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The men are clearly friends, so why hasn’t Charles tapped into his resources?
I fire up another window, type out the e-card and place my order, closing the computer just as a stack of résumés is delivered by one of the HR runners.
Well, this has been an interesting first day.
10
Charles
“She didwhat?”
The bastard hasn’t stopped laughing since he called, right after texting a photo of an obscenely large fruit basket, complete with two sunshine balloons, supposedly sent to him by Raven.
Not for nothing. This whole thing screams Raven. I might barely know her, but the balloons are all her. She’s a ray of sunshine—my Rae.
She isn’t your anything.
“She might be the funniest girl I’ve ever met,” Pax says through his howling laughter. “A damn fruit basket in thanks for saving her from you. How, pray tell, did you manage to leave such a horrible impression on that girl?”
Bollocks.
“Tell me again what the card said,” I instruct, massaging my right temple with my free hand.
“Mr. Ramsey, it was a pleasure running into you—literally—at Club Silver. I appreciate the tip on the VIP restroom. However, for future reference, not all the metal doors are restrooms, which you learned while saving me from ultimate peril.” Pax snorts, bursting into another fit.
“Go on, mate. Get it all out,” I say, smacking my lips in annoyance.
Of all the damn people she could’ve brought into this mess, it had to be Paxton. The one person who will never let this go.
“And for that, I forgive your gaffe,” he continues, just barely holding himself together. “Please accept this gift in payment as discussed. You likely saved my job, and for that, I owe you fruit, chocolate, and balloons, at the very least. On another note, while stalking you to send this, I see you are the owner of Factor Talent. I’d love to connect with you at your earliest convenience. Please feel free to call me at...”
I jot down the number he recites. I don’t recognize it as a Cavendish Group mobile. She’s given him her personal number, and now I have it. Not that I’ll ever use it.
“Is there not a limit on word count for those damned notes?”
“Of all the things you could be focused on, that’s your go-to?” Paxton chuckles. “Please tell me why she’s so grateful that I stopped you from fucking her in a closet. This has to be a first.”
I huff. “You’re a bloody prick, you know that, right?”
“The worst of the bunch. Now talk.”
I sigh, knowing I won’t get out of spilling all the sordid details. “Turns out Miss Bennett is my new employee.”
“Oh, my God,” Pax says, losing it again. “This is the greatest thing to ever happen to me.”
“Sod off.” I scrub at my face. This girl will be the death of me. “Plus, I’m sure the fruit is everything you ever wanted. Now, tell me the rest.”
“I’d appreciate it if we could move past the whole closet debacle. Looking forward to speaking with you about how Cavendish Group and Factor Talent could work together in the future. Best, Raven Bennett.” He’s laughing. Again.
If I could strangle him through the phone, I would. He’s getting too much enjoyment out of this.
“Jesus... What have I done to deserve this?”
“Too much, I’m afraid. How many months were you on my couch?” He clears his throat. “I’ve gotta hand it to her. She’s the first to recognize a potential partnership that would be advantageous for all of us. You certainly have never brought an opportunity to me.”
“I never wanted you to feel obligated to work with Cavendish Group. We’re friends.”
And that’s the truth of it. In this life, I’ve been used far too many times by people I trusted. They didn’t care about my friendship or affection. They wanted me for what I could do for them. Call me jaded, but I have a right to be.
