“I’m glad to hear that.”
He shifted in place and glanced down at his watch. He looked like he was getting ready to leave. As nice as the view would surely be, I wasn’t quite ready to see him go. I racked my brain trying to think of a way to stall him.
“What about you, Mr. Stone? Do you like your job?” I blurted out.
One of his eyebrows tweaked up in surprise at my abruptness. Whether or not he liked his job was really none of my business. But if he was insulted by my forwardness, he didn’t show it.
“Of course I do. I would never indulge in anything that I didn’t like,” he replied in a measured tone, mouth moving slowly and deliberately around the piece of gum. A slight smile tugged at the corners of his lips, as if he were enjoying his own private joke. “My job allows me to be in control of my own destiny. And I like to be in control, Miss Cole.”
Just don’t watch him chew. Don’t watch him chew.
I repeated the chant over and over in my head.
“Control?” I practically squeaked.
“I am fascinated with the human mind. Understanding how a person thinks allows me to control a situation. And in my line of work, the only way to be successful is to have the ability to control the will of others. It gives me a certain measure of power, or the upper hand, as some might choose to call it. This can be quite useful when buying and selling real estate. But, with power comes great responsibility and balancing the two takes a considerable amount of control.”
Wow! That’s a bit deep. This guy’s a total control nut.
It was definitely not a simple answer for what I thought was an innocent question. But as I processed his words, I thought they reminded me of something you’d hear Bruce Wayne say in a Batman movie. An image of Alexander Stone in a black cape popped into my head and I had to stifle the giggle that was trying to escape. It came out as a half snort instead.
“I’m sorry, but did I say something funny?” he asked curiously, cocking his head to one side.
“Um, no. Not at all,” I said, attempting to cover up the sudden wave of silliness I was feeling. “I was just thinking that your philosophy about power and control is a little extreme. Cocky…sort of.”
“That may be your perception, however, I’m not a egomaniacal tyrant like you might think. I just happen to like all of my ducks in a row.” He paused and glanced down at his watch again. “Now, as intriguing as this conversation has been, I have to get going. I’m glad your head is feeling better.” He flashed one last delicious smile at me and turned to leave. “It was good to see you again, Miss Cole.”
“Enjoy your day, Mr. Stone,” I murmured pensively.
Ducks in a row, huh?
I couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to ruffle his feathers as I watched him proceed to the checkout line.
Boy, does that man have swagger.
On impulse, I strode nonchalantly over to where he stood and grabbed a pack of cinnamon flavored gum off of the shelf in the checkout line.
“You forgot something Mr. Stone,” I said, and casually dropped the pack into his shopping cart. My boldness surprised me. He stared at me in confusion for a minute, looking like he wanted to say something, but stopped himself.
I didn’t give him the opportunity to respond. Instead, I threw a coy smile at him and sashayed away, not really sure what to think about my own abrupt and uncharacteristic spontaneity.
****
She left me feeling relatively stunned. Catching me unawares was not an easy feat, yet I had been almost knocked flat by a woman who appeared to be so completely harmless.
You surprised me, Krystina Cole. Maybe you’re not as innocent as I had originally thought.
I glanced down into the shopping basket at the cinnamon flavored gum, my curiosity piqued. She had initially seemed nervous, but appeared to relax after a bit, revealing a certain degree of audaciousness by ending on a flirtier note. However, any further insight as to what might have been going on in her mind ended there. As hard as I tried, I couldn’t read her. And it was goddamned irritating.
I proceeded through the checkout line, trying to decide what to do about the unreadable woman. Understanding the interworking of ones brain is what I did best. Pulling apart the many layers of an individual to get to the root of what drove them was a skill. Many took years to master the art, but I had a natural knack for it.
Until I met Krystina Cole.
Even a Masters degree in psych wasn’t going to help me to figure her out easily. She would be a challenge. She was like a puzzle that I had to solve, the compelling reason behind the return trip to Wally’s. Unfortunately, I didn’t succeed in unraveling any clues, and only exacerbated the mystery.
She said that Jim was not her boyfriend, but she didn’t exactly say she was single either. So is she?
That lock of hair that falls over her brow. Did she style it like that or is it merely happenstance?
The way she twists her hands. Is it a nervous tick or does she simply have cold hands that she’s trying to warm?
And that delicate blush of hers…
I couldn’t help but picturing that blush spreading to every part of her. An image of her wide, unknowing stare came to mind again and I shook my head to clear it.
Just forget her. She’s too young anyway.
“Your total is thirty-seven dollars and four cents. Will that be cash or credit, sir?” asked the skinny blond that was working the register.
I focused my attention on the cashier. Her nametag read CASSIE in bold print.
Mid-twenties, been around the block, on the prowl for Mr. Right.
One look at her and it was easy to assess that she was the latch on kind of girl. She was trying to look sexy and coy, peering at me through eyelashes that had too much mascara on them. I ignored her. She was cute, but she wasn’t my type.
If only Krystina could be as transparent as this one…
I pulled out my credit card and absently handed it over to the coquettish Cassie, careful not to give her any encouragement.
Once my transaction was complete, I collected my purchases and left the grocery store. When I stepped outside, I blinked from the bright sunlight, and reached into my suit jacket pocket for a pair of sunglasses. After my vision adjusted, I saw Hale waiting for me, double-parked at the end of the block. I headed in that direction.
Hale moved to get out of the car when he saw me, but I waved him off.
“I’ve got it,” I called out to him. I deposited the groceries into the trunk, and then climbed into the backseat. “One of theses days you’re going to get a parking ticket.”
“Don’t worry. I have a few connections,” he told me easily. “Where to now, boss?”
“Back to the office. I have more work to do on the Canterwell deal. Just drop me there, and then run this food back to the house. Oh, and I need you to get with Stephen and gather some information.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll call Stephen now and have him get started on it. Is Canterwell looking to unload another property?”
“No, this isn’t about Canterwell. It’s about a person. I want all the information you can find on Krystina Cole.”
CHAPTER 4
I stepped into the elevator of my apartment building, punched the number for my floor, and watched the doors slowly close. I leaned against the back wall and closed my eyes. It had been hours since my conversation with Alexander Stone, yet my head was still reeling from our encounter. I didn’t know what had come over me. I really needed to talk to Allyson.
I was just about to insert my key into the door of my apartment when I heard my cell phone ring. I reached into my purse for my phone and gingerly answered the call, being extra careful not to slice my finger open on the cracked screen.
“Hello?”
“Hello, may I speak with Miss Krystina Cole please?” asked pleasant female voice.
“This is Miss Cole.”
“Miss Cole, this is Laura Kaufman calling from Turning Stone Advertising. W
e received your résumé and we’re interested in setting up an interview with you for a position in our marketing department.”
That’s strange.
I had never heard of Turning Stone Advertising. I wondered how they got a hold of my résumé. Either way, beggars can’t be choosers, as job interviews had been few and far between.
“I would like that very much. When would you like to meet?” I asked her, stepping into my apartment and quietly closing the door behind me.
“Does tomorrow morning at nine o’clock work for you?” Laura politely asked. I mentally ran through my schedule at Wally’s. I was scheduled off for the next two days.
“That’s perfect. Can you please tell me where you’re located?” I figured that was an important place to start, considering I knew nothing at all about the company. I quickly went to the kitchen and pulled a pad of paper and a pen out of one of the drawers.
Laura rattled off an address in the financial district then said, “Just go to the security desk in the lobby and ask for me. The guard will tell you where to go from there.”
“Great! Thank you and I’ll see you in the morning.”
I thought about the upcoming interview as I finished scribbling down the address that Laura had given me.
Finally – an interview!
I put the pen down and did a little happy dance around the kitchen. This could be my opportunity to move on, a chance to step up to bigger and better things. The timing of this couldn’t be more perfect, as I had recently begun to feel discouraged over the lack of employment opportunities available in New York.
I wondered about the size of the firm and the starting pay. Anything was bound to be better paying than Wally’s. If I got the job, and found out that I didn’t like it or that the pay wasn’t what I had hoped, it was okay. All of it was inconsequential in the grand scheme of things. I would be working in my field and gaining experience to add to my résumé, something that it was seriously lacking.
I knew that I should probably get out my laptop and start researching Turning Stone Advertising. They had most likely gotten my résumé from one of those online job sites. But either way, it wouldn’t look very good if I showed up to the interview unprepared. I glanced over at the clock in the kitchen and frowned when I saw the time. I needed to get ready for my dinner with Allyson. Interview prep would just have to wait.
****
I arrived at Murphy’s Irish Pub just a few minutes after seven. I scanned the crowd for Allyson. The tavern was packed tonight. The jukebox blared “The Rocky Road to Dublin” and I tapped my foot in time to the music. I spotted William Murphy, the owner of the pub, tending the bar. He saw me come in and waved me over. I smiled and headed towards him.
Peanut shells crunched under my feet as I navigated through the crush of people. William had once told me that he never cleaned up the shells, or he would risk revealing a sticky beer-stained floor to his customers. I personally thought the tale was a big fat lie. He was so meticulous about his place, not a detail was forgotten. From the antique wooden barrels of Jameson to the vintage Michael Collins posters, I was sure that the floors were mopped to a sparkling gleam at the end of every night.
“A pint of Guinness for the lady?” William asked when I reached him.
“Sorry, Will. Wine only for this girl – you know that,” I chided.
“Aye, lassie!” he said with a feigned Irish brogue. “One day I’ll get you to come over to the dark side.”
I grimaced and stuck my tongue out – I hated the taste of beer.
William let out a loud, boisterous laugh. “Okay, not today then. Since you won’t go for a nice stout, what else can I get for you my dear?”
“Actually, nothing at the moment. I’m meeting Allyson tonight for dinner.”
“She’s already here,” he said as he pointed to the back of the pub. I looked over and saw her seated at a corner table.
“Thanks, Will. I’ll catch you later.”
I made my way over to where Allyson was sitting. She waved when she saw me approaching.
“I ordered you a glass of white already,” she said after I sat down.
“That’s my girl,” I said with a wink.
Allyson gave me a smile in return, showing off her pearly whites. She was a natural beauty; so pretty that she turned the heads of men everywhere we went. She had sparkling emerald green eyes that lit up whenever she laughed. She wore her blond hair long, never trimming more than an inch off at a time. Her hair was effortlessly straight, and I was often envious of her shower and go abilities.
“So, did you find your phone charger?” I asked her.
“How did you know that I lost my charger?” she questioned back, narrowing her eyes and sounding slightly defensive.
“You left me a note. You only do that when your charger is missing and your phone is dead,” I teased.
“I just forgot that it was in my gym bag,” she mumbled with a scowl. I busted out laughing.
“You’ve already used that excuse, Ally,” I goaded, my eyes threatening to spill tears of laughter. The truth was, Allyson lost just about everything, and I loved to pick on her about it.
“It’s not funny, Krys! You try going almost twenty-four hours without a phone. It sucks!” she exclaimed earnestly, but I could see that she was fighting back a smile.
The waitress came over to take our food order, breaking up our playful banter. As appealing as the chicken finger basket sounded, I stuck with the grilled chicken salad. Allyson, not one to have to worry about counting calories, ordered a burger and fries. I didn’t know how she could eat that stuff and not add a single ounce to her petite frame. I’d be on the treadmill for a week if I ordered that.
“So tell me – what’s your good news?” I asked curiously after our orders had been placed. I loved hearing about Allyson’s latest and greatest.
“Well,” she drawled out. “I landed the photography job with Ethan DeJames.”
“That’s great, Ally! I’m so happy for you!” I reached over and gave her a one-armed hug. Ethan DeJames was one of the fastest growing fashion designers in New York, with brand new offices in Paris and Milan. This was great news, as well as a big step in the right direction for my friend.
“It’s great to know that I’ll have a good steady income coming in now. I loved freelancing, but it was too tough waiting for the next job to come in.” She held up her glass to me. “Drinks on me tonight, babe!” We clinked our glasses and I took a sip of wine. There was an impish glint in her eyes that led me to believe there was more to her news than just a job.
“So what else do you have to tell me?”
She threw me a sly smile and her eyes sparkled with mischief. Her look confirmed my suspicions – there was more.
“Guess.”
“You have a new guy?” I predicted. Her grin widened. “Ha! I knew it! So who is he? Tall, dark and handsome like the last one?”
Her grin instantly faded into a scowl.
“Sorry – I didn’t mean to bring up ancient news,” I apologized with a wince. Allyson’s last boyfriend was a wannabe model and a total jerk that was always putting her down. I swear it was because he was jealous of her apparent good looks. I don’t think he could stand that she was prettier than he was, or that she should have been the one in front of the camera – not him. The relationship had been short lived, and I was glad when they split up.
“It’s okay. Mark was a loser anyways. Now, Jeremy on the other hand…” She took on a far away, dreamy look and I started laughing.
“So, tell me about him. Hopefully he’s better in the sack than Mark was,” I joked. That was another reason why Alyson didn’t keep the last one around very long.
“I don’t know. Yet,” she added, the familiar gleam back in her eyes. “Jeremy is a photographer, like me. I was at Ethan DeJames’ completing my new hire paperwork when I met him. It was his first day too. He told me that he normally shot landscape, but when Ethan’s recruited him to shoot their models
, he decided to …” Allyson began talking rapidly, telling me every little detail of their first meeting.
But after a few minutes, her words began to fade in and out. I tried to listen, but I couldn’t seem to stay focused on what she was saying. I couldn’t stop thinking about Alexander Stone. The way he consumed my every thought was extremely annoying.
It’s not like I want to go out with him or anything. Just because he looks like a Greek God with his dark waves and flashing blue eyes doesn’t mean I wanted to sleep with him. Guys who look like him are nothing but trouble.
“Um, hello? Are you even listening to what I’m saying?” Allyson asked, interrupting my thoughts by waving a hand in front of my face.
“I’m sorry, Ally. I was listening…sort of. I’m just a little distracted today,” I explained, feeling bad about my rudeness.
“What’s wrong?” Lines of concern marred her pretty face.
“Nothing major, really.” And that was the truth – nothing was seriously wrong.
I’m just a total head case over a man I barely know.
The waitress came back to the table with our food and I was grateful for the interruption. I needed to figure out how to explain this without sounding like a complete nut job. As soon as the waitress walked away, Allyson pounced.
“Spill it,” she demanded.
“I have a job interview tomorrow. I got the call just before I left to meet you.” I paused and took a few bites of my salad. “Oh, and I think I met the hottest guy on the planet yesterday,” I blurted out.
Shock briefly flashed across her face at my announcement, but she recovered quickly.
“I didn’t see that one coming! Do tell!” she said, rubbing her hands together and wiggling her eyebrows. Allyson was always so animated when she spoke, and her vivacity made me smile.
“It’s nothing like you’re probably thinking, Ally. I only saw him twice and it was fairly brief both times.”
Heart of Stone Page 4