Chapter 8 #2
Gregory rises from his chair abruptly, thrusting it back against the wall with a bang that echoes in the room and startles me into silence.
He storms towards the window and jams his hands into his trouser pockets.
His back is strong, his calves pushed back, his hips flexed forward.
He exudes authority beyond his thirty years.
‘The business is worth more as a going concern and everything I’ve told you in the last two hours shows you that, if you didn’t know already.
Forgetting Lawrence and Mr Pearson for a moment, it doesn’t make commercial sense for you to pay more than the company’s worth to buy it and sell it off in pieces.
The assets are individually worth nothing by comparison to the trading company. ’
Gregory faces me, the sinews of his neck taut. I want to leap for him and pull my fingers through his hair. I want to bite his angry lips and get lost in his touch.
‘I instruct you to be my lawyer, not my business advisor. When I need help making commercial decisions from a girl who thinks she can question me because she once read corporate law, I’ll let you know.’
‘I’m not trying to—’ I clear my throat and check my rising tone.
‘I’m not trying to tell you how to run a business, Gregory, but something’s off.
You seem to resent this company yet you’re desperate to take control of it.
You know the maths doesn’t add up. Basically, you want to throw money away.
I don’t know who Mr Pearson is but I can’t see why Lawrence would want you to go through with this.
’ I take a deep breath and try to control my charged emotions.
Somewhere in my head, the line between my job and legal sense is blurring with an irrational, personal need to protect this man and his wealth.
‘You’re right. I’m just your lawyer and if you tell me to make this deal happen, I guess I have to do that.
But something doesn’t feel right and I’d like to know what it is.
I need to know this deal is above board. ’
He takes a step towards me, everything about him purposeful, commanding.
‘Why are you really doing this, Gregory?’
He’s looking down on me, despite my high heels. ‘My motivation isn’t your concern.’
I try to stay focused, but when my words form, they’re heavy, husky even. ‘Why do I get the sense I could be putting my entire career on the line and you don’t have the decency to tell me what for?’
He takes another step towards me and his eyes burn into mine. He’s still but for the twitching muscle in his jaw. Seconds pass as we stand face to face, neither of us blinking.
‘Excuse me, I need to make a call.’ He strides out of the room, slamming the door behind him, leaving me feeling like he just left me alone in my bed, naked and vulnerable but wanting more.
Williams pulls his interlaced fingers through his tousled hair and audibly exhales. I daren’t look at him for fear my face might betray my facade. I stand in the same spot, unmoving, completely dumbfounded.
‘What just happened?’
Williams gestures for me to take a seat and tops up my coffee. ‘He wouldn’t let you do anything to jeopardise your job. Trust me, that’s just about the last thing he’d want.’
I need to clear my head. Here I was worried that I could fall for a client and ruin my career by losing him. Now, I’m more concerned that very same client could ruin my career if I stick around. Yet every bone in my body is telling me to trust him.
Gregory returns as I bring my coffee to my lips and I halt, my cup mid-air, waiting for the next onslaught of his temper.
He drops his phone into his inside pocket and slowly resumes his position at the table, leaning back in his seat, crossing one foot over his opposite thigh and watching me through narrowed eyes.
‘Scarlett, I wonder if you could help me with something tonight.’ His relaxed tone takes me by surprise.
The man is up and down like a bloody jack-in-the-box.
‘I have to attend a charity gala. It’s black tie, a bit of an extravagant affair, but there are some big business names that I have to be seen to speak with.
’ His expression suggests there are a million places he’d rather be going.
‘Someone had to pull out at the last minute and we could use another female to balance the table numbers. It’d be a good opportunity for you to make some contacts, I think. Would you come along?’
‘Oh. I – I actually have other plans,’ I say sheepishly.
He cocks his head to one side. ‘You do?’
‘Yes, I, erm, I’m, I…’ Holy shit, Gregory Ryans in black tie . As he seems to have the ability to do, he reduces my mind to a jumble of incoherent thoughts and my body into a sex-crazed frenzy of babbling nonsense. ‘It does sound like a good, erm, opportunity. Thank you all the same, but?—’
Damn my stunned synapses. I need to think up and articulate an excuse that will be easier than the truth: that it’s hard enough to maintain barriers when he’s being an absolute dick of a client but I’m defenceless against the thought of that body in a dinner suit.
And, frankly, I don’t want him to get his own way like he’s so clearly used to doing.
Hell , who am I kidding, the thought of him having his way with me is what’s got me wound as tight as a quartz watch.
‘But?’
‘Erm, I… I don’t think I’d have time to finish up here and get ready.’
‘I haven’t told you what time it starts.’
I straighten my back. ‘I’m sorry, Gregory, not this time. I could try to get a colleague to go with you, for the numbers, as you say. Maybe Amanda could go, I mean, since it’s a business opportunity and all?’
He leans forwards as if we’re the only people in the room.
‘I want you .’
My lungs empty. I look straight up through my lashes to see his determined face questioning me. I’m frozen, unable to speak. Through my silence, I submit to his demand.
He looks at his Omega watch with a knowing glint in his eye. ‘I’ll have Jackson pick you up at seven.’
Fuck.