AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“He’s lying. Their water is bloody cold, and what he calls waves are the washing machine from hell. They have these weird-as-shit things called blue bottles that wrap themselves around you, stinging you worse than anything you have felt in your life. Plus, there are sharks in the water! At least Rem was in a cage.” Flynn taps his card on the machine to pay the waitress for the beers she places in front of us.
“You’re such a drama queen. How many times did you actually get in the water in Sydney in all the years you lived there?” I watch him squirm at having to admit he’s scared of the ocean.
“Enough to know it is a disaster waiting to happen. Give me a beautiful pool in a resort any day of the week. Plus, the bikini beauties scattered around said pools are like a candy shop with so much to choose from.” He spreads his arms out like he’s the king of the ladies.
“You have no class. Women aren’t there for you to ogle at,” Forrest says, giving his brother the same glare I often see between the two of them. They might look similar, but their personalities couldn’t be any further apart.
“I’m not twenty anymore. Don’t make me sound like a dirtbag. But you can’t tell me those women don’t enjoy the sexy flirting as much as I do. Like Rem said, you only live once, so I’m going to enjoy every opportunity that appears before me.” Grinning at us, we all know he is not short of playing the field. Nothing has changed since I met Flynn all those years ago. I’m not sure he will ever settle down with just one woman. I have my reasons to avoid commitment, but I’m not sure he has any, and I’m certainly not asking him. To each their own, I say.
Getting to the bottom of this last beer, I know it’s time for me to head home. It’s taken the edge off the frustration enough that I can go and get a bit more work done before bed, and then tomorrow will be another day.
“I’m off. See you all in the office in the morning. Flynn, don’t forget the meeting with Gwenda Francis about the new branding concepts they have come up with. In my office instead of the boardroom. Don’t want Jocelyn getting wind of anything until I’m ready to reveal the final specs.” Standing with my hand on his shoulder, he gives me a nod.
We might rib each other when we’re together, but when it comes to work, the four of us are a tight unit and friends I couldn’t do this without. They have my back and are pivotal in the success of the Darby Hotel chain. It might be my name on the door, but these guys are the driving force that are helping me bring it into the twenty-first century. With or without the board’s help.
* * *
Flynn is sitting across from me at my desk in my office, much to his disgust, fidgeting while waiting for Ms. Francis to turn up.
“Not a good look when she is late for the first meeting,” I groan at him. “I don’t have time for incompetence.”
“It’s only two minutes past three, give her a break. You know London traffic.” Flynn is far more laid back than me in these situations.
“Two minutes is twelve minutes late as far as I’m concerned,” I say, typing more notes in a file I was working on before Flynn arrived.
The knock on the door signals her arrival, and Lucy brings her in.
The door opening, Lucy steps in as I stand from behind my desk, buttoning my jacket and walking around to greet her. Flynn rises at the same time.
“Nic, your appointment is here. Ms. Francis has been called away for personal reasons, so she has sent her second-in-charge for the meeting.”
That pisses me off. Why didn’t she tell me on Friday she would be on leave? Ugh, she is filling in for the boss and can’t even be bothered getting here early to make a good impression.
Lucy steps to the side as she announces the substitute brand designer. “This is Victoria Packer of York and Webb Design and Marketing to see you.”
My back is already up, and I’m ready to give her the cold shoulder for making me wait, until I see that vibrant red hair, the tantalizing lips covered in red lipstick, which I always consider a power color, and dressed in a navy business suit. Her shoulders are back, ready to make her impression walking into my office.
Until the moment her eyes meet mine and the shock knocks every bit of confidence from her face and all I see is despair and panic.
“Well, well, well. We meet again, Tori.”
Flynn, standing beside me with his hands in his pockets, can’t help himself. “Oh, this is just perfect.” His snigger pisses me off. I’m trying to keep my own emotions in check, I don’t need him making it worse.
“Not sure perfect is the word I’d use,” Tori mutters under her breath.
Collecting herself, she steps toward me, hand forward. “Nice to see you, Mr. Darby, and we are sorry about the late change of plans. Ms. Francis sends her apologies and will be back in the office next week.” I’m still getting used to hearing people call me Mr. Darby now. I made a promise to my grandfather I would carry on his name and that of my father.
“Oh, we are playing that game, are we. Okay, yes, please come in, Ms. Packer, and take a seat.”
I point to the one next to Flynn’s, and she sits down on the edge of it, back ramrod straight and sliding her laptop and portfolio out of her bag.
There’s this determination radiating off her to show me she is not the woman I met on Friday. I’m going to look forward to this.
As she looks at me waiting for my cue to start, I leave the silence hanging that little bit longer while I take her in. While the messy argumentative Tori of Friday triggered all my senses, this power businesswoman has me intrigued and pushes buttons I didn’t know I had.
Fuck, I’m in trouble here.
“The floor is yours, Ms. Packer, time to unwrap your best pieces.” I know I’m being an asshole, but watching that slight flush on her cheeks, her legs pressing together that little bit tighter, gives me the rush of testosterone that I’ve been holding back.
