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I rolled my shoulders and made a gesture with my fingers, zipping up my lips. "Nope, you're not going to get it out of me."
He glanced at me intently for a few seconds that seemed to stretch into minutes, but I didn't give in. Damn, he was serious.
Eventually, he straightened up, looking away. "I appreciate someone who doesn't blab."
I winked at him. "That's me. I can keep a secret like it's nobody's business. Although, to be fair, your reputation isn't a secret at all. Everyone warned me."
"And yet you took the job."
I blinked. "Of course I did. I'm not afraid of challenges."
"So you think I'm a challenge."
"You're proving you are with every passing second. I'm not at the stage in my career to simply discard jobs based on the client's reputation."
He raised a brow. “Why even choose this type of work? I can imagine most of your clients are... resistant.”
“I’m good at it. I grew up with two brothers, and they trained me well. I can give as good as I get.”
“You’re close to them?”
Wow, we're having a real conversation. Maybe this will all work out after all.
“Very. Buuut let’s focus on you again.”
Colton didn't say anything for a few seconds.
I glanced around. "So, what motivates you to keep developing new products?"
"I like creating something that helps people," he said in a clipped tone and didn't expand.
I was certain there was more to it than that, but I didn't want to prod. Besides, it was none of my business. I'd made more progress with Colton in these few minutes than I had the entire past week. I didn't want to look a gift horse in the mouth; I wanted to wave a white flag and get to the nitty-gritty.
"Listen, I understand this situation is uncomfortable for you, but I promise I'm very good at my job," I stated.
"I never doubted that."
I looked him straight in the eyes. Well, that was a mistake because it wiped away my every thought. I lowered my gaze to the floor, gathering my wits before making eye contact again. I was determined to be completely professional no matter how amazing those blue eyes were.
“Then I don't understand the problem."
"The problem, Zoey, is that I like to call the shots. Always. I run this place. I take responsibility for the successes and the failures and the messes. I hate the idea of anyone telling me how to do things."
I swallowed hard, trying not to fixate on how damn sexy that Adam's apple bobbing up and down was. "That's not what I'm here to do," I said.
"Aren't you?"
"No, I'm simply here to make your life easier. Everyone's life. My processes aren't meant to simply tell you how to do things. It puts everything in perspective, giving youoptionsso you have time for more things. You know?" I pointed at the whiteboard. "Like creating that product."
I was getting a good sense of who Colton Whitley was. For the first time, I understood why people said he was difficult. It wasn't because he was an asshole or because he thought he was God's gift to Earth. It was simply because he liked to do things his own way.
I knew he would probably be my most challenging client yet.
But I also knew I was up for the challenge.
