He chuckles, the sound dark and inviting. Fuck me, I shouldn’t be doing that, but it’s hard to resist. Plus, it’s totally part of my plan to find out his weakness, so it’s allowed.
“You’re good,” he says when I look up and meet his eyes, the blue in them twinkling with promises and want.
“You aren’t half bad yourself,” I shoot back, giving him credit where it’s due.
He rubs his fingers gently along my flanks as the song comes to a stop and we separate. “I told you I wasn’t, but you already knew that, didn’t you?” He takes out a business card and hands it to me. “Call me when you have time for that lunch. I’m looking forward to it.”
He’s gone before I can process the fact that he handed me a business card instead of doing the exchange of phone numbers most people would have done in this situation. I wrap my arms around myself and stare at the crowd slowly shuffling over to the stage, where Lewis Devon is calling for their attention.
I find myself a little confused by what happened tonight, but I am also intrigued by the man that is still, without a doubt, my number one enemy.
10
Josh
Workisslowthefollowing few days. It irritates me, more than usual, because my mind finds plenty of opportunities to think about Alistair Devon.
This is all his fault. Since the day of the Gala, I can’t get him out of my head. The phantom sensation of his fingers across my body, the way his eyes darkened whenever they met mine, his scent. I’m starting to have doubts about dancing with him and agreeing to that lunch. His proximity affects me way too much.
I lean back into my creaky office chair and stare at the framed painting on the wall by the window. It’s the only thing that can calm me, because I feel a sense of accomplishment whenever I look at it. Maybe it’s because I created it and think it’s objectively decent—not a masterpiece like my dad always insisted, but okay enough so I feel proud having it displayed somewhere where others can see it. Or, maybe, it’s just the effect of the colors I picked, the way they complement and contrast each other.
Sighing after I feel a notch less agitated, I return my focus to my timetable loaded onto the computer screen. Just before lunchtime, I am meeting with some employees from Devon Holidays we represent, and in all honesty, I feel apprehensive about it since I don’t really have any good news. But maybe that lunch can help…
Ugh. Stop obsessing over this and do some work, Josh. Get busy, and you won’t have time to stress about things that are currently out of your control.
Okay. Good plan. Let’s do that.
My resolve lasts exactly two minutes, after which I give into the urge to examine Alistair’s business card. Should I call him? I wanted to wait a bit so I could calm down, but even after a couple of days, nothing has changed. On the other hand, if we had this lunch already, maybe today I would have had some good news.
I groan, burying my face in my hands.
“Hey… Are you okay?” Mariam asks a few moments later while knocking on my open door.
No, in fact, I am not, because I am stuck between a rock and a hard place. “Yeah, just… I’ve got no good news for the people this afternoon…”
“Oh, sweetie.” She slinks inside and takes a seat on the chair in front of my old desk. “Lily told me you went with her to the Devon Gala and talked to Alistair Devon. That didn’t go so well then?”
Mariam was off sick, so I haven’t had the chance to rant to her yet. Now is as good time as any, so I do just that.
“So you see, I have to go to that lunch now,” I finish with, puffing my cheeks out.
“Alistair sounds like a man who likes to get what he wants. Be careful.”
I know that, but it’s not like I have a choice. The livelihood of so many people depends on me.
“I’ve not called him yet, but maybe I should have… Then I’d possibly have good news today.” This is the worst. “Mariam, can you have a look over my amended proposal? If you have time.”
She smiles fondly and holds her hand out. “Of course. Let me do that right away so you can schedule that meeting.” She squeezes my fingers. “Don’t beat yourself over it. You are doing just fine. These things aren’t easy.”
Ugh. I love and hate her support. It’s the same with mom. They both believe in me, and that puts tremendous pressure on me to get this right. If I don’t, I’ll disappoint everyone. I’ll be an embarrassment, a failure. I know that I’ve proven that I am good at my job, but sometimes I do worry that I might not be able to measure up to the legendary Amy Lee Anderson.
I’d still do my very best, though.
“Thanks. You are the best.”
Once Mariam leaves, I get ready for my meeting and head over to the small conference room on the first floor. The moment I walk in, my stomach drops. Isabelle, a very friendly and very pregnant woman, greets me with a radiant smile, while Simon, a single dad of three, shakes my hand.
“Hi, you two. How are you doing?” I take one of the free chairs, placing my folder on the scrapes-riddled table.
