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“So, we have a lot to discuss, I have some big plans for you at my office. This works out perfectly because Martie can focus on the west coast while you focus on the east coast.”
This was a different man, a man that was all business, much like the man I met the first time in New York. There was no lingering of the eyes or smiles and gestures that were designed to entice me into his bed. It felt good to take a breather, but I was disappointed too.
“Okay. Have you told Martie yet?”
“No, I'm not planning on doing that until we can all be face-to-face. I don’t want you to tell her yet, either. I want it to be a surprise.”
I didn't like the sound of that, and suddenly, his words hit me in a place I never thought I’d feel. I felt jealous, my heartbeat faster, and the green-eyed monster of envy cropped up. All I kept thinking was,What about me?
Yet, that felt like an unrealistic statement in and of itself. We were nothing to each other, and even though Martie had a boyfriend, that didn't mean a man wouldn't want to be with her. I could think of one man in particular who had confirmed that he did. Jealousy was not my style, though, and I had no time for the games of love that people played.
Still, it was there, for all to see jealousy, and a desire to get his attention back on me.
“So, you’re still interested in Martie? She has a boyfriend.”
I said a silent prayer, hoping he didn’t catch my jealous tone or the curiosity I had about their relationship.
He smiled and opened the car door for me. The rental car — a sleek, black sports car with a fancy leather interior — didn't surprise me. It suited his taste and persona. I hated leather, though. Being an animal lover, I would never buy into such a thing.
“No, not really.” He smiled as he hopped in his side of the car. “I mean, initially I was, but since you’ve stolen my soul and made my body your slave, I can’t get us, or you and all the great sex we’ve had, out of my head.”
Shocked, I turned to face the front. I didn't know how to answer that. Sure, I was still jealous, but I was uncertain how to act or what to say to that.
“Okay, well thanks, I guess.”
He laughed. I didn't need to look at him to know he was smiling as he took off down the street, headed for his favorite Italian restaurant in New York City.
“Hasn’t a man ever been addicted to you, or at least to the sexual chemistry between the two of you? I can’t imagine that no one has ever felt that way about you, since it very easily happened to me.”
Stunned, I stared out the windshield as we moved fast over the open road. “No, I can’t say that I have had anyone addicted to me.”
I laughed then and allowed myself to express what I was really thinking. “I can’t even say I’d like that; it sounds sostalkerish.I’m not sure I would want anyone to be addicted to me because of how toxic that could become.”
I glanced over to see his reaction to what I said, and he was smiling.
“Well then, you’d better not entice me, further. See, even now, sitting here, I want to find a dark spot, stop the car, and get you to straddle me so we can get busy.”
His words, shocking and yet very seductive, bothered me more than I realized. When we got to the restaurant, I could barely think straight and order my food. I chose a gluten-free pasta dish with seitan, which served as chicken parmesan a strictly vegetable eater would love. He ordered the meat lasagna, and there we sat in our dimly lit corner of the back dining room.
James went over the details of my new position, which he’d managed to outline in the space of a few hours. “You will be doing exactly the same work as Martie, so she can show you the ropes. It will be easy because you're related, which makes this whole arrangement perfect. You will structure and plan for the next opening in Boston for the spring season, and then for a summer or fall opening in Charlotte, North Carolina.”
“Okay.” I sipped my water, wishing I’d brought a notepad with me and not wanting to be so rude as to ask if I could record everything since we were having dinner and talking about other things too. “What about your other employees? Were there any that might have wanted a position like this at your office whom I will have to contend with?”
I couldn’t help but quietly admire how handsome he was in the dimly lit dining room. His eyes had a mysterious aura to them. His smile was easy, and his face looked relaxed.
“No. Well, I shouldn’t say that, let me rephrase. There wasn’t anyone that I was going to promote, since this is a new position. It is going to be a surprise for some of the employees, especially any that might have had ideas about moving up the corporate ladder, but I can just as easily show them to the door.”
The waitress brought our food, and the conversation shifted to casual and easy. I asked many questions. He talked about his house, and how he came to live in California.
“I was living with my brother at the time. I’d always had a passion for creating great fashion and loved the process of making something look beautiful, along with abstract decorating. Some people think it’s odd, but it’s who I am. I simply enjoy what I do. My partner, Terry, is a silent partner, and we work together to keep this business successful. You’ll meet him. And there is my brother, who also works for me.”
“Oh wow, well why did you move in with your brother?”
“He was having a hard time. His wife had cheated on him, and he had suffered from some mental health issues, so I moved in with him to make sure he didn't do something stupid. Now, he’s a bit of a wild card, always finding and getting into trouble. It was really hard, but I was worried about him. At the time, I was living on the east coast, in New York. I loved it, but I was also moving into a new chapter of my life. I sold the house I had with my girlfriend, as things weren’t working out and I was unsatisfied with my career, so I moved in with him. Two months later, we started the business with Terry, which became successful almost overnight, and then I bought my current house.”
“Wow. That sounds like some pretty big life changes. I lost my job recently, and I had a bad break up not too long ago. I was headed back home to Connecticut to start over, so you could say this opportunity came up just in time. Thank you for sharing that with me.”
We ate dinner. I had to admit the restaurant made the best faux chicken parmesan I’d ever eaten in my life. After more drinks, food, and conversation, we were done.
