Learning to Trust

by Cynthia P. O'Neill

  The other dress was a little too daring, I felt, for a business dinner, so I suggested it for graduation. It was a form-fitting red dress with short sleeves, a sweetheart neckline, a slight standing collar along the back of the neck, and a cinched waist. It hit just above the knee and made me look positively voluptuous. Thank goodness I’d be wearing a graduation gown over it 90% of the time.

  I was glad to have the clothing plans done, but my confidence was still shaky about wearing a dress at all, since I had purposefully shied away from wearing anything remotely flattering or revealing since the incident with Chase. I can still recall his belligerent words, “You dress like you want it.” The thought sent a cold chill down my spine. Hannah and Grace both stood firm that he was a jerk and should be kept in the past. They’re right, I needed to get over this and learn to trust again. But could I trust Garrett? My mind told me to watch out, but my body kept responding with thoughts of desire.

  I’d already had my shower, where I had strict instructions from both Grace and Hannah to shave my legs and underarms, pluck my eyebrows, and paint my fingernails and toenails. They had every part of what I would wear and how I would look planned out for the evening. They suggested I leave my hair down since that was what Garrett preferred and go with minimal makeup, only to enhance my features. To me, that meant a little lipstick, blush and maybe some mascara. I was at least able to pick my own undergarments; a pair of white lace boyshorts and matching bra, which made me feel secure in myself and gave me a boost of sexy confidence.

  My roommate gave me the final once over and a good luck hug, then nearly pushed me out the door at 6:25. “You look absolutely amazing, Laurel. I’ll keep my fingers crossed that you get the offer you’re looking for. Remember not to let him intimidate or take advantage of you. He obviously has moves and knows how to use them.” Her eyebrows wiggled suggestively, making me laugh.

  “Thanks, Hannah, for all your help and advice. I don’t know where I’d be without yours and Grace’s guidance.” I almost had tears in my eyes with the amount of appreciation I had for both of them. I’d be lost without them this past year.

  I was surprised to see a black Lincoln Town Car with dark tinted windows by the curve, complete with a gentleman dressed in a dark suit. His hair was brown, cut short on the sides and a little longer on top. He looked quite muscular, maybe in his late 30s. Maybe he doubled as a driver and a bodyguard.

  “Good evening, Miss Hart,” he said as I approached.

  “Do you work with Mr. Andrews?” I asked politely.

  “My name is Ryan Thompson, though most people call me Thompson. I work for Mr. Waters and Mr. Andrews. Garrett has asked me to drive you to where you’ll be dining tonight.” He opened the rear passenger door. “Please take a seat, miss.”

  “Thank you, Thompson,” I said softly as I climbed into the rear of the car. “Is Mr. Andrews already at the restaurant?”

  He slid into the driver’s seat and started the car. “He will be meeting you there.” His jacket hung open upon entering the vehicle, where I saw a handgun holstered to his side. So he must be Mr. Waters’ bodyguard.

  I was surprised that we drove all the way into the heart of Boston. It was rare that I made trips into the city, but enjoyed looking at the waterways and the historic buildings that dotted the area.

  Before long, we pulled up to a hotel that boasted a sign for The View restaurant. Thompson put the car in park, and opened the passenger door for me, offering his hand in assistance to exiting the vehicle. “Please take the elevator to the top floor, where the restaurant is located, and ask the hostess for Mr. Andrews’ table. It was a pleasure meeting you, Miss Hart.”

  “Thank you for picking me up, Thompson. It was a delight to meet you, too,” I said with a smile.

  I began to wonder why Garrett had use of Mr. Waters’ driver and if that was typical for his company. I didn’t let my mind ponder the thought for long, as my stomach took over and began twisting in nervous knots.

  The elevator ride was short, despite the restaurant being on the 15th floor. I had always heard of others eating here and praising the food, but I never thought I’d have the opportunity to eat here.

  I was a little nervous as I crept up to the hostess stand. She was very blonde and petite, smiling pleasantly as she asked if I had a reservation.

  My voice was a little shaky. Darn nerves. “I have a meeting with Garrett Andrews.”

  She looked a little surprised, but reformed her smile. “Right this way, miss,” she said, leading me through the dining area to a secluded table looking out onto a spectacular view of the Boston skyline.

  Garrett was quick to stand from his seat, his eyes blazing and a seductive smile spreading across his face. “Laurel, you look absolutely stunning tonight.”

  His hand started to reach out and I offered my hand in the form of a handshake, but was quickly taken aback by his gentlemanly gesture of bowing and kissing the top of it. The current between us was stronger than it was the day before and his lips made my breath accelerate, sending warmth flooding throughout my body. I had to get control over my reactions or he’d get the advantage on negotiating my job offer. Maybe that’s why he’s trying to be so chivalrous; maybe he’s trying to get the upper hand at negotiations?

  “I hope you don’t mind me getting a private table. This allows for a more exclusive conversation,” he stated as he pulled out the chair next to him and allowing me to sit before returning to his own seat.

  I noticed there were only two table settings. “Will the other new hire be joining us?” I hoped.

  Garrett’s posture shifted into one of authority. “He declined the position, so it’ll just be us tonight. I hope you don’t mind that I didn’t cancel, but I prefer to present this offer in person. And I rather enjoy your company.”

  I looked off to the side, taking a deep breath and reminded myself that this isn’t a date. This is just a business meeting; just contract negotiations. Keep your mind about you!

  When I gathered my thoughts and looked up, his eyes locked with mine, his quiet intensity making me blush. “I apologize for gazing at you, Laurel, but you look so radiant that I hardly recognized you.” He winked. “Off record…you should dress like this more often. It’s very becoming and the color of your dress definitely suits you.”

  I was overwhelmed by his comments and stared down into my lap, where I began fidgeting with my hands as I tried to hide the redness that was spreading across my face.

  His hand landed on top of mine to stop my fidgeting. “I apologize if I’ve made you feel uncomfortable. A beautiful woman such as you should receive nothing but compliments on a daily basis.”

  Hannah was right. He had moves and he definitely knew how to use them.

  “I’m all right,” I said. “Maybe just a little nervous and definitely not used to such kind words…” No one had ever given me such high praises outside of my family. Certainly not a man who I’d soon be working with in a professional capacity.

  I lifted my head towards Garrett and was equally dazzled by his appearance. While I imagined he looked good in any attire, he looked exceptionally good tonight; he had changed into a navy suit with a white linen shirt with the collar unbuttoned, no tie. Maybe it was that little bit of tanned chest poking out from under his shirt that made him so tantalizing.

  He grabbed his napkin and placed it in his lap. “I hope you don’t mind, but I’ve gone ahead and taken the liberty of ordering what I hope will be a celebratory dinner for us tonight.”

  “Thank you for ordering; I’m not at all familiar with this restaurant.” Why did he put emphasis on us? This is just a business meeting. Did he mean ‘us’ in terms of the company?

  “Shall we go over your offer?”

  I was about to speak when the waiter arrived. “Your appetizer, sir, madam.” The waiter proceeded to place a small platter between us with a small glass bowl filled with something small, round and black sitting in a larger bowl of crushed ice. Around the outer edges
lay miniscule, triangular pieces of toast and another small bowl containing a frothy cream substance and two chilled glasses of clear liquid.

  I had no clue what lay before me or if he expected me to even try the appetizer. I should have guessed he was watching my facial expressions, because he commented immediately. “Why are you frowning? Have you never tried caviar before?”

  I shook my head, looking over the appetizer plate again. I knew caviar was fish eggs and I remember Tom Hanks spitting it out into a napkin in Big, but that was the extent of my knowledge.

  He tried to suppress a chuckle. “You shouldn’t make a face like that until you’ve at least tried it. If you don’t like it, I’ll be happy to send it back and we can order something else.”

  I didn’t know how to respond, so I answered honestly. “I’ve never had this before, so I’m not sure how to eat it.” I tried to relax. Trying new things is fun, Laurel. “Could you maybe give me a tour of the plate?”

  Garrett smirked as he picked up the small gold spoon in the caviar, along with a toast point. He placed a small dollop of caviar on the edge, along with a little of the froth, which he explained was crème fraîche.

  He leaned towards me, I thought to hand me the bite, so I raised my hand to take it from him. He shook his head. “Please allow me,” he said as he placed the morsel at my lips. “Lean forward and take a bite.”

  I was uncomfortable with this, but his look and tone told me not to question anything, so I obliged, taking a small bite and hoping that it wasn’t as disgusting as it appeared.

  “Relish the feel of the caviar on your palate and try not to chew too much. Now take a small sip of vodka to wash it down,” he instructed. “The drink will help compliment the taste of the caviar.”

  The texture was a tad unusual, but the taste was surprisingly refreshing, reminding me of the saltiness of the sea. As I lifted the glass of vodka, I noticed him take the remaining bite into his mouth, along with a sip of vodka.

  His gaze intensified as he watched me take a sip of the drink. I couldn’t believe how the vodka enhanced the experience, making my mouth feel refreshed and alive. My anxiety over trying something new subsided and I suddenly felt completely content.

  “See, that wasn’t so bad. Would you like to have another bite?”

  “Yes, please.” I couldn’t refuse, but before I could reach for a toast point, he was already preparing another bite for us to share.

  My mind tried to wrap itself around what was happening. Either he really likes me or the company will stop at nothing to woo their potential employees. Isn’t caviar high-priced and reserved as a luxury? At this restaurant, it probably cost more than I spend in a week on groceries.

  I had to put my thoughts at ease, so I finally got up enough nerve to ask. “Please excuse me for being nosy, but isn’t this appetizer a bit lavish for a company expense?”

  A broad smile fell across his face. “When it’s to entice or celebrate the hiring of a new employee, the boss has a ‘no expense is too much’ policy. Speaking of which, let’s discuss Mr. Waters’ offer.

  “Bio-Medical Life Solutions is offering you an entry-level position, starting at $65,000. This is on the lower end of the pay scale, but much higher than the internship we were initially offering. Mr. Waters agrees that you have great potential and can be of use to two of our company sectors. You will primarily work at Life Solutions in the Engineering and Medical Design Department. However, we would also like to utilize your knowledge of sports training to see if we can increase the performance of our professional athletes and rehabilitating our injured athletes at the Waters Athletics International Training Center.”

  I sat in shock; the figure he announced was almost twice what I had originally anticipated. I nodded when necessary as he continued, even though I was still in a bit of a fog.

  “To help sweeten the deal, we’ve secured the rights to your senior project. We’d like you to work on ways we can recreate it at a fraction of the cost so we can make it available to more people. Plus, we’d like your cousin to be the first one to try it out and get her thoughts on the prosthetic. Mr. Waters will provide a vehicle for your use, since you will be traveling between the two facilities, and may need to transport some equipment. We have already secured a discounted, fully-furnished apartment, one of our company perks, for you and your cousin to live in that isn’t too far from the office. You will be given an expense card for the cost of gas and repairs on the company vehicle, along with a laptop and a smartphone that you must carry with you at all times. Plus, the company is prepared to handle all costs and aspects of your move to Orlando.”

  To say that I was overwhelmed by the offer would’ve been the understatement of the century. It sounded too good to be true and it felt like he was leaving out a piece of information. I was hoping my intuition was wrong, but had to ask. “The offer has definitely left me speechless, Garrett, but it feels like there’s a catch.”

  He half nodded and shook his head at the same time. “Your skills continue to fascinate me. You’re remarkably perceptive.” He took a deep breath. “The catch is that we would like you to start work on Monday, if possible.”

  The last statement felt like a bomb being dropped on me and I knew I needed a moment of escape in order to process what just happened. To use my roommate’s favorite expression, “a total mind fuck” would be too tame of an event.

  I reeled in my emotions for a brief moment and calmly said, “If you’ll excuse me for a moment, I need to go freshen up in the ladies room and give my mind a few minutes to process everything that you discussed.”

  Garrett nodded and stood gracefully, reaching for my chair to help me up. His hand pressed ever so gently into the small of my back as he escorted me to the center of the dining area and pointed the way toward the restrooms.

  “Thank you. I should only be a few minutes.” I could feel his eyes on me as I strode through the tables, slowly finding my way toward the facilities.

  I opened the door to the ladies’ restroom and was taken aback by the plush seating area that greeted me. I’d never seen a bathroom this fancy, but was thankful for the opportunity to sit down and process my thoughts.

  My breathing was accelerated and nearing the state of a panic attack. I took a seat in one of the armed chairs by the vanity and leaned forward towards my legs, placing my hands on my cheeks to try to slow down my breathing and calm my nerves.

  After a few minutes of deep breathing, I sat back up and attempted to analyze the offer, citing all the pros and cons. The reasons to accept were simple…I wanted to get as far away from the north as possible, so I wouldn’t risk running into Chase. I needed to forget about what he had done to me and start a new life; one where I could be happy and not have to look over my shoulder all the time in fear. I really needed a source of income and didn’t have any other offers on the table. Grace would be there. Plus, I had to admit that some part of me felt wrapped up in wanting to spend more time with Garrett.

  My only con was a big one…I had promised my family that I would spend some time with them after graduation before starting work. Starting Monday, FOUR DAYS after graduation, didn’t allow for any downtime. This was happening way too fast. I hadn’t accepted the offer, so maybe there was a chance at negotiating some early vacation time.

  I took a deep breath, stood up from the chair and headed towards the door with a new sense of determination. As I exited the ladies’ room, I was startled by the sight of Garrett nervously pacing a few steps away.

  “Are you all right Laurel?” he asked with caution and concern.

  I smiled as best I could to ease his worries. “I’m sorry if I took a little longer than necessary. You gave me a lot to think about and I needed a bit of time to process and weigh all my options.”

  I hadn’t realized that he had been holding his breath until he let out an exhale of relief. “I apologize for following you out here, but I started to worry; you were gone for so long.” He held his hand out toward the dining
room. “Shall we return to our table and finish our conversation?”

  I nodded in agreement and started to walk past him and into the dining area. He strode closely beside me, brushing up against my skin from time to time until we reached our table. He once again held out my chair, allowing me to sit before taking his seat.

  The waiter appeared as soon as we had taken our seats. “Your salads, sir, madam.” He placed small plates of roasted beet and goat cheese salad with microfiber greens at our seats.

  The sommelier took the waiter’s place and filled our wine glasses, telling Garrett about the lovely pairing the Chardonnay would make with our salads. Garrett took a sip of the wine and nodded in approval before the sommelier took off.

  I was hesitant to take a sip of the wine; I wasn’t a big drinker and I’d already had vodka with the caviar, but I needed something to help quell my nerves. To my surprise, it was smooth and crisp with a slight fruity flavor and tasted even more amazing with a bite of the salad. Maybe I could get used to this.

  He was the first to break our silence. “What are your thoughts on the offer? Do you have any reservations or issues you wanted to negotiate?”

  I took my time, finishing most of my salad, before replying. “Is there an expiration time on the offer?”

  He looked irritated; he obviously didn’t want to hear that I was hesitant. “The offer is only good for 24 hours, although I might be able to get it extended by an extra day. What are your concerns?”

  “I didn’t realize I was that easy to read, Mr. Andrews.”