expensive and too cheap. Avery preferred restaurants like these – she frequented Stanford’s pub as often as studies would allow and got addicted to their bar food – it allowed for a more casual dress and she knew the food would be reasonably priced and delicious.
What was causing the lightning striking the inside of her body was the knowledge that Lucas Cruz would be there, sitting across from her at the table, feasting on barbeque ribs and looking at her while he did so. It wasn’t even that he was a werewolf – though she could admit that the knowledge of him being paranormal both thrilled her and scared her simultaneously – but he knew how to intimidate people. During their last encounter, he got her to look away during the typical stare-down business rivals tend to have. Her father used to tell her all about that.
“Never, ever look away,” he would say, pointing his finger in the air to emphasize his point. “Looking away is akin to weakness and Montgomerys are never weak. At least, we are not perceived that way.”
But she looked away. She couldn’t help it. His stare caused her cheeks to set on fire and if she hadn’t, her skin would be crawling with ugly red blotches. It was why she could not go out into the sun without some sort of protection. It was why her skin was so pale and would probably remain that way.
And then he smirked. She saw him smirk from the corner of her eye because he knew, he knew he had this deal in the bag. Because some flimsy girl had no idea what she was doing. It didn’t matter that she had a Masters in Business. It didn’t matter that she interned at her father’s company every summer since she started high school and knew it like the back of her hand. As a female in the business world, she would have to fight for her footing, and even then, the likelihood that said footing was equal was slim to none. And she had handed Lucas Cruz that stereotype on a silver platter by looking away.
She could not let that happen again.
She dressed for success with a feminine flare. She refused to pretend to be masculine despite the domination men had in business. Avery wanted to embrace her femininity and did so by choosing a power dress – a tastefully cut sleeveless suit with a grey skirt that rested two inches above her knees. The white blouse had a teasing amount of lace that ran vertically down her center, emphasizing her breasts and making them appear bigger than they were. On her feet was a pair of black pumps. She felt good. She felt confident. She felt powerful. She felt like a woman who would not look away.
Her mother’s words rang throughout her mind as she walked from her car to the restaurant – a popular west coast chain that served grease with a side of food and attire was casual – and reminded her not to put up with his intimidation tactics, especially when they made her feel like a woman out of her element. She clenched her teeth together and took a deep breath. She opened the door herself, and the hostess led her to a table in the back where Lucas Cruz was already waiting, wearing a pressed grey suit and white shirt. His eyes had been fixed on the baseball game playing above the bar but rested firmly on Avery when he realized she had arrived.
Immediately, he stood and offered her a chair next to him. He said nothing, not until the hostess left.
Avery slid into the offered seat without hesitation. Before, she would have sat across from him, needing space. She didn’t want to be too close to him. She already knew he affected her in a way that wasn’t professional and actually played into the stereotype she was so desperately trying to avoid.
Lucas looked at his silver Rolex then at Avery’s profile, his brown eyes searing into her skin like he was branding her. Her insides screamed in agony and she prayed that she wasn’t blushing. She couldn’t be blushing. It would only give her away. Instead, she focused on the cloth napkin folded over the silverware placed in front of her and ignored his gaze.
“Right on time,” he said. He didn’t seem perturbed by the fact that she was obviously ignoring him. “I like that in a woman.”
“Yes, well, I aim to please,” she said, sarcasm dripping like the diamonds hanging from her ears. Which happened to be a gift from her fiancé. Another reminder that she could not let Lucas Cruz get to her.
“Do you?” He seemed surprised, and from the cor
ner of her eye, she watched as he cocked his head to the side, narrowing his eyes at her. He was studying her, taking her in. She wished she could maintain that confidence she felt this morning. She wanted to pretend not to care, to urge him to continue to stare because that was the closest thing he was going to get to her, but she could feel herself blush and she hated herself for it.
“You get uncomfortable being the center of attention, don’t you?” he asked. His voice had grown soft, almost husky. The hairs on her bare arms stood straight up and she swallowed again, trying to get control over her traitorous body. “I don’t understand why, though. You’re beautiful.”
“Enough.” Avery hadn’t meant to snap but she couldn’t help it. He sat back in his seat, surprise clearly littering his face. His brows were pushed together, his lips were pursed, but his eyes – those penetrating eyes that seemed to root her in place – were still locked on her, an inquisitive look on his face. “I know what you’re doing, okay? And, quite frankly, I’m appalled that a respected businessman such as yourself would resort to such tactics.”
“Tell me, Ms. Montgomery,” Lucas said, “what, exactly, am I doing?”
“Would you call a man beautiful?" she asked him, pressing her brows together and turning her upper body so it faced him directly.
Lucas shrugged his shoulders. "It depends," he said. "Is the man in question beautiful?" Avery growled in frustration. Lucas chuckled. "Careful, Ms. Montgomery. You almost sound like a wolf."
"You're being sexist," Avery said. "Again."
"How is this sexist?" Lucas asked, and he seemed genuinely interested in what she had to say. It did not seem as though he was trying to get a rise out of her. He was interested in what she had to say. "Did you know that only four percent of women are CEO's of Fortune 500 companies? Did you know that my management staff is compromised of sixty-five percent women? My VP is a woman. I run a non-profit specifically geared toward integrating business in the community and offering low-income communities the chance to take college accredited business classes that could go toward their degree for free? Many of those students are women - stay at home moms, entrepreneurs. I'm very woman-friendly."
The Somerset Series: A Box Set: Books 2-4 Page 18