Page 40 of Negotiation Tactics
“Oh well, we’ll try again.” She loops an arm over my neck. “Anyway, I heard Alistair will be giving a speech or something. That’s gotta be good.”
We park ourselves by the chocolate fountain where the view is better. I watch Alistair on top of the stacked-together tables, flashing his charming smile as he looks over the crowd. I get the impression he is searching it as if trying to locate someone. Like me, for example. My chest tightens, and my stomach turns upside down when a second later our gazes meet and he grins even wider.
It’s okay, Josh. All good. You are fine, you haven’t lost. Yes, you slipped up, but it may be for the better! He’s kind of into you and you can use that. And who knows, if it turns out he’s reasonable and genuinely willing to help, then maybe you don’t have to fight the attra—
I nip that thought in the bud. Not the time to get distracted with what ifs. I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it, but I won’t count on ever reaching it.
“Everyone,” Alistair starts. His sexy voice cuts through the chatter and grabs everyone’s attention. “I would like to thank you for coming tonight to the fourth anniversary celebration of the birth of His Lordship Sir Jaime Cornelius August Livius the Fifth.” Brady climbs up next to Alistair, holding a velvet pillow with the party-hat-wearing snake resting on top of it. “Jaime and I have known each other only since my return from England, but he’s already grown to feel like family. I am honored to celebrate with him this important moment in his life and I wish him many more such occasions in the years ahead.”
Applause explodes around me and I join in too, laughing at the ridiculousness of this entire party. It’s such a rich people thing, but it’s kind of cute that both Brady and Alistair care so much about the pet snake. After the serpent-shaped cake is cut and the two get off the bar, I lose them in the crowd. Cake slices in party plates somehow make it to me and Lily, and after we’ve eaten our share, we head out. It’s evident I won’t be able to do any moresniffing around today, so I feel a little dejected as we slip out into the hallway. It’s crowded here too as others seem to have had the same idea, and we have to fight our way out, shoving and bumping at drunk people.
“Sorry, excuse me,” I say, pushing through only to be yanked to a halt by a strong hand I can’t ever mistake.
“Are you done snooping around, Josh?” Alistair drawls, the seduction dripping through his voice like honey. Goosebumps break out all over me and my heart rate kicks up a notch. Again.
I bob my head at Lily to wait for me outside and turn around, coming face to face with him. He’s standing under the fairy lights arrangement that sprawls the length of the corridor’s wall, just above the paintings. With that as the background and half his face cast in harsh shadow, he looks like some fae prince, here to make me an offer I won’t be able to refuse.
“Not in the least,” I say, deciding to change my tactics of denial. “I’ll get younext time.”
He likes that, biting down on a grin and quirking an eyebrow at me. “I’ll sure love to see you try, let’s say, the day after tomorrow for lunch?”
I catch some arrogance in his voice, but it only makes the hopefulness stand out more. “I won’t go easy on you, so you better be prepared, Alistair Devon.”
Leaning in as a goofy smile spreads over his lips, he tucks a stray lock of hair behind my ear. “Looking forward. Wow me and maybe I’ll invite you over so you can play detective again.”
15
Alistair
Ibarelyrestrainmyselffrom snatching Josh right in front of everyone and dragging him back to my bedroom. He is…God, I want to worship him every day. To listen to his snark, to witness his cocky smiles, to unravel him and make him drunk on pleasure.
He’s like no one I’ve ever met, and I’m borderline obsessed with him.
I slip into my bathroom and stop in front of the sink. My hair is in place, my suit too, but a spark gleams in my eyes, wild, unrelenting. Josh smelled like a mix of my vanilla body wash and the scent of rainforest of my bedsheets.
A smirk breaks out on my face. He gets under my skin like no one else, pressing my buttons, pushing to the very limit until I am a mess that can only act on instinct. It’s exhilarating, novel in a way that’s freeing, and I fear that I might be getting addicted.
With a groan, I shove my hand down my pants and find my rock-hard cock. Maybe Josh and I didn’t meet under the best circumstances—after all, discovering that your last hookup is your corporate enemy is not exactly the meet-cute I was imagining—but he’s undeniably changed my life. I give myself a firmer stroke, groaning as pressure builds in my balls.
Is it for the better? Or for the worse? I squeeze the base of my dick, wanting to drag out my pleasure. I can’t tell yet, but one thing is clear—the rules of the game we are playing changed tonight and I can’t wait for the next round to begin.
My parents return on the next day from their trip to Seattle, blissfully unaware about the impulse party I threw Jaime. I do have an excuse at the ready if they were to find out—the venue Brady had booked had an electrical issue, so we had to improvise. It doesn’t come to that though, as the two of them seem more excited about planning their various visits to friends and so on.
“Son,” my father says when I go down to the lounge so I can grab something to snack on from the kitchen before Brady arrives. It’s gym day, and I’m joining him.
Something in his tone sends a frisson of anxiety to my stomach. “Yeah?”
He studies me as I prop my duffel on the breakfast counter and put the fruit and nut bars in it. My towel, shower gel, suit and water bottle are already inside. “I heard you’re still wasting the commission’s time with that union issue. What’s that about?”
I bite on the inside of my cheek. He’s already heard? Someone sure is eager to lick his ass. I did pull authority over the commission yesterday, barring them from turning down Josh’s proposal without first listening to him, but they refused to schedule a meeting until they’ve gone through the amended demands. I didn’t tell Josh about it because I didn’t get the chance… I fight off a smile. But I will, as soon as they give me the OK. Whether they reject the proposal or not after that is of no consequence for me, as I’ve done my part.
“I’m just making sure things are done the way they should be, dad,” I say, feigning casualness. “Thoroughly.”
He waves me off, having none of it, and takes out his tablet from his bag. “Our people know what they are doing. Some of them have been working at the company a lot longer than you have. There is no need to be wasting their time with this.”
Tightness spreads through my body, curling my hands into fists. He is right and I hate how his words make my stomach squeeze with insecurity. But I read through Josh’s proposal, and it made sense to me. It had some great ideas that I am sure we can incorporate anyway for more efficient business running. So, if we can make the lives of our employees better while doing so, why not get two birds with one stone?
I don’t feel like confronting my father about it though. I’ve got a nice buzz going on since last night, and a lot of energy to burn, stuff to think over and figure out. I hate to admit it, but part of me still wonders if I should just listen to him and do as he says since he is the one that founded and brought Devon Holidays the success it currently enjoys. He knows better, he has more experience, he can teach me… These kinds of thoughts circle around in my mind whenever we clash, and it makes it very hard to stand my ground.
