Take It All Off

by Weston Parker

I lifted my shoulders but looked up again to wink at her. “Maybe the meme quoted me. Whichever way around it is doesn’t make it any less true.”

  “Well, it’s true for some people. It’s not true for everyone, though. Some people can’t just move. It’s not that easy.”

  I rocked my head from side to side, considering. “Maybe, but many people have overcome great adversity to get to where they are. Anyway, we can talk more about it later. We have to get that.”

  The phone had started ringing, and I inclined my head toward it on my last sentence. Addy nodded and took a deep breath.

  “I’m going to take the lead on the calls today,” I said. “I just want you here to learn how to talk to the clients and to get some firsthand experience.”

  I jabbed at the green button with my finger, then plastered a smile on my face despite the fact the client couldn’t see me. Mother believed people could hear smiles, and it couldn’t hurt to try.

  “Good afternoon, gentlemen.” There would be a team on the other end of the line, even if only Dave would speak.

  Sure enough, only his voice came in reply. “Good morning, Marco. Thanks for speaking to us so early in your time.”

  “It’s not a problem at all. I understand you have some issues keeping the Lee Shipping contracts in place now that we’ve acquired them.”

  “Yes. We weren’t given notice of the pending sale. If we had been, we wouldn’t have signed the renewal. We’ve now been informed that the contracts remain valid, which doesn’t make sense. Information was kept from us. We shouldn’t be bound by those contracts.”

  Leaning forward, I fixed the crescent-shaped phone on my desk with a stare. “What’s worrying you about keeping the contracts in place? I see how you might be concerned about not having been told about the sale, but we committed to honoring all the contracts the shipping line has in place. There won’t be any delays or extra cost to you.”

  “It’s the principle of the matter. We won’t be cornered into doing business with someone. Besides, you say now that there won’t be any delays or extra costs, but what happens if there is? We’ve already signed those contracts. We’re locked in.”

  “If there are any delays or extra costs, I’ll release you from the agreements you signed. We have no interest in hurting or milking the businesses of any of our clients, and that roster now includes you.”

  “Why don’t you just release us now?” he huffed. “I trusted the Lees. I don’t even know you.”

  “You don’t know me yet,” I corrected subtly. “I assure you we have a very capable team of people in place to take care of you. As for trusting Edward and his people, they’re staying with the company. We’ve taken them over with their entire workforce.”

  “But he lied to me.”

  I screwed my eyes shut, frustration mounting like lead hardening in my stomach. Arguing with the man wouldn’t convince him to stay with us.

  Edward hadn’t lied to him, despite what he believed. The terms of our deal had been structured in such a way that it hadn’t been necessary for him to inform clients like Dave. Their contract values were below the limit and their businesses wouldn’t have been affected by the sale.

  It was business as usual, simply under a new umbrella. The only real issue here was Dave’s hurt feelings, which were unfortunately a lot harder to work around than actual technical problems.

  “If you’re uncomfortable with continued business with the team in China as a result of what has happened, we can appoint one of our team members here to look after you.”

  He scoffed. “Another person I don’t know.”

  “I’ll fly them out there to meet you.” Dave’s contract values weren’t all that high right now, but his company was growing at an astounding rate.

  If he wanted to meet every person he did business with, then so be it. Some people were old school that way. Flying someone to New Zealand would certainly be worthwhile for me in the long run if it convinced him to stay on with us.

  “You would do that?” His tone dripped with doubt.

  “Absolutely. You and I can arrange a time when it will be convenient for you, and I’ll have one of my best people fly out there.”

  Dave sighed. “I wouldn’t have a choice in who you sent?”

  For. Fuck’s. Sake. “I could prepare a brief for you on our available people, but like you said, you don’t know them. I do.”

  “Yes, but you see, this goes back to my first issue. I’m not being given a choice in who I do business with.”

  I scrubbed my hands over my face and sent a piercing glare at the ceiling. “I’ve run the numbers, and you would actually save money by sticking with us. The person you would be working with would mostly be communicating with you by way of correspondence anyway. That’s real money saved versus the person on the other side of the screen.”

  There I go again. I’d been told that I had a silver tongue and could sell ice to an Eskimo. My problem was that blades could also be formed from silver and ice could impale a person. My temper took those gifts I supposedly had and turned them into weapons too often, which was why I needed someone like Addy to balance me out.

  “I don’t do business with screens, Mr. Ricci.” Fuck. It was Mr. Ricci now, not Marco anymore. “You might not understand the value of knowing the person on the other side of that screen, but I do.”

  Addy’s warm hand suddenly gripped my arm. When I glanced over at her, there was a thoughtful expression on her face.

  She didn’t look at me or wait for my permission. She just squeezed her fingers around my forearm in what I guessed was a warning and then sent her own smile at the phone.

  “Hi, Dave? This Adaline Tidwell. I work with Marco. Do you mind if I jump in here for a minute?”

  “Who are you?”

  “Adaline Tidwell,” she repeated calmly. “I’m a client liaison for the company, and I’m new to it, too. It can be scary working with new people.”

  “What the fuck are you talking about?” he grumbled, but I could hear him softening under the spell of her warm, kind tone.

  “I’m talking about not knowing who you’re going into business with. Especially when you feel like you don’t have a choice. I was in very much the same boat not so long ago, but let me tell you something about Marco. He’s an honorable man who keeps his word. If he says he can save you money, I’m confident he really can do it.”

  “How do you know he can save me money? He doesn’t know what other people might charge me for the same services.”

  She met my gaze, her blue ones calculating as I arched a brow at her and rolled my eyes. The tiniest hint of a smile twitched at the corners of her lips.

  “I believe he does know, Dave. He didn’t rise to the top of this game by accident. If he can save you money, wouldn’t it be best to stay with us? Saving money in any area is beneficial for any business. Marco can fly your new account manager out to meet you before the first shipment, and that way, you’ll know who you’re dealing with from here on out. That sounds like a win-win to me.”

  “Can the new account manager be you?” he asked after a long pause.

  Addy brought her hand to her chest and let out a quiet, melodic laugh. “I’d love to meet you, Dave. I’ve heard New Zealand is beautiful. Maybe one day, I’ll come out there to you, but I’m afraid that’s not my role in the company right now. Like I said, I’m still very new. I doubt you want me running your account.”

  There was another long pause, but then laughter came from his end of the line. “No, it’s probably not a good idea to let a newbie handle our account. Some of the countries we do business in are bastards with their regulations. Maybe one day, though, huh?”

  “Maybe. So what do you say, Dave? Are you sticking with us?”

  “Yeah, I think so. Provided that he does what you said and sends our new manager out before the first shipment. I also want to see those numbers he ran.”

  “I’ll send you the estimates I’ve done before the end of the week. If you l
et me know when you can fit in a few days to get to know our representative, I’ll make sure they’re there.”

  “Very well. You’ve got yourself a deal then. I’ll be happy to keep my business with you for as long as we can keep this kind of transparency going.”

  “That’s how we operate, Dave,” I assured him, even as I rolled my eyes again. “If you’ll allow me to be frank, I truly have no interest in fucking anyone around.”

  The man chuckled. “That’s what I like to hear. Right, you two, you have yourself a deal. We’ll be in touch.”

  We said our goodbyes, and when the call ended, I lifted my palm for a high five. Addy’s eyes widened in surprise, but she slapped my offered hand.

  “Well done. That was one hell of a score for your first client meeting.”

  “I’m sorry I jumped in, even when you said you’d take the lead.” Her cheeks flushed pink. “I didn’t mean to overstep. I just—”

  “No apology necessary. You did great, Addy. I’m glad you stepped in. That’s exactly what I need you for.”

  “You needed me to go against your instructions?” she asked, her tone teasing. Laughter shone in her eyes, even though she was trying to suppress it. “Why didn’t you just say so? I’m great at going against instructions.”

  “You should have told me that earlier.” I injected a healthy dose of regret into my voice.

  Her brows pulled together in a frown, but then she burst out laughing and shoved lightly at my arm. “You had me going for a second there. Thank you for including me in your call, Marco. It was great. I think we’re going to make a good team.”

  “Yeah, so do I.” I knew I had made the right decision by bringing her on. She’d proven herself to me twice now.

  All that was left was for me to figure out a way to stop thinking about fucking said new teammate. On the other hand, didn’t teammates slap each other on the ass all the time? I could definitely go for some of that. It was too bad she would never let me.

  Chapter 12

  Addy

  “What a day,” I just about squealed to Elena when I dropped into the seat across from her.

  We had chosen a small cafe down the street from our apartment to have a celebratory dinner. She’d left our place when I had left my new office and had beaten me there.

  The table she chose for us was out on the sidewalk. A circular, metal tabletop was between us with a basket of breadsticks and a bottle of water already waiting.

  All around us, people were laughing, talking, and walking their dogs, and even though it was a Wednesday evening, there was a general sense of merriment in the air. I smiled widely as I took it all in. Knowing now that I wouldn’t have to stress about paying rent every month, I felt lighter than I had in years.

  It was the first time in a long time that I could really just… be. Just sit and absorb the wonder of where I was without financial worries nagging the back of my mind. It was damn freeing and definitely a feeling I could get addicted to.

  Besides that fact, which was already major, it didn’t hurt that I’d genuinely had a good day at work.

  Elena gave me one look and obviously picked up on my joy. Her grin matched my own, her blue eyes bright as she filled my water glass and pushed it across the table. “I’m taking it your first day on the job went well then?”

  “So well.” I let out a contented sound, propped my elbow onto the table, and rested my cheek in the palm of my hand. “I can’t even believe how happy I am right now. Working for Marco is like working in a different world compared to working for Antonio.”

  “Well, if he’s as hot as you say he is, it would be completely different. You get to perv all day instead of gagging.”

  “I didn’t perv all day,” I objected. Elena didn’t have to say a word. Her slightly raised eyebrow and the knowing look in her eyes said it for her. “Okay, so I perved but not all day.”

  She shook her head at me. “Yeah, right. If it wasn’t so great just because he’s hot, what was so great about it then?”

  I exhaled a breath as I considered her question. My teeth sank into my lower lip and I slowly released it. “I think it’s because I haven’t really had to use my brain at a job for a really long time. With this job, I have a feeling I’m going to be really challenged. By the job itself and by Marco.”

  “Yeah? Why’s that?” She still had that knowing look, but I ignored it as I tried to work out the answer to her question.

  “It’s just a feeling I’ve gotten while I’ve been with him. He’s so smart, and he likes to challenge me. At least, it seems like he does. I like being challenged, too. It makes me feel like I’ve actually earned the opportunity I’ve gotten.”

  “He offered it to you in a strip club,” she dead-panned. “You earned it by showing off your awesome cleavage.”

  “See, that’s the thing. I was worried that might be it, but I don’t think so. For starters, he only offered me his card after we’d talked. Then it seemed like he was just taking pity on me again when he offered me that money without really knowing if I could do the job, but it’s different now.”

  “You were happy about the job when you were worried about why you’d gotten it, too.”

  I nodded. “Who wouldn’t be? It was a job I could do fully clothed. I still didn’t want to feel like a charity case or a pity appointment, though. That was why I worked so hard to prove myself to him, and now I’ve really done that.”

  “I’m glad,” she said with a soft smile. “You’re smart. You deserve to work for someone who values your brain. Being challenged sounds like too much hard work for me, but if you’re enjoying it, then that’s great.”

  “I really did enjoy today. You should see Marco in action. God, it’s so hot. But it’s also inspiring, you know? Now that I’ve really started peeking behind the curtain of what he’s built for himself, he’s really impressed me. Also, you should see when he gets all fired up. I—”

  Elena’s eyebrows climbing and the sudden intensity of the knowing look made me cut myself off before I continued rambling. Once I was quiet, she folded her arms on the table in front of her.

  “You have the hots for your boss.”

  I scrunched my nose up. “No one says ‘hots’ anymore.”

  “I do.” She reached for her glass and took a sip of water. “Besides, it doesn’t matter what you call it. You know exactly what I mean.”

  Our waiter appeared then, interrupting my reply. I chose a bottle of wine from the laminated menu and waited for him to leave us. When it was just the two of us again, I lowered my voice.

  Marco was a big deal in this city. There were plenty of Marcos around, sure, but just in case someone was listening and could put two and two together about which one I was talking about, I wanted to be discreet.

  “Okay, yes. He’s cute. I’ll give you that. I’ve never met anyone like him before and that intrigues me. But it doesn’t mean anything.”

  “That’s what you say now.” She nodded her thanks to the waiter when he brought our wine.

  I filled our glasses with the champagne-colored liquid and handed hers over. She took a sip, moaned, then set the wine down to continue with the point she’d been making.

  “You’re going to be working closely with someone you find attractive and intriguing. How long do you think it’s going to be before you ride him like he’s a fucking bull in a rodeo?”

  I groaned and covered my face with my hands. “Jesus. You really have zero filters. Have I told you that recently?” My voice was muffled by my palms.

  When I lifted my head again, I found her grinning like a damn Cheshire cat. “Doesn’t mean I’m wrong. What, did I offend you? Did you want a better term for fucking his brains out like I know you want to?”

  “It’s not like that.” It was totally like that, but it was my secret shame from now on. “We’re going to keep things professional.”

  She snorted. “Really? Does he know that?”

  “He doesn’t want me in that way. Trust me.” I
wasn’t so sure about that actually. I’d seen the way he looked at me sometimes. He always smoothed out his expression too fast for me to be one hundred percent sure, but I thought I’d seen some heat there once or twice. “Even if he did, it can’t happen between us.”

  “Why not?” She frowned.

  “Because he’s my boss.” I lifted my hand and splayed my fingers before dropping the first one. “We would have to keep working together after, which would just be weird. If it didn’t work out, he could fire me. Do you need more reasons than that?”

  “I don’t think he would fire you,” she said, wrinkling her nose. “I’ve told you before. It’s not like that here. Italian men are flirtatious, and they love women. It’s okay to have sex on a first date, and as long as you don’t try to get more from him, he won’t even worry about it.”

  “I’m not sure the same rules apply when the Italian man in question is your boss.”

  “They do.” Elena’s blue eyes flashed like they always did when she was about to get worked up about something. “The only real rule is not to try to get between an Italian boy and his mother. You can indulge all your romantic fantasies about being with him to your heart’s content. You’ll probably walk away with happy memories, but just know that if his mother doesn’t like you, you’re done for.”

  “What? Why?”

  She shrugged. “Italian mothers are not like American mothers. Especially not about their little boys, and their little boys love them for it.”

  “I don’t think it’s like that for Marco. He’s built a multi-billion-dollar, multi-national company. I doubt his mother features much in his life.”

  “Girl, have you not learned anything about Italians? Family is everything to us, and out of all of those bonds, there’s none quite like the one between mother and son. Take it from me. You’re always going to be secondary to his mother, and if she doesn’t approve of you, you’re out the door.”

  “That’s insane. He’s a grown man.”

  She lifted her shoulders again. “That doesn’t matter. In fact, it probably just makes the mothers worse because they can perceive you as some kind of threat.”