by Amber Burns
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.
8
Emily forced the twentieth dress on Enya, who was quickly growing tired of the game of dress-up. Enya was not really a fashion girl. Give her some nuts and fruits, and she’d turn it into a masterpiece in a matter of minutes; but matching a shirt to a skirt, seemed to be the greatest puzzle in her life. Emily, on the other hand, was a natural in this art. The girl owned the biggest closet Enya had even seen.
Lucky for Enya, Brandon was also home, lending a more critital eye to Emily’s gushing enthusiasm. If it wasn’t for him, Enya would have would up wearing the too low cut red dress that she felt made her butt look twice as big.
“Girlie, we’ve dedicated the whole Saturday morning to you!” Emily complained. “At least pretend you are enjoying it!”
Emily collapsed on the couch next to her boyfriend. Brandon had absorbed himself in his phone, offering comments and critique only when asked.
“I know, darling, and I appreciate it! But I feel like freaking Cinderella in those dresses,” Enya complained.
Cinderella had never been a favorite character of Enya. She had always believed a girl should create her own career without relying on pumpkins and princes. Now, being dressed in those fancy dresses, she half believed Emily was going to turn Brandon into a fine white horse to bring her carriage to the restaurant where she was meeting Mr. Almighty, Irresistible Thomas Silversson.
“No, you are not,” Emily rebuffed. “Cinderella had at least the decency to listen to her fairy godmother and put on whatever dress she chose for her. Also, she was not stubborn and that is why she got the prince.”
“Nah,” Brandon looked up from his phone to add his two cents. “She got the prince because that idiot was tired of chicks jumping on him trying to get into his pants. My guess is - that could be the case with your Silversson as well. Too many girls chasing after his fortune.”
“He’s arrogant enough to enjoy it,” Enya rolled her eyes.
“And smart enough to be a self-made billionaire before forty. I'm sure that means he values smarter chicks over pretty ones,” Emily added.
“Thanks, Em, I know I’m not the pretty one,” Enya stuck her tongue out. “And I do not want
him. Business is all I do! Business! Meaning me saving my business from the claws of that monster.”
“How did you survive thirty long years being so silly, girl?” Emily huffed.
Why is Emily mad at me?
“Thirty-one,” Enya corrected.
Emily just shook her head and returned to her row of dresses. She chose a short green cocktail dress and pulled it out, faux modeling it as she draped it across her body. Enya knew that dress. They had bought it together for the tenth-anniversary dinner that Brandon had organized for Emily. Enya rolled her eyes.
“Not wearing that!” she discarded the dress immediately.
“Baby, I agree with Enya here,” Brandon piped up. “She lets you play her personal business stylist, but don’t force her into a dress that she doesn’t like.”
For once Brandon sided not with his girlfriend but her. Enya was grateful for his support.
“It would have complimented his eyes perfectly,” Emily sighed but without further argument chose another dress for Enya to try. “This one is my good-luck charm for important meetings.”
Enya sighed, not hating the dress and figuring a bit of good luck couldn’t hurt; though it was a bit too sexy for her liking.
“Ok,” Enya conceded. “Though I’m not a fan of how… sexy… it is.”
“Girlie, I still can’t get it - how can you be so smart and talented in work and so stupid when it comes to men?” Enya heard Emily say as she was trying on the purple.
Enya rolled her eyes, the blue fabric sliding over her body as she shimmied into the dress hiding the fact from Emily.
“Perfect!” Emily nodded once the dress rested on Enya’s hips.
Enya smiled, somewhat satisfied with the dress and more so happy that the tortuous process of trying them on was over. The pair walked out of the closet, seeking Brandon’s final approval.
“Agreed!” Brandon seconded, as usual.
“Your Silversson is going to have real hard times keeping his hands off you during that date,” Emily crooned as she found a scarf that could go with the dress.
“For one last time - this is not a date!” Enya barked back as she tried the scarf on. It was beautiful. Something a “proper business woman”, as Enya termed it, would wear.
“If I were to invite someone for a business meeting, I would prefer lunchtime on a weekday. Saturday night dinner in a fancy restaurant – I’d call it anything but work,” Brandon chimed in as he ducked out, knowing his opinion was no longer required.
“He’s got a point. You might think I’m delusional, but if Bran is saying the same, you gotta admit, girl, there’s something there.”
And even if there was, Emily was not getting anywhere with this. Except for terrifying Enya even more. If this was not the business meeting, then it could mean only one thing, Thomas L. Silversson was planning on seducing Enya in order to acquire her business.
So not happening!
“Tell me, girl, when was the last time you had sex. If that was with that sorry ass of your ex whose name we are not allowed to mention, it was ages ago. Now there’s finally a handsome guy who wants you, use this chance!”
Enya bit her lip. She still had not mentioned about her hot night adventure on the roof. Even one mention about her ex made her want to spill out her secret. She did not want Jake to be in no way responsible for her most recent orgasm. It kind of sounded offensive. Still, answering tons of questions about her mystery man tryst was not a great alternative.
“You are picking sides, Em,” Enya narrowed her eyes at her best friend. “You are totally Team Silversson.”
“I am Team Enya-finally-gets-laid!” Emily hugged her friend and led her out into the living room.
Brandon had relocated to the couch and was once again engrossed in his phone and a beer. Emily launched herself into the arms of her boyfriend, kissing him to make her point. Once their lips parted, Emily stole Brandon’s beer and took a few sips. Enya groaned. She could agree on that. If nothing else, her one night stand had reminded her how much she missed sex.
“Let’s go Team Enya-gets-laid!” Brandon added, having overheard their conversation.
Enya blushed.
“I hope that Silversson guy has the guts to tie you to your chair in that expensive restaurant and fuck you brainless right there, in front of everyone.” Half a beer and Emily was already talking dirty.
To Enya, Emily’s fantasy sounded less like an idle threat and more like something Thomas L. Silversson was quite capable of doing. She wasn’t sure whether she agreed to that plan or not, but her insides twitched and she licked her lips imagining, for the one-hundredth time, how his kiss would taste.
***
Enya was still thinking about that imaginary kiss when she parked her car in front of the restaurant.
Blue dress - check.
Auburn hair turned into perfection by Emily - check.
Perfume - she sniffed her wrist - check.
Dark purple lipstick - check.
There was only one thing that ruined the whole image - her very blushed cheeks. She covered them with her hands, trying to imagine something other than Mr. Silversson’s lips on hers when a knock at her window made her jump. A pair of bright green eyes were smiling at her.
“You are late by two minutes,” he spoke from outside the window. “Linger there for another minute, and I’m gone.”
With those words, Thomas L. Silversson turned and entered through the restaurant doors.
Really? Did he come out to threaten her and go back inside?
The normally stubborn Enya would’ve turned around and driven back home immediately. The reasonable business woman would have called his bluff. The horny and fantasy ridden Enya checked the time on her watch. She had forty seconds left.
The very polite restaurant manager accompanied Enya to the slightly isolated table, which provided them enough privacy, but was not completely separated enough from the other tables to make her feel uncomfortable.
“I’ve taken the liberty to choose for you as well,” he informed her.
Enya stumbled on her words, trying to decide exactly how to respond. As much as his words angered her, Enya could not resist that crooked smile on his lips that immediately reminded her about the delicious kiss she had been imagining.
“Thank you?” Enya finally managed to squeak out.
Calm down, girl! Enya told herself, trying to collect her scattered thoughts. You’re here to protect your business no matter what. Do it! If it comes with the bonus of seducing a very attractive man, then let it be.
“You are silent,” Mr. Silversson observed.
He was wearing a gray suit and a strange green tie, which would’ve looked very out of palce on anyone else, but for him, it highlighted his mesmerizing eyes.
Maybe because everything about you makes me nervous? Enya answered him in her mind but did not dare to speak the words out loud.
“How about you tell me why we are here?” she answered, not intending her words to sound so harsh.
“I expected nothing else,” he leaned closer and Enya knew she was blushing again. “Before you jump to conclusions, though maybe you have already, you are the only person who still refuses to sell your little shop. We have bought every single apartment block on the street. Most of your neighboring businesses made enough profit that they could open prosperous businesses anywhere else in the city. Others are going to reopen their stores inside our shopping mall with our support.”
Enya knew all of that. She had talked to most of her neighbors. Some even came to her confectionery to bid farewell to their work and life on their street. Still, even if most of them were happy with their deals, that was not enough to make Enya like Mr. Corporate Shark sitting in front of her and trying to intimidate her with his emerald eyes.
“And all those great deeds have earned you the honor to dine with me?” Enya’s sarcasm finally kicked in.
“You’re good. But no,” Silversson held her eyes locked with his for severa
l very long moments while the waiter served the entrees.
“I want to know you, Enya,” he laughed.
For the first time, if felt like a bit of a nervous chuckle. Enya felt emboldened, like there was finally a chink in his perfect armor.
“You have rejected every deal my lawyers have offered. The last one was ten times more than your business could ever cost. Ever. You are still saying no. I want to know more about a woman who could say no to that.”
“Bad habits die hard,” she bit into her lettuce as if the poor leaves were to be held accountable for his deeds and her choices.
“I get that. But is it a smart choice for your business? How about we play a little game?” he cocked his brow warning Enya of the danger his ‘little game’ was going to bring.