“Zaire, I’m just saying that you have to be careful. That’s all. Tyrese has his other employees to consider, as well. The last thing you want is to be the subject of workplace gossip.”
“I don’t care what other people think,” she uttered. “But I get what you are saying.”
“Keep your relationship out of the office,” Sage advised.
“I hear you.”
Zaire finished up her meal.
As they walked out of the restaurant, Sage said, “I hope I didn’t upset you.”
“You didn’t,” Zaire assured her. “You gave me something to think about.”
“I’ll support you no matter what you decide.” Sage checked her watch. “I need to get going, sis. I have a prenatal appointment, and Ryan’s meeting me at the doctor’s office.”
Zaire placed a hand to her sister’s round belly. “Take care of my little niece or nephew.”
They embraced.
“I’ll see you this weekend,” Sage said.
“Family cookout,” Zaire responded with a smile.
“I really want you to be happy, sis.”
“I know that.”
After Sage got into her car and drove away, Zaire also left.
Her sister was right. She was going to have to keep her developing feelings for Tyrese under control. Zaire did not want to be the subject of workplace rumors.
* * *
Tyrese was glad to be heading back to Los Angeles. He always enjoyed his visits to the Big Apple, but he preferred the less frenzied pace of the West Coast population.
“We will be taking off in five minutes,” the flight attendant announced.
“Thank you,” he responded, and then returned his attention to the documents in his hand.
The company plane, a Boeing 767, looked ordinary on the outside, but Tyrese had had its interior outfitted with chestnut and decorated in a rich burgundy and gold. The small conference table on board bore the company logo in the middle. The plane had been redesigned to carry twenty-four passengers.
Tyrese stretched and yawned in his seat. He settled back against the soft leather and closed his eyes.
Images of Zaire floated behind the lids. Tyrese had called to check on her, but they’d only had time for a quick conversation because she’d had to get to a meeting.
His mouth curved into an unconscious smile.
He felt movement as the plane glided down the runway.
Tyrese was looking forward to seeing Zaire. He gave himself a quick reminder that he could not allow himself to get involved with her. She was his partner. She could never be more than that to him.
The last time he’d gotten involved with someone within the company, it had cost him his job and almost his business reputation. Tyrese’s mouth took on an unpleasant twist.
That experience had provided the motivation for going into business for himself. When no one would hire him, Tyrese had relocated to Los Angeles and started his company, which had proven to be very successful in what he termed boutique marketing. He was labeled a visionary, a man of the future.
The old adage was right as far as he was concerned. Success was the best revenge.
* * *
Zaire walked out of the Zumba class wearing a smile. She patted her damp face with the back of her hand.
“You’re the only person I know who leaves a workout with a smile on your face,” Livi said, shaking her head in disbelief. She dabbed at her neck and chest with her terry-cloth towel.
“I always feel good after a workout,” she responded. “Don’t you?”
“I’m exhausted and sore.”
Zaire glanced over at Livi. “Let’s stretch some more. It’ll help.”
Livi smiled blandly. “Sure.”
They headed over to a corner that was vacant.
“We have a gym at M.G.,” Zaire said. “I’ve been thinking about exercising there at least two days a week when I’m working late.”
Livi gave her a puzzled look. “M.G.?”
Zaire reached out, stretching her muscles. “Yes, that’s what everyone calls the company.”
She straightened to relieve the ache in her shoulders.
“What are your plans for this evening?” Livi asked as they headed to their cars a few minutes later. “Blaze and I are having dinner at the Chart House. You’re more than welcome to join us.”
“Thanks, but I think I’ll just head home. Daddy’s in San Francisco, so I’ll order some takeout for me and Mama. We can make it a girls’ night.”
“Okay, I’ll talk to you later. Please give your mother a hug for me.”
“I will,” Zaire promised.
In the car, she placed a quick call to her mother. “How do you feel about Italian for dinner? I can pick up some on the way home.”
“That sounds great,” Barbara said.
“Great. I’ll be there shortly.”
The red lights on a plane in the air caught Zaire’s attention as she waited for a light to change from red to green.
Tyrese is flying back to Los Angeles tonight.
The thought thrilled her.
His absence from the office had been duly noted by Zaire. Tyrese was very hands-on, but he was careful to avoid micromanaging his team. He was well respected by everyone in the company and had a reputation of being fair.
Zaire wanted a peek into Tyrese’s life outside of work. There was no mention of a woman in his life, although she knew he most likely kept his personal life completely separated from the company. He aroused her curiosity. Zaire vowed to find out everything about Tyrese Moore.
* * *
Tyrese was already in his office working when Zaire arrived the next morning.
She knocked softly on his open door. “Good morning.”
“Come in,” he said. “I want to hear how everything went yesterday with your meeting. Bill Daniels can be temperamental, but I heard that you had no problems winning him over.”
She sat down in one of the visitor chairs. “He was actually a very nice man. The meeting went very well. I have some ideas that I think will work great for his venue.”
He smiled. “Great. I can’t wait to hear them.”
Zaire rose fluidly from her chair. “I guess I’d better get to work. I should have a proposal ready in a few hours.”
Tyrese checked his watch. “Why don’t we meet around three to go over what you have?”
“Sure. I’ll see you then.”
He leaned back in his chair and appeared to be studying her.
Their eyes met and held.
Tyrese broke the unspoken connection between them. “Zaire, I don’t want you to feel pressured. If you find that you need more time to put together your proposal, just let me know.”
“I don’t foresee a problem,” she responded. “I’m meeting with Bill and his partners on Friday to give the presentation, so I would like to test it on you since this is my first real client.” Zaire headed to the door. She paused briefly to say, “I’ll be ready for our meeting today.”
As soon as she walked into her office, Zaire summoned her assistant. She had requested that Tyrese allow Max to work for her. He’d conceded without an argument.
“I need you to get me a list of the top ranches in the country. Bill Daniels loves horses and the outdoors. I think if we can find a ranch with corporate facilities, it would be the perfect venue for a retreat.”
Max nodded. “There are some great facilities in Denver.”
She opened her laptop and prepared to get started on her project.
Zaire scanned the notes from her meeting with the owner of several car dealerships. Bill Daniels wanted to depart from the annual retreat in Miami. He wanted something different that would require more than just sittin
g around a pool drinking champagne. He had become more health conscious after he’d suffered a minor stroke. Bill wanted his management team to experience a weekend of healthy foods and activities designed to keep them physically fit.
She made a note to put together a list of the top personal trainers in the country.
Zaire settled back in her chair, deep in thought.
She really wanted this first project to impress Tyrese. Zaire also wanted to prove that she was indeed the right person to head the program. She knew that some of the employees believed she had been chosen because of her family connection to Robert DePaul. Regardless, Zaire intended to prove herself.
Max burst into the office. “I think we have the perfect venue for the retreat.”
“Where?” Zaire asked.
“The eight-thousand-acre Willow Creek Ranch in Granby, Colorado, has two hundred horses for riding the terrain, tennis courts and golf.”
“Sounds good, but does it offer anything in the way of spa treatments?”
Max nodded. “Aching muscles and bruised egos can rejuvenate themselves by way of massage therapy and a Jacuzzi tub. There are even indoor and outdoor exercise areas.”
Zaire pulled up the website on her laptop. “This is very nice, Max. Great job.”
Max arranged to have lunch delivered to the office so that he and Zaire could continue working on the proposal for her meeting with Tyrese.
She was determined to capture his full attention with what she had come up with.
Chapter 4
“As you can see, the Willow Creek Ranch is perfect for what Bill Daniels has in mind for his company’s retreat,” Zaire said. “There is a lake for fishing and walking trails.”
Tyrese gave her a smile that sent her pulse racing.
“I have to say that I think you nailed it. I like the idea of having a personal trainer and a nutritionist on board.”
“I can also arrange to have the chef prepare health-conscious meals all weekend if Bill wants. He really wants this retreat to be fun but also educational. He wants his managers to start thinking more about their physical well-being. He is hoping that they will also encourage their employees to do the same.”
“It’s actually a great idea,” Tyrese said. “We have an increasing problem with obesity, which is leading to serious health issues.”
Zaire agreed, “I think more and more companies are focusing on the health and well-being of their employees. We may get more requests like this in the future.”
The telephone rang.
“I need to take this, but don’t leave,” Tyrese told her.
She studied him while he talked to Pilar. Rumor had it that she was planning to relocate to New York and open another division of M.G.
The mystery in his eyes beckoned to her irresistibly. There was an air of efficiency about Tyrese that fascinated her.
He ended his call. “I’m sorry about that.”
“It’s not a problem.” Zaire stared with longing at him.
Every time his gaze met hers, she could feel her heart turn over in response.
Zaire noticed that Tyrese was watching her intently. She cleared her throat softly. “I’ve taken up enough of your time. I should get back to my office.”
“You have nothing to worry about when you have your meeting with Bill.”
“Thank you.”
Zaire’s gaze landed briefly on his lips. She wondered what it would feel like to kiss him. Her pulse quickened at the speculation, prompting her to pick up her pace as she headed down to her office.
She was entirely too caught up in her own emotions. Zaire deliberately tried to shut out any awareness of him as she finished the rest of her workday.
* * *
Tyrese had to fight his own battle of personal restraint where Zaire was concerned.
It was an awakening experience that left him with a feeling he had thought long since dead.
He had to regain control of his emotions before they led him back down a path of ruin. Tyrese had worked too hard to make M.G. the company it was. He was not about to let his attraction to Zaire destroy his life’s work.
Tyrese checked his watch. He needed to leave now if he wanted to be on time for his dinner with Pilar.
He made a couple of phone calls before leaving the office.
Pilar was already at the restaurant by the time Tyrese arrived.
“So tell me, Tyrese,” Pilar said as they sat down at a corner table. “What do you think of Zaire Alexander?”
“She’s everything you said she was,” he responded with a smile. “She has drive, and she’s ambitious.”
“Zaire is also very beautiful.”
Tyrese looked at his longtime friend. “You and I go way back, Pilar. You know everything about me, even what happened in Chicago. You also know that I can’t go back down that road.”
“I’m not saying that you should hook up with Zaire,” Pilar stated. “But you do need a life outside of M.G.”
“I’m fine with the way things are,” he said softly. “It’s probably better that I stay single.”
“What happened in Chicago was not your fault, Tyrese. She lied to you. You can’t stop living your life because of your past.”
“I don’t want to talk about it.” His tone was firm and exact.
“Okay.” Pilar’s smile did not indicate compliance. She continued, “So, let’s talk about our plans for expanding M.G. I believe that New York is the perfect location for our East Coast division.”
“Marshall doesn’t want to relocate?” he asked.
“No, he doesn’t.” She sighed. “Tyrese, he’s asked me to marry him.”
“I hope you said yes.”
Smiling, Pilar held out her hand to show him the four-carat princess-cut diamond solitaire on her left hand. “We’re getting married in six months. We both want a big wedding, and we’re having it at the boathouse in Central Park.”
“I’m really happy for you, Pilar.”
“So what do you think about a New York division of M.G.?” she inquired.
Tyrese broke into a grin. “Let’s do it. M.G. is just as much yours as it is mine. You worked as hard as I did to make this a reality.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yes. You’ll run the East Coast division, and I’ll oversee operations out here.”
“I can’t put into words how much this means to me, Tyrese. I love you dearly.”
He smiled. “I love you, too. It’s because of you that I never missed out on having a sister. You have always been there for me.”
“I feel the same way about you. I will never forget the day you went after those boys who stole my bicycle. They nearly beat you to a pulp, but you didn’t give up. You brought my bike back to me.”
Tyrese laughed at the memory. “It didn’t belong to them. I was not going to let them keep it. It took two days for me to steal it back.”
“You are such a wonderful person, Tyrese,” Pilar murmured. “I just wish you’d open your heart. Let someone love you.”
He shook his head. “Let’s not go there.”
“Tyrese—”
“No, Pilar,” he said. “Don’t worry about me. You focus on yourself. As for me, there is no room for romance in my busy schedule.”
They finished lunch and headed to the office.
The very moment that Pilar and Zaire saw one another, they embraced and settled down in her office to catch up.
Tyrese had a feeling that he wouldn’t see Pilar for a few hours.
Smiling, he made his way to his office. He would catch up with Pilar later that evening. They were having dinner together at his house.
* * *
“We feel confident that the Willow Creek Ranch can provide on
e of the most successful experiences ever for your group....” Zaire said as she paced back and forth across the floor of her office.
She turned around to find Tyrese standing in her doorway. Strangely, it came as no surprise to see him there.
“I was practicing my presentation.”
“You have nothing to worry about,” Tyrese said. “You’re a natural.”
Zaire rewarded him with a smile. “How long have you been standing there? Did you hear my whole presentation?”
“Pretty much,” he admitted.
She folded her arms across her chest. “So what do you think? Honestly.”
“You did a good job,” Tyrese said.
“But I want it to be great,” Zaire responded in earnest. “What can I do to really make this shine?”
He pointed to her laptop. “Don’t use visual aids as a crutch. Strategically place visual aids in your presentation to highlight the major points. Trust me—your style and personality will have much more impact.”
“Anything else?” she asked.
“Don’t let him conclude the meeting with the idea of getting back to you, Zaire. We want him to determine the next steps right then before life gets in the way.” He smiled at her. “You are going to do a fantastic job.”
“Thanks. Will you or Pilar be here for the meeting?”
Tyrese nodded. “We both plan to attend, if you don’t mind.”
“I welcome it,” Zaire told him with a smile. “I’d like to see your friendly faces in the room.”
He was so handsome in his navy suit that her breath practically caught in her throat. Zaire swallowed tightly as she averted her gaze. She needed to maintain her focus and mentally prepare for her meeting with Bill Daniels.
Chapter 5
Zaire paced back and forth in her office again. The meeting with Bill Daniels and his team was in an hour. She had gone over her presentation all the previous evening and then again that morning.
“You’re going to wear a hole in the rug,” Max said. He walked into the office, carrying a mug of something hot. “I brought you some herbal tea. I thought it might soothe your nerves.”
“Thank you, Max.”
“I have everything set up in the conference room. As you requested, I ordered lunch and it will arrive promptly at noon.”
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