8. Will
8
WILL
M oments before my scheduled 8 a.m. meeting, my clients called to reschedule. It frustrated me, but things like that happened from time to time. Ms. Reid was kind enough to indulge me when I told her they wanted to meet at 4 p.m. and I requested that she stay to join us. It was a huge deal for the company, and we'd worked so hard on the numbers over the past week or so. I felt like having her present, so the potential client could see how capable we were.
Now we sat across from Gerard Thomas at the table in my office as he looked over the report she'd put together. Allen, my COO and good friend, sat to my right and Ms. Reid sat to my left. We'd been in discussion with Mr. Thomas for months, and it finally came down to this meeting. All I needed was a one-year contract from him to show him what my firm could do for him and his investments, and I felt like we were moments away from sealing the deal.
"This is really well put together," Gerard said thoughtfully and he looked up at Elizabeth. "You are sure these numbers are correct?" His eyebrows rose as Elizabeth sat up straighter.
"I've done the extensive research myself along with my team. We've checked and double-checked. Our projections show that in twelve months, your numbers will increase by 30 percent. Stick with it long enough and you'll see more than double the increase. All you have to do is trust our team." She folded her hands over her knee and gazed at him intently. It was a power move I'd done myself before, and it was hot. She looked so confident, and I felt even more confident in her ability to deliver.
"I must say, William, I'm impressed." Gerard closed the folder containing the report and dropped it onto the table between us. Allen shifted in his seat and rested his chin on his fingers and I moved in for the kill.
"What do you say then? You've seen the numbers all spelled out for you. I'm not sure what more we can do to convince you that your money is in good hands with us. Ms. Reid put a lot of work into this, and I hope you can appreciate that we have the best in the business working together with us to make your money work for you."
Gerard looked at Elizabeth, then back to me. Then he glanced at Allen. "I think we have a deal, gentlemen. I am impressed." He stood up and reached out his hand and the three of us stood too. "I'll start with something small, and we'll see how it goes. If you can do for me what you say you can, this may be the beginning of a beautiful friendship."
I took his hand and shook it firmly and then he shook Allen's hand. When he turned to Elizabeth, she looked pleasantly surprised to take a firm handshake from him too. "And you, Ms. Reid, are a star. I want you personally on my team." He eyed me. "Let's make that happen."
"Already done," I told him proudly, and he nodded.
We exchanged pleasantries with a plan to meet first thing next Monday morning to go over the contracts and Allen showed him out. I was so thrilled I felt like celebrating. Every new client with a closed contract felt good, but one of this sheer magnitude felt incredible. I turned to Elizabeth and smiled.
"Would you like a glass of champagne to celebrate closing this deal?"
Her cheeks flushed a little and she shrugged. "I'm not sure. It's late…" She glanced at the time on my wall clock, and I waved her over to my desk.
"Come on. We just hooked a major client, and I think we should celebrate." I moved toward my desk drawer where I stashed the bottle and glasses earlier, though I figured at the time that it would be Allen with me while I toasted to the successful contract.
Elizabeth followed me hesitantly and I knew why. After I told her this morning that our moment near the subway was a mistake and we shouldn't have done that, she probably wondered if this was crossing the line. I wondered that myself as I uncorked the bottle and poured a few ounces in each flute. But there really was no harm in two coworkers sharing a celebratory drink.
"To us and our success," I said, lifting a glass and handing it to her. I raised my own up and she tapped the rim of her flute against mine and brought it to her lips, eyeing me over the rim.
This day had ended perfectly with that deal, and I felt like I could conquer the world. I was full of hope and confidence for our future, and I had Elizabeth Reid to thank for that.
"I think we owe this contract to you, Beth." The way I said her name made her cheeks grow pinker and her lips darkened to the color of fine wine.
"Uh, I'm not sure what to say." She hid behind her champagne flute and I found myself being attracted to her again, despite what I told her this morning.
It wasn't very often that a woman as charming and talented as her crossed my path, and I found myself feeling conflicted. I knew it was bad news to even think about getting involved with her, which was the decision I made last night after I masturbated to thoughts of her. I walked into this office with resolve to tell her it could never happen again, and I had. But now I regretted telling her that.
"My instincts about you were correct. You're an absolute rock star. Our clients love you." I sipped the champagne again and picked up the bottle, gesturing for her to follow. I led her over to my lounge area, a dark leather sofa and matching chair. She sat in the chair and I sat on the sofa. My eyes dropped to her legs as she crossed one over the other. The skirt she wore rode up a little, and I found myself wishing it would ride up higher.
"I was quite nervous to come to a meeting like this. You and Allen are just so important here and I'm just an analyst, so?—"
"That's ridiculous. We're nothing without our team, and both of us know that." I reached out and touched her knee softly—a gesture of encouragement, but it made my fingers tingle. I wanted to touch her more, in other places.
"Sir, I …"
"You're probably the best thing that's happened to this company, Beth. You shouldn't doubt yourself. I am really honored that you work for us, and proud to be your boss." Without thinking, I reached for the bottle of champagne and topped off her glass and mine. She looked a little flustered and kept licking her lips.
"I think…" Beth stood abruptly and set her glass down. "I think I should leave." I caught her hand, and she hovered as I slowly stood and swallowed the feeling of need building for her.
"Did I say something wrong?" My heart was hammering. I knew what I had told her this morning, that we had to forget about that kiss and that it was unprofessional and we shouldn't do it again, but just being around her for the past few hours in that meeting had changed my mind. My body felt magnetized to her. I was sucked into her gravitational pull and it was thrilling.
"No, I just feel confused and…" Her eyes dropped to my lips and she licked hers again.
"And you're thinking about that kiss we shared and what I said this morning?" I watched her eyes dart around my face and her face flushed darker again.
"It's just that…compliments coming from you mean something different to me." Her voice was so quiet it was like she was trying not to let anyone else hear her. But there was no one here but me and her. "I just…I can't get that kiss out of my head, and then this morning you said that. I know it's true. It's not a good idea, but how do I stop myself from thinking about you kissing me?"
I let go of her hand and cupped her cheek, brushing my thumb over her cheekbone. She didn't pull away, and the chemistry between us sizzled and popped in the air like a fire just waiting to ignite.
"I really affected you that much?" I gazed at her, searching her expression and she leaned into my touch.
"My sister would say I have daddy issues, but honestly yes." Her head dipped and I hooked my thumb under her chin and made her look up at me.
"And you want to kiss me again?" I asked softly. Beth nodded but her eyes turned away as if she were embarrassed.
"You're very handsome. You're very liberal with your compliments. You and I have things in common, and to be honest with you it doesn't hurt that you're powerful and wealthy—though I'd never shy away if you weren't." She worried her bottom lip between her teeth and I smiled.
"I'd never use any of my power, authority, or money to influence you to want me. And I would never want you to think that by kissing me or whatever else we may do together that you'd earn special treatment from me. I keep my business and personal lives separate." My God the attraction was so intense I was using every ounce of self-control not to just throw her on this couch and have my way with her.
"Of course…" she breathed, and her eyes dropped down to my lips again. "So do you want to kiss me again?" This time she was instigating, and I wasn't the type of man to let a woman down.
A brief flash of my angry daughter's face popped into my mind as I closed the gap between us for the second time and brushed my lips over hers. At anytime, Allen or a board member could walk back in asking about the deal. I was taking a huge risk, but all sense of propriety flew out the window when I was around her. It was a risk worth taking—at least my lustful desire thought so.