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I take the stairs two at a time to get my blood up. Maybe if I’m out of breath when I see him, I won’t say the wrong things again. His office is at the rear of the landing and simply says his name on the door. No corporate logo. No sign that there’s an outer office. Not even a reception desk. Odd.
It feels strange to be able to knock on his door with no precursor or announcement of my presence. Every place in Manhattan has security and executive assistants ready to pounce. I’m surprised Beau doesn’t demand more of his company.
When I knock, I hear, “One moment.” It’s him. Not an assistant, unless his assistant sounds just like him. But that baritone voice is hard to mimic.
The door opens, and it’s him. With his shirtsleeves rolled up and his thick forearms exposed when he shakes my hand. His expression is strained and his words are clipped. “Nice to see you again, Elsie. Come in.”
“Did I interrupt something?”
“No, not at all. I forgot my assistant is away for the day. Shelly usually has her office door open to catch my visitors before they get to my door. On that note, coffee? Tea? Water?”
Something stiffer, if you have it .I’m fine, thank you.”
He walks to the desk chair and gestures for me to sit across from him. As I take my seat, I notice the surroundings. Dark. Everything is dark. From the desk to the chairs to the bookshelves. It’s a stark contrast from the bright, sunny seaside town. The only thing that hints at the office’s location is the window. Somerset Harbor glitters in the afternoon sunlight, sparkling and deep blue, as sailboats drift by.
I hope he appreciates that view.
Beau begins, “I agreed to this meeting because of the longstanding relationship between my father and Walter Klein. According to my father, he has earned a second chance. So, in keeping with that spirit, wow me.”
I almost laugh at his arrogance.Wow me? Who talks like that in real life?Clearly, he is not thrilled about having me on the project, and this is going to be an uphill battle. I keep the sighing to a minimum.
The truth is, I’ve faced a lot of uphill battles in my life. Beau MacMillan is just another in a long line of men who think the worst of me. So far, I’ve proven them all wrong. He won’t be the one to ruin that track record.
I force a serene smile onto my face. “We didn’t have a chance to discuss your ideas at our last meeting, Beau.”
“You saw the drawings.”
“Yes, and they showed me what you don’t like. Not what youdolike. When I work with someone, I like to take their ideas and run with them. So—
“Is that what you were doing for Apple?”
I cannot imagine Walter told him what I was doing before I was assigned to him. “You did your homework on me?”
“I hire only the best, and my lawyers are exceptionally thorough. They discovered you were pulled from the Apple account to work with me, which, admittedly, is a feather in your cap. If a company as notoriously picky as Apple is happy with you, then there’s a slim chance you might be sufficient.”
I let a small laugh escape. I can’t help it. Politeness and client ass-kissing be damned. That comment was a cheap shot, and we both know it. “Beau, I am well aware you’re not happy about this situation. I am also aware of the fact that if your lawyers are skilled enough to find out about what my job has entailed, then they have also discovered the fact I am an award-winning professional at the top of her field. While I understand I am not who you had in mind, it is unnecessary to call mesufficient. I am more than enough for this project.”
He sits back with a hint of bemusement on his face. “Prove it.”
Arrogant asshole.
So, I sit back, too. “Tell me why you went to Hamilton and Sons first.”
An eyebrow arches my direction. “They have an outstanding reputation.”
“They do. If you want boring, which you clearly do not want. So, why did you go to them?”
“I want the best.”
“That’s not why you went to them. You would have come to Klein first, if that’s what you wanted.”
He exhales, annoyed. “A friend recommended them to me. What does it matter?”
“The mere fact you came to Klein and Associates does not mean you want something as innovative and cutting edge as we can give you. You may be looking for traditional, while I might have shown you something too modern. Going from Hamilton and Sons to us may be a bit of a culture shock, and I needed to know your reasoning for going to them before I present my work. It’s easier to give my client what he wants when I know what he’s looking for, and I don’t believe in wasting my time or yours, Beau.”
His shoulders relax and the annoyance in his eyes fades to nothing. “Glad to hear it. I presume you’ve brought examples with you, since you didn’t email anything.”
“Innovative or traditional?”
