Chapter 11
Vanessa
I knew she’d close the door and follow me into the kitchen. By the time she walked in, I was already yanking out the bag of Oreos, the two cartons of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream, the bottles of wine, and my favorite depression food, the extra-large bag of Cool Ranch Doritos.
“Hold on while I find my wine opener.” I threw open the drawer where it was supposed to be, hissing the moment I didn’t see it.
After I looked in two more, slamming both, she walked closer, smacking one of her hands on the counter while reaching over me toward the back edge, securing the much-needed opener in her fingers.
“Breathe, girlfriend. Here you go.” She chuckled and backed away, taking two more steps when I gave her a nasty look.
“Thank you,” I huffed and grabbed two glasses. “You’re a lifesaver.”
My bestie had no idea how much. I still couldn’t believe the level I’d stooped to.
Or the fact every time I thought about Christian, my pussy throbbed.
“Are you going to tell me what in the world is going on? Did we lose another client?”
“No.” Oddly enough, this was my first full weekend off. I’d had plans of going to the beach with a good book and doing nothing more than enjoying being able to soak up some sun.
But no, I was frustrated over whether to accept the job with Mr. Asshole, even going so far as to begin creating a qualified list of candidates from the models and actresses on the roster. Why? What point could it serve? I could swear the man had a hidden agenda or an ulterior motive.
Maybe I should be beating my head against the wall instead.
“Then you decided to accept Mr. Elliot’s offer. Yes?”
God, she sounded so hopeful. “Not yet. Maybe never.”
“Is that why I’m here so I can talk you into accepting?”
“Yes. Maybe. No. Hell, I’m not sure.” I handed her a glass of wine as I fumed. After taking a gulp, then another, I grabbed two spoons and some napkins.
“You’ve never been this indecisive. Okay, we’ll go over your concerns. Again.”
“Follow me. Grab the wine.” I gathered the bags and cartons of treats, cradling them gently against my chest. If I dropped and crushed the chips or the cookies, I’d likely go ballistic.
Unable to get his face out of my crazed mind, I stormed toward the den that also served as my makeshift office.
I’d cleared off the coffee table so I could work on my laptop.
I positioned the goodies, keeping the items neat as I usually did with everything before plopping down on one of the pillows I’d dragged from the couch.
Amelia snagged the other, shaking her head as she sat down. “Come on, girl. What happened yesterday? You’re not only flustered, you’re glowing.”
Oh, fuck. I slapped my hand against my cheek. She was right. My skin was hot to the touch.
“Christian took me around the city, showing me all his new properties. They’d all been renamed, the old employees tossed out and new, less expensive employees hired.”
“That was it? That’s what you expected.”
Snorting, I ripped open the lids from both cartons of ice cream, jamming a spoon in each. “No, he showed me this bizarre community he built close to the heart of South Beach.”
“Residential?”
“Yes, which caught me by surprise. I read in one of the glitzy magazine articles he’s bringing in some foreign hotel chains, but this place was designed as affordable housing.”
“Wow. He wanted to show you that he’s not such a bad guy. Pretty awesome if you ask me.”
“Yeah, but did he think I was buying the goody two shoes spiel? I’m certain he’s getting a lot of tax breaks.”
“Maybe, but maybe he has a reason for the development. What’s the name of it?”
“Caroline Manor or something. The name isn’t marketable, which I find fascinating since he has his own marketing department and works with the most well-respected marketing firm on the East Coast.”
“That makes it sound more personal,” she suggested, giving me an evil eye.
I thought about the name of the boat. “Maybe.” When a huge scoop of ice cream on my spoon, I waited for Amelia to do the same. We clinked the cheap metal and she gave me a funny look before we both gobbled the frozen cream.
Pure decadence on a spoon.
“Ouch. Gets me every time,” Amelia whined and pressed her hand to her head.
“Brain freeze.” We both laughed and it was good to do so after berating myself for the entire day.
“So what’s the holdup and we’re not going back to his arrogance again. We’ve beat the dead horse more than once. I know you don’t like him and my guess is that Mr. Elliot isn’t thrilled that you’re a tough lady, but business is business.”
“He’s not all bad. At least not completely.” My admittance was tougher than it should be.
“Oh,” she almost purred as she pressed her hand against her chest, pulling back and scrunching her face. “Perhaps the ice queen is melting.”
Given her ‘Wicked Witch of the West’ voice, I snarled in response. “I guess everyone has two sides. Although I’ll still stand behind my thoughts. I think he’s an evil bastard.”
“Okay. Why? Confess or I’m going to email him as you, telling him you’d like to go on a date with him.”
My cringe was voluntary and noted by my bestie, who never missed anything.
“Oh, no. You did not.” She was already laughing at me.
I nodded, wincing all over again as sinful images played out in my mind like some twisted fairytale. “I wasn’t trying to do anything, but he insisted we have lunch, which ended up being on his boat.”
“Boat?”
“Yup.”
Amelia leaned forward. “Describe this… boat.”
“A yacht. A fucking gorgeous ninety-eight-foot dream house on the ocean water. You wouldn’t believe how incredible it was, so comfortable with attention to every detail.
I don’t know where we sailed, but the water was teal and so clear you could see fish and coral clearly from the upper deck.
He made me lunch. Himself. Do you believe it?
Shrimp cocktail with shrimp the size of my hand.
After that were these huge club sandwiches on focaccia bread that was fresh from the oven with homemade pasta salad.
Just incredible. And the wine. Oh, my God.
I should have told you to try and find this cabernet and…
And I’m not being very transparent. Am I? ”
“Oh, I think you are. In fact, you’re nearly invisible, girl. Sounds pretty darn romantic to me, especially since you set sail. You have me curious. What time did you get back into the marina?”
Why did she feel the need to bat her long eyelashes at me?
I cringed and grabbed the bag of Oreos. I needed chocolate for this admittance. “Sometime in the middle of the night.”
She smacked her hand across her mouth with a loud crack. Her eyes were utter saucers and I suddenly felt so small I could slide into a crack on the wooden floor.
“Oh, my fucking God. You slept with him.”
“Shush. I don’t want the neighbors to hear.” I threw my hair over my shoulders before shoving an entire cookie into my mouth. If all else failed, I’d eat my weight in cookies.
When she squealed, I gave her another dirty look. “That’s amazing. Tell me everything. I already know the setting was straight out of a romance novel.”
I chewed while glaring at her. My nerves remained smack on a steep precipice.
“Shush. That’s not amazing. I broke the single rule I have for the company.” Another cookie was needed.
“Yeah, but you made the stupid rule. You can change it. Oops. You already did.” She was having way too much fun with my mistake and that’s the way I needed to consider it.
“Very funny. Having a line drawn between business and pleasure is very important so details don’t get lost and lines blurred.
When any emotions are involved, that can mean miscommunication and ultimately a breach of the contract.
With a legal document of this nature and all the ramifications possible, personal conflicts would be disastrous. ”
Amelia frowned. “When you put it that way then I can see your point. What did you tell Christian?”
“Nothing. Get this. He left me on the boat.” Now it was a boat. “With a note demanding I contact him Monday morning sharp.”
Her face was pinched to the point she had to be feeling pain. “Ouch. I change my verdict. Not much on being romantic. Huh?”
“He’s an ass and I made a huge mistake, but I’m a big girl. I can admit my fault and move on.”
“So you’re really not going to take the job.”
“I don’t know how I can after what happened.”
She sat back, sipping her wine. “That’s a lot of money.”
“I know, which is another reason for being in such a funk.”
Reaching across the table, she grabbed my hand. “We’ll think of something. We always have. You need to follow your heart and your mind, or you’ll never forgive yourself.”
I sighed from relief. Maybe I needed her to tell me that it was alright to turn him down. “You’re sure? I value your opinion.”
“No, I’m not sure, but I’ve known you a long time, girl. If you’re uncomfortable about this now, imagine how you’re going to feel every time you speak with him. I’m sorry it didn’t work out. Maybe once a snake, always a snake.”
I appreciated and valued her words very much.
Although she was lying through her pretty, perfect teeth.
Sadly, they didn’t make me feel much better. I was thrown by the fact I’d enjoyed myself tremendously. I couldn’t deny it or lie to myself. I’d been more alive than any other time in my life.
Then he’d left the demanding note.
“Thank you. I think I’m going to get this noose from around my neck and email him right now.” I tried my best to sound confident and convinced.
“Good idea. Then we can suck down wine and scope hot guys on Instagram.”
I exhaled and retrieved his card, which I’d taken from Amelia’s desk.
When I turned it over, I realized he’d left his personal number in ink on the back.
No, I refused to call him. I knew he was very good at talking people into things.
I wasn’t going to risk the man working his magic to try to talk me out of something.
“Okay. I can do this. What’s one million bucks. Right?”