“Settling would tank our stock and destroy my company anyway. Thirty percent is better than nothing. I’m prepared to pay or do whatever I need to do to fight this even if my chances are no better than one percent.”
Fabi was seated next to Braylee, and he sputtered as he began to speak in Italian, “Then why ask for advice if you’ve already made up your mind? Alexandro…you cannot do this. With time, our stock prices could rebound. Not only would you be putting the livelihood of the people who are the most important to you at risk, but you would also be risking the health of this company.”
Giovanni, his General Counsel, also chimed in…in Italian, “Don’t let her pretty face persuade you to do something illogical. Her interests are not the same as ours. Whether you win or lose, she will become a very wealthy woman.”
With steel in his voice, Alex responded in their native tongue, “Fabi…Giovanni, this decision is not up to you. You do understand, that if we follow your advice of settling, we will make Manchetti Enterprises more vulnerable to a hostile takeover. We could lose this company either way. That is not an option, and I won’t sit around and do nothing.”
Braylee thought it was rude as hell to speak a different language in front of her. She’d had enough of dealing with these rude men for today and stood to excuse herself. Nate quickly packed up their things and followed suit.
All eyes turned to Braylee. She looked between the men before her and spoke in fluent Italian, “It is very rude to talk around me. Giovanni, as General Counsel of this company, you should have already known that I am a very wealthy woman…and that I am fluent in Italian as well as several other languages.”
She smoothly switched back to English, “Good day, Gentleman.” Braylee picked up her Marc Jacobs bag and strode out of the conference room…like a boss.
Chapter
4
The next morning, Braylee walked off of the elevators into her office suites, deeply engrossed in reading her e-mails on her smartphone. Immediately, the tickle of her nose and the overwhelming smell of flowers caused her to look up.
As she strode closer to her office’s glass double doors, she could see that the entire floor was full of them. They were everywhere; on the desks, the tables, the window sills…everywhere. There were so many that there wasn’t even enough space to place them so they’d started piling them up on the floor.
Slowly, she opened the door, and the frantic faces of her staff froze in place. Her face scrunched up in pure agitation. Where was Nate? Braylee turned around in a circle looking for him since his desk, which sat right outside of hers, was empty.
Braylee didn’t have time for this nonsense. Just as she was about to yell out to him, he walked up behind her ending a call on his blue tooth.
Clearly irritated Braylee yelled, “What in the hell? Nate?”
Just as aggravated Nate started to explain, “They started arriving about an hour ago and they’ve been coming ever since.”
Rubbing her forehead, Braylee huffed, “Well find out who is sending them and tell them to stop. My day is too full to deal with these kinds of silly distractions.”
No one else would dare to speak so freely to Braylee but Nate. He’d paid his dues and could get away with saying things that most of the staff, including some of the Partners, couldn’t.
He slanted his head to the side, snapped his fingers, and sarcastically stated, “Of course why didn’t I think of that?”
Braylee rolled her eyes.
Nate continued to explain, "I was just on the phone with our building security regarding them. And, I’ve been making calls since they started arriving. I’ll get them cleared out as soon as I can. Maybe I can donate them to a women’s shelter. Especially, since we all know how you feel about flowers. In the meantime, I’ve made sure your office is flower free. I also put your messages on your desk.”
Braylee shook her head from side to side as she walked past him, entered her office and slammed the door shut behind her. She wasn’t in the mood…not today. Braylee took a deep breath once inside. Thank god it was clear from the Tropical Rain Forest outside. Otherwise, she might have to kill someone.
*****
Five minutes later, Lisa walked off of the elevator into Hinsdale and Associates.
She attempted to breeze right on past Nate, “Is she in?”
“Yes, but she’s in a bad mood. Let me tell her you’re here.”
“No bother. I’ll just…”
Nate put up his hand, “Oh no. If I let you walk in without informing her again, I’ll be in the unemployment line. That…ain’t happening.”
Lisa knew there was no way Braylee would ever fire him. But, she might make him feel like quitting if she was in one of her really bad moods. Nobody deserved that. “Fine, I’ll wait.”
While she waited, Lisa checked out Nate. Just because she was married to a wonderful man didn’t mean she didn’t notice other attractive men. She smiled inwardly, looking never hurt anybody.
At first, Lisa thought that he and Braylee might be hooking up since they spent so much time together. And, because Braylee hadn’t been on a date in too long to remember. Sometimes, one plus one should equal two. But, not in this case. Braylee quickly shut that down. Too bad because she needed a man bad. Lately, she was always so…irritable.
After all these years, Lisa came to the conclusion that Nate had to be gay. There was just no other way anyone would put up with Braylee and not be getting any.
Nate picked up the phone in an attempt to inform Braylee that Lisa was there to see her.
Absentmindedly Lisa spoke, “Alexandro must be putting on the full court press.”
Nate was about to dial the phone but immediately put the receiver back into its cradle. “You mean to tell me he’s the reason that it looks like a tropical rain forest in here?”
Lisa shrugged her shoulders, “I think it looks beautiful and not so cold with all the silver and white furnishings. Color is always good. Anyway, I don’t know who they’re from it just seems like something he might do. Isn’t there a card or something?”
Nate thought to himself that Lisa would think something like this was beautiful. But, she knew Braylee better than anybody, and she also knew that girl had a complex about flowers. How those polar opposites remained friends was beyond him.
His response was classic Nate…sarcastic, “Gee…why didn’t I think to check to see if there was a card?” Slightly frustrated he continued, “No there was no card. And, whoever it is has hired every damn florist in the state of Illinois. So, if you think this was your friend please call him up and see. And, if it’s him tell him to stop. You know Braylee is not into this kind of thing anyway.”
“Yeah well, you don’t tell Alexandro anything. He’s not that kind of guy.”
As another delivery of flowers arrived, Nate had visions of throwing the delivery man from the roof. Instead, he picked up the phone and informed Braylee that Lisa was there to see her.
He was greeted with an exaggerated sigh, “Doesn’t she know I’m really busy today? Damn. My time is tight. Goooooood…send her in.”
Lisa could hear every word through the phone. She laughed, “Oh…she really is in a mood. We’ve got to get this girl a man and fast.”
Nate agreed whole heartedly but kept a blank expression on his face.
Lisa went on inside of Braylee’s office determined to be the ray of sunshine that she needed.
In a sing-songy voice Lisa spoke, “Good morning.”
Even that irritated Braylee as she searched for a particular file in her desk drawer, “I guess. I don’t have a lot of time; I’ve got a couple of meetings set up for this morning.”
“Yes dear, you’ve always got your day packed to the hilt. No surprise there. I was in the area and just thought I’d stop by to see how your meeting with Alexandro went. But, before we get into that, whose sending you all the flowers? I bet it’s him.”
Braylee didn’t believe for one second that Lisa was just in the area. She was there to convince her to take on the Manchetti case.
“Who knows? But, apparently, whoever is sending them doesn’t know me very well.” Braylee pulled out several other files but slammed the drawer shut when she didn’t find the specific one she was looking for. “I mean really? How hard is it to spend five minutes on the internet to find out that I don’t like flowers?”
Braylee pressed the intercom to Nate, “I can’t find the Chester file.”
He responded, “It’s on my desk.”
“I’ll grab it on my way out.” Braylee released the button.
Braylee was trying Lisa’s patience, but she continued to think ray of sunshine ray of sunshine. “What woman doesn’t like to be romanced Braylee? I think it’s sweet. You’re the only woman I know who complains about men trying to get to know you. When was the last time you’ve been out on a date?”
Braylee rolled her head around, “I barely have time to get my nails and hair done. I’m just too busy for that nonsense.”
Lisa made herself comfortable on the extra-large sectional on the other side of the office. It was another piece of white furniture. Although it was her company that decorated this room, she hated Braylee’s décor.
However, since Braylee spent so much time there, Lisa tried her best to make her office a home away from home. It still felt cold. Everything was white, chrome, and glass. Lisa couldn’t help thinking that at least the furniture was comfortable.
She turned to her friend whose hair was perfect. Not a strand out of place, “Right…you never miss an opportunity to get all that mass of hair done, or your nails, or…your weekly massage. Let’s not pretend you don’t pamper yourself.”
“Yes, I do pamper myself and I have zero guilt about it. I deserve at least that as hard as I work.”
“No one can disagree with how hard you work. But, what about the rest of your life? I understood before why you weren’t dating while you were building your practice, but it’s thriving! As a matter of fact, it’s more than thriving.”
Braylee looked through the documents and paperwork on her desk to make sure she had everything to take with her for her morning meetings, “Everybody is not like you Lisa. I don’t dream of a husband or kids. I’m content with my life. And, when I get the urge to be around children, Luca is more than enough to nourish that part of me.”
Lately, they’d been having this conversation more and more. Braylee’s past dating experiences made her feel as if she needed to choose between her career and whoever she was in a relationship with at the time. That was no contest.
She didn’t think all men were the same, but the men she dated did seem to be intimidated by her success. Even, the successful ones. They couldn’t deal with the fact she could buy her own things and that her career was just as important to her as theirs was to them.
And, after her last disastrously failed relationship more than two years ago, Braylee resigned herself to forever being single. That she would probably never know what it was like to be in a loving and respectful relationship where she wouldn’t have to deny any part of herself. She’d been there and done that. No thank you.
Sometimes it made her sad, but she had her practice which more than filled up her days. But, she had to admit that her nights were starting to get a little lonely.
Braylee sighed, if she were honest, lately work hadn’t been as fulfilling as it had once been.
But marriage and kids….those dreams went up in flames years ago. And, she’d finally accepted that was not in her future. While her parents had managed to stay married for over thirty years, she couldn’t use them as a great example. They seemed to live to make each other miserable.
Her sister, Stephanie had been dating her fiancé, Maurice for the past five years. They seemed to be following in her parent’s footsteps. They argued all the time and always seemed miserable when they were together. However, Stephanie and Maurice did have one thing in common, they both had no problems spending other people’s money, especially hers.
Since Braylee was more than seven years older, she was more like a mother than a sister to Stephanie. Especially, during the dark years.
Braylee didn’t want to even think or talk about her personal life anymore, “Lisa, my schedule is tight. Why did you stop by?”
“Way to be subtle. Have you realized how rude and impatient you’ve become? You’re going to have to do better.” Lisa clapped her hands together, “I know what you need. You need some really hot and sweaty sex even if it’s just a casual hookup because my goodness you need to relax.”
Lisa pointed toward her desk, “And, that Violator vibrator in your bottom left drawer over there is not the same thing.”
Braylee’s caramel complexion turned three shades of red. She’d had way too much wine celebrating a legal victory when she’d told Lisa about that. “Okay…now that you’ve embarrassed the hell out of me, can we please please move on to another subject?”
“Fine. Are you going to represent Alexandro?”
Anything but this conversation too, “No. So, if that’s all you wanted to know I could have answered you in less than a five-minute phone call.”
“Seriously? Even after you talked to him? And, on a side note, maybe you could use Alex for some hot and sweaty sex. I don’t think he’s seeing anyone seriously and for obvious reasons he’s been pretty uptight too.”
She exhaled loudly, “You’re sick. I don’t even know the man.”
“But, he is sexy as hell. And, no one is asking you to get married…just to relieve some stress.”
“I don’t do casual sex, Lisa.”
“Fine. But, I’m right about this. So, you’re honestly not going to represent him?”
“I told you that I wasn’t making any promises before I went to his office.”
The disappointment was written all over Lisa’s face, “So, there’s no hope of saving his business?” As if talking to herself she spoke, “I’m sure if there were a way you would have found it.”
“I didn’t say that there wasn’t any way to beat the legal mess they’re in even if they knowingly sold the faulty electrical switch. I just can’t represent him.”
Lisa drew her eyebrows together, “Why? Because you’re attracted to him aren’t you? You always run away from men who scare you.”