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But for now, business is business, and I’ve got millions riding on this project – of my own and millions in investor money. I will demolish this eyesore of an inn that has seen much better days and put up a multi-building office complex in its place.
“You’re awfully fiery for someone in your position,” I snark.
“You mean a position of power?” she gloats.
“It’s powerful, all right,” I reply. “But not in the way that you think. I mean, I would think being immobilized and naked would make you a little submissive, a little humble. Technically, your fate is in my hands.”
“Back at you,” she replies defiantly. “You arenottearing down this inn. So, I guess I have a little say in your world.”
“I have a question,” I begin. “It’s random, but it’s killing me. Where are you hiding the key to those handcuffs?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” she sasses back.
I shrug.
“Yeah, actually I would,” I laugh.
My contractor’s sense of humor has worn off.
“Can we get on with this?” he asks. “I have money to make.”
“One second, Rory,” I reply coolly.
I held up my hand to signal him to chill. I can feel the crew's attention as I casually stroll to my vintage Porsche. It just so happens that I have handcuff keys in my glove box, clean sweats, and a T-shirt for our little Miss October.
She knows exactly what the clothes are for when I walk them back to the scene.
“I am not putting those on,” she says before I can offer them.
Our gazes fuse. For all her bravado, there is an undeniable veil of uncertainty in her eye. She’s taking a gamble, and she knows it. Her vulnerability comes from within, not from the fact that she is naked, and it touches me, though I do my best to mask that.
“You are,” I say firmly. “And in return, I am not destroying this building today. You just bought yourself twenty-four hoursifyou cooperate.”
“We’re not?” Rory asks with fatigue. “She has?”
In addition to too many cocktails in Huntington Beach the night before, the stress of working for me was showing on his face.
My philosophy is that if I am going to put in the long hours and take calls morning, noon, and night, I put fitness first. I may go to drinks with a client, but I never imbibe. I don’t eat sugar or white carbs. I do eat beef, but only if it’s grass-fed. I go to local restaurants for the ocean views and company of the person I am dining with, not for the rich food.
I also do my best to get eight solid hours of sleep per night and an hour of challenging exercise first thing in the morning. My stress level is always reasonably manageable due to these pre-emptive actions.
Poor Rory apparently has different personal rules. He is bloated and red-faced, and the little activist, hot as she is, has gotten on his last nerve.
“No,” I say. “We’re not. You can reroute, Rory. Take a day or hit another project. But there is no tearing down the historic Calypso Inn today. Our activist and I are going to be having a talk.”
“We are not,” she replies defiantly.
“Well then, guys, start your engines,” I say coolly.
“Yeah, right, you’re really going to knock it down with me chained to it,” she says.
I laugh. I love a challenge. It’s usually business. This little beauty is kind of a fun change of pace.
“Now you’re just being adorable,” I say, flashing a full smile.
Rory paused because I had now confused him.
“No, go ahead and go,” I say. “But if she doesn’t start talking, we’re doing this tomorrow no matter what.”
