Chapter 4
For the next couple of days I staunchly avoided her. I’d seen her once or twice in the hallway as she made her way to and from her office.
But when I realized I was purposely lurking around in the hallway to catch a glimpse of her I forced myself to stop.
I’d spent the last few nights alone in bed thinking about her. I’d had to stop myself from digging into her personal life, but I was dying to know where she went when she left here at the end of the day.
Was there a man in her life? The thought filled me with dread and a jealous rage that was almost frightening in its intensity.
I didn’t want to ask Gavin because he’s been more of a pain in the ass than usual lately. He knew something was up but since I refused to tell him shit, he’s decided to make my life miserable.
She on the other hand seems to be actively avoiding me as well and if not for our weekly meeting that was coming up later I doubt I’d even see her.
She was here before me in the mornings but I noticed she left early ever day. Come to think of it, she always left for lunch as well, unlike the rest of the staff who usually ate in the cafeteria we had on site.
I was spending way too much time thinking about her but couldn’t seem to stop. She was beginning to interfere with my work, something I’ve never allowed before.
I’m usually very good at compartmentalizing my life. Keeping business and pleasure separate.
When I’m here I’m totally focused on the job, and when it’s time to play I can switch it off with no problem.
Now it seems that she pops into my damn head whenever the hell she wants to. Something else that was new to me, I found myself getting antsy the closer it got to the two of them showing up here.
They came through the door laughing at some shared joke and I felt my hackles rise. “Ooh look, the bear’s already growling and we haven’t even started. What’s eating you bro?”
I ignored him as my eyes swept over her. She’d lost the jacket to her suit and the sight of her ripe breasts pressed against the blouse she wore made me see red.
Is this how she dresses around him all day? “Where’s your jacket?” I was getting tired of the way she hides herself from me, always with her head down in my presence.
I’ve heard the whispers. I know she’s well liked among the staff, especially the men. So it was only with me that she was this reserved. It was starting to piss me the fuck off.
“I’m sorry?”
“Your jacket. That blouse is a bit revealing for the office don’t you think?” There was a twitch in my jaw and I was extremely pissed for no valid reason.
She looked down at the wrap blouse that was in no way revealing though it hugged her plump tits perfectly and made my mouth water.
The thought made me imagine what other men must think when they see her like this and my anger grew. She stood from her chair still with her head down refusing to even look at me.
“I’m sorry, I’ll go back to my office and grab it.”
“You left it in mine Gia.” She gave him a slight smile and it was obvious that my words had hurt her.
He waited until she was gone to rip into me. “Evan what the fuck bro?”
“Stay out of it.”
“No I wont stay out of it, that was totally uncalled for.”
“I said stay out of it, and didn’t I tell you not to call her that again?”
“Look, I don’t know what’s going on with you but I won’t let you treat her like you do everyone else. Since it was my idea to bring her here I feel responsible for her.”
“You’re not responsible for her.” Is he trying to make me kill him?
“I say I am. She picked up and moved here on my suggestion, of course she’s my responsibility.”
“No, she’s not, stay the fuck away from her.” He was as shocked at my outburst as I was and I looked away when he got that contemplative look on his face.
I could almost see the wheels turning in the little shit’s eyes just as she came back into the office with her jacket in place.
She was even more reserved during the meeting, hardly saying anything and letting Gavin take the lead.
“Are you an architect? I want to hear it from her, that’s what we hired her for isn’t it?” She lifted her head and looked at me for the first time and I almost burst out into laughter at the look of fire in her eyes.
That’s right little bird show me those claws. She started a recitation of all that they’d done so far, all but tearing the pages from the portfolio as she flipped through it, showing me the drafts.
“Is everything to your satisfaction Mr. Chandler sir?” Shit, I’ve really pissed her off.
“I’m not sure, you went through it all so swiftly I barely had time to keep up. Leave it here and I’ll go over it later.”
She barely restrained herself from tossing the folder in my face and I hid my grin behind a cough.
I like her spunk, and it didn’t hurt that I was already imagining what it was going to be like taming some of that fire she had.
I had no doubt that I’d have her beneath me sooner or later. Seeing as how she seems to hate my guts at the moment, it might take me a while. But there was no doubt that she was going to be mine.
Besides, I was tired of the easy conquest anyway. She didn’t seem to have any interest in me, or my money.
And the way she was glowering at me now said she’d just as soon scratch my eyes out as look at me. Let the games begin.
Gavin for once was keeping his trap shut as he looked back and forth between us. “Okay, if we’re done here, let’s go Gia…Vanna.” He tacked on the last when I started to get up from my seat.
I ignored his laughter as they left the room together, promising myself to beat the shit out of him later.
As I flipped through the portfolio she’d left behind I had to give them both their props. Him for recognizing her talent, and her for being so innovative. It was like watching a dream unfold on paper.
I’d only given them a rough idea of what I wanted, what I saw in my mind’s eye. But she’d turned it into something more. Gavin’s right, she’s one talented lady.
I took pride in her work for some fucked up reason that I chose not to look too closely at. There was a meeting coming up with the client in a few months and I was suddenly looking forward to making the trip with my little bird.
Let’s see how she avoids me then when we were alone in a foreign country together. Speaking of which. I picked up the phone and called Mary.
“Mary, have you already made the reservations for the trip to Switzerland?”
“Weeks ago yes. Everything on the ground has been taken care of.”
“What about our rooms?”
“She’s one floor down from you.”
“That won’t do, I think Gavin has the right idea. Since we’re going to have a lot of late nights that week, I think it makes more sense to have her closer.” That sounded plausible even to my own ears.
“See if there’s an adjoining room if not change hotels until you find something more suitable.” I hung up before she could question me and sat back with the wheels turning.
I felt no guilt at my plans to seduce her. Since she’s so good at avoiding me here I’m going to take her to ground there.
The thought helped to smooth out some of the rough edges in my gut that had shown up ever since she did.