Chapter 4 Quinn #3
Was his voice gruffer than it was before?
I waited a few moments for him to give me more. When it was clear he wasn’t going to, I spoke up. “Yeah, I assumed given the last name. So, you moved your company here?” He wasn’t an overly communicative man it would seem.
“No, we’re opening a branch of the business here. Me and my key business partners have moved. Our London office is running on its own now.”
“Why Calgary?” I couldn’t help being nosy.
Plus, it seemed like the last thing they wanted to do was talk about the company I worked for.
I also didn’t bother trying my usual topics like ‘how about the weather?’ and ‘do you watch hockey?’ Both were always safe since our weather was always unpredictable and I’m pretty sure you had to sign a blood oath to love hockey before you were allowed to live here.
“I lived here when I was younger, and I’ve always wanted to return.” His tone was short and he didn’t look at me as he spoke. I had a feeling he didn’t want to be discussing this with me, which made me wonder why he replied honestly in the first place.
“So tell us about you, Quinn West,” Noah stepped in, saving Theo from my follow up questions.
“I’m not that interesting, so let’s pass on me.” I smiled over at Noah and changed the topic looking at Oliver. “So, Oliver…”
“My friends all call me Oli,” he interrupted me with a wink.
I caught Theo sending him a dry look out of the corner of my eye, but I just smiled at Oli and continued on.
“So, Oli, what does Knight Enterprises do anyway?”
“That’s a loaded question, it would be faster to explain what we don’t do.
But we started when Knight sold an application, then we used the money to become an investment company and have since expanded into commercial real estate and private security.
We also like to buy out a company from time to time. ”
This was not the kind of client I was usually sent to eat with.
“Richard mentioned that someone is a son of one of our investors.” I looked around the table.
“You mean Dick?” Noah smiled at me which I ignored.
“That would be me,” Theo said. “My father and I don’t share the same last name.” His shoulders were stiff and he pulled his phone out of his pocket and focused on it instead.
“I don’t know the names of our investors so I wouldn’t have known anyway,” I said pointlessly since he didn’t look back up.
I tried not to be disappointed. Even if this was just a business lunch, normally people at least pretended to be interested in talking with me. The dismissal from him was clear.
But that was okay.
Good even.
“So, Quinn, have you ever been to London?” Oli asked, pulling my attention away from Theo.
“I have actually,” I said, letting out a breath as we fell into a more comfortable conversation.
The rest of lunch was spent chatting with Oli and Noah. We talked about London and then they asked me about what they had to go see in Calgary. Considering I didn’t get out much, I didn’t have any great ideas, they seemed more well versed in the offerings of the city than I did.
Theo didn’t rejoin the conversation, alternating between eating and responding to things on his phone.
I tried my hardest not to pay attention to him but it was a challenge.
Especially because whenever I gave any personal details away his thumbs paused, like he was actually listening to me.
I saw his eyes move to my face a few times but then he quickly went back to his cell.
When the bill came, I pulled out my wallet but his large hand covered mine. “I’ve got it,” his voice rumbled beside me.
I pulled my hand out from under his, not liking the zing that happened when we touched, and snatched the bill from the table, holding it against my chest. “This is a business lunch, I was asked to take you out by my company. I will be expected to come back with a receipt and to file an expense. I will be the one paying for it, which you agreed to.”
“Technically we never agreed,” Oli said as he stood up, sliding his suit jacket back on.
“I don’t need anything from you,” Theo grunted. I hid my wince at the harsh tone behind his words. “I’m sure your boss will pat you on the back for getting a free meal.”
My eyes narrowed at the insinuation. “Watch it,” I said as I held the bill close to me with a glare at him.
“You’re not paying.” Theo’s tone was firm, and it was annoying me.
“Of course I’m not. Elevate is,” I said with a tight smile on my face. “I’m sure as a businessman yourself you are aware of what a write off is.” Noah snorted but cleared his throat trying to play it off when he got a quick, harsh glance from Theo.
“This was not a business lunch,” Theo’s eyes returned to mine. The intensity of them was a little intimidating.
Did he think that because we didn’t talk business or because I had been unprofessional most of the time? Probably both. And that had a slight blush heating my cheeks and the tips of my ears. My response to embarrassment was to shut down but it didn’t mean I broke eye contact with him.
“This doesn’t happen to him often,” Noah muttered to Oli as Theo and I sat there locked in a staring contest I was determined to win.
I noticed the movement over his shoulder and pulled my card out, ready for Valeria.
“All set here?” she asked as she stood next to the table. I was about to hand her my card when Theo smirked and looked over at her.
“Yes, ma’am. Put it on my bill.” She didn’t even look at me as she kissed his cheek and walked away, not taking anything from him.
“We eat here so often now she just has a tab going for us,” Noah provided as Theo stood up, unrolled his sleeves, and shrugged his jacket back on.
I sat there holding my credit card out for another few moments before Theo looked down at me and quirked an eyebrow.
“Ready, Quinn?” I hated that even though he ignored me for most of the lunch, the use of my name sent butterflies rushing in my stomach.
My stomach was apparently an unreliable bitch. Being charmed by his dark hair, sharp jaw and enticing, grumbly accent.
“I was supposed to take you and your business associates for lunch.” I didn’t know why this was bothering me. But I was feeling off-kilter, and this was something I thought I would have control over.
He didn’t say anything else, just pulled my chair back from the table as I tried not to squeak in surprise.
He held his arm out for me to leave before him.
Oli and Noah were already on their way out the door.
I didn’t have another option so I shoved my wallet back in my purse, stood up and strode past him without looking back.
I knew that my anxiety would replay every moment, every comment I made and berate me for it as I tried to fall asleep tonight.
How I could have said something more charming or funny or witty.
How I should have been more professional or more friendly.
I would come up with a hundred different alternatives for how I wish the conversations had gone.
Valeria wasn’t at the counter as we left, and I kept my gaze forward as I walked through the door Oli was holding open for me. The guys fell into step beside me, this time Theo stayed behind but I could feel his eyes on me.
I think part of what was bothering me was that the time had gone too quickly.
I hadn’t spent the lunch looking at the clock, hoping that my guests would finish eating so we could leave.
I’d been enjoying myself and forgot why I was there.
So the fact that it was ending and I wouldn’t see them again was bothering me.
And it was bothering me that it was bothering me.
“I can make my way from here,” I said as Noah pulled the door to my office building open. “It was great to meet you all. I hope your business does well here.”
“We’ll walk you up,” Theo grumbled from behind me.
I chose to ignore him.
It was childish and unnecessary, but I’d already blown any semblance of professionalism so I didn’t need to fake anything now.
He hadn’t even really participated in lunch. And it wasn’t bothering me at all. Nope. Not at all.
We rode the elevator to the seventh floor in silence and as I stepped out, I turned to them with a smile plastered on my face.
“Thank you for lunch.” I held my hand out to Oli first who shook my hand while trying to look serious.
Noah was next and I could tell he was pressing his lips together to stop himself from smiling as he shook my hand.
Theo looked down at my hand then back at my face while my arm hung awkwardly in the air. “Alrighty then.”
Since he didn’t appear to want to shake my hand, I turned to leave, trying to hide the flush that had overtaken my cheeks. I kept telling myself that it didn’t matter if he was rude, I would never see him again.
I froze when his hand gently grabbed my wrist to pull me to a stop. I looked back at him with a raised eyebrow and a tight jaw.
“Can I see you tonight?” I was taken aback by Theo’s question considering he’d seemingly been uninterested since we sat down at the restaurant.
“No. I have plans.” I was mad at myself for justifying the no. I shouldn’t have to.
“Hot date?” Oli asked from behind us.
I just smiled at him, not refuting his comment and looked back at Theo who had a frown on his face, it was deeper than it was before. An impressive feat it would seem. I assumed he wasn’t used to hearing no.
“Can I have your number?” Theo’s voice was low. I pulled my hand away and he let me go easily.
“Nope. It was nice to meet you, Mr. Knight. Good luck with your business.” I turned and walked away quickly before I lost my resolve and gave him my number.
As I pulled the door open, I heard Theo say something to his friends, but his voice was too low for me to catch the words.