Authors: Ella Celestine
Shaking his head with an amused smile, Dax pulled into traffic and began the long trip home. It wasn’t all that long, just a few miles from her Santa Monica apartment to his beach house in Malibu, but with traffic it would take at least thirty minutes. His thoughts were interrupted by a call from his father. “Hey Dad.”
“How’d the meeting go?”
“Okay. I don’t think Ms. Tompkins likes me all that much, or our company.”
“I didn’t get that impression at all. She was very eager when I spoke to her.”
His father’s tone indicated he blamed Dax. “Well I gave her the perfect opening to pitch me and she just handed me a business card.”
Kurt laughed. “Why would
she
pitch
you
? She has the followers that we want to become our customers.”
Damn.
“Then what was the point of meeting with her?”
“Well son,” his dad began in that condescending tone he hated, “I thought you wanted to become CEO. My mistake. Goodnight.”
Dax beat his steering wheel at a red light. This day hadn’t worked out at all how he’d planned. He needed to go home and have a stiff drink.
Norah and Thad were dressed in beachwear because she’d just received a dozen new swimsuits and bikinis from an online boutique. It was warm out, the pool had recently been cleaned and everything was neat and tidy. The photos would turn out amazing. “Okay doll, lean back and arch your back. Be sexy but not pornographic.”
Norah laughed. “I don’t think I could be pornographic if I tried.”
“Girl please, have you seen your body? That pink bikini is giving me a chub and I don’t even want to bone you!” He laughed at her mock hurt expression and clicked a few candid shots of her. “Seriously Norah, that gorgeous brown skin and those curls. And those curves, I photograph women who pay a ton of money to look that way.”
She felt her skin warm in embarrassment and she was thankful for her permanent healthy brown glow. “Oh shut up and take the damn photo,” she tried to bite back a smile but Thad’s enthusiasm was infectious.
“We should do shots in each suit first and then we’ll do each one in the water and see if they pass the wet test.”
She nodded, remembering the disastrous swimsuit that showed off all the goodies when wet. “Alright.” She stood and went to the cabana room to change into the next suit. “I’m putting the teal one piece on. We should do these on the white cabana chairs.” She squirmed to get the top over her boobs. “Thad I need your help fastening this.”
“Perhaps I can help,” she heard a deep voice she recognized, but not the shivers it produced.
“Dax Hollingsworth? What the hell are you doing outside my cabana?” She poked her head out and glared at him.
“I called you, several times in fact. There was no answer so I thought I stop by so we could chat.”
“You could have done what other people do, you know. Wait for a return phone call and set up a time to meet.” He smiled and she sucked in a silent breath and ducked back into the cabana. “Thad!”
“He told me to tell you he ran upstairs to get another card.” He didn’t bother to hide his smile at her frustrated growl. “Maybe I can help?”
“Yeah right. You stay out there and tell me why you’ve decided I’m worthy of a second visit.” She heard him laugh and rolled her eyes.
“I came to talk to you about the new HOLLINGSWORTH line.” He paused for a minute trying to shake the image of her on the other side of the cabana in a skimpy swimsuit. “I’m still not sure this is going to work, but I think we have to give it a try.”
“Well don’t do me any favors, Dax.” The man was seriously uptight and arrogant. He obviously had no respect for her or what she did. Too bad she didn’t care. Not really. He wouldn’t be the first empty suit to denigrate her job and he wouldn’t be the last.
“It’s important to me that this…endeavor goes off without a hitch. So I’m willing to provide you with products from our new line, men’s and women’s wear, shoes, makeup, perfume and whatever else you think you can hock.” He ran another hand through his hair.
“For the record, I don’t hock anything. I give people advice on the best way to,” she stopped and stepped out of the cabana to make sure he was listening. “I simply show people how to apply makeup and dress fashionably for their body type and I name the brands I use. People buy the products I use because they do a good job. They work how they want them to,
Mr.
Hollingsworth.”
Dax stared at her, mouth open and then shut before opening again like a guppy fish. “I, uh…yeah.” He stopped and swallowed, closing his eyes before opening the grey orbs on her again. “I didn’t mean to offend you but the idea of a YouTube channel helping HOLLINGSWORTH is laughable.”
Norah wasn’t laughing. In fact she was spitting mad, but she refused to give the arrogant bastard the satisfaction. “Well then I guess we’re done here.” She brushed past him to meet Thad. “Are we ready?”
“What about the sexy suit?”
She leaned back, cocking one hip out to the side. “What about him?”
Thad held his hands in the air in surrender. He knew when to let it go and right now Norah’s body screamed
shut it down
. “Okay then. The white lounger?”
She nodded and laid down, trying her damnedest to focus on the photo shoot and not the handsome raven haired man currently staring a hole into the side of her body. “I have some beach gear somewhere if you’re free later today or this week.”
Thad whooped. “Beach day! Let’s go girl.”
She stood with a smile and they both piled their arms full of gear. Norah stole one final glance at Dax before disappearing around the corner.
***
Dax knew if he struck out with Norah this time, she just might tell him to go take a hike. He couldn’t explain it, the way he kept sticking his foot in his mouth. That last time near the pool, it was totally her fault. That bikini was downright sinful, inappropriate even! The jewel toned scraps highlighted her perfect brown sugar skin and the gold hoop between her breasts squeezed them until they practically spilled out of it. How was a man supposed to concentrate when that petite body held enough curves to knock a man right on his ass? He wasn’t, dammit.
He’d been tempted to follow them to the beach. Yeah, he’d overheard their conversation, but he needed to head back to the office to regroup. The last thing he wanted to do was run into his father, but it was unavoidable. “Dad,” he greeted through clenched teeth.
“Son. How are things going with Ms. Tompkins?”
He groaned and raked his fingers through his already mussed hair. “It could be better, but I’m working on a plan.” He had no idea what type of plan yet, but he would figure it out. He had to or else his idiot cousin Rick would become CEO.
Kurt chuckled. “Let me guess, you insulted her with all of your new media crap?”
“She distracted me, dammit and I put my foot in my mouth.”
Kurt laughed even harder, the sound bouncing off the small elevator walls. “She is a looker isn’t she?”
That was an understatement. She was gorgeous with the body of a pinup girl. “She is nice to look at, but she was shooting this damn bikini and I couldn’t think straight and I said exactly what I thought about her channel helping HOLLINGSWORTH.” Damn even now he sounded like an asshole. “I’ll fix it, don’t worry.”
“I’m not. Despite what you think, I have every faith in you.” Kurt clapped him on the shoulder and exited the elevator.
Dax watched his father stroll down the hall whistling, waving and smiling at everyone he passed. He shook his head with a smile. His father was everything people thought a high powered executive shouldn’t be. He was affable and kind, always laughing and willing to help his employees succeed. He wasn’t ruthless at all, but he was smart with keen instincts. He would need to channel some of those instincts now to win over Norah Tompkins.
When he finally made it to his office, he closed the door and sank into the plush leather chair, turning to face the window. Like most large companies in Los Angeles, HOLLINGSWORTH was located downtown and it came with an abysmal view. Out his window was miles and miles of smog, dotted with cement buildings and nothing else. Nevertheless looking out gave him a sense of peace. This was his, something of which he was a part and would be for decades to come. One day his children would also work for HOLLINGSWORTH.
At least if there was still a HOLLINGSWORTH, which there wouldn’t be if Rick took the helm. He
had
to make things right with Norah. So Dax turned to face his computer and did what he did best. Research.
He spent hours watching videos on Norah’s channel, as well as those of rival YouTubers to see what choice he would make if he had no preconceived notions. Norah did have something over the others, which is why she was the only fashion and beauty vlogger with more than a million subscribers. He learned a lot in those few hours and by the time he packed up to go for a drink with his bestfriend, he knew exactly how to pursue Norah.
***
Norah hadn’t been able to stop her mind from wandering to the judgmental suit with the handsome grey eyes. She hoped she would never have to see the man again, and maybe then she would be able to stop thinking about him. It wasn’t his fault he was so damn good looking, but it was her fault that she was so susceptible to his good looks. She hadn’t been on a date in more than a year, so of course a gorgeous guy like him would send her lady parts firing on all cylinders.
Each time her mind began to conjure up icy grey eyes looking at her like she was the last bit of chocolate in the shop, she would shut it down with the sound of his haughty voice telling her how her
little channel
couldn’t possibly help the big bad HOLLINGSWORTH. It was working too, especially when she began to imagine what he looked like under that suit. His broad shoulders tapered off into a narrow waist that she knew rippled with muscles, the same way his easy gait told her he was an athlete when he wasn’t stuck behind his big fancy desk.
“Enough!” She shoved her chair backwards and stormed out of her office. She needed to get out of the house and occupy her mind so it wouldn’t keep wandering to Dax Hollingsworth. She decided to hop on her bicycle and head to Venice Beach. It was the perfect place to people watch and it was her favorite place in the city, filled with such a unique blend of people, cultures, fashions and art. Dressed in a knee-length summer dress with a pair of denim Converse All-Stars, she grabbed her hobo bag and slung it across her chest, breezing out the door and straight into the broad chest of the man who wouldn’t give her a moment of peace.
“Whoa, where’s the fire?” Dax held her at arm’s length and looked her over. Maybe he looked a tad too long, but he was a man.
“I’m on my way out. What are you doing here without calling?
Again.
” She looked over his shoulder because, dressed in worn jeans, a green t-shirt and a lightweight leather jacket, he was much too tempting.
He had the nerve to smile at her in a way that unnerved most women. Not Norah though, she stood tall glaring down at him with fire in those deep brown eyes. “Yeah, sorry but I figured if I called you might find your schedule mysteriously packed.”
The laugh that ripped from her took her by surprise. “You’re probably right about that. So, what brings you by?”
Dax tried not to inhale her sweet flowery scent but they stood a scant few inches from one another and it was impossible not to take in a bit of her with each inhale. “I wanted to apologize for my behavior last week. I was gruff and rude, but it was partially your fault. My brain short circuited after I caught sight of you in that swimsuit and I said some things I shouldn’t have.”
“You believe it, but you didn’t want to say it.” She crossed her arms waiting for his answer.
“Okay yes. But my father is impressed by you so I’m prepared to have an open mind. I’d like to spend some time with you, watching you so I can understand your process and figure out how this will work for the new launch. We have eight weeks until launch and if we’re going to work together you’ll need to start uploading videos in two weeks so we can generate buzz.” He shoved his hands into his pockets and gave her a hesitant smile. “What do you think?”
She looked at his handsome face, looking more boyish than she’d seen him. Less secure too, she thought as she studied this laid back, normal version of him. “I’m willing to give it a try. Just don’t slow me down and don’t get in my way. Okay?” Dax nodded with a wide smile that almost made her knees go wobbly. Almost.
“I wouldn’t dream of it. So…your car or mine.”
Norah placed her palms on his chest and instantly she wished she hadn’t. He was firm in all the right places and suddenly her hand began to squeeze and wander. He cleared his throat and she looked up and quickly backed away. “Right. I’m riding my bicycle and you’re taking your car, so meet me in front of sculpture by the blue building.”
“So you’re going to ditch me?”
“Nope. I’m just going to ride by bike. Is that a problem?”
He shook his head. “Not for me. If you ditch me, I’ll just come back until I find you.”
She sighed and pushed at his chest. “Fine, we’ll take your luxury wagon. Come on.”
***
“This is great! I can’t remember the last time I came out here.” He hadn’t been to Venice Beach since he was a teenager, running ragged around the city with his prep school friends.
“Calm down Dax, you sound like a tourist.” She had a big smile on her face at his exuberance so that took the bite out of her words.
“I practically am, Norah. It’s been ages since I’ve been here. So what do you do when you come here?”
“This,” she spread her hands out at the people in front of them. Some lovers strolled hand in hand while the more active rollerbladed on the path. Artists peddled goods and created art right there on the beach for the masses, and they ate copious amounts of fried food. “The people here are so different, from all over the world with their own sense of style. I like to watch, maybe snap a few photos and see what strikes my fancy. Sometimes it’s an entire look but others I see inspiration in bits and pieces of…stuff.”
“Stuff? Is that a professional word?”
She shrugged and bumped his shoulder. “I could give you the whole business school spiel with the proper jargon but what would be the point?”