by Kimbra Swain
“Better?” Wes asked.
“Yes,” I said. Noticing over my shoulder, a dark figure walking in the night. Alone. Mr. Elliot in the slim-shouldered Calvin Klein suit walked around a dark corner out of sight. I turned searching for the woman but didn’t see her anywhere.
“We’ve been friends a long time, Lexy. Isn’t time you told me what’s really wrong?” he said. I looked him in the eye giving him my full attention.
“I’m not sure it’s something I can talk about,” I said.
“Maddie, come with me to get the car,” Bastian said. She obliged but stared at the two of us. “Don’t take your eyes off her.”
Wes nodded turning back to me. “Who will you talk to then? Does Bastian know?”
“Yes, of course, he’s my brother,” I said.
“It’s why he watches you so closely. He’s fucking intimidating,” Wes choked out a laugh.
I laughed in return. “Yes, it’s like you are a quarterback, and he’s either going to intercept you or pound your ass into the turf.”
Wes laughed knowing that my brothers were both all-star college linebackers in their day. He squeezed my hand. “Whenever you are ready, I’m here to listen. It’s obvious that someone hurt you. No brother would watch his sister that closely if it weren’t bad. I don’t guess I really noticed before. I just assumed you were that close.”
“We are close, and yes, someone hurt me. Not just my heart either because a broken heart is the least of my worries. Just give me a little time, Wes,” I begged. I’d never looked at him other than a friend with rare benefits. He definitely wanted more. His libido was swinging to the American dream of a wife, a house, and two-and-a-half kids. That wasn’t me. It would never be me.
Seven
JAMEY
“Look, Penny, you are a beautiful girl, but I need to go home. I’ve got an important meeting tomorrow, and I need to get some rest,” I said hailing a cab. The car pulled over to the curb, and I handed him the money I had left.
“Sure, Synclair. Call me sometime. We can pick up where we left off,” she said. Leaning in she lightly kissed my lips. My resolve almost faded. I’d worked up to sending her home, but the loving touch of her lips drew me in.
“Goodnight, Penny,” I said backing away from her slowly. She knew I’d never call her. I regretted engaging her at all. Getting her hopes up. She climbed in the cab, riding off into the night.
I shoved my hands in my pockets and headed down the sidewalk to my condo. It was several blocks, but I could walk. It wouldn’t be the first time I didn’t have enough money for a cab. I chuckled at the irony of a rich boy in a Calvin Klein suit not having enough money for a cab ride home. The cool air helped me clear my head. I heard her light laugh behind me. Alexandra Malone. The only hope to save my world. Turning back to glance one last time, I saw her leaned into close to her date. I didn’t know him. He must not be in the business sector. He looked like a lawyer. I hated lawyers.
They spoke quietly as the bodyguard and the other woman walked toward the parking garage across the street. She leaned into him but hesitated before their bodies touched. She didn’t want him. Not like he wanted her. I’d stared too long and ducked around a corner. I pressed my back to the concrete of the tall building. As I’d watched them on the dance floor, there was a tug of war going on. She would give a little but take it back from him. The way he held her. I knew that they were old friends, lovers, something. He was pushing. I knew what it was like to watch a man push a woman into a place she didn’t want to be in. I'd seen it a lot in clubs. If a man wanted a woman, he could push buttons to get her, but it had to be the right buttons. It looked like Alexandra Malone didn't have buttons.
I’d always approached women as an open door. If they wanted to walk through, I’d take them with me. If not, I’d let them go. There was always another door and another girl. More often than not, they walked through. I turned to walk home thinking about tomorrow and whether I could actually bring myself to be humble before this woman. Who just happened to be in the same bar I was in on the night before our meeting. Who avoided eye contact as if she didn’t see me there.
The closer I got to home, I realized that she’d followed me there. Somehow, she knew I was there. She was watching me. Arrogant, self-righteous twat! I’d show her. If Bright lost the contract on the principle that I wouldn’t let her bully me, then so be it. I wouldn’t bring myself to grovel at her feet after she had me followed. After she spied on me, I should have fucked Penny right there on the dance floor to prove a point.
What point? What was the point? I should just skip the meeting altogether. I was kidding myself if I thought that this would work. Even if I groveled before her, she would probably turn me down flat just to be hateful. I couldn’t stand the bitch, and I didn't even know her.
In my bed, I stared at the ceiling thinking about all the things I’d need to sell off. The cars, the suits, the condo. I’d have to move back to Stone Mountain into Dad’s old house. It, at least, was paid for and maybe I could find a job somewhere. After the botched liquidation deal, I should have given up. I had nothing to offer Alexandra Malone. A broken company with an organized crime threat hanging over it. Most of all, a broken CEO who didn’t know what to do next.
“Hold still,” Kelly scolded me.
I sighed. “I can’t do this,” I said.
“You aren’t backing out. Bright needs you. I need you. I don’t care if you have to go in there and beg for the deal, you do it. Don’t let me down,” she said as she made the last knot on my tie.
“What about last night? She clearly followed me,” I said. “That’s creepy as hell! This is who we are getting in bed with!”
She giggled.
“That’s not what I meant,” I rolled my eyes at my slip.
“Look, Jamey, you’ve got to do this. Otherwise, everything that your parents worked for will be gone,” she tried to calm me.
“It’s already gone,” I mumbled as I wallowed in self-pity.
“You are still here. You are their greatest work,” she tried propping me up.
I shook my head. “No, I’m a huge disappointment.” I walked over to the decanter and poured a glass of whiskey.
“Jamey, don’t drink that. Even the least bit, someone will smell on your breath,” she begged.
“What does it matter?” I growled throwing back the whole glass. The strength of it made me wobble.
“If you botch this, I’m done with you. Perhaps the family was right. You are a ticking time bomb. But, I stuck by you. No more, Jamey. You are on a path of self-destruction,” she yelled at me. I poured another glass. She swatted it out of my hand, and the glass shattered as it hit the wall.
“Leave,” I said. “You are right. You should have left a long time ago.”
Her lip quivered, and it broke my heart. It was better that she left now. I hated that of all my family that stuck by me when we got to the end, she would hate me too.
“If you get the deal, call me. If not, goodbye, Jamey,” she said as she slammed the door of my office. I was sure that every employee on the floor heard us screaming at each other. I couldn’t take the drink back now, but I had to try to mask the smell. I rushed to the small bathroom connected to my executive office and gargled mouthwash. It was awful, and I gagged. My nerves got the better of me, and I hurled into the toilet. This was a nightmare. I knew I couldn’t do this. I rinsed again with mouthwash. Buttoning my jacket, I stared at myself in the mirror. Just a kid in an expensive suit trying to fill Daddy’s shoes.
I drove the company car to the Malone Enterprises building. If I didn’t get there in time, I could kiss the deal goodbye. From what I did know of the mysterious Alexandra Malone, she didn’t tolerate rude behavior. Being late would be rude.
The parking garage closest to the building was full. I finally found a spot on the street, but it was a block away. I unbuttoned the suit jacket and ran. I would be a sweaty mess, but at least I’d get there on time. Once I reached t
he main reception desk, I stared as the woman chatted on the phone ignoring me. I bypassed her heading toward the elevators only to be stopped by the large bodyguard from last night.
“You need to check in, Sir,” he said.
“Look, I’m late, buddy. I’m Synclair James Elliot. I’m here to see Miss Malone,” I said.
“I know who you are, but you still have to check-in. The receptionist has badges for visitors,” he said.
“Would you please help me?” I begged. It was time to wallow. I might as well start now.
“Sure. Megan, get off the damned phone,” he cussed her.
“Damien, you are such an ass,” she cussed him back.
“Give Mr. Elliot his badge,” he instructed.
She handed me the badge with a smug look toward Damien.
“Thank you,” I muttered, clipping it on to my lapel.
He started walking toward the elevator bank. “This way, Mr. Elliot.”
We stood in the elevator as it slowly climbed to the top of the building. Malone Enterprises was one of the most impressive buildings in the Atlanta skyline. Its bright blue windows reflected the city. Outside of the distinct, round Omni Hotel, I thought it defined the skyline. As I rode the elevator, I thought it was too damn high.
“I saw you last night at the club,” I said.
He flicked his eyes at me and snorted.
“What?” I asked.
“I wasn’t at a club last night, man,” he replied.
“Um, okay,” I said. Clearly, he was lying. No one else looked like this brute.
I exited the elevators and looked at my watch. Five minutes late. Shit. Fuck. Damn. Remain confident, collected, and prepare to grovel. I cleared my throat and walked into the glass-lined conference room. The first thing I noticed was how the grey dress she wore hugged her curves and the thin black belt made her waist look so tiny. The shirt collar at the neckline and the long sleeves were light pink. She wore pearls. Feminine, classic, beautiful. The long curling ponytail hung to her mid-back. I closed my eyes before I got to her ass. The last thing I needed was to be caught ogling her butt.
The second thing I noticed is that there were two ugly brutes. Twins. I guess there could be two of them after all.
Turning to me when I entered the room, a large smile crossed her face. “Ah, Mr. Elliot, please come in.” Shit. I almost hurled again. She was being nice.
Eight
ALEXA
I drank the cool glass of water standing in the darkness after my shower. Wes kissed me goodnight, and I told him I’d call him. It was probably the last time I’d see him. I couldn’t tell him my secret, and he wanted something I couldn’t give.
“You got to let it go,” Sebastian said as he stood in the doorway leading to the hall of the townhouse we shared in Midtown.
“When it’s right, I’ll know,” I said.
He pulled a chair out of the retro diner table in our retro chic kitchen and sat. “What about Elliot?”
“He surprised me actually,” I admitted happily changing the subject.
“How so?”
“His method of seduction would make him a powerful businessman. I’m not sure how I can get him to realize he has the potential. He’s just applying it wrong,” I said pondering actually mentoring the jerk.
He laughed. “Yeah, he’s not going to listen to you,” Bastian said.
“Are you doubting me?” I asked.
“Never,” he continued to laugh as I sat across from him. He waved his hand to give me the chance to explain.
“As he talked to the girl, he never leered at the goods. He never felt her up. Only light touches, brushes of seduction. He never restrained her. He opened the door and left it there for her to walk through,” I said.
“How does it apply?”
“When you want to make a business deal, you don’t leer at it. You show your interest, but the real seduction is not in the hard sell, it’s in the opportunity being held open. I see it so clearly. I don’t know what he did to fuck up his father’s business, but I’m telling you right now, it can be fixed,” I said.
He leaned back in the chair and watched me. He knew me. Rarely do you find a man that will sit back and allow the woman to make the decision, but my brothers had relinquished all of their control over the company knowing I’d never cut them out of the decisions that really mattered. They trusted my instincts. Right now, my instincts told me that Synclair Elliot could be a star in Atlanta if we could right his ship. I needed him to buy into the deal. Bright Technologies could return to greatness. Without being arrogant, I wanted to show him how to do it. I was curious about the man behind the thumb drive of pictures that Damien collected. The thumb drive was full of pictures of Elliot with various women. Nine out of ten were blondes which I could use to my advantage.
Unfortunately, the entire drive was quite explicit. I didn’t want to know how Damien and Sebastian managed to get so many intimate pictures of Elliot. He could never know about the drive. I erased it the moment I got through the first ten or so pictures. It felt dirty to see those moments. Regardless of his frivolous lifestyle, I wanted to know about my target, not watch him have sex.
“Goodnight, Alexa,” he said, standing to go to bed.
My mind raced in a thousand directions. I couldn’t concentrate, but I needed to sleep. I needed to be on top of my game. By morning, I had a plan, but I was exhausted from not sleeping and slept on the ride to the office. Sebastian scolded me as he always did. Once at the office, I explained to Damien, Sebastian, Charity and the receptionist Megan, what I wanted to do. I just hoped it worked. It was the height of manipulation. It would either prove my point or make him walk away losing his company in the process.
“I can’t believe you are wearing that,” Charity said after the guys left to set up for the meeting.
“What’s wrong with this?” I looked at the simple black sheath dress and pearls that I wore. It was classic, refined.
“You need feminine. Elliot is a sensual guy. You’ve got to appeal to him on that level, even if it is subtle,” she said going into the room that connected to my office. I followed her inside. There was a small twin bed, a closet and a bathroom with a shower. Many nights in the middle of important deals I slept on the little bed. Sometimes I just didn’t feel like going home. Malone Enterprises was home. It was my parent’s legacy. It was up to me to keep it going. In that way, I understood the pain and anxiety that Mr. Elliot must be feeling.
Charity pulled out the sleeveless grey sheath and paired it with a light pink long sleeve shirt to wear under it. She handed it to me and said, “Keep the pearls.”
“Whatever,” I said as I started to peel myself out of the black dress. Fashion was not my forte. That’s why I left all the important outfits up to her. She helped me zip up the back. The sleeves of the pink shirt were loose but gathered at the wrists giving the business dress a light and airy feel. I studied myself in the mirror and pulled my hair back into a ponytail. She nodded in approval.
“He’s in the lobby,” Sebastian called from the main office. I walked out to go to the conference room and wait on Mr. Synclair James Elliot.
I stood at the back of the room with my back to the door. The first thing to distract him was a pretty girl in a sweet dress. Then, despite his tardiness, I would be kind, patient and helpful. Sometime between yesterday’s meeting and today’s I knew that I wanted to save Bright Technologies and its Chief Executive Officer.
I watched the tiny screen on my tablet as Megan frustrated him at the front desk. I listened as he rode the elevator with Damien thinking he was Sebastian. He already looked ragged and ill. Perhaps pushing him over the edge wasn’t the best idea, but I knew the most passionate people in the world needed to hit rock bottom before they would ask for help. An evil thought passed through my mind. Had I not destroyed the thumb drive, it would probably do the trick.
Hearing him enter behind me, his breaths were short and hurried. Calming my own nerves, I turned
to him offering my kindest smile. “Ah, Mr. Elliot, please come in.”
He looked positively green as if he were about to hurl. “Good morning, Miss Malone,” he muttered.
“Why don’t you take a seat? We will get started,” I motioned toward the seat. Normally I sat on the opposite end of my targets, but I chose the seat next to him which surprised him.
“Did you bring any personnel with you?” I asked.
“No, my assistant was busy with another project this morning. I’ve come alone, and it seems as though I left my briefcase in the car,” he looked down at his empty hands.
“Hm, I see. Would you allow my security to retrieve it for you?” I asked motioning to Damien who walked up next to me.
“No, it isn’t important. I’m prepared for the meeting without it,” he assured me. However, it was painfully obvious that he was lost.
“Very well. Allow me to introduce my staff. This is Charity Rimmel, my personal assistant. If you agree to our deal, then she will be your contact to get in touch with me,” I said as Charity held out a hand to shake his.
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Elliot,” she smiled and backed away.
“You as well,” he replied.
“Damien and Sebastian are my heads of security,” I said motioning to my brothers. They both nodded to him. “If all of you don’t mind, please excuse us. I’ll conduct the meeting on my own today.”
“But…” Sebastian started to protest.
“Bastian, he is harmless. I’m sure,” I said shooting Mr. Elliot a smile.
“Completely,” he coolly responded. Ah, yes, he could flirt even under stress.
Bastian growled and exited the room with Damien and Charity. When the door clicked closed, I pressed a button on the remote in my hand. The glass turned opaque making the room completely unviewable from the outside. It was a tint like they use in luxury cars that allowed you to see out of the sunroof, but blocked the light not allowing anyone to see in.