Mine to Steal (Mine to Love) (30 page)

I look at him for any trace of humor, but it’s not there. He’s
staring at the images again and points to one of the ones she created on her own. “Look at this, would you have ever come up with something like this on your own?”

“Probably not,” I admit,
studying the image of the woman on the cliff.

“Exactly, she brings something different
. I’m not sure what it is, but it’s something that’s lacking in these you created on your own. Don’t get me wrong, yours are great, but look at what you two came up with when you worked together.”

I turn to him, shocked at everything that he
’s saying. “You’re serious, aren’t you?”

He looks at his watch, and that’s when I notice my brother is dressed like a businessman - and wearing a watch. “I have a conference call in a few, but you have to call her
and tell her Cal liked everything, right? My suggestion: Why not ask her to dinner and talk it over?” As he turns to walk out of my office he pats my shoulder.

“Thanks for your help,” I say before he shuts the door, leaving me to mull over his idea.

When Cavette suggested Faith working for me, it seemed like a crazy idea thrown out by a man who was happy with his results. But talking to Jett and listening to him sing Faith’s praises has opened my mind to the idea.

She would be a great asset to the TM team, without a doubt, but would she leave what she has at Rock Solid? There’s only one way to find out
, and he’s right about something else; I need to let Faith know I’ve heard from Cal.

Me: Can you talk?

Faith: Everything ok?

Me: Heard from Cal

No sooner do I send the text does my office phone ring. I gave her my direct line so she could bypass the reception desk, not that she ever uses it.

“What did he say?”
she asks anxiously.

“Hey
, Trey. How are you?” I say for her with a laugh as I try to lighten any potential awkwardness.

“Hey
, Trey. How are you?” she repeats verbatim like an annoyed kid. “Now, what did he say?”

“He loved it. The first campaign will launch in a couple of weeks.”

“That’s fantastic,” she squeals.

“Are you free tonight?”

“I - yeah - I mean, I think I’m free.”

“Okay, then I’m taking you out to dinner to celebrate.” I don’t ask or give her the option to back out.

“I can’t go until six,” she says, uncertainty in her voice betrays her.

“What am I, eighty?” I laugh at her, still trying to alleviate the weirdness. “Why don’t I pick you up at seven?”

“You still remember how to get to my place or do I need to text the address again?”

“Um, Faith, it’s only been a couple of weeks since I had to drop you off. What’s with you thinking I’m too old to eat late or remember where you live?”

“Well, you’re almost thirty,” she teases and it makes me laugh.
She’s back.

“Very funny,” I deadpan. “In two years. I still have time.”

“That’s what they all say,” she mutters.

“Yeah. Alright then, I’ll see you at seven.”

* * *

I spent the better part of the morning working the numbers to see what I would be able to offer Faith, in order to lure her away from Rock Solid. Their benefits are much better than mine, but I can offer her better pay. When I was working there, they paid
entry-level employees less than the average. They always made it sound good by saying based on your sales your pay increases. What they failed to say is that it doesn’t take effect until you’ve been there a year and contracted five organic businesses.

Jett
is heading out for the day and I see him talking to Hattie so I ask him to come in before he leaves.

“You look like you’re in a better mood,” he states, standing in the doorway. “What time are you meeting her?”

“Meeting who?”

“Can’t bullshit a
bullshitter, Bro. What time?”

“I’m leaving now to pick her up.”

He nods with a smirk plastered to his face as he prods me, “You really like her, don’t you?”

“We’re having dinner so I can talk to
her about coming to work here,” I notify him, effectively ignoring his question.

“Do you think she’ll take it?”

“I really have no idea, but you were right, she’d bring something else to the company.” I nod about his earlier comments.

“See, I’m not the idiot you think I am
.” He laughs. “And if she takes it, I want a raise.”

“Go home,” I point to the door, “
before I start charging you rent."

“Later,” he turns without another word to leave, but he comes back. “Good luck.
”

She doesn’t live too far from the offic
e, so I wait in my car until it is almost time to get her. Faith’s apartment is on the second floor of a modest complex toward the front of the property. Last time I was here, I dropped her off, so I haven't seen the inside of her place. When we’ve hung out, we typically meet up or we're at my office.

Faith: I'm ready when you are

Me: I’m here

Faith: I know
, I see your car. Stalker.

I can’t help but laugh at her message as I get out of the car to meet her. She opens the door
when I reach the top step and holds it open to allow me entrance.

“How long have you been here?”

“Not too long,” I lie. I look around her apartment, and you can tell a woman lives here. It has that touch, you know, the one that is color coordinated and organized. She has a few pictures on the wall above the couch, but the one by the front door catches my attention. It’s a young Faith, the little kid who ran into me all those years ago, with Lennox. I snap out of my distraction and turn to her. “You ready?”

“Would you mind if we stay here? I’ve had a long day
, and I just want to veg.”

“
We can do it another time,” I start to turn around to the door, but she stops me.

“No, really. Stay. I was planning on cooking before you called today
, and I have more than enough. Do you like salmon?”

“You sure?”

“I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t mean it.” She walks into her small kitchen to get everything out so she can cook. “I’m going to change, make yourself comfortable.”

She leaves the room and gives me time to scope out the rest of her place. She has a thing for Americana memorabilia. I wonder if she liked all
the stuff in that bar back in Texas. She has no pictures of her parents anywhere, but there is some of her with Lennox and others with friends. Faith with people she cares about is gorgeous. She looks truly happy, her smile breathtaking.

Over the small entertainment center is a small picture of Faith and Brad. There’s something different between this one and the others. With Brad, her eyes are lifeless, resigned. The smile isn’t genuine, and neither is his.

She walks back into the room barefoot in jeans and a t-shirt ignoring my blatant perusal of her things. When I turn to look at her, I can’t help but notice she isn’t wearing a bra.
What is she trying to do to me?

“If you don
’t want to cook, we can grab something quick. I want to thank you for working with me on Cave. He’s really excited about everything.”

“I don’t mind.
But I feel I should warn you, this tastes amazing, but don’t get any ideas. This is the
only
thing I cook well,” she laughs.

“Can I help?”

“Yeah, can you boil water and make rice?”

“I think I can handle
it. But to let
you
know, I'm actually a really good cook,” I tease with a smile. She looks at me impressed with my admission. “Yep. I can cook the hell out of some mac and cheese.”

She throws a towel at me
, and we start moving in her kitchen, doing our best to avoid running into each other. The water is on the stove to boil, and she’s preheated the oven and seasoned the fish, so there’s nothing to do for a bit. She opens a bottle of wine and grabs two glasses before heading into the living room.

“We make a good team,” she says, taking a seat on the couch.

“So I’ve heard.” I follow and sit on the opposite end.

“What do you mean?”

Here’s my opening, it couldn't have played out any better. She hands me a glass, and I take it from her, “I have something I need to talk to you about.”

She sets her glass down and tucks a foot underneath her body as she turns to me. “Okay. What’s up?”

“What are the chances of you coming to work for me?”

Her hand runs through her hair and lands at the back of her neck. She takes a deep breath and cocks her head to the side as she looks at me with questions all over her face. I lean back a
nd watch the internal battle waging in this woman’s head and stifle a laugh. She runs a finger across her bottom lip, before opening her mouth to speak, but she shuts it and repeats the movement a few more times.

“Take all the time you need
.” I take a sip of my wine and grab the remote to see what’s on TV. I didn't think she would be so stunned by a simple question, yet here we are sitting in silence.

“You want me to work for you?”

“That’s what I said.”

My eyes are fixed on the show, but I
’m paying attention to Faith out of my peripheral. She leans over and takes the remote from my hand and turns it off.

“What made you ask?”

“I was talking to Cal about the marketing ideas we came up with and Jett agreed with him.”

“Agreed with Cal? About what?”

“You know.” Looking at her, I can tell she’s considering the option, but she needs convincing. “We worked really well together.”

“But that was a
one-time thing because -”

“I know, you like Cal. But you have to admit, individually our ideas were fine, but when we came together, we created some incredible boards.”

“What would the position entail?”

“It would be
a senior marketing manager. You’d have your own accounts and of course you’d get a percentage of whatever you sell. Your own assistant, health and 401k.”

“Are you serious?”

“I am. I know you can’t give me a decision right now, but will you consider it?”

A phone rings somewhere in her apartment
, and she looks around to spot the direction it's coming from. “Hold on, one second.” She puts her finger up so she can answer it.

She walks into her room to take the call and leaves me alone. I grab the remote and turn the TV back on to find something to pass the time while she’s gone, but I find myself wondering if she’ll take the job. She could use my offer as a bargaining chip to leverage for a better position with Rock Solid, which she deserves. I don’t have nearly as much to offer as they do, but hopefully she’ll take note of the potential to help a small company
grow as a plus.

“Sorry about that,” she walks out of her room and tosses the phone on the empty chair next to the couch. “It was Brad.
”

There’s a strange prick in my chest when she says his name. Their damn ‘open’ policy is ridiculous
, and I know she doesn’t like it.

“Sorry it was Brad? Or sorry you got a call?
” I don’t know why I ask, and I don’t want her to answer. It was a shitty way to phrase a question that is ultimately none of my business.

“I
told you everything I came here to say. I should probably head out.” I stand up to leave, trying to maintain some dignity. Faith stops me and invades my space as I try to pass by and gives me a bemused smile.

“He’s coming into town.”

“Well, then I should get going.”

“Not tonight, dumbass, next week.” She sits down and pulls my arm to get me to sit too. “I
told him we need to talk.”

“He’s coming in town to talk?”

“Yeah,” she says as her fisted hand is clenching and releasing over again. She looks at me and her cheeks are starting to flush. “The open policy isn’t working for me anymore.”

Calm down.

This could mean one of two things. Either she’s tired of seeing other people and wants them to be exclusive in whatever state they’re in, or she wants to end things with him to find someone else. I want to remain quiet so she can clarify, if that’s what she wants to do, but I don’t like waiting.
The irony is not lost on me.

“You deserve more than an open relationship, Faith. You deserve someone who’s going to treat you like a queen. Someone who wants to spend as much time with you as possible and has no desire to be with anyone else, no matter how far apart you are. Hell, you deserve someone who will move heaven and earth to make sure you are as close as possible.”

Her smile was nonexistent until I finish the words, but when it appears, her eyes turn glassy. “You think?”