Claire #3
“On top of that, not meeting with Antonio last night really shattered my hopes of landing this deal. Then, this morning, I am sitting in the café drinking coffee and minding my own business, and all the sudden, Jennifer Mora!” I said as I slapped my open hand onto my thigh in frustration.
Arik’s only response was a puzzling look that accentuated the lines above his brow.
I took a deep breath before continuing my rant.
“She’s a rep with a competing wine distributor.
She’s here. She met with Antonio. She gave me shit and sized me up, insulted me, and kept calling me Long Island like it translates to trash can or something.
” I exhaled with exasperation before picking up my wine once more and drinking it in like it was the only thing holding my sanity together.
Good, Claire. Look crazy in front of the sexy man. Yes, wonderful plan. Splendid.
“One. I am glad to see your wine is obviously kicking in.” Arik laughed, his smile creeping up to display deep laugh lines. “Two…. That is a lot. No wonder you were so shaken up. Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”
“Tell you some beautiful, tan, Latina woman that is perfectly done up and reeks of money and confidence and sex-in-a-bottle perfume is prowling around the hotel? Yeah…okay.” I laughed as I rolled my eyes.
“No. Why didn’t you tell me some woman was insulting you and making you feel like less than I know you are?” he questioned, his expression turning to stone, and the laughter long gone from his voice.
His sternness made a chill run down my spine. Somehow, Jennifer being my problem had suddenly become his problem.
“I mean…it’s not a big deal.” I shrugged, polishing off the remainder of my wine just as the waiter set a basket and porcelain bottle of olive oil between us.
My fingers grasped at the thick white cloth napkin, revealing the piping hot bread beneath—the scent wafting in my direction, making my stomach grumble again. I could see Arik staring at me from out of the corner of my eye.
I quipped, “I kind of like her, to be honest. She got upset when I told her I was going home and demanded that I stay and put up a fight to try to win the account.” I picked up a piece of bread and took a big bite out of it, working the anger out of my jaw.
Arik relaxed back into his chair and nodded. “Good.”
I turned to face him again, struggling to not talk with my mouth full of bread but needing to say what I needed to say before I lost my edge. I raised my voice. “But you!”
Arik’s eyebrows raised as his voice turned shrill. “Me? What the fuck did I do?”
I pointed at him, my finger getting closer to pressing into his chest with every word I spoke. “You distracted me! As soon as you showed up, I forgot all about my business dinner. That can’t happen again!”
Arik smirked and leaned back in his chair, clearly amused. “Ah, so it’s my fault? Okay.”
My eyes narrowed and voice turned sharp. “You know what I mean. And now Antonio is off for the weekend. You have my attention…for now. But once he’s back, I am working. Period.”
Silence stretched between us as the waiter refilled our glasses. Arik bit his lips with restraint as he waited patiently for us to be alone again. Arik lifted his chin, giving me a stern look that made me sit up straight in my seat.
He responded, his voice soft and low, “I will tell you what, Claire…as soon as you have your next meeting confirmed with Antonio, I will leave you be. You can focus on work and get your job done. But this weekend…”
He paused, shifting his body forward and lowering his head closer to mine. “You are mine.”
My eyes widened as I watched the words drip from his mouth as it curled into a menacing smile, finding myself unable to speak as we stared at one another, as if a deal had just been reached between us.
As course after course filled the table, Arik and I continued to sit side by side, his fingers always looking for any opportunity to interlace with mine.
Between bites of bread, cured meat, and pasta, I shared more about my work and our competition with Prestige Wines.
Arik listened intently, his gaze never leaving me as I rattled off all the accounts I worked so hard on, only for them to churn months later.
By the time the golden dessert cart rolled up next to the table, I was stuffed with both food and wine…
too much wine. Glistening peaks of whipped cream sat above desserts ranging from decadent chocolate cakes and truffles to light pastries with berries.
While the sight would have normally made me salivate, I couldn’t help but rest my hand against the fullness of my stomach.
“I don’t know if I can do it, Arik,” I mumbled with both exhaustion and a slight slur from the wine.
Arik waved his hand through the air to the waiter, instructing him to remove the cart. “Well…they do have amazing desserts so I cannot say I am not disappointed. However, I do know another place.”
And with that he stood up, raising his arms toward the sky in an exaggerated stretch. “Maybe a walk will help us make room.” He laughed as he pulled my chair out, grabbing my hand once again and guiding me through the maze of topiaries, tables, and umbrellas.
“Don’t we need to pay?” I questioned, looking back toward the restaurant, fully expecting the waiter to be chasing after us and screaming words I couldn’t understand.
He shrugged, a coy smile emerging as he spoke smoothly. “They know me…I have a tab.”