by Iona Rose
“Yes, this is Blair. Who am I speaking to?”
“Allen Canter. We met a couple of weeks ago at the job fair at the University of Texas,”
My heart fell into my stomach. “Allen Canter? The CFO of FireEye?”
“Yes, that’s me. How are you doing?”
My airway constricts. “Um, I’m doing great... sir.” I’m not sure but I think I can feel his smile through the phone. When I met him a few weeks ago at the event, he had been open and friendly, so it is probably the same countenance that I’m projecting onto him now.
“I’m calling regarding a position that might be a fit for you. I remember the last time we met you spoke about your interest in cyber security and your experience during your internship at Zimperium.”
“Yes, sir,” I reply, and turn around to glance at Layne.
She has her attention on me, surprised at my sudden formal tone.
Even I’m rattled, not exactly sure if this is some sort of courtesy call, or if I am now in an interview for a potential position. It’s 7 PM on a Friday night, and if the latter is the case, I’m not at all prepared for this.
“I have an opening that I think you might be able to fill considerably well,” he continues. “Would you like to come in, so we can talk about it further?”
I become too nervous to remain still, so I begin to pace the living room, one hand underneath my elbow to support the weakened hand holding my phone. “Most definitely, sir.”
“Alright,” he says. “How soon can you make it to Denver?”
I clear my throat. “I’m already here, sir. I’m visiting family.”
“That’s fantastic,” he replies. “How about we set up a meeting for Monday then? Sound good?
“Sounds great... sir.”
“Alright. You’ll be able to find your way to FireEye right? It’s downtown.”
“Most definitely, sir.”
“Okay. I’ll slot you in for an appointment at 9 AM. Have a great weekend.”
“Sure. Thank you... sir,” I respond. The call comes to an end and I pull the phone away from my ear as though in a trance.
“Who was that?” Layne asks.
I turn to her. “I just got an interview. Here in Denver.”
“Oh, my God!” Her hand covers her mouth. “We were just talking about this. Where? I mean what company.”
“FireEye.”
“FireEye? I’ve never heard of it, what do they do?”
“It’s a cyber security awareness company. It’s massive.”
“Wow, that’s great. You applied for it? What position are they interviewing you for?”
I head back to the stool to take my seat. “That’s the thing. I didn’t apply. I just met the CFO about two weeks ago at a job fair at school. I was still interning at Zimperium then, so I gave him my card.”
“And he kept it? You must have made quite the impression.”
“Absolutely not,” I replied. “I was a babbling idiot. I kept asking stupid questions and making the most awkward jokes, which now that I think about it, he did actually find quite funny. What is going on?”
Her smile is angelic. “The stars are aligning in our favor.” She rubs her stomach.
I couldn’t hold back my delight either. “Oh, my God, if I get a position there I’m going to collapse. That’s a freaking unicorn company!”
“A what? Unicorn? I thought you said they’re in cybersecurity.”
I laughed at her naivety. “I don’t mean an actual unicorn. I mean they’re really successful, fairly new and privately owned and valued at a billion dollars. Companies like that are called unicorns because it’s so rare to be that successful within a short frame of time.”
Her eyes nearly bulge out of her sockets. “A billion dollars? Wow, that does sound massive.”
“Exactly. Wow... I’m shaking. It would be such a privilege to work there.”
“It does sound like a great opportunity,” she agrees. “What position is he calling you in for?”
“He didn’t say. All he did was set up a meeting for Monday. And oh, my God, he’s the CFO... and he called me himself. His father founded the company along with the current CEO, and he called me himself. Not through personnel but directly.”
“Okay, calm down.” Layne laughs. “You’re hyperventilating.”
“I know but this is unreal,” I say, close to jumping out of my skin. Overwhelmed with emotion, I do realize I need to calm myself down, so I take deep breaths, and focus on reducing my excitement and subsequent nervousness.
“Okay we need to celebrate,” Layne says. “Tomorrow night. I’ve had a tiring day and this momma to be needs to crash.”
I laugh. “What do you mean? There’s nothing to celebrate. This was just to set up the interview.”
“Well, we’re going to celebrate you even getting the call. Then we’re going to toast to your acing the interview and getting some fantastic position there.”
“Well, I’m not going to say no to that, but are you going to be able to come out?” My eyes lower to her bulging belly.
“Honey, this night out is more for me than it is for you. I need to get out of this house.” She does a little swirl with her hips. “I can’t wait.”
I laugh again. “Neither can I,” I reply. “Neither can I.”
“Ask Jodie if she wants to come along with us. The more the merrier.”
I lift my phone to pull up my best friend’s number. “I doubt it. I think she has to work at the restaurant tomorrow.”
“On a Saturday night? I doubt Jodie would ever give up her Saturdays to work. I think you have the day mixed with Friday or Sunday even.”
I dialed her number and lifted the phone to my ear.
Chapter Three
Grady
Both men, the Senior Vice President Mark Cuomo and the recluse, Jack Clay share a look with each other before placing their documents on the table.
The marble surface is filled with two bottles of aged malt whiskey and platters of stingray fins and squid tempura. Allen’s secretary had secured the private room for us at the downtown club with the perfect ambience for the conversation I intend to have with them.
It is set against the backdrop of a dim and rowdy dance floor below, lit with colorful lights, and the deafening music hitting the panels of our glass encased lounge. It is just enough to remind us of where we are, but yet allow us the detachment that I paid heavily for.
“Grady,” Mark begins. “What you’re proposing we can do internally.”
Both men share a look with each other once again, so I pick up my tumbler of whiskey and take a swig of it.
I pull out two more folders and hand them over. Both men receive their copy and quickly start reading through it, as I continue to sip calmly from my glass.
I watch their eyes widen in shock.
“Where did you get this?” Mark asks, his voice now cold.
“Through our analysis. Even your team hasn’t picked up on this security issue. So you see, even your waiting room feature is flawed and if I can discover this, someone else out there will sooner or later. I’m disclosing this vulnerability to you as a courtesy. Fix it and give me a call. Now let’s push all this aside and get back to the second reason we’re here.”
Mark leans back into the sofa with a laugh. “Oh. I thought this was the end of the road.”
“What do you mean?” I ask innocently.
“Thus far, you’ve hosted us in a lounge and then brought us here. We’ve been waiting for this shoe to drop. Now that it has and you’ve hassled us into doing business with you, I expected that you’d call it a night and be on your way.”
“I don’t hassle, Mark,” I correct. “That’s for people that don’t know what they’re doing. What I’ve done is given you a chance to save your house before it's engulfed in flames, and it’s up to you to take or reject it. But it wasn’t my sole intention in bringing you here either, otherwise we could have handled this discussion in either of our offices.”<
br />
“So what is this second reason then?”
I rise to my feet. “To dance, of course.”
Mark laughs again. “I can do that.”
“You’re joking,” Jack says, his face frigid with horror. “I don’t dance.”
Their reaction amuses me. “That’s alright, Jack. I’m joking. Neither do I. I’m sure we’ll come up with better ways to have a good time. In the meantime, have a look at these.” I hand them my proposals.
Then I excuse myself from the room and head to the restroom. After handling my business, I’m about to return to them when I decide against it. It is better to give them some more time alone to look over the data that I have presented. So instead I head towards the bar.
It has been quite a few months since I’ve come to a club like this. My insane schedule and unending responsibilities have kept me away from most social pastimes like this unless it is business related, but since my goal for the evening is somewhat complete, I allow myself to bask in the simple pleasure of herd excitement for a few minutes. I weave through the throngs of gyrating bodies in the humidity, and soon arrive at the bar.
I want a cocktail, something I haven’t had the liberty of enjoying of late. So the moment the bartender comes up to me I make my order. “Sidecar.”
He nods in understanding. “Coming up.”
Soon he delivers it and I flick away the orange peel attached to the glass.
To my surprise however, a slender set of fingers catch it before it can roll off the counter to the floor. I follow the fair limbs all the way up her glistening alabaster skin, to the dark red strap across her delicate shoulders.
The face on those shoulders is even more exquisite, and as my gaze connects with the deep green eyes of the shiny blonde woman before me, I feel my breathing hitch.
For a few seconds, I don’t say a word or rather nothing comes to mind, so I look away to try to recollect my thoughts. It occurs to me then, what just happened. The sight of her—literally fried my brain. The hand holding my glass freezes midway to my mouth. I glance at her once again.
She has turned her face away from me and makes her order, “Cranberry with ice,”
I listen to her velvety voice. She is speaking louder than usual as we all are so that we can be heard over the racket, but I can still make out the creamy flow to her tone. “You don’t drink alcohol?” I find myself asking.
She hears me and turns with a smile on her face.
I empty my drink without realizing it and set the empty tumbler down on the counter.
“I do,” she replies. “This is for my sister… she’s pregnant.”
I hear every word of what she says mainly because my gaze is so focused on her lips, and the forms that they are shaping into so she can communicate with me. Her lips are covered in lipstick the same exact red shade of her dress. They are plump and curved in a way to seemingly solely entice me. I want to kiss her badly... to sink my teeth gently into that warm and tender flesh… feel her heat and scent swirl around me.
I take a step closer to her, almost needing to inhale her scent more than I need my next breath and it makes me wonder what is so severely attracting me to her. Is it the way the color compliments her skin, or is it her almost doe eyed gaze? I can’t remember the last time I’d ever been this immediately drawn to a woman. “Let me pay for the drink,” I say.
Her smile widens. “No need, I can handle it.”
I am even more intrigued. “Why?” I ask.
She blinks. “Why what?”
“Why are you refusing me?”
“I’m not refusing you.” She laughs. “I just... want to pay for my own drink. “
“Fair enough. So what would you have me do for you then?”
This time around, she boldly holds my gaze, and tells me exactly what she wants, but I can’t possibly have heard it right. How could I have when I heard her say…
Fuck me. Brutally, until I lose my mind. Against a surface, in the air... everywhere.
Chapter Four
Blair
Fuck me. Brutally, until I lose my mind. Against a surface, in the air... everywhere.
These are the only things I want to say to him, but thankfully the glasses of cosmopolitan I have consumed thus far haven't tampered with my head yet. I turn my gaze away from his to recollect myself.
I wonder if he can tell that my breathing has become labored and that it has absolutely nothing to do with the rowdy space we are in.
Yes, we are surrounded by a multitude of people but from the moment I laid eyes on him, it has seemed as though only the two of us exist. I spotted him a few minutes earlier.
Actually, Layne was the one who spotted him, and then she drew my attention. “Isn’t that the hottest fucking man you’ve ever seen?”
I had turned to take a look and my jaw had dropped.
He was dressed in a simple black T-shirt, tucked into equally dark, checkered tailored pants and I couldn’t look away. It wasn’t the outfit, but the man, and like a possessed zombie, I had risen to my feet to chase after him.
At first, it had been a joke and I’d almost changed my mind, but Layne had spurred me on. Therefore, I had gone after the stud with broad sculpted shoulders, coiffed dark hair and tastefully bulging olive toned biceps.
Catching the flicked peel had been reflexive, and thankfully, it had given me the opening I’d hoped for. What I can’t believe now is that he is the one leading the conversation. My expectation was that he would barely give me a second look, but I can see in his sparkling eyes that I have caught his attention.
His scent is of tobacco and lavender and it’s messing with my head. And then there’s his striking blue eyes, so light that they can pass as grey.
My panties are already soaked with arousal, and that brings my excitement to an intense level. My drink is delivered then, and since I can’t think of anything to say, I turn around to leave.
He however, places a hand on my arm. “What’s your name?” he asks.
I’m stopped in my tracks and I spill my sister’s drink. “Blair,” I reply. “What’s yours?”
“Grady.” His tone of voice is hoarse, but quiet and grating on my insides. “You’re really not going to give me a chance, Blair?”
Unconsciously, I bite down on my bottom lip, and to my surprise, he swears.
“Fuck!” He hisses as his eyes rove down my body.
I’m taken aback. Then I immediately applaud myself for the decision to go with this red dress. It is provocative and plastered to my frame and I can see that his eyes are brimming with appreciation. With one long drink, I empty the glass of cranberry juice and return to the counter. “You’ll have to replace my sister’s drink?” I say to him.
With a smile, he calls the bartender over. “No problem. What do you want?”
“Whatever you’ll have. I want to share.” I cannot believe the words coming out of my mouth, and at his narrowed gaze I realize that my eyes are probably also emitting smoke.
He places the order... another cranberry for my sister and a refill of what he had been drinking earlier.
I slide onto the stool.
He leans against the bar and faces me.
“So,” I begin. “Mr. Grady. What brings you here?”
“Business,” he answers, his eyes boring into mine. “I have some people up there that I want to show a good time.”
My eyes dart over to the VIP section above and I’m not surprised. That is exactly where the likes of him belong, especially since it’s impossible to miss the creamy, gold watch wrapped around his wrist. He exudes extreme wealth and style, but yet it is all presented with a simplicity that draws me to him like a fly to honey.
“What about you?” he asks.
I turn to glance at Layne’s direction. “We’re celebrating. My first official job after college.” I feel a twinge of guilt at the half lie since technically I’ve not been employed, but I don’t want to feel inferior to him right now, so that little white lie is even
tually approved by my conscience.
Our drinks are delivered but there’s no way I’m leaving now.
“Sidecar,” he says as he offers his to me.
I take it from him. I take a sip of the golden liquid and it slides down my throat with a slight burn.
When I hand it over, his lips cover the same spot that mine has just perched on.
I feel the tease like a kick to my gut. “That’s an indirect kiss,” I blurt out and for a moment I stop. I’m being too bold. He is a complete stranger and I am flirting like I’m out of control. Perhaps the alcohol has kicked in and I don’t realize it.
With a low laugh, he responds, “I am aware. I’ll take what I can get.”
It was a clear nudge for me to offer more and I did not intend to hold back. I needed to be in his arms even if it was for a few seconds otherwise I might just implode. So with a smile, I place my hand on the side of his arm and lean in. My palm burns at the warmth of his skin and I’m ready to lose myself in him. “Kiss me,” I breathe. “It’s an offer.”
His gaze darkens and in a step he is so close to me that I can see the specs of grey in his eyes. His hand settles on my waist and it zaps a burst of pleasure through me. He is incredibly tall, so I have to raise my head to his. With a smile, he slants his head and my eyes flutter shut.
He takes my top lip in his mouth and my bones begin to melt. He then moves to the bottom and the plump flesh is expertly sucked into his mouth... at just the right tempo and with just the right amount of pressure. My heart is beating so wildly in my chest that I can barely breathe and before I know it, my arms are wrapped around his shoulders.
I’m floored by how delicious he tastes... how warm and clean and how intoxicating his scent is. His very existence seems like an extreme aphrodisiac and it completely scrambles my brain. All I can feel is his heat and the tension quickly building in the pit of my stomach at the avalanche of sexual excitement.
A groan follows and we are so melded into one that I cannot even tell who it is from. It doesn’t matter either way, because in the next movement, his tongue slips into my mouth and the heightened intimacy completely possesses me.