Chapter 3 #2
“Listen, I already had to deal with another company this morning, and I’m not really in the mood. In case you’re wondering, we’re not interested in selling.”
Fuck.
I didn’t need to be told who she’d spoken with. Reginald already told me Fitzgerald was a week ahead of us in reaching out.
“I’m not some country idiot who doesn’t realize someone wants something that’s not theirs.”
“I didn’t say you were an idiot.”
I really shouldn’t be engaging this woman in anything other than the business matter at hand, but somehow, she drew me in.
“Neither did the other guy, but I could tell he thought it.”
That wouldn’t actually surprise me. Fitzgerald, like Reginald, had very little use for anyone not born and bred in a city, the larger the better.
Some woman working at a small-town bed and breakfast would be seen exactly as she described.
On the other hand, I’d spent too many of my formative years learning at my father’s side and listening to his wisdom.
Don’t underestimate people, Clayton. Especially when it comes to family and love and their sense of belonging.
If I had to guess, this woman had some sort of ties to the community, and hence the family who ran the properties I wanted to get my hands on. Treading nicely was probably the way to go.
If I could get my head on straight and ignore the way her voice sent my blood rushing to my dick.
“Rhys Henley, please.” I hissed into the phone, annoyed with her for her attitude and myself for my reaction and how far this call had gone off the rails. “My time is valuable. I don’t have all day to waste trying to get in touch with him.”
“Like mine isn’t?” she bit out the words.
“You think because you’re rich or something, you’re the only one with sh—I mean stuff to take care of, whose time is important?
” I could almost see her fury suddenly replaced by a smile curving her lips.
After a sigh, she added, “Though, I guess I could take a message.”
Alarm bells began clanging in my brain, but apparently the entire organ had shut down at the first sound of this woman’s voice because I did not heed them for the warning they were.
“Fine.” The sooner I ended this disastrous and worthless phone call, the better for my sanity and libido.
“As I mentioned, my name is Clayton Mont—”
“Yup, Montgomery, from Conti-Montgomery, you already said that. We must be really special to get family attention.”
Little did she know how important this deal was to me and my family, and I didn’t include dear old stepfather in that discourse. The only reason I was on this call, why he had me over a fucking barrel, was because of my family.
My legacy.
I had no intention of discussing the family dynamics, so I continued as if she hadn’t spoken. “I’d like to talk with him about his inquiry to us.” I rattled off my phone number before adding, “Do you think you can handle that?”
“I’m female, Clayton Montgomery. I can handle anything,” she claimed, with a teasing lilt in her voice, before disconnecting the call yet again.
I breathed a sigh of relief the moment the call ended. It was either my longer than normal dry spell or simply her husky voice and unbelievable aplomb, but without even laying eyes on her, the woman turned me on.
With a roll of my eyes, I made a mental note to inform Rhys of her attitude and suggest he fire her if they actually wanted to do whatever it is they were hoping to do.
Maybe I could hire her. My day would be a hell of a lot more interesting.
Absolutely not.
I opened a new browser, thinking a search may reveal the employees, before quickly closing out. That was not a good plan at all.
My phone buzzed, and I swiped without looking at the screen. “Clayton Montgomery.”
“Hello.” The same dirty-image, hard-on inducing voice floated through the line once again. “This is Reese Henley.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?”
“Nope.” I heard laughter, teasing, and sheer goddamn enjoyment at having gotten one over on me in her voice. “‘Least that’s what it says on my license.”
This was the last predicament I wanted to find myself in, given my body’s reaction to her. Of course, she didn’t know that, so maybe I was safe.
Forewarned is forearmed, and I was now warned.
Taking a deep breath, I pulled on the persona the business world knew.
The one that oversaw hundreds of properties and builds worldwide.
The one that with this deal would finally run part of my birthright.
The one that had disappeared moments ago at the sound of her voice, so turned on I barely kept the call professional.
You didn’t, dumbass.
But I would now.
“Well, Reese Henley, it appears as if we got off on the wrong foot.”
“‘Cause you acted all high and mighty.”
“You called me a child.”
“I absolutely did not use those words.” Once again, I heard the amusement in her voice. “You, however, did call me unprofessional.”
What was it about this woman? This tit for tat exchange was unexpected, but different and exhilarating.
Let’s not think about tits right now. I expected some sort of deference, not because I was a man, but because of my last name.
This woman didn’t seem to give a shit about any of that.
I was used to the competition folding quickly.
It appeared as if Reese Henley was not of that ilk, and didn’t that make this whole situation a little bit more intriguing?
“That’s because you hung up on me,” I complained. Who even was I right now?
I could envision her shoulders shrugging. “Because you deserved it and because I know what you’re after.”
Oh, she had no idea. At this moment, I wasn’t sure I knew either. What I did know is that if she could read my mind, she’d definitely hang up on me again.
Focus, Clayton. You have business to see to.
Except that was getting exceedingly difficult.
“Ms. Henley, you have no idea what I’m after, and need I remind you that you are the one who called us.”
“Not true. My oh-so-helpful cousin called.” She huffed. “And she didn’t say a word to me until after.”
This was by far the most bizarre business call I’d ever been on.
Yet, oddly enough, I didn’t mind one bit.
“Be that as it may, Ms. Henley, someone made the inquiry, and I’m responding. I think we could have a mutually beneficial arrangement.”
“So what, you’re willing to help us expand? You want to do business with us, not buy us out, right? Because the buyout part’s not happening.” She stopped, but then added on as if she'd forgotten a grievance, “Also, you automatically thought you’d be dealing with a man.”
“To start, I don’t know what exactly you want.
All the transcript of the call said was you’re looking to expand.
I need a hell of a lot more information than that to know if I can help.
” I could help by giving them a lot of money to sell their property.
“Second, all I got was a name. R-H-Y-S Henley.” I knew she was going to say something, so I continued, “And yes, I did assume that was a man’s name.
Sue me.” Then, because the devil in me took over, I dropped my voice and added, “Now, I can safely say, I have no doubt you’re all woman. ”
She sucked in a breath, and I knew she hadn’t been expecting anything like that. I hadn’t been expecting to utter the words either, but she’d set me on edge, and making her feel the same felt oddly satisfying.
“Well, Clayton Montgomery, it’s been, um, something talking with you. I’d say don’t forget me, but I doubt you’ll ever have another call like this one. I’m sort of memorable like that.”
“Oh, Reese Henley, if you think you’re getting rid of me that easily, you have another think coming.” A grin formed at the thought of talking with her again. “I’ll be in touch.”
“I won’t be waiting,” she huffed into the phone, clearly done with me.
The call disconnected, leaving me shell shocked. “What the hell had just happened,” I muttered to my empty office.
Unable to resist, I typed in the name of the bed and breakfast. “Fuck,” I muttered into the stillness of my office.
It was a bad move, because one Reese Henley took center stage on their social media accounts.
She was stunning, even in clearly amateur photos.
Blonde and petite, the energy within her practically radiated off the screen.
I swiped the app closed, not needing to see her to be distracted.
Swiveling in my chair, I faced the bright sky when a realization broke over me. We’d discussed no business, no plans, no proposals. I knew as much now as I had before the call.
Except that wasn’t entirely true. I knew talking with Reese Henley was like verbally sparring with an alligator, and I didn’t hate it. Quite the opposite, in fact. I knew she was gorgeous and my cock hardened in response to her.
This business deal just became a lot more interesting.
“Clayton.” Grandmother called my name as she strolled into my office like she owned it. At one point she did until Mother had screwed us all over. “Tell me you didn’t agree to Reginald’s offer.”
I looked at my brother, Lachlain, who trailed after her, confident the information had come from him, though I had no idea how he knew.
I’d played our brief negotiations close to the chest precisely for this reason.
Grandmother would never be on the side of taking from a family when other options existed.
Her son-in-law, my father, was the same way.
Unfortunately, in this instance, there were no other options. At least not for me to get what I wanted.
I glared at my brother. “How the hell did you even find out?”
Lachlain took a seat in a chair in front of my desk, Grandmother taking the one next to him. He grinned and winked my direction. “Claudia.”