Page 26 of Negotiation Tactics
As I start to dial his number, a knock on the door interrupts me. It’s Mariam.
“Hey…” I raise an eyebrow as I notice the confused frown on her face. Lifting the folder with the finalized proposal, I motion her inside my office. “I’ve just finished going over your notes and I’ve adjusted everything that needed adjusting. Did you forget to add something?”
She waves me off. “Oh, no! It’s not that.”
Concern flashes across her face, clutching my stomach. “Are you sure? You look like you have something to say…” I force myself to smile. “If I fucked up somewhere, just tell me.”
Shaking her head vigorously, she worries her lips. “No, no. Really. It’s not that. But, uh… you have a visitor.”
Pushing my eyebrows together, I glance at my screen and try to remember if I had anything scheduled for today, but I come up short. The empty timetable I load up confirms I am not mistaken. “I shouldn’t have anything for today other than the meeting in the morning. Who is it?”
She smiles, but it’s not the fond type I know. Rather, it betrays she’s in conflict with herself about whoever this visitor is. “It’s Alistair Devon.”
My eyes go wide, my pulse skyrocketing. “What? Alistair Devon is here?Now?”
“Yes. He’s waiting for you in the reception area downstairs.”
Heart racing like I’m being chased by zombies, I glance at my phone’s screen, where half of Alistair’s number is already dialed. Except the man is already here.
I lock the screen and put away my device. Okay. I was just about to call him, but since he’s already here, I guess this works, too.
11
Alistair
Isthisagoodidea? Probably not.
Should I go back to my Lamborghini and return to my office? Most likely yes.
Will I? Definitely not, and I blame Josh for all of it. Or, more specifically, for not calling me for days after the Gala where I gave him my business card with my personal number.
It bugs me to no end. I can’t explain it. It just does. Maybe he was busy—he’s a working adult like me, after all. Or maybe he did it on purpose, just to frustrate me. He’s a brat at heart, no matter how well he can hide it from most people. I know he enjoys doing the opposite of what I tell him.
I looked for him after the announcement, but he’d already left, so I couldn’t talk to him more. I should’ve gotten his number, but I was in a rush after my spur-of-the-moment decision to invite him to dance. Hence why I am here, at the Oregon Workers First Labor Union office.
The woman behind the reception desk keeps peeking at me, probably because we got in a bit of an argument when I insisted she call Josh. She was adamant because I didn’t have an appointment, but luckily, an older woman in a bright red skirt and a matching blazer overheard ourdisagreement and butted in. I explained who I was and why I was here and she agreed to let Josh know, so he could decide if he wants to talk to me or not.
Apparently, he agreed, which is why the receptionist took me to a dingy meeting room. I was offered tea or coffee, but I turned down both since I don’t plan to stay here long. Unsurprisingly, my plans are foiled as Josh doesn’t show up until ten minutes have passed. He strolls in leisurely, not even bothering to smile at me.
“What are you doing here?” he demands, a hint of disbelief lurking in his pleasant tenor.
I study his burgundy shirt and the black jeans he’s wearing. The combination is a bit simple, but even so, it brings out his pretty features. “I was free and thought we could have that lunch today.”
None of this is true. The reality is that I haven’t been able to stop thinking about him or speculating why he hasn’t called me yet. So I took matters into my own hands. If you asked me why… I don’t know, there is just something about Josh that resonates with me, that makes it impossible to forget him, no matter how hard I try. He’s witnessed my charm, he’s also experienced first-hand how amazing I am in bed, and yet he’s not come running to me yet. It annoys me, and also drives me crazy with want. So even if this is a bad idea, even if I should’ve waited patiently and been professional because we are technically enemies, I just had to see him.
The corners of his sinfully kissable lips turn up as he takes out his phone and waves it at me. “I was about to call you. We can have lunch tomorrow.”
“How about today?” I grin like an idiot. “Since I’m already here and all.”
He looks like he wants to turn me down, but logistically, this makes the most sense “I’m busy.”
I raise an eyebrow, tapping my watch. “Surely you have a lunch break.”
He wants to say no, I can feel it in the air around us. He wants to send me home, so I have to return tomorrow.
Sighing, he crosses his arms. “Whatever. I guess we can go now.”
“Great. I have a place in mind.”
