Chapter Three #3
That was a very un-Ian like thing to do.
Anytime we had ever been out to eat, which wasn’t often since we both were short on cash at the time, he was picky about what he ordered.
He would ask the server lots of questions anytime we had gone out.
Everything from how fresh their produce was to what their health code rating was.
But most of the meals we shared at the time were cooked at his place by him.
I think he fed me dinner for an entire semester.
The man could make an amazing lasagna. I inadvertently smiled at the old memory.
“What are you smiling about?” he inquired.
I quickly put on my I-have-no-idea-what-you’re-talking-about face.
He would not be getting access to my thoughts, especially any which placed him in a fond light.
That was dangerous territory, and I needed to tread lightly there, or better yet, stay away completely.
Honestly, I thought I had. We needed to switch gears ASAP.
“So, tell me more about your first day at the office,” I said with a lot of evil glee in my voice.
His brows raised while he thought about what to say. I could see the wheels spinning in those dark eyes of his. “We’ll get there.”
I didn’t like him taking control of the conversation direction. Hmm . . . “Then what do you want to talk about?”
He acted as though he was reaching out to touch my hand, but he stopped short. That was a good thing, too, if he wanted to keep it. “Kelli, it’s been a long time. Tell me about you.”
“Didn’t you read my personnel file today?”
“Come on, Kelli.”
“Fine, what do you want to know?”
He knew he was getting on my nerves, and he seemed to take pleasure in it as he sat back and surveyed me. “Tell me about Vanderbilt.”
So, he had read my file. I wasn’t surprised. I was only surprised that he even cared. “I received my MBA at Vanderbilt around seven years ago.”
He held his hand out waiting for me to elaborate. “And . . .?”
Fine, he was getting my life story in a nutshell. “I graduated top of my class. I started working for Chandler Media during grad school. I’ve been the Regional Manager for three years until today.”
He flinched when I mentioned my job status, but that didn’t stop me from giving him the very watered-down history of my life after him.
“When I’m not working, I’m either with my sister and her family, volunteering, or belly dancing, among other activities.
Oh, and I have a cat named Charlie. Is that enough for you? ”
“How’s Amanda?”
I was taken aback that he remembered her name. It’s not like they’d ever met. “She’s perfect. She and Zane recently celebrated their fifteenth wedding anniversary, and they have two daughters. Courtney’s ten and Samantha’s seven.”
“I thought you didn’t like cats.”
“Yeah, well, turns out I do.” I didn’t really, except for Charlie.
My sister bought him for me on my thirtieth birthday.
She said she would be buying me a new one every five years unless I got married.
She was setting me up to be a spinster cat lady.
At first, I told her to take him back, but he was so dang cute, I couldn’t help but love him. I warned her though, no more.
“Husband? Kids?” Now he was teasing me.
“Really? Don’t you think that would be the first thing I would have mentioned?”
That made him smile. What was up with him? He wasn’t usually this emotive.
I folded my arms. “Are we done now?”
“Don’t you want to know about me?”
“What more do I need to know?”
He leaned forward. “You’re not curious at all about your new boss?”
“You’re not my boss.” Not to say I wasn’t a little curious, but heck, I could google him. And believe me, I would.
“I forgot. I’m getting ahead of myself.”
“Way,” I responded.
“So, what’s it going to take to win you back?”
My forehead scrunched. That was a very odd way of putting it.
He turned a tinge of red. “What can I do so you’ll rescind your resignation?” he corrected himself.
“Quit,” I said, with hope. Like a lot of hope. Like betting my last dollar kind.
His countenance dropped. “You can take that off the table.”
“A girl can try.”
“Kelli,” his hand inched forward across the table. “I don’t know if you remember or not, but we used to work well together. And I think if you gave this a chance, we could do great things for Chandler.”
Before I could respond, Jose brought our smothered burritos out to us. He greeted me with a kiss on the cheek after setting down our plates.
I figured I should be polite and make introductions. “Jose, this is the new Marketing Director for Chandler, Ian Greyson.” Those words tasted like one-hundred-year-old vinegar in my mouth. It was so bad it left an aftertaste.
Jose patted my cheeks, his eyes said how sorry he was.
Ian held out his hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”
Jose reluctantly held out his hand to shake Ian’s. He was polite but quick about it, only mumbling a hello. Jose turned his attention quickly back to me. “You can’t leave without dancing with me tonight, Bonita.”
Now that was something to smile about. Jose and Alicia had been teaching me how to salsa. It was almost as fun as belly dancing. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”
“So, you salsa, too?” Ian asked after Jose left.
“On occasion.”
“I see you still enjoy life and learning new things.”
“Yes, I do.”
“Can you please try this?” he practically begged, which was so unlike him.
I tossed my head from side to side. “Ian, why are you here?”
He responded by taking a large bite of food and chewing very slowly.
He didn’t verbally communicate, but his eyes were talking.
They said he was in no hurry to answer me.
Fine. I was starving, and the food smelled way too good to let it sit untouched any longer.
Besides, I couldn’t stand looking into those warm chocolate eyes; it brought back too many memories.
Like lazy Sunday afternoons watching old movies in his arms. Stop, I told myself. It was a long time ago.
We ate in silence for several minutes, but there was this electric current that zinged between us.
It was always present whenever we were together.
I wished there was a way to pull the plug on it.
I thought for sure after all this time it would have fizzled.
But it was as if my heartbeat had found its rhythm again.
No. No. Ian and I were never going to be in sync again.
“The food is excellent,” he interrupted the silence.
I set my fork on my plate. “Tell me something I don’t know. Like why you’re here?”
He thought for a moment. “I’m here to find . . . success.”
“Because selling your own company for millions wasn’t enough?”
He took a deep breath and exhaled loudly. “Kelli, the digital ad software you’ve helped develop is a very unique concept, and I believe, with the right feature enhancements and marketing, it could put Chandler Media on the map as the leader in digital marketing software.”
“I still don’t get it,” I said exasperated. “You could have just started something on your own again.”
“I like a challenge, and I have a feeling this will be my greatest challenge yet.”
The way he said that and looked at me, I couldn’t tell if he was only talking about my product. Okay, it wasn’t only mine. It was my idea, but it was Matt, our software developer, who made it into reality. I was just the architect and the one who made it look pretty after Matt worked his magic.
“Fine, then why didn’t you tell Gary you knew me?”
He wiped his mouth with his napkin before placing it back on his lap. “Why does that matter to you?”
Oh, the nerve of him. I grabbed my bag, retrieved some cash, and threw it on the table. It would more than cover my half of the meal. “Good night, Ian.”
His eyes widened before he jumped up. He hesitated, then gently reached for my arm. “Please don’t go.”
I stood stunned for a moment. His touch felt right, but that was wrong.
“Why does it matter to you?” I threw back at him.
What was wrong with me? I wasn’t usually this snotty.
He was bringing out the worst in me. He didn’t used to.
In fact, he used to bring out the best in me, but in my defense, I cried for months over him once upon a time, and now he stole my job.
He gazed down at me. I had forgotten how tall he was, or how short I was. I had also forgotten how much I loved the way his eyes darkened the closer I got to them, and how good he smelled.
“I’m sorry. Please sit down.” His thumb glided over my skin. I don’t think he meant to do that by the way he quickly let go of me and backed off. Oh, how I wish he hadn’t. I felt too good.
He waited for me to sit down before he did the same. He picked up my money and handed it back to me. “I insist on paying for dinner.”
“I can’t let you do that.”
“Why do you have to be so obstinate?”
“I don’t need your charity,” I was back to being snarky. “I may not be a multi-millionaire, but I’ve done well for myself, and I’ll be fine without this job.”
He rubbed his neck with his free hand. “Kelli, this isn’t charity. I know you’ve done well for yourself. Look at it like two old friends catching up.”
“Ian, if that’s the case, you’re the worst friend I’ve ever had.” There was no malice in my words, only the truth. He was the worst because he used to be the best and his leaving took a piece of my soul.
He lowered his eyes. “I suppose I deserve that.” He took several deep breaths before he sat up taller, all business-like.
“Kelli, professionally speaking, today is going down as one of the most unpleasant of my career. I apologize for not being as forthcoming as I should have been with Gary. I didn’t realize the personal and professional relationship that existed between the two of you.
Let’s just say he wasn’t very impressed when I told him how I knew you and that I hadn’t disclosed it. ”
I pressed my lips together trying not to smile, but I failed, maybe on purpose.
“Honestly, I think if there wasn’t an iron clad contract in place, he may have fired me today. I’ve never seen anyone so upset about losing an employee, and then there was the executive secretary.”
“I think the word you’re looking for is admin assistant, or you could just call her Delfia. She hates to be called a secretary.”
“Thanks for the heads up, but she already detests me.”
Yep, I smiled big at that.
“I’m sure you’re going to assume that I only want you to come back to make my life easier, but honestly Kelli, I would be a fool to let such a talented employee go.
I know what you bring to the table. I’ve been very impressed.
So name your terms.” After his groveling, or as close as he ever came to groveling, he sat back against the booth, crossed his arms, and dared me with his eyes to come back to Chandler.
As I thought about what to say and do, Jose came back and brought our check. He handed it to Ian. I pushed my money back over to him.
“I won’t take your money, Kelli.”
I reluctantly took it back.
“Are you ready to dance?” Jose asked.
I grabbed my bag and scooted out of the booth. “Yes.” I took Jose’s arm before turning toward Ian. “Thank you for dinner.”
“Kelli, please come back?”
I swallowed hard. “I need the weekend to think about it.”
Ian nodded. “I understand, but I hope you’ll change your mind.”