Chapter 7 #3
"Okay, well, my senior designer, Kelly, keeps me updated. Von has been conferring with her for day-to-day items. If you're here for a while, that's who your main contact will be." I waved my hand dismissively. "But I'm sure you know that. I'll pop in intermittently until the final couple of weeks—"
"That is unacceptable."
My mouth hung open mid-speech.
His eyes dropped over my form again before he once again pierced me with his haunting stare.
"I selected your company specifically because I admired your style and vision.
I also took great care in viewing your portfolio.
Alongside the work you have done running your own company, your previous portfolios over the years impressed me greatly.
I understand you transformed that resort in Whistler into five-star luxury. "
My face reddened at the compliment. "It was a group effort," I murmured.
"She is modest too," I thought I heard him respond.
"Need I remind you that this is a multimillion-dollar project, the largest you have ever worked on?"
"Well, yes, that's right. But—"
"I chose Spaces by Alice, not Spaces by Your Senior Designers. As experienced as they may be, they are not you."
I bristled, even though my cheeks stayed heated at his words of praise. "I assure you that my staff are fully qualified and have been supervising this project with zero issues. I also check in with them regularly—"
"I do not care. I am here now, and I want you."
My belly quivered at his words, even though I knew he didn't mean it that way.
Breathless, I replied, "Yes, well, I have a few projects that I oversee, so it won't be—"
"Miss Harper." His rough inflection of my name had me pausing.
"Mrs. Harper," I coolly corrected. Then a stab of guilt hit me when I realized that while I was drooling over Mr. Angelou, my sweet husband was probably unloading our breakfast dishes from the dishwasher.
Mr. Angelou's mouth tightened, and I could've sworn his eyes bled dark again before his blue hue reemerged. The dark lighting in here must be playing tricks on me.
"Alice."
The way his accented voice vibrated through me had my heart racing. But what was more alarming was that my name sounded familiar on his tongue, and it momentarily distracted me from the fact that he intentionally bypassed my married title.
"I expect your full attention and devotion to this project," he continued. "Otherwise, I will not hesitate to pass along how…uncooperative you are on such a simple request."
My eyes narrowed at his threat, and I fought to temper my raging emotions. If he had been any other client, I would've pulled up the contract he and Von meticulously signed and highlighted each term and condition that they both signed off on.
Of course, I knew doing that would be pointless.
As much as it pained me, he was right. This was a massive project, one that could lead to more.
Acheron Angelou had money to burn and the right connections to get shit done.
Even if I argued over every clause in our contract, it would prove fruitless.
One bad word from him could tarnish everything I’d worked hard for.
We were at the tail end of this, anyway, so I just had to suck it up and make it work.
"Fine," I conceded through gritted teeth. “I have to move some things around, so it'll take a few days."
He observed me carefully, his knowing gaze missing nothing. Was that a twitch of his mouth? The rich bastard probably found it amusing to play god with the little people. I regretted ever drooling over him.
Finally, he inclined his head. "Of course. I am not completely unreasonable."
Lord, give me patience. My nose flared again as I inhaled shallow breaths to calm down, but then that delicious scent invaded my senses once more, and I almost closed my eyes in bliss.
"Was there anything else you wanted from me, Mr. Angelou?" I sounded breathless and hypnotized, even to my own ears.
His pupils dilated, bleeding dark again. He really did have the most hypnotic eyes. I had never seen eyes that captivated me so thoroughly that I couldn't drag my gaze away.
Except in my dreams.
An invisible pulley had me stepping forward, my eyes boring into his.
Just as quickly, his eyes returned to their typical setting.
Back to that mesmerizing icy blue. I frowned, sure that I was seeing things.
I glanced up at the high ceilings, taking note of the intricate, subtle lights sunken into them.
Contrasting with the tint of the floor-to-ceiling windows, it was plausible that they were altering the shadows.
A brush of skin stroked against my hand, and I jerked my gaze to his, alarmed. But Acheron Angelou was still standing in the same spot; his stare remained concentrated on me. I rubbed at the tingling space on my hand. Did he touch me? I was so sure I'd felt something. But, no. That would be weird.
"Is there anything else I want from you, Alice?" he repeated.
"Yes," I croaked, "before I head out." I now had to spend my evening rearranging my schedule instead of relaxing with my husband as I'd envisioned.
Mr. Angelou's mouth quirked. "There is nothing further I want from you tonight. However, there are things I need from you." He paused. "But they can wait."
My brows pulled down at that cryptic comment. "Uh. Right. Well, if that's all, I'll be off then."
My feet were already moving backward toward the door. I had to get out of here. Everything was fucking with me—Acheron Angelou, that maddening scent—my equilibrium was off-kilter.
His full mouth tensed as his eyes tracked my movements. "Farewell, Alice. Until we meet again."
Silently, I turned on legs that weren't quite steady, hurrying to exit the penthouse. His words rang like an ominous threat in my ears.
It was then that I realized the scent—that maddening, pleasure-inducing scent that played havoc with my pheromones—it was coming from him.