Chapter 16
Jade
I ’m excited and nervous as I prepare the documents I need for this morning's meeting when a knock at my door startles me. “Come in.” My stomach flips at the man standing in my doorway. “Good morning, Hunter,” I say a little too cheerily, making me inwardly cringe.
“Morning.” He smiles at me; that dimple that has me weak pops and of course, my handsome billionaire boss wears glasses. I swallow the lump that has formed in my throat. I curse myself for my stupid weakness of men in suits and glasses, knowing the butterflies in my stomach aren’t because of the meeting. He’s the perfect specimen, all alpha and dominant, and right now, I need to wipe away the dirty thoughts running through my head.
“Ready?” he asks.
“Yes, I’m ready.” I try my best to sound professional when inside my head’s a chaotic mess. Seriously, does he do this shit on purpose? He must know what he’s doing standing there looking like that.
He nods. “I’ve got Mr. Baker set up in the conference room.” Putting his hands in his suit pockets as he pushes away from the doorframe, he gives me an appraising look as I stand, and walk around my desk. I don’t miss the way his throat bobs slightly, and I mentally high five myself for my choice of outfit this morning.
Two can play this game, Mr. Stone .
He quickly rights himself, turning on his heel. I follow him. God, I hope I can block him out during this meeting because, honestly, he still has me tied up in knots. I know he’s off limits, but when he looks at me the way he did just then, even that quick glance, sets a fire inside me which I have to stomp out because this has to be professional. I have to remind myself of that because Hunter Stone may have set me on fire, but I can’t let him burn me and turn everything I’ve worked so hard for to ash.
We spend the next hour and a half in the meeting with Mr. Baker. Hunter did as he said and let me lead, only jumping in at a few points when I asked his opinion and I appreciated it. “I can’t believe he signed?” I’m pacing round my office, my hands on my hips as Hunter just takes me in. His arms crossed, leaning against the doorframe. Again, with the damn doorframe.
“Believe it, because you’ve now got a lot of work to do. Think you can handle a portfolio of this size?” he asks, quirking his eyebrow.
“Definitely. I can’t wait.” I’m now grinning from ear to ear. “Thank you so much for trusting me and my proposal enough. You’ve no idea what this means to me.”
“I know it means if you make the returns you’re promising, Mr. Baker, there will be a big bonus coming your way.” Uncrossing his arms, he stalks over to me. “But I also don’t need you to thank me for giving you the chance. Your proposal was outstanding. I wouldn’t have let you lead if I didn’t think you could do it.” He hasn’t dropped his eyes once, goosebumps prickle my skin as he pins me with his intense stare. “You had him eating out of the palm of your hand within the first five minutes. You seem to have that effect on people.” Now standing directly in front of me, I have to stop myself from reaching out to touch him. I can’t bring myself to look into his eyes, knowing that if I do, I’ll do something I’ll regret. Instead, I clear my throat and retreat to my desk.
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
He also seems to realize he was about to do something unprofessional and turns to walk toward the door. He grasps the handle and looks over his shoulder. “Oh, it was definitely a compliment.” Turning the handle with his eyes still pinned on me, his voice strong and commanding. “See you later, Tink.”
Tink. He called me Tink. What the fuck does that mean?
The rest of my first week goes by in a flash, and I’m glad when Friday evening comes around, so I can just relax in front of some thriller on Netflix and a large glass of Pinot. I’ve just gotten myself settled when Trixie and Lily appear, collapsing on either side of me and helping themselves to my snacks. “Hey. Get your own.”
“Oh, someone's tired,” Trixie declares while throwing a candy in her mouth.
“It’s been a long week.” I sigh.
“You’re enjoying it though? That fit boss of yours is not causing you any trouble?” She wiggles her eyebrows. She reaches for another sweet, but my glare has her grabbing some popcorn instead.
“I’m really enjoying it. Seriously, it’s a dream. I feel like I’m where I’m meant to be, you know? And no, I haven’t seen him since Tuesday morning.”
“Oh, so that’s why you’ve had that face on you every evening this week?” Lily pipes up, her pointer finger circling my face.
“What face?” I bat her finger away.
“The face of someone who isn’t getting any,” Trixie chimes in.
“I think that’s all of us right now, ladies.”
“Speak for yourself,” Trixie whispers.
Did something finally happen between her and Beck? They were both acting weird at the bar the other night, and I never questioned her about it.
“Spill.” I pause the TV. “Don’t leave anything out. Go.”
“So his name is Ezra.”