Chapter 27-Wrong Signal
" What did you say to him?" Cole asked as he turned to me.
" I didn't say anything to him, he was on about you not being a mean boss and would let me go for lunch with him," I said, biting my lips and looking like a kid who was being scolded.
" You're not going anywhere with him, no way," Cole said with finality in his voice.
" Let's focus, we're here for work, we can talk later," I said turning back to the speaker.
" There's nothing to talk about, you're not going anywhere with him, that's final," I heard Cole whisper but I didn't turn.
When the meeting was over I stood up from my seat following Cole as we both walked out of the room.
We were just about to walk out of the building when I heard the familiar voice of the Italian man calling me.
" Miss Anna," He said as he walked to Cole and me then walked with us out of the hotel.
" Did you forget we have a date?" He asked me with a smile and Cole's jaw ticked.
" Uhm Mr Rodriguez, I'm sorry but I came here for work and I have a lot of work to attend to," I said to him but he still tried his best to persuade me.
" It's just a friendly lunch, nothing more," He said.
" Friendly lunch or not, I don't think I can go, besides I have a boyfriend and I know he wouldn't like it if I was having lunch with a guy that wasn't him in another country, that would be very bad for my relationship, sorry for the disappointment Mr. Rodriguez," I said apologetically to him.
I turned to Cole who was waiting impatiently for me, although he was my boyfriend he still excused me to talk to Rodriguez as much as he didn't want to.
" Okay Miss Anna, I can't say I'm not disappointed, I thought you liked me," He said. I'm sure I must have given him the wrong signal. It was all my fault.
" I'm sorry Mr. Rodriguez," I said before turning from him and walking to Cole.
" Let's go," I said as he turned to Mr. Rodriguez waving at him with a smile before we both walked to our car.
" I think I just broke his heart," I said and Cole chuckled in satisfaction.
" He'll get over it, don't go around teasing men again, you're an irresistible woman and you think if you give just your little attention to a man he won't want more?" He asked.
" I've learned my lesson," I said as he started the car driving us home.
" What did you tell him?" Cole asked like he was not just an earshot from us. He wanted to hear it from me again.
" I told him I have a grumpy boyfriend that would go crazy if he saw me with another man, that's all,"
" Grumpy? I'm not grumpy,"
" Yeah tell me about it," I said with a chuckle.
*****
The conference continued with me seeing Mr. Rodriguez everywhere, he kept glancing at me and all I could do was give him a kind smile careful not to pass any wrong message to him.
And as luck would have it his attention got shifted from me to another woman I couldn't be more grateful.
It was finally time for us to return to Texas as the conference came to an end. I was packing my bags when Cole came into the room.
" I've got a dinner meeting with Jenny Kendrick before we leave tomorrow, do you wanna come?" He asked.
" Is she young?" I asked as I brought my already packed bag down the bed. He brought out his phone like he was searching for something then he showed me a picture.
" Okay I'm coming with you," I said and he chuckled.
We got dressed and then the driver drove us to the location for the dinner. Cole was dressed casually while I looked professional to fit my position.
" Mr. Leonard, I'm so happy to see you," The woman Cole showed me earlier said as she perked Cole's cheeks and I glared at her. Why do women always act like I'm not there when they're with Cole?
" Meet my secretary Anna Fredrick," Cole introduced, turning to me.
" Hi," I stretched my hand to her and she took it like I was stretching dirt to her and not a hand.
" Well nice to meet you, it's the first time Cole has brought someone with him to our meeting, we've been acquaintances for such a long time," She said with a hidden meaning I got quite well, but I wasn't phased by what she was trying to do.
" Let's have a seat ladies," Cole said and I was about to sit beside him but the lady got in my way and held onto Cole and then she sat beside him. I had no choice but to take the seat in front of him which we even better, I get to see his handsome face.
They started talking and I noticed how each time she diverted to anything that wasn't business related Cole would change the conversation back to business immediately.
" You should really visit our club when next you come to Italy, it has been a while and the boys miss you so much," Now she was changing the conversation again, talking about some club, but she still hadn't gotten the hint that all Cole wanted to talk to her about was business.
" Excuse me I'll be back shortly I have to use the restroom," I said as Cole turned to me and I got up making my way to the restroom.
" Excuse me please, where's the restroom?" I asked one of the waitresses and she gave me directions, I thanked her before going where she pointed.
I got into the restroom and looked at my reflection in the mirror as I reapplied my lipstick and reminded myself not to forget that right now I was here as Cole's secretary and not his girlfriend. I took deep breaths trying to calm myself.
Just as I stepped out of the restroom, my phone started ringing.
" Hey Bella," I said with a smile, but when I heard the voice that spoke and the news that followed, my heart stopped.