Chapter 4
Sophie
Isat in my office staring blankly out of my window, looking down at the city beneath me.
I loved my office, which sat above Times Square, because the view was amazing.
Now if only I could concentrate on what I was supposed to be doing.
I had two major accounts I should be creating a marketing campaign for, but all I could think about was Mr. Carter.
It had been two days since I’d seen him and I couldn’t get his face out of my head.
It should be illegal for a man to be so sexy.
It was wrong for me to be lusting over him like this.
I was so confused about him. The day I’d met him, his persona and demeanor were so rugged and unrefined, yet he’d shown up at my father’s black-tie event dressed like he owned the world.
That only made him more enticing to me, which I hated because I didn’t know anything about him.
I sighed when my phone rang because I wasn’t really in the mood to work, but I didn’t have that luxury.
My father owned Prescott Marketing and I had been named CEO three months ago after my father stepped down.
Not only that, I was still the lead for all major accounts that passed through here, which I refused to let go of because it was my passion.
I worked too hard to build a name for myself to pass it down to someone else.
So my days were spent balancing my time between boardrooms and my client accounts.
Once I was seated in my custom Italian leather chair, I lifted the receiver and placed it against my face.
“Sophie Prescott,” I announced robotically then waited.
“Go to lunch with me?”
“Maddie, I’m working. I don’t have time for lunch today.”
“Your father owns the company and you’re the CEO. I’m pretty sure you can slip away for one lunch, Sophie,” Maddie released with a sigh.
She was in the process of a complicated divorce, so she leaned on me to keep her mind off things. I just couldn’t drop everything like she wanted.
“That’s all the more reason I can’t. I have a lot on my plate, Maddie. Where are you anyway?” I questioned, trying to make out the background noise. It sounded a bit like a hum of tranquil music, but it was too low for me to tell.
“At Metamorphosis getting a massage and stone treatment.”
“Maddie, you’re not supposed to be on your phone.” I grinned before I lifted the sterling silver pen sitting on my desk. I quickly jotted down a note to schedule myself a massage, mani, and pedi, which I was in desperate need of.
“I’m paying, so I can do what I want. Besides, I’m almost done, which is why you’re meeting me at Gramercy in an hour. I’m not taking no for an answer.”
“Maddie, I’m working, I can’t.”
“Sophie, please, you know I hate eating alone.”
“You won’t be alone. Gramercy is always crowded.”
“I hope you don’t think that’s funny.”
“Yes, actually, I do.”
“You just remember that the next time you call begging me to save you from a disaster date gone wrong, Sophie. I’m not going to do it and I mean that.”
“Yes, you will, because you love me. I have to go, Maddie. I’ll call you later.”
“Well, I’m not answering,” Maddie pouted and I laughed.
“Bye, brat.”
After I ended my call with Maddie, I inhaled, releasing it slowly before opening my laptop. Like it or not, this work wasn’t going to just magically get done on its own, so I cleared my mind and got focused. I had a long day and possibly even a long night ahead of me.
Hours later, I was finishing the last of my presentation I was to submit next week.
My eyes were tired and my back was sore from having been in the same chair for so long.
As much as I’d paid for it, it should have been a lot more accommodating.
I looked up and glanced out of my office window.
Everyone was gone. Like always, I was the first one here and the last to leave.
I slipped my feet back into my Giuseppes, which I had kicked off hours ago, before I pushed my chair back and stood.
After a good stretch, I smoothed my Marc Jacobs silk crepe button up dress and collected my things.
I closed my laptop and slipped it into my leather carrier then pulled the handle over my shoulder.
Once I lifted my purse, I headed toward the door, shutting off the lights before I left my floor.
When I reached my truck, I hit the remote and tossed my things into the passenger seat.
I slipped in and settled into the soft leather.
The second I started my truck, Beyoncé began to play and I automatically thought of Mr. Carter.
I sang along while I made my way to Gallagher’s.
It was indeed one of my favorite places, but part of me secretly hoped I would run into Mr. Carter.
After his appearance at my father’s event, I couldn’t seem to get him out of my head and off my mind.
I assumed from their interaction that he and Orin were an item.
That upset me a bit, but he wasn’t mine, so there was no need to worry.
“One, please.” As I stood in front of the podium waiting, my eyes moved around the sea of faces that filled the restaurant, knowing I was searching for one in specific, even though I lied to myself.
“Follow me, please,” the young blond girl stated with an overly chipper tone as she smiled at me, showing all thirty-two.
I followed her to a small table in the center of the restaurant where she stopped. I was extremely confident, so eating alone didn’t bother me. But for some reason, tonight I didn’t want to be on display.
“Would it be okay if I take that one?” I asked, pointing to a table in the corner near the bar.
“No problem.” She smiled again and started toward it.
Once we reached the table, she waited for me to take my seat, then placed the bound, leather menu she carried in front of me.
“Your waitress Susan will be with you momentarily. Enjoy your dinner.”
I nodded, offering her a slight smile before I opened my menu and scanned the dinner specials. More out of habit than anything because I was here enough that I knew my exact order.
“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were lowkey stalking me.” That voice made my stomach flutter and it grew progressively worse when I looked up to see the smirk spread across his face. Damn, this man was so sexy, it had to be illegal.
“Two people in the same vicinity on multiple occasions does not constitute stalking. It’s more like a coincidence,” I said dryly and returned my attention to my menu.
His deep, throaty laugh made me uneasy because I felt my attraction for him growing from the simplest things.
“Coincidence, maybe, or maybe it’s just fate,” he said as he pulled out the chair across from me and filled it with his tall frame.
“Umm, excuse you, but I don’t recall asking you to join me.”
“Trooper.” Even his name was sexy! My attention moved to a very attractive woman standing off to the side of the chair he now sat in with her arms folded across her large, exposed breasts. From her tone and posture, I could tell she was annoyed, but he didn’t seem bothered at all.
“Ay, I’m talking. Go order me another Crown and I’ll be there in a minute,” he released so coolly and effortlessly that I raised my brows, stared at her, and waited. There was no way she would accept that.
She held her position for a few moments more before she shot me the nastiest look then turned to leave. I glanced at him, amazed by what had just happened.
“Wow,” I stated more to myself than him.
“What?” That sexy smile of his was on his face again as his eyes locked on mine.
“It’s not worth mentioning but I think you might want to tend to her,” I said, feeling a little annoyed that he was actually here with another woman. I had no right to feel that way whatsoever, but it didn’t stop the feeling from consuming me.
“Say what’s on your mind, Sophie.” Lord, the way my name rolled off his tongue.
“What’s on my mind is you’re here on a date with another woman yet you’re sitting here asking what’s on my mind.”
A heavenly chuckle escaped his full lips and my stomach tensed. “You’re more concerned about that than I am, but how about this? I will tend to that, as you said, if you’ll do something for me.”
I wasn’t sure why, but my breathing suddenly felt constricted. Before he could continue, my waitress appeared.
“Good evening, can I get you two drinks before you order?”
“We’re not together.” And just that fast, the asshole returned. The way he responded was almost like he was appalled at the idea of being linked to me.
“I’ll have a glass of mango Moscato,” I stated calmly, attempting to ignore the feeling that resulted from the way he’d responded. Why was I even moved by that?
“Yes, ma’am. I’ll be right back.”
“Ay, do you have a pen?” Trooper asked, not exposing any emotions.
“No sir, but I will bring you one.”
“’Preciate that.” This time he smiled.
Feeling eyes on me, I looked up and his date was staring at me like I had somehow ruined her evening.
Trooper glanced over his shoulder in her direction before he smirked at me. “Does that bother you?” he questioned.
“No, but it should bother you,” I responded, making sure to maintain eye contact with him.
“I’m not married nor am I in a committed relationship.
I enjoy the company of beautiful women.” He offered a smug grin and looked right at me as his eyes moved across my body, making me uncomfortable.
“She understands that, and even if she doesn’t, it’s not because I didn’t make that clear.
So no, I’m not bothered by her reaction and you shouldn’t be either. ”
“Whatever works for you,” I said, then glanced her way again, which made him smile even harder.
“So are you going to do me a favor or not?” he asked, referring to his earlier statement.
“Depends.”
“On what?” he quizzed.
“On what it is.”
“It’s not complicated, but it will require you to step outside of yourself for a moment. I don’t think you’re the type of woman who does that often.”
His words somehow made me feel as if he were judging me, but I kept my feelings to myself.
“I’m waiting,” I released as dryly as I could.
“Tonight, when you get home and you’re lying in that expensive ass bed of yours, then your hand somehow moves down that beautiful body and slips between your legs, I want you to call me so you can hear my voice while you’re pleasing yourself. I bet you sound sexy as fuck when you climax.”
My mouth dropped open at how blunt he was, not believing he’d actually said that with a straight face. That crooked, one-sided grin of his had me in my feelings. “I think you should leave now.”
“Why, because I’m saying what you’re thinking?”
“Here you go.”
The waitress placed a glass in front of me and handed Trooper the pen he’d requested.
He then reached across the table, lifted my glass, and removed the cardstock coaster.
After jotting down something, he slid it across the table then stood.
With the sexiest smile known to man, he looked right into my eyes.
“Think about it.” And just like that, he was gone.
For the next hour, I tried my best to enjoy my meal while occasionally watching Trooper entertain the woman.
Even though he was extremely attentive to her, making sure he focused on whatever she rambled about while she leaned forward on the table, exposing her breasts to him, he still made sure to watch my every move until I paid and left.
As much as I wanted to deny it, I would have to fight with myself to keep from calling him later. He had me intrigued and I wanted more.