Total pages in book: 137
Estimated words: 129084 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 645(@200wpm)___ 516(@250wpm)___ 430(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129084 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 645(@200wpm)___ 516(@250wpm)___ 430(@300wpm)
“It’s a big job and after three. I doubt it can be compiled in that time. What do you need exactly?”
Anchoring myself in place, I reply, “An expert who not only understands the client’s past spending but can get my concepts approved during dinner if I can get them to a yes.” I swing my hand. “I’ll close them in one quick swoop and land my first account.” Giving myself a nod of confidence, I grin. “Technically, I’ll be saving the account, but same thing.”
“It will be a feather in your cap.”
Just the way I like it. “And a great way to kick off your career.”
She sets the e-pad on her lap, her excitement waning. “The only thing is the expert.”
“Surely the company has someone who can handle this type of situation.”
“They do.” She chews the side of her cheek and looks down nervously. “I’m just not sure if this is something they’ll do. You’re talking about dinner, which is not during the workday hours. That’s going to be considered a favor. You need to figure out what’s in it for them.”
The left side of my mouth rises, confused to the verbal dance around. “I’m pretty good at convincing people and a great team player. MVP status.”
She laughs. “Yeah, but—”
“You’re keeping me in suspense, Leanna. Just tell me who I need to invite to dinner, and I’ll take care of the rest.”
“Only one person currently handles the client’s financials, and she never attends company events.”
“Why not?”
Leanna shrugs. “I have no idea. People call her the Ice Queen.”
“The Ice Queen.” Dipping my head down, I rub my temples. Olivia Bancroft and I haven’t reached a truce. For all I know, she’s still the last person who wants to see me succeed. My sigh comes heavy. “Fuck.”
“So you’ve heard about her? Have you two met outside of the conference room introduction?”
“Yeah,” I start, well-aware that Liv and I are still on shaky ground, to say the least. Since we didn’t get to finish our conversation, that might be in order before asking her for a favor. If it goes south, which it just might based on the past few days, I’m certain she’ll be thrilled to serve me some humble pie in exchange for that file. “We’ve met all right.”
“You got this, Noah,” Leanna says with a laugh.
I throw a few air punches and then make my way down the hall. Cracking my knuckles, I do some light footwork before entering the ring aka Olivia Bancroft’s office.
Does Olivia intimidate me?
Hell no.
Will she try?
Absolutely.
She just won’t win. Not wanting to drag this out, I knock on the door five minutes before five. With it being the end of the day, I assume she’ll respond quickly to get out of here on time. Of course, assumptions are a foolish man’s last alibi for sacrificing facts in the hope of a favorable outcome.
“Come in,” she replies.
Here goes nothing . . .
I open the door and am quick to close it behind me. She’s always so worried about us being seen together that I figure my asking her out, even though it’s strictly business, is not something she wants circulating around the office.
Not a word is spoken when my eyes meet hers. The formality of greetings doesn’t exist. It’s just the two of us standing here in a smaller office than mine, staring at each other.
She finally cracks, blinking her eyes. “What are you doing here?”
There’s no anger like the other day or impatience like with Chip. She’s shifted into neutral since this morning, which means I need to turn on cruise control and match her tone.
I went through so many intros in my head before landing on the perfect way to talk her into this favor, but now it eludes me. I never go blank or lose my cool under pressure, but something about Liv makes me feel much like a schoolboy with a crush on a cute girl.
Is it her eyes that draw me in? I wade into the shallows, hoping to reach her deeper waters. Or maybe it’s the way her mouth always gives her thoughts away. A tug under her teeth or a smile that plays at the corners. It’s the only part of her that I’ve had any success reading.
Her body is relaxed and sunken into the plush leather of her chair. Being at the end of the day, I have a feeling she’s been stuck behind that desk all day.
“Noah?” Her head angles to the side as she waits for me to reply.
She’s Eve in the Garden of Eden, tempting in her very being. She may want to forget, but I’m struggling to get that night out of my head.
The taste of her body when I licked her from navel to neck, a mild salt flavoring from the beach still remaining.