Hers (9 page)

“Yes, bright and early; we have a meeting at nine.” Like that, I walk out of the blue room, and head straight for my waiting car.

Monday

Sunday, I spent the day sulking around the penthouse. I pulled my laptop out and cleared every last fucking email I had. All six hundred and seventy-three. One-by-one, I read, deleted, or acknowledged every last electronic letter. Then I took a bath, a really long bath, full of bubbles, and some strange homeopathic herb shit my parents got me, insisting I needed it to relax more. I gorged on unhealthy street-cart food from the Halal cart at the corner, and crashed, but not before downing a bottle of white wine, alone.
That makes me an alcoholic, huh?

My car pulls up to the curb, outside the Alexander Mobile building, and I let out a sigh before exiting the safety of my uncomplicated car and heading back into the best and worst fucking business deal I’ve ever made. This morning, Olivia will be joining me, finally.

I brush down my black pencil skirt, while I make sure the aqua blouse is still neatly tucked in. My black Manolo heels echo through the prodigious lobby as I wave to the security guys, and catch the available elevator before the doors close.

Over the weekend, Olivia had my interior designer in to overhaul the outdated office. Mr. Stern was officially gone, so they politely packed up all he’d left behind, which will be removed before the close of the day. The elevator doors open to my floor, and I make a beeline for my office. I have half an hour to catch up, and to ensure Olivia is comfortable, before I have to deal with my Monday morning board meeting.

As I round the corner, I spot Olivia sitting at her desk, flanked by a balding asshole, flirting with her. None other than Daniel Alexander, of course.
Just goes to show the kind of creep he apparently still is.

“Good morning, Olivia.” I whisk past, completely ignoring Daniel, and slam my office door closed.

My anger can't hold long, because the office is everything I always wanted. Mikal completely knocked this impromptu project out of the park. The slim white desk sits center on the far glass wall, looking out over the city. The colors mesh perfectly. Feminine without looking like Victoria’s Secret vomited all over the modest space. The carpet is black, the accent chairs are a classy, vintage shade of turquoise, and by God, the couch looks comfortable enough to sleep on. Which I will probably be doing often enough.

A note sits on the desk, with a single pink daisy.

Seven,

I hope you enjoy the office. I had fun with this project, despite your usual, unreasonable time-frame. Always a pleasure.

Mikal

“Damn, if that man wasn't gay, I would marry him,” I mumble under my breath.

My intercom buzzes and Olivia giggles on the other end, not realizing the intercom has connected yet. “Miss James?” she asks hesitantly through the line, clearly sensing I was pissed off when I bound into the office a few moments ago.

“Yes, Livie?”

“You have an urgent message. Can I bring it in?”
Urgent? Great. All I need!

“Yes, Livie,” I say and kill the intercom. I set up my laptop while I wait for her to make her way in. The door opens, and she stands on the threshold. “Come in; who is the message from?”

She starts to read the notice, making her way across the room to hand it to me. “It is a message from the London manufacturing office. There is a problem with Alexander Mobile production.” The last fucking words I want to hear. Ever. She hands the note over with the full details of the problem. I eye it, while she fidgets with her chin length blonde hair, brushing it down with her hands, before doing the same to her cream-colored business suit.

“Okay, I need travel set up. Book accommodations for two. I’ll get back to you in an hour as to what board member is coming with me. I want the Empire Suite at the Cafe Royal hotel in London. If it is unavailable, I’ll settle for the Club Suite.”

I pick up the phone, dialing the president of operations in London as Livie exits quickly to prepare my arrangements.
Damn it all to Hell. I don't want to go anywhere, especially with any of the fucking board members.

“I can't travel, doctor’s orders,” one of the older gentlemen says, excusing himself from the travel obligations.

“I have a three day vacation booked,” Daniel jumps in thankfully, because the idea of traveling anywhere with him, especially overseas, has my blood absolutely boiling. What a fucking sleaze-ball. Drooling all over poor Livie, and she’s eating it up.
Note to self - have a talk with her about Daniel, or fire her. Either way, both may be a little fun.

“I'll do it.”

The voice sends a shock through my system, and I look up to meet Levi's gaze. His hair is styled perfectly, a grey custom suit adheres to all the right places on his body, and I can't help but ogle him across the table. Without showing my nerves, I try to speak above the side conversations around the table.

“No one else?” I scan everyone's faces; they all look like they just dodged a bullet.

“If that is settled, I have someplace to be.” Daniel stands to walk from the table. I still have a laundry list of shit I need the board to discuss, but no one seems interested at all.

“Ah, he who cares so little about the company that bears his name.”

The conference room falls silent; all the men stare at me with shock. Clearly, Daniel walks around here like he is untouchable, but that will come to an end, now.

“What did you say?” He turns around mere inches from my face, questioning me like I have to answer to him. Wrong.

“I said, Mr. Alexander, for someone who actually bears the name of this company, you surely show little interest in its well-being and business. But I don't believe I stuttered.”

Still silent, the men watch as I enter into a pissing match; I am sure to win.

“I have an appointment.” He is short, to the point, but I can see he’s pissed. His face clearly shows frown lines as his mouth sets into a straight line, his brows furrow, and as he turns to leave he lets out a fucking huff.
Did he just fucking huff at me?

He turns to walk from the room, but I have the last word. “Hey Daniel, next time you miss a board meeting for an ‘appointment,’ you can pack up your office, and get the fuck out.”

A couple men smile, Levi included. Others are sizing me up. I’m pissed. Like most men in the corporate world, they think they can walk all over me, and that just won't be happening.

“Let me get one thing straight before we continue with the mountain of business before us. I will not be disrespected, talked down to, or trampled in
my
boardroom.” My voice elevates as I continue my tirade. “I am not your wife, or your side piece of ass. I am your boss. If you do not like what I have to say, or the way I do business, please, get up and get the fuck out now. It will save me the trouble of firing your ass down the line.” I slam my fist on the table, “If you haven't heard about the way I do business yet, I suggest you all start asking around.”

No one says a word. They stare. Levi sits in his chair with a smug grin on his face, soaking it all in.

“Now, shall we continue?”

Behind the safe walls of my office, I curse this entire trip to London. Of fucking course Levi would have so eagerly volunteered himself for the trip. Of. Fucking. Course.

My phone vibrates across my desk as I continue running over files I just received from London. I can't believe what a mess their branch of the company has become. Had I known this before the buyout, I would have never fucking bought this headache. Revenge or not, it’s not fucking worth it.

Looking down at the display on my phone, I see an unfamiliar number, so I ignore it.

“Olivia,” I buzz through the intercom. Her reply is quick.

“I need lunch, now. Um, get me chicken tacos from Chipotle. Sour Cream, cheese... the usual. With a Dr. Pepper.” I cut the line before she has an opportunity to reply. I know I shouldn't take my frustrations out on her, but after watching her all gooey in Daniel's radar this morning, something bitter has snapped in me. Shit, that was even before the nightmare business trip I am being forced into.

A soft rap on the door pulls me from my thoughts. I invite in whomever is on the other side, since Olivia is off getting my lunch. The heavy door slowly creeps open and there stands Levi. He closes the door, then makes himself at home in the chair on the other side of my desk. He looks at me with regret and apology in his eyes. I still feel bad about the way I treated him the other night. It has eaten at me for days.

“Listen, Seven. I'm sorry. I know I shouldn't be the one going on this trip, but before you came to Alexander Mobile, I was the one doing all the traveling.” He watches my reaction, as he runs his fingers through his messy hair. Something I’ve noticed he does when he’s nervous. “All the other board members have wives, and families. Then there’s me. I don't have anything or anybody. By default, the trips always fall into my lap.”
He doesn't have anything or anybody?
Sadness creeps through me, and I take pity on him. I take pity on no one, and yet here I am, slowly opening for a man I want to do nothing but run from.

“It's okay, Levi. It is just a business trip. I expect we’ll be about a week. Give or take, depending on how quickly this can get straightened out. I have already started working on what I can from here. Olivia, my assistant, will get you all the travel details. It will give us an opportunity to see how well we work together, since it appears we are going to be spending a lot of time together.” I smile at him. A genuine smile, something I rarely give colleagues, or men. A warm sensation burns through my chest and stomach as I continue to work on the file I have open on my laptop.

“Seven, I just… I didn't want you to think I set this up somehow.” He’s worried, understandably so.

“Levi, I don't think that at all. You clearly didn't sabotage the supply in London. We work together; this is going to happen. We can't let what happened make things weird.” I shake my head. I just don't even know where to go in this situation anymore. This is the first time in my life that I have truly been at a total loss. I look up to catch his eyes grazing over my body. He is hungry, and it isn't for lunch.

“Levi?” I ask him, looking up with heavily lidded eyes, trying to put out the fire rushing through my body, fueled by only him. I know if he doesn't leave soon, I am not going to be able to resist him. I will beg him to take me, right here on my desk.

“Yes?” He smiles at me, a beautiful toothy grin, and I can feel my panties becoming damp.

“I think you should go. I have a business call here at a quarter to seven, if you are going to still be in the office.”

I can see the disappointment in his gaze, but all I’m trying to do is save us both a lot of fucking trouble. We just can't keep going on this way, because we’ll only end up hurt. I can already tell he is in over his head, and despite my cool facade, he’s wearing me down. Little-by-little, my walls that I have worked so hard building over the past five years are crumbling for Levi.