Eight
I’ve been living off of the high that Charlie Wheeler set me on all week.
Daniel makes his usual jabs at me about getting to work on time and about racing, but I’ve been able to let them bounce off of me a little easier than normal.
I don’t know how long it’s going to last, but I’m going to enjoy every minute of my new found confidence and do my best to cling to it for as long as I can.
Trina and I are just getting back from lunch, stepping into the reception area of Kramer Enterprises when the sight of Jackson Powell stops me in my tracks.
“Jackson?” I’m shocked to see him.
“Sawyer, hi.”
Jackson almost appears a little nervous. One hand is in his pocket and the other is fingering the sexy five-o’clock shadow on his face.
“Sawyer,” Kirsty, our receptionist, interrupts us. I can tell she’s irritated at him. “Mr. Powell insisted on waiting. He says he needs someone to design a campaign for one of his new businesses, and he won’t work with anyone but you.”
I’m struck dead.
What? Why would he do that?
I look to Trina although I don’t know what I’m expecting her to do. Maybe tell him that this isn’t the way to go about getting an appointment? Trina looks like she’s barely able to control the fit of laughter trying to escape her. I narrow my eyes at her.
Thanks for nothing.
“I tried to tell him he needs to make an appointment—”
“It’s okay, Kirsty. Mr. Powell, will you follow me please?”
I don’t even know what I’m saying. I should tell him to find someone else, a different firm even, but I can’t have anyone hear me turning business away.
Maybe this will be my chance to land a big account, proving to Daniel and his father that I have what it takes.
I escort Jackson into our conference room and shut the door behind us.
“What are you doing here?” I demand, my purse and lunch leftovers still in my hands.
“I need someone to help me brand my new company. I couldn’t think of anyone more capable.”
“How did you even know that I work here? We’ve never spoken about anything other than racing.”
“I make it my business to know what my drivers are up to when they’re not at the track.”
“All of your drivers, or just the ones that you feel the need to irritate the hell out of?”
The look of pleasure that crosses his face at my words annoys me. He’s loving this.
“I won’t have you coming here and wasting my time. I have more than enough to deal with as it is.”
“I promise, I’m not here to waste your time.” His smile fades as he puts his business face on. “I really would like to hire you to help with my new venture.”
Inhaling deeply, I close my eyes. When I open them again, I can’t help but notice the way the sun is shining through the window behind Jackson, surrounding him in light as if he is an angel who’s come to save me from my dark world.
A little dramatic, Sawyer. Don’t you think?
“Wait here. I have to get my things.”
As I exit the conference room, I quickly glance into Daniel’s office as if he’s in there. I know that if he were to witness this, his anger would be through the roof. He would definitely step in and see to it that Jackson’s account was handled by someone else.
Or he might punch him.
Tearing my eyes from his office, I take my lunch to the kitchen, put it in the refrigerator, then walk to my desk.
I lock my purse away in my bottom drawer before I grab my laptop and walk back to the conference room.
My eyes roam to Daniel’s office one more time.
This has disaster written all over it. I should tell Jackson to go.
Then why don’t you?
“Okay, let’s get this over with,” I tell Jackson as I reenter the conference room.
“Wow, do you give this royal treatment to all of your clients?”
I place my laptop on the table, shooting daggers at him before collecting some idea boards from the supply cabinet in the room. We use these with our clients to come up with different marketing and advertising ideas.
“Sorry.” I take a deep, calming breath, “If you say you’re here for business, then I will try and be more polite.”
Even though I would bet money that you’re just here to mess with me.
“But if you’re not being serious, I really have to let you know that you’ll do more damage than you think by coming here.”
He drops his head and rubs the back of his neck. He looks like he’s angry and trying to calm himself down.
“Sawyer, I would never do anything purposely to cause you harm. Whether it be on the track or off. I need you to know that.” He captures me in an intense stare when he looks at me again.
Woah.
“Okay,” I swallow nervously. “Let’s get started.”
I can’t think of anything else to say, all other words failing me. At least Daniel is in an all-day meeting across town today, so he won’t be here to see Jackson and I working together. That will give me time to think of what I’m going to tell him about the firm’s newest client.
JACKSON
When I found out that Sawyer worked for an advertising and marketing firm, I knew I had a good reason to come here.
You mean besides the fact that you couldn’t stop yourself from checking up on her?
FDA testing on the energy drink Powell Corporation created is nearly complete.
Now all I need is a kick-ass marketing strategy.
What I didn’t realize until she led me across the office is the fact that she works with that sadistic bastard of a boyfriend.
I caught her staring into a darkened office as she walked, fear and anxiety bright in her stare.
I followed her gaze, and when I saw the nameplate on the wall, Daniel Kramer etched into its brass surface, my stomach dropped.
Though, had I known beforehand, I don’t think it would have stopped me from coming.
Perhaps it would have spurred me on even more.
I may have come here simply just to show him I’ll be around.
That there is someone watching, making sure that he treats Sawyer with respect.
Someone who notices the way she squirms when he’s nearby.
However, when she said that me coming here to mess with her would cause damage, I felt horrible. I don’t want her thinking that I could be capable of something like that. Of doing something horrible, like what I can only imagine he’s put her through.
Over the last hour, she’s relaxed a little. Maybe because he isn’t here. She’s put together several design ideas, and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed watching her work. Her creative mind is sharp, just like her focused mind is when she’s on the track. I can tell that she uses both as a means of escape.
“Okay. So now that we’ve brainstormed a few ideas, is there one that stands out to you more than the others?” Sawyer asks me.
“Honestly?”
“Obviously,” she responds sarcastically, but her smile is genuine.
And breathtaking.
“I’m really not sure. Which one do you like?”
“Jackson, are you even paying attention?” She laughs, and the biggest smile I’ve ever seen from her graces her face.
The sight of it tugs on the corners of my own lips.
“I am, I promise,” I look at the three idea boards on the table in front of us.
“If you don’t like any of these, we can dig a little deeper and see what else we can come up with.”
“No, that’s not it. These are all so good,” I reassure her, watching as a genuine smile returns to her face. “Umm… I think I like—”
“Excuse me.” We’re suddenly interrupted by an angry voice coming from the doorway of the conference room.
We look up to see him standing there, a severe look on his face. The air in the room shifts, and I can feel the fear emanating from Sawyer.
Shit.
“Sawyer, my office. Now.”
“Sure,” Sawyer replies, quickly. “Coming right away.”
He waits in the doorway as she gets up from her seat and walks out of the room. The whole time, her face is turned down toward the floor. Daniel looks back and forth between us with a threatening scowl.
I watch as he follows her into his office then closes the door forcefully.
Grateful I’m still able to see their interaction through the glass pane of his door, I watch while on the edge of my seat.
Daniel has a look of rage on his face as he speaks to her.
I can tell that he’s yelling, even if no one can hear him.
No doubt he doesn’t want anyone in the office to know how poorly he treats her.
I wonder if he treats his other employees just as bad?
He waves one of his hands in the direction of the conference room, and I watch as Sawyer chances a glance in my direction. Her eyes don’t meet mine, but I see that all of the light that was in them a moment ago has vanished.
How often does this abuse occur? Considering this is the second time that I’ve seen them together and the second time that he’s spoken to her with such immense disrespect, I’d say it happens too often for my liking.
Even one time is too much.
When he finally finishes speaking, I wait to see if she will try and defend herself.
Not that she needs to. She was just doing her job.
But she doesn’t say anything. Instead, she pulls the door open and exits his office.
Her eyes shoot to mine for only a brief second, however, there is no way I could miss the anguish in them.
Standing, I round the table and head to the door before pulling it open as Sawyer grabs her purse from her desk.
“I call out to her, but she turns away from me and walks in the direction of the reception area.
I begin to follow her, but then he steps into my path.
“Get out of my way,” I order him. “Sawyer!”
It takes everything in my power not to punch him in his ugly face.
“Ms. Stone wasn’t feeling well and needed to take the rest of the day off,” he informs me quietly.
“That’s bullshit. What did you say to her?” I grind out, attracting the attention of the staff around me.
I need to be careful. I don’t care what happens to this asshole, but I have to remember that Sawyer works here. She has to come back here and show her face in front of these people. I don’t want to embarrass her any more than she already is.
“I assure you, I was nothing less than professional. I simply told her that we require someone more senior and well-suited to work on your account.”
I need to close my eyes so the shit-eating grin on his face won’t cause me to lose any more of my control.
“We have rules, policies, and standards to follow here at Kramer Enterprises. I’m sure an educated businessman such as yourself can understand.”
“Understand this. I have standards too. I’ll either work with Ms. Stone or I’ll take my 1.
5-billion-dollar marketing project somewhere else,” I stare him down and watch as his pupils flare upon hearing the dollar amount that I’m prepared to spend.
“I highly doubt that my friends on the board, Mr. Cosgrove and Mr. Bennett, would be happy to hear that you turned down such a high-grossing project like this.”
“Our board is in agreement with our policies,” he counters.
Dickhead.
Without another word, I walk past him and out of the office.
Sawyer isn’t in the reception area, the lobby, or the garage when I get there.
I was hoping to catch her before she left.
I walk to my car and get in. Sitting in the driver’s seat, I wonder why this is so important to me. Sawyer is an employee, nothing more.
At least, that’s how it should be.
Somehow, Sawyer has managed to hook me. From the very first time I laid eyes on her, she affected me. I didn’t want to admit that I wanted her, but there it is. After today, it’s irrefutable, even to myself. It’s not like me to get involved in the affairs of others, but I can’t leave this alone.
I can’t leave her alone.