This glint sparks in her eyes as she bites back a chuckle. “Relax, All-star, I think you’ve done that already. You’re not as robotic as I originally thought.”
“Right, right. I’m a teddy bear.”
I watch the rise and fall of her chest before she breathes out, “Yeah, something like that.”
My eyes stay locked on hers. I’m not exactly sure what to say next, but the question of asking when I can see her outside of this office feels like a good place to start.
My mouth opens, but a knock comes to Mia’s office door, then a scrawny busboy pops his head in. “Sorry, Mia, the slimy sales guy is here.”
Mia’s shoulders drop and her eyes practically roll to the back of her head. “Of course he is, he loves random pop-ins. Okay, send him back,” she says, then cuts back to me. “Ready to see an example?”
“Example of…” My words trail off as Mia pulls her hair out of her clip, then adjusts her cleavage. I swallow hard. Fuck me, her personality was captivating enough as is.
Clearing my throat and adjusting in my seat, Mia looks at me with a smirk. “Don’t judge me. I know what I’m doing.”
I don’t know how to say I’m not judging but admiring without coming off as an ass, so my hand waves her off, and I do this weird shrug. What the fuck, she has me short-circuiting.
She chuckles. “Consider this my version of someone doubting my capabilities and then making them go running.”
Before anything else can be said, an older guy in a suit waltzes into her office. “Mia, darling, I hear you’re the official owner now.”
The fakest smile I’ve ever seen appears on Mia’s face. She sweeps her hair over her shoulder as she stands to greet the man with a high-pitched voice. “Martin, what a lovely surprise. You know my father rarely tells me no.”
Martin doesn’t spare me a glance. Hell, I don’t think he even knows I’m here, judging by the way his eyes are laser-focused on Mia’s chest. I bite back a remark about looking her in the eye,Mia said she knows what she’s doing, and frankly, I’m a little intrigued to figure out what her ploy is.
“And how could he?” Martin chimes. “It’s really a bonus for me as I’ve been double-checking with your father on all our dealings to make sure he approves, but I believe it’s safe to say I no longer have to do that.”
Mia’s poker face doesn’t falter. There’s zero change to her face in response to his backward-ass comment, and that actually surprises me.
“It seems so, what a perk.” Mia crosses her arms under her chest and the prick’s eyes widen. “You know, a little birdie told me that Callahan’s might be redoing their seasonal brandy. How would I be so lucky to get some of that?”
“Mia, Mia, Mia, you know we have that reserved for a curated list of restaurants. My hands are tied. How about your usual order, and I see if I can sneak one bottle for us to drink in celebration?”
“And break my father’s golden rule to never drink on the job?” Mia tsks. “I’m a good girl, I’m afraid I can’t do that.” Mia leans back on her desk, crossing one long leg over the other. “Such a shame, I was really hoping to have some of that behind my bar.”
Oh, fucking hell.
I’d fold right here and now. Whatever she wants, done. Sold. No more questions.
Martin swallows. “Well, I might not be able to get you the brandy, but what about our specialty gin? At a discount, of course.”
Mia tilts her head, and her eyes give this doe effect. “That’s not what I asked for. What happened to it being hard to tell me no?”
“I suppose I’m immune to your charms, sweetness. I can get you a twenty percent discount from wholesale and maybe a fewfree bottles of champagne will find their way in there…it’s the best I can offer.”
“Oh, alright, I suppose you’re doing what you can. I always appreciate your help.”
“Of course, anything for you…well, almost anything.”
Mia plasters that smile back on her face. “I’ll be sure to tell my father you said hi, maybe even have him ask you about telling me no more often.”
Martin waves his hand. “I believe that is a power I want to hold on to. I’ll see you later, Mia.” As he turns, he finally sees me. “Oh, I didn’t realize you had someone in here.” He tilts his head back to Mia. “Maybe run new hires through your father for a bit.”
My mouth opens for a response, but Mia swoops in, leading Martin to the door by his arm. “Don’t worry, my father is very much still involved. Hope you have a good day, and don’t be letting any of your other clients get as good of deals as me.”
Martin gives Mia one last slimy smile. “I wouldn’t dream of it, sweetness.”
Mia chuckles softly and shuts the door swiftly with his first step back. She turns around on her heels, and her eyes shoot up to the ceiling as she exhales a breath.
