Oui: A BWWM Romance (The French Connection Book 1)

by Brooklyn Knight

  I looked at my watch.

  “The man is in love with you, Laila. He’s hopeless.”

  “Yes, he’s dreadfully hopeless and I have moved on. I’m a one-and-done kind of girl. I don’t give second chances. You know that. And if Ryder thinks he’s going to outdo me – again...” I let my words trail off as bitterness welled inside of me. “He’s got another thing coming.”

  Finally, our conversation turned to something more appropriate when we sensed the presence of the Vice President. He was still several feet away from us, but his command was undeniable.

  Ryder adjusted his tie as Mr. Carter approached, and we all turned to face him like synchronized swimmers without a pool, awed and mesmerized. We were aware of his accomplishments. We knew the contents of his resume, and we were knowledgeable of his capabilities. If I wasn’t intimidated before, I was now.

  His booming voice was countered by a jovial expression. He clapped his hands, rubbing them together. “Ladies and gentlemen, good morning and welcome to Hamilton Associates. My name is Max Carter and I am thrilled that you all have been selected by your professors to be here today. Your presence means you’re the top of the top and this opportunity is one which many students dream of. I reckon I’m looking at some of the future’s business powerhouses.”

  My chest swelled.

  Mr. Carter eyeballed each of his with a predictive twinkle in his eye. He pointed a long finger at Gus. “You must be Mr. Brewer,” he guessed.

  Gus stepped forward. “Truly an honor to meet you sir,” he said gripping Carter’s hand.

  “Likewise,” Mr. Carter responded. He eyeballed the rest of us. “Ryder Hanson.”

  Ryder took a respectful step forward and extended his arm. “A pleasure,” Ryder said. Syrup dripped from his lips.

  “Of course, I know all about you,” Ryder was saying. “I feel as if we’ve already met.”

  Mr. Carter chuckled. “Admittedly son, we’ve heard all about you, too. Your name is a common one at Johnson and Wales, and your professors sing your praises. I hope we’ll get a chance to talk privately before the day is out. Mr. Hamilton and I are looking forward to working with you over the course of the summer as our intern.”

  My jaw clenched.

  “Now for the ladies,” Carter continued. “Ashley Tatem.”

  Ashley stepped forward, shook the man’s hand, but offered no additional information.

  Carter turned to look at me. “And so you must be Laila Renaud.”

  I smiled and shook his hand as firmly as Gus and Ryder had. “Sir, it is a pleasure.”

  “Indeed. Your name has been pretty common too. I’ve heard a few professors refer to you during conferences.”

  I made a conscious effort to keep my game face on, but my heart lurched into my throat. “Well, it is my hope that I can deliver on those things you heard.”

  He smiled. “I look forward to that.”

  We made our way to a formidable boardroom. The solid-oak table seemed to go on forever and the presence of modern technology served as evidence that this was a place where discussions transcended the boarders of the United States.

  We listened intently as Mr. Carter imparted the rich history of Hamilton Associates. It was a lecture that we were very familiar with, although hearing it in the confines of the stunning edifice was a thrilling experience.

  “Does anyone have any questions?” he asked wrapping up.

  Ryder’s voice broke the silence. “What do you project to be the future needs of clients?” He lifted his pen to his bottom lip. “I mean, with the recession and all, I’m sure the face of the services you provide has changed.”

  “Of course,” Mr. Carter agreed. “Client needs change all the time and the recession has required us to become creative as it relates to keeping our client’s portfolios producing optimally. We have a team of specialists who work around the clock to make sure our products match the needs of our clients, especially in these challenging economic times.”

  “I’m sure,” I added, my tone a little more forceful than Ryder’s had been. I cleared my throat and dialed it back. “Might you consider looking at foreign competitors to compare what they’re doing? Offshore companies are proving to be a significant rival. Maybe if you can tailor your services to match theirs...”

  Mr. Carter’s smile reached his ears. “You’re ahead of the ball, Miss Renaud. That is precisely what we’ve been investigating. Off-shore companies are at an advantage because they can provide the same services we can at a reduced cost, due to their ability to escape certain taxation laws. We’re looking at how we can be competitive in this way. We definitely need talent in order to keep abreast.”

  The sensation of Ryder’s eyes burning holes through me filled me with joy and a small smile formed on my lips.

  Mr. Carter’s voice cut through the unspoken tension. “If there aren’t any more questions, I’d like to introduce the man I’m sure you’ve all been waiting for. He’s one of the business world’s savviest moguls and a very good friend of mine, and I’m sure you each have read a lot about him.” Mr. Carter extended his hand to the double doors of the boardroom as it parted. “I now invite Mr. Dylan Hamilton to take the floor.”

  Dylan Hamilton appeared at the threshold and in less than a second their air in my lungs dissipated. The CEO walked into the room dressed in a fine, heather-gray Italian suit, tailored to expensive perfection. The woven turquoise tie he wore was fixed with a Prince Albert knot, and his cufflinks sparkled against the bright, artificial lights. He was tall, stately, and solid. His jaw, covered with the right amount of stubble, was chiseled and strong, and his fierce brown eyes surveyed the room; but when they landed on me, my breath escaped me.

  A debilitated whimper escaped my parted lips and I snapped my mouth closed.

  His eyes narrowed, and hands curled into loose fists.

  I tried with all my might to avert my gaze, to look at something – anything else, but the intensity of his eyes refused to release me. Our stares were locked and there was nothing I could do.

  “Mr. Hamilton...” Mr. Carter called his name. It was only then that I was set free.

  Chapter Two

  Laila

  ‘Make It Up To You’

  “Sir,” Mr. Carter called him again. “Dylan!” he whispered forcefully.

  The CEO’s head shot around and he grabbed his tie, running his hand over it.

  “Sir, I was just telling the students what a pleasure it is for you to do this every year...”

  “Right, yes,” he responded. He turned to look at us again, but this time, there was no glitter in his eyes. He stepped further into the room, bringing with him a rich and delightful aroma. “Good morning to each of you,” he greeted us corporately. “I don’t doubt you’ve had an adequate welcome, but I would like to personally say how special this time is for me.”

  He assumed his position in front of the room, towering over us, asserting his potent presence.

  Ashely kicked my foot under the table.

  “Every year, we are privileged to be exposed to new and exceptional talent; people that we desire to employ and work with as we strive to make ourselves the leader in the investment and insurance industry,” he continued. “That’s why each of you is here - because your professors at Johnson and Wales have seen something in you and have been kind enough to expose our upper level management to your skills and ability.” His profound voice seemed to rattle the room to the very corners.

  Or maybe it just rattled my corners.

  He looked around the room again but glossed over me. “I want to go around the room and have each of you tell me who you are and what your distinct area of interest is.”

  Silence enveloped the room. I could hear breakfasts churning in stomachs.

  “Starting with you.” He pointed to Ashley.

  She cleared her throat. “My name is Ashley Tatem sir, and though I haven’t settled on a distinct area of interest as yet, I’m an eager student who wants to be expos
ed to all aspects of business. I think the benefits of general knowledge outweigh those of specialization.”

  Mr. Hamilton’s lips formed a tight smile. “Welcome, Ashley.” He turned to Ryder, who jumped to attention.

  “Ryder Hanson, sir. I have experience managing the high-income portfolios of some very wealthy clients. I worked at my father’s firm for three consecutive summers and as a result, have obtained a sound knowledge and understanding of diversification and asset management. I believe that’s where my skillset lies.”

  “Very impressive, Mr. Hanson,” the CEO said crossing his arms over his broad chest. “And of course, your father is Ted Hanson, of Hanson and Hanson.”

  “Yes, sir, that is correct.”

  I bristled in my seat.

  “I am very familiar with your father’s work. In fact, we’ve attended many conferences together. I understand you will be our intern for the next few months.” He offered Ryder a smile that turned me green. “I heard about your proposal. It had something to do with cyber insurance. Tell me more about it.”

  The blood drained from my face and an intense heat seared my chest.

  Ryder’s eyes shifted to mine, but I looked away.

  He turned his attention back to Mr. Hamilton. “I’m interested in projective planning and the consideration of cyber insurance in that regard. That’s what the proposal to your company was about. I posed a few questions regarding what it would look like and drafted some answers to those questions. There was also some preliminary troubleshooting involved.”

  “Brilliant. Very impressive,” Mr. Carter mumbled. “We talked about that for hours,” he reminded the CEO.

  “Thank you, sir,” Ryder said. “Admittedly, there was a team of dedicated colleagues that assisted with the development of that concept. In fact,” he gestured towards me, “my colleague worked very closely with me on the project and can speak just as knowledgeably.”

  My eyes flitted up to looked at Ryder and he gazed at me before tilting his head in the direction of the CEO. “Go on, Laila. Tell them about the project.”

  My mouth snapped shut and my eyes quivered as a smile turned the edges of my mouth. I smoothed the imaginary creases out of my perfectly steamed suit, realizing that the spotlight was now on me.

  The CEO’s eyes turned towards me and my pulse escalated in my wrist. His eyes flashed, and he moistened the most perfect set of lips I had ever seen. Suddenly, I was imagining how they’d feel against my own.

  His voice pulled me back. “So I suppose that brings me to you... Miss -”

  “Renaud.” My voice was small. “Laila Renaud, Mr. Hamilton.”

  Our eyes entangled and this time there was no denying his intoxicating magnetism. The feeling of being drawn to him was terrifying. I was free falling into the depths of his presence and there was no parachute in sight.

  This could be bad.

  Mr. Carter cleared his throat and I startled, trying to regain what was left of my composure.

  “Sir, as Mr. Hanson mentioned, I am interested in speculation and innovation regarding new products and services, but specifically, as they relate and respond to the advances of technology.” My tone grew more robust this time. “There are clear benefits to exploring the feasibility of e-Insurance. We’re in the digital age, Mr. Hamilton. Thanks to Amazon, Borders is almost obsolete, as will be many other brick and mortar establishments which rely on traditional methods of service delivery. Mr. Hamilton, very soon, if not already, cable service providers will be forced to consider other products for the consumer because everything is digital. Nobody rents movies anymore. Cable is barely competitive. And I can go online and send my choice of flowers or candy anywhere in the world with the click of a button. This is the world in which we live, and I am convinced that the time has come for us to consider how our customers might require and benefit from the security of web-based insurance. There’s an untapped market here, sir, and I think it’s worthy of exploration.”

  The room would have been silent, but for the sound of my heart banging against my ribcage.

  Carter’s eyes shifted from me to the CEO.

  The CEO nodded, and his mouth drew into a straight line. “Well... thank you for expanding on that, Miss Renaud. It’s good to have you on the team today.” He smiled and turned to Gus.

  Gus’s voice, sounding like a drone of bees in the summer, faded into the background and I shrunk in my seat.

  THE DAY ENDED AT 5:30 PM, but each of us we were still floating on clouds of excitement. It had been an amazing experience, but the CEO’s lackluster response to my diatribe bothered me. I’d intended to blow him out of the water. It hadn’t happened. Instead, Ryder had stolen my thunder and rained on my parade.

  “That was awesome,” Ashley repeated for the hundredth time. “It couldn’t have been any better.”

  “I’m glad you had a great time,” I forced myself to say. “Who did you spend the day with?”

  “I was with one of the senior managers reviewing portfolio performance and it is so amazing how innovative these guys are. It was unreal,” she replied, oblivious to my flatness.

  My posture straightened as Ryder approached, and an inexplicable heat singed my insides.

  “Well, as you all know, I got to spend my day with Mr. Hamilton. There are absolutely no words to describe the experience.”

  I rolled my eyes, trying to force tears of disappointment back. I was being silly, I thought. The day hadn’t gone the way I’d planned, but I owed Ryder a thank you. He didn’t have to acknowledge me in that boardroom today, especially after the way I had treated him, but he had. The least I could do was woman-up and let him know I was grateful.

  I drew in a breath and turned on my heel to face him. “I’m glad you had a great time too, Ryder,” I said, though my lips hardly moved.

  Ryder’s jaw dropped as he looked to the left and the right. “Wait...” He threw his hand against his chest. “Are you talking to me?”

  I rolled my eyes and bit back a genuine smile. “Stranger things have happened,” I informed him.

  Ryder’s blue eyes twinkled as he stepped closer. “To what do I owe this pleasure?”

  “Don’t push it,” I warned.

  His bottom lip caught between his teeth. “Fine,” he agreed raising his hands. “I’ll take what I can get. After six months of not returning my calls and completely shutting me out, you’ve acknowledged me, and I won’t complain. Besides, I know that this is your way of saying thank you without actually saying it, but that’s okay. I did what I did this morning because it was the right thing to do and I wanted to prove to you that I am actually capable of doing the right thing.”

  “Maybe I am trying to say thank you,” I said. The words were like sandpaper scraping the back of my throat. “But it’s still too little too late. Neither the vice president nor Mr. Hamilton cared about what I said. The impact had already been made.” I sighed and tried to erect my crumbling shoulders.

  Ryder’s neck jutted back. “What are you talking about? They loved you, Laila.”

  “What evidence do you have of that?”

  “The look on Mr. Hamilton’s face when you were speaking... He’s was speechless. You’d have to be a fool not to notice.”

  I cleared my throat as recollections of the intense exchange flooded me and I fought the urge to look up to where his office sat perched on the top floor.

  “It doesn’t matter,” I said. “You’re right. What you did today was more than a sorry and I should acknowledge that, right?” I paused. “So, thank you.”

  “You don’t have to thank me, Lai,” he said. “When I heard the accolades Hamilton and Carter were giving me, I knew what I had to do to prove to you that I never meant to...” Ryder’s eyes softened, and he lifted his hand to push a loose tendril from my face. I eased out of his path and he recoiled.

  He exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. “Listen, Laila” he said through an emotional breath, “I have to be honest with you. For me, this is about
more than e-Insurance and the internship.” He paused and sucked in air. “I really, really miss you. I miss what happened between us.”

  My expression pinched. “Ryder, what are you talking about?” I whispered, looking around us. “We’re not allowed to talk about that.” I backed away from him.

  “We haven’t talked about it, about us, but maybe it’s time that we do.” He pulled his shoulders up to his ears. “I can’t stop thinking about you, Laila. I can’t stop thinking about the six months that we were together.”

  I shook my head, dead set against having this conversation with him. “Ryder, no,” I asserted. “We’re not talking about this. What happened between us was a huge mistake.”

  “A mistake you made repeatedly for almost six months? Come on, Lai.”

  “It was late. We had been working on that project all night...” The words fell away and I grew hotter as the details flew into my mind. “It was one glass of wine too many.”

  “That was the first night,” he reminded me. “What’s your excuse for the second?” His eyes searched mine urgently. “Or the third?”

  I had no answer.

  He closed in on me again. “Lai, I know I messed up. I hurt you, I betrayed your trust, but I want to be able to try again.”

  “We can’t.” My response was succinct.

  “Why not?”

  “Jennifer McMahon.”

  Ryder’s brow furrowed. “Jenny McMahon?”

  I raised an eyebrow. “The girl everyone said you were dating a few months ago? You were spotted going into The 541 with her.” I pointed a manicured finger in his face. “And don’t you dare deny it.”

  “Okay, I won’t deny it,” he admitted slowly, “but I promise I can explain – ”

  I cut him off. “Don’t bother. The best thing is for us to move on with our lives. After graduation in a few months, it will be a lot easier. We won’t have to see each other ever again.”

  “You have no idea how much the very thought scares me,” he whispered. Ryder ran his hands down my arms, sending small waves of electricity pulsing through me. “Give me another chance, Laila,” he said, coming close to my face again. “Give me another chance to show you that I can be everything you need me to be. Let me take you to dinner,” he persisted. “We can talk about whatever you want. It doesn’t even have to be about us. Let’s just... spend some time together.”